OT: MRI with and without contrast?!

[PrincessTigerLily]

Hi everyone, hoping someone can help...
DH went to have a brain and neck MRI this a.m. (history of severe migraines, constant tingly sensation in arm, etc.) and was supposed to have it done with and without contrast. About halfway through, the MRI tech said he was done and that the radiologist had all the information necessary and the contrast was not needed.
So...good or bad??? We are both in healthcare (respiratory therapists) and are well aware that techs are unablet to comment, but to calm our nerves, does anyone have experience in this area to tell us whether this can be an indicator one way or the other?
Thanks so much!

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Unfortanutely, someone very close to me had the tingling/numbing sensation in his arm, had an MRI and ended up with a Grade IV brain tumor. He did not have a history of migraines.

Not sure why you're posting this on a Disney message board though.

 

[jetprincess]

Ok, after the previous (not so comforting) post let me say that if your Dh were in a life threatening situation he probably would NOT have been allowed to leave the facility without being informed first.

Sorry, I don't know why they would have decided they had enough info.

 

[PrincessTigerLily]

Thank you for your input.

Why is this on a disney board?
Because of my over one hundred posts this is my first Off Topic post.
Because I am nervous and don't belong to any other message boards.
Because this is a huge pool of people from many different walks of life and professions.
Because I have found people on the Dis to be kind and helpful, and some of the nicest people around.
I don't think there is a problem posting this. Let the moderators decide.

jetprincess, thank you, that makes sense. I've been with DH for 11 years, married for 7, don't know what I would do if something happened to him. Sometimes you just need a reassuring word, and I thank you for that.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Ok, after the previous (not so comforting) post let me say that if your Dh were in a life threatening situation he probably would NOT have been allowed to leave the facility without being informed first.

Sorry, I don't know why they would have decided they had enough info.

I am sorry that my post was not comforting, and I did not mean to upset anyone. As I understood it, the OP was asking if we had any info or experience with anything like this. Since I did know someone with some of those symptoms, I decided to reply.

 

[mom*to*2*princesses]

I'm sorry that I can't answer your specific question. I can tell you that about 18 months ago I too had an MRI for migraines and numbness in my hands/feet. I had no history of migraines whatsoever...they just came on suddenly and with the weird numbness. I even had numbness in my face. Scary stuff.

My MRI was done with contrast, I believe (they stopped halfway through and gave me a shot of something in an IV). I'm happy to say that following that test (and others ordered by my neurologist), there's is nothing wrong with my brain, or my heart for that matter. I just have migraines. They stink but I can treat them. I hope that you find out some answers soon and that they're good ones.

I hope you get more helpful answers from here on out.

 

[PrincessTigerLily]

momto2princesses, thanks for your post. It is nice to hear someone else who has gone through this. I do not normally get all hypochondriac, but it just seemed weird. Thanks everyone. If you can't count on your friends at the Dis, who CAN you count on???

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

I had a mri on the brain last fall for unexplained headaches, it was done with and without contrast. The above poster was correct in saying if they found something serious you would still be at the hospital. When I was asking about resultsat the time of my test, the nurse finally said that while she couldn't tell me actual results, I wouldn't be allowed to leave if it was something serious.
This is ot a little, but has your husband tried a chiropracter? The tingling down the arm and the headache, could be a result of a pinched nerve.

 

[bethbuchall]

I don't have any answers for you unfortunately, but wanted to give you a and some for your dh.

 

[Gillian]

Numbness/tingling is very common and could be a lot of different things. No point in worrying.

I will say though, that I've had neck/brain MRIs with something where they did let me leave. The second round, a week or 1 later for the same condition, the radiologist called my neurologist as soon as he saw the films, and she called me soon after to tell me to go to the hospital.

But I also had half of my foot numb, and it was a pinched nerve. Well, 2 pinched nerves.

I'm not sure about the contrast, no contrast issue. I've and with & without for my brain/spine MRIs, but for a recent ankle one they didn't use any (and it wasn't ordered).

 

[Monkeyfeet]

I had the same symptoms and it was a bulging disk. I would think if it was serious, they would take longer to be positive.

Hugs to you.

 

[TheDizMom]

I have had several MRI's in the past both with and without contrast. I had a brain and upper body (shoulders on up) last year for tingling and numbness in my extremeties and had it done with and without contrast. I am unsure why your DH did not have the contrast and hope it is because the DR's orders did not require the contrast. Perhaps he did not make himself clear when he had you schedule it, and did not plan for contrast to be used. We unfortunately can't answer that for you, but if you are concerned about this, I would ask your doctor why. Let him know your concerns and hopefully he can give you some answers. Perhaps he was able to get all the information he needed without having to use the contrast as the tech stated at the time. The only way you are going to get any piece of mind on this is to call him and ask him. There may be a very simple explanation. If after you have spoken to him you are still concerned about the quality of care then I would go to someone else.

 

[dis-happy]

After a series of CT scans I had an allergic reaction to the IV contrast. Rather exciting, they called the crash cart. After that they did my CT scans without the contrast and said they could see what they needed without it. FWIW.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

I too had an MRI when I was in my early 20's with and w/out contrast. The scan was over within minutes once they did the contrast. I was told it goes straight through your heart through the brain because I too freaked out that it was over so quick after that. But ...luckily nothing was found. I agree he would have been kept if something was serious.
As for posting OT...I hope the OP doesn't discourage you or anyone else to post OT things....if you don't want to read OT posts, dont' open them, they are usually very clearly stated. to you and your DH. Keep us posted.

