Bad Reaction to CT Scan Contrast Dye
 

About three weeks ago I went in for a CT scan of my Thymus, part of the regular protocol for MG treatment at the "Thrive" HMO that I am privileged to entrust my life to. The CT scan required an intravenous radio-sensitive "dye," often called a contrasting agent. When they fed the contrast dye into my vein my cardio and respiratory systems instantly went into into pedal-to-metal overdrive, as if I was suddenly running a hundred yard dash and my blood had been replaced with a mixture of lava and rocket fuel. I was unable to inhale and hold my chest cavity in the required stationary position and thought frankly that I was going to die right there in the CT scan machine. I got out of there alive but my MG symptoms, particularly weak breathing, have worsened since that time and have not yet reached the "pre-CT scan" level. Has anyone had a similar experience, or can anyone shed some light on what the heck happened to me in there? Thanks.

Iodinated contrast agents are on the list of drugs to be used with caution in patients with MG. See p. 20 of this file:

http://www.myasthenia.org/LinkClick....JuFvZPPq2vg%3D

On the other hand, I found this:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3614668

Here's another list:

http://dig.pharm.uic.edu/faq/myasthenia.aspx

Abby

Hi photo bug
 

You arn't alone in that contrast die liquid metal. They inflitrated my needle, and it went into my arm. I swelled up like a baloon, and have refused any of that stuff since. sorry that happened to you. ( I also had told them the veins were not good enough, boy did they listen...humph.... ginnie:hug:

I am so sorry for your reaction! I'm not even sure Benadryl would've helped if you took it beforehand. Are you allergic to shellfish and don't know it, by any chance?

Did they admit you? What did they do for you? Stare?!! :cool:

You, as a patient, have the RIGHT to say "NO" to any test or substance! It is NOT required. They "like" to have contrast but I usually say NO!!!

Have you spoken to your primary doctor? That might be a very good idea. At the very least, they should check your kidney and liver functions. I don't know what other drugs you're on but at least make sure that the iodine is out of your body. There are chelating supplements you can take (i.e., Zeolite) but you need to speak to your doctor before doing anything. You don't want to make things worse.

I assume you let your neuro know about this too?

Do you have a medical alert card and/or bracelet? I think that's very important. What if you are unconscious and no one can speak for you? You don't want this sort of thing happening again.

I hope you'll get better. What a scary thing to have happen. Take care.

Annie

When I had contrast dye injected IV, it felt like a panic attack injection. The ill effects only lasted a short time. The technician seemed to think that it was typical.

I'm sorry you had such a bad time. :hug:

A lot of CT technicians don't make the connection between a patient coming in for a thymus scan for MG and the possibility that they might have a reaction to the dye.

If I recall correctly, they did my CT scan without the dye precisely because I questioned the need for them to use it. They contacted my neurologist and she told them in no uncertain terms NOT to use it.

When I had to have an angiogram a few months later, I was put on a mega-dose of steroids a day before because the dye had to be used (and I was the one who brought up the possibility of a reaction in the first place). Thankfully, I had no adverse reactions.

Why does the dye cause more problems in MG patients?

Brennan, I did more research on the iodine/shellfish thing. I guess they have changed their tune in the past few years! I did research a long time ago and "everyone," including Mayo, had been saying don't have Iodine if you have a shellfish allergy. Well, I guess now they've backed off of that stance. Every single time and on every single "form" before a CT, they ask if someone has an allergy to shellfish. Unreal. It always makes me question if this is health driven or drug company driven. :rolleyes:

It hardly matters what studies say when you DO react to a drug so strongly. You should never have that drug again.

Annie

http://emedicine.medscape.com/articl...view#aw2aab6b8

http://emedicine.medscape.com/articl...view#aw2aab6b9

http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/3614668

And a very detailed article from the UK.

http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/15856/spc

Absolutely Annie. If you have any kind of negative reaction to the contrast dye you should never have it again - the next time may be worse again. I don't react badly to it myself but I do know that many people do.

The link I provided indicated that people with asthma seem to be likely to have a problem (the flood of histamine probably?) I'd expect that this is the same reason MGers tend to have troubles with it.

Guess I picked the wrong day to read this topic as my first CT Scan was just scheduled for Monday :rolleyes:

Made it through the CT scan fine with no reactions but a day later I am feeling really weak especially in my hands. Has anyone experienced a delayed reaction like this to the dye. I was feeling real good last night and was thinking I may be turning a small corner. Today I have to say I am a bit discouraged.

Any kind of stress will cause an increase in MG symptoms. The dye reaction that I experienced was immediate. It occurred within 8 seconds of injection.

Contrast Dye Iodine
 

Just a quick note....if you have are action to contrast dye....remeber that they often use iodine during syurgery prep....no need to ask me how I know:)

I had a CT with contrast last week and I felt much worse 2-5 days after with breathing function particularly. At times during those 3 days I thought I might need to go into the ER because of respiratory distress, but I was able to rest calmly until the Mestonin kicked in. Today is the first day I have felt back to my normal. The good news the results showed no Thymoma.

In 2005 I had a similar experience after being admitted to hospital for pneumonia. Before having C-Scan with iodine injection, I had had a bromium swallow. Because the bromium swallow left me with extreme difficulty with my muscles (ability to swallow worsened) the attending physician ordered the iodine C-Scan! This almost killed me literally! My MG symptoms worsened even more to the point where my bp was so high they were giving interventions throughout the days and nights which kept me ill. I was on antibioyics, prednisone, albuterol, pain killers, mestinon, allegra, receiving IFF treatment and other inerventions for hbp of which lisinopril was one. I was in hospital for 2 weeks getting worse daily. Finally the doctor called in psychologist because she was too arrogant to admit that she couldn't treat a myasthenic. When my insurance agreed to careflight me to hospital in dallas which treats myasthenics, she refused to sign order because in her words "they couldn't do anything more for me than she was doing". I was eventually discharged only to end up same night in emergency room. The next few months were horrific for me as I was in and out out of hospitals. It took 3 months before I could eat and swallow regular diet. And it took almost 6 months before I could walk without using assistive devices. I knew that I had what my doctor had termed chemical allergies and I had taken medication in past which presented problems though not quite as severe. I had been in remission and the overly agressive treatment with bromium swallow and Iodine Cat Scan almost did me in. I no longer take toxic prescriptions on regular basis and am mindful that sometimes I have to have emergency interventions with medications but I refuse iodine, antihistimines, antibioticsm pain pills, and many more. Holistic and alternative treatment is what I use.

A few years back when I had the ct scan for thymus, it was the ct tech who said they would need to take extra precautions because I might be myasthenic and more susceptible to a bad reaction to the dye.

They used a pediatric solution (a much lower iodine concentration), put it in much more slowly, and had a resident right there as the dye was administered in case there was a problem!! They