Has anyone had an MRA done before????

[lukenick1]

Im going to be having an MRA which is an MRI with contrast on my brain. I'm very scared of the contrast. Can anyone tell me what its like???

 

[klynn]

Im going to be having an MRA which is an MRI with contrast on my brain. I'm very scared of the contrast. Can anyone tell me what its like???

I had my last MRA in August. It's no big deal. Why are you afraid of contrast?

 

[piglet too]

I have had several done, did not feel any different that regular MRIs, except having an IV. This last time, the contrast did leave a metallic taste in my mouth, but it did not last longer than 30 seconds. For me, they do most of the test, pull me out of the machine to inject the contrast and then complete the test.

 

[Debbie7452]

Me too...have had it done twice...no biggie. Just an IV added to the plain MRI. I am claustrophobic and even then had no trouble since they placed a small towel over my eyes. If I can't see the enclosed space then I am fine!

Hope you get good results...mine were good. They claim my brain is "normal" but my husband's not beleiveing them,LOL!

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I've had a brain CT scan with contrast but I'm not sure how similiar they are. I can ask dh when he gets home....he's a service engineer for CT and MRI. With a CT it's with an IV. They said it might make me sick but it didn't. Actually, it was dh who said it might make me sick but when I asked the nurse she laughed at me.

Just talked to DH. he's actually working on an MRI right now. He said for an MRI scan they administer the constrast in a shot instead of an IV because the contrast needs to stay in the body longer. He said it's call gadmillenium?? or something like that. He said it makes you feel warm and fuzzy and that they always tell about the possibility of nausea but it's pretty rare. DH is not a MRI technician but the nurse was right next to him when he was on the phone and confirmed what he said.

 

[lukenick1]

I'M scared the dye will make me feel sick or dizzy. How long does it take??? I've had a regular MRI before but not with contrast.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I've had an MRA before of my brain and neck arteries. Honestly, it was no biggie but did feel a little weird once it hit my blood stream. It doesn't hurt at all, just feels warm. Actually, it felt like it had settled in my bladder and made me feel like I had to pee! Seroiusly though, it wasn't a big deal. The contrast allows them to see a more detailed view of your arteries and such. Don't worry about it, lots of people have contrast MRI and MRA's. Good luck!

ETA: Mine was administered as a shot, not an IV. It didn't make sick or dizzy at all. I'll bet you'll be fine!

 

[wdwfan16]

Im going to be having an MRA which is an MRI with contrast on my brain. I'm very scared of the contrast. Can anyone tell me what its like???

I had a CAT Scan with IV contrast. It was not bad. It hurt about the same as giving blood. It was slightly, and I mean slightly, warm when it went it. You do feel like you need to pee, like a PP stated, but that feeling is only for a short time. I felt fine after. I never got sick or dizzy.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I'M scared the dye will make me feel sick or dizzy. How long does it take??? I've had a regular MRI before but not with contrast.

The techinician will tell you when he/she is administering the contrast and I would say that within 10 seconds you will feel this warmth sensation spread through your body. Seriously it's like you need to go to the ladies room.

There should be no residual effects from the contrast. It doesn't make you sick unless you are allergic but they ask questions ahead of time to make sure you aren't allergic.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I've had it done a few times and also a ct with contrast. It's no big deal and not much difference. I could feel it going in which is a really weird sensation but I didn't have the need the use the bathroom feeling some people have and I was warned about.

Good luck.

 

[Myothername]

I can understand the nerves. I had a really really bad reaction to dye years ago during an IVP (x-ray of the kidneys). I was told to never have one again and to always tell them I had an allergy to radiological dyes. So when I had to have the MRA a couple of years ago I was extremely nervous. I think I still had some sensitivity to the dye even though it is a different type of dye because my reactions were not what people have posted here. I could tell immediately when the dye went in because it felt extremely cold, not warm. I mean so cold it hurt. I suppose it could have been that the dye was cold but the room was not that cold. It felt like ice was being pumped into my arm. But after about a minute of this it went away and all was fine. I am not a nervous person at all and the remainder of the MRA and the MRI I had before that I was fine. I didn't like it but I knew I had to have to check out some strange symptoms I was having.

I would say if you have never had problems with dyes you should be just fine.

 

[klynn]

I'M scared the dye will make me feel sick or dizzy. How long does it take??? I've had a regular MRI before but not with contrast.

Don't worry! You'll be fine!

 

[honugirl]

Easy peasy squeezy! I have one done every 6 months or so. The dye you can barely feel (except for the time the tech hooked it up wrong and it was spraying me...). It doesn't make me sick. The CT scan dye does make you feel like you're peeing yourself, but that goes away pretty quickly.

 

[lukenick1]

thanks everyone...the benefit of having one is definitely worth it.

 

[disfan07]

I have one every 6 weeks....i'm having my 5th one on friday...the hardest part for me is just getting the IV because I have horendous access so they have to do an ultrasound guided IV each time....buut the contrast and procedure itself is a piece of cake

 

[bumbershoot]

Gadolinium?