 

[neonurse]

A lot of times they get consent for contrast just in case they need it. The tech and often radiologist are overseeing the MRI and decide if it is needed. I too suffer from migraines and other headaches. A few years ago I had pain going down my right arm and numbness in my finger. It was horrible and lasted a few months. It was from a pinched nerve in my neck. If it is occassional tingling that comes and goes with the migraine it might just be that. (my sister had migraine so bad she couldn't move for a couple of minutes...not even dial the phone for help...scary) If your husband has the tingling all the time I would agree to see a chiropractor. I don't know where I would be without mine. I see an activator chiropractor that doesn't do the traditional twisting and cracking. Much safer I feel. Also don't put all your eggs in the "medicine basket". As a nurse I have had my eyes widely opened by alternative medicine. I always try medical first then if that doesn't help I seek alternatives.

Best Wishes. Please update us.

 

[happypooh]

As a physician, please don't see a chiropracter until you get that cleared with your own doctor. I've heard of two people, one who had a stroke and one who got a blood clot (and died) after seeing a chiropracter for symptoms that seemed pretty benign and common. Hopefully you'll have good news from the MRI and maybe some more options to discuss. Your husband may need an EMG to check the nerves in his arms. I don't want to suggest that all alternative medicine is bad (because I think that on the whole it can do a world of good!) but I really do think it wise to discuss this first with your doctor who will have all the test results available to him/her. Lots of pixie dust for you and your family

 

[kldmom2000]

I had an MRI of the head and neck about 1.5 yrs ago for migraines (and my mother had a brain aneurysm that dissolved, but they weren't taking any chances with me).... the Nurse Practicioner also "thought" she heard a faint bruit in my left carotid artery, so my MD ordered the MRI.... they did both contrast and w/o. I ended up having a reaction to the contrast (first MRI and first exposure to the contrast).... luckily all was ok on the MRI scan

I had to have an abdominal MRI last year for a "mass" in my abdomen and because of the history of the reaction I had to the contrast, they had to do it without.... they seemed to have gotten all the info they needed w/o the contrast....

I do think that if it was serious, they would have had someone do a wet-read and had your MD contact you soon after or even would have kept you there.... (((HUGS))) to you and I'll keep my fingers crossed that all is ok!!!

 

[PrincessTigerLily]

Many many many thanks to all who have responded to my post. I must admit I got very discouraged from posting this Off Topic, but just as I had hoped, Dis'ers came through. We are still waiting for results, in a perfect world we would know instantaneously! You have brought my husband and I some peace of mind and I truly appreciate all the HUGS!
I will let you know when we find out results. You are all the best. REALLY.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

I know you're nervous...we've been there. Bear with me...this is long.

He had non-specific symptoms for years: whooshing in his ears, dull headache, occasional vertigo, increasing anxieties and phobias, pressure in his head, etc.

He was tested for everything: lyme, epstein-barr, middle ear dysfunction, etc.

The middle ear test (the one where the put water in the ear) showed some type of issue. Our doctor sent my dh for an MRI of the ear. Because of his phobias, he was unable to do the closed MRI so they received special permission to allow him to do an open MRI.

The radiology tech was absolutely fantastic, gentle and kind and got my husband through the test. Unknown to us - while they had dh in the machine, the tech was training someone, and since it (at that time) was rare to have a head MRI in an open MRI machine, the tech decided to do a full brain scan to show the "trainee" how it's done.

That scan showed a tumor, which turned out to be a Colloid Cyst. It has grown so large it was blocking the drain hole in the 3rd ventricle and was causing severe hydrocephalus. We were told of the results of the MRI the following day (not the same day). We got a referral to a neurosurgeon, went in and found out that surgery was necessary.

We were never so scared in our lives. My dh had the surgery, all is fine, this was 7 years ago. A piece of the cyst had to be left behind because removing it could potentially damage his brain. So, every year (the first 3 years it was every 6 months) my dh has to go for an MRI - w/wo contrast - because cysts are likely to regenerate.

I'm telling you this whole story becasue I want you to know that even if they find something - you'll get through it - that I know from experience. I know how scary it is...but you have each other.

I don't know the significance of why they didn't do the contrast - but I wouldn't worry too much about that. Did the doctor write order the MRI w and w/o contrast? I would think that they MRI center would have to follow the doctor's prescription. I know that when my dh goes, a nurse comes in to administer the injection - perhaps that person wasn't there and they figured they'd go ahead without it and if the doctor requests more, bring him back? I don't know - I've never heard of a doctor's prescription being disregarded by a radiologist's office.

In any event, I offer my best to you and your dh. Please keep us updated.

 

[ohiominnie]

It is possible the migraines and the numbness/tingling is totally unrelated to one another.
Dh had a lot of numbness/tingling in his arms (no migraines) and after doing much internet research (he's a physician) he figured out it might be a thing called "thoracic outlet syndrome." It's where your nerves/arteries/veins sort of get pinched off between two muscles especially if you put your arms in a certain position. It is often overlooked as a possibility (after all, numbness/tingling can be signs of heart issues or stroke, so once they rule out the big stuff, they sometimes don't follow through) There is one DEFINITIVE test that can say pretty much 100% that it is or isn't thoracic outlet syndrome. It's a doppler test and they measure the arteries in the arms and how well they are perfused when the arms are in different positions. Dh's doppler test showed 100% classic waveforms for TOS. It is non-invasive--no needles. Just like an ultrasound.

Just a little added information that you might want to look into. There are some tests that you can do at home to see if it might be a possibility (like holding the arms over the head---how long can you do it without severe pain in your hands---b/c holding your hands like that closes off that area where the nerves/arteries/veins go through)

HTH. Good luck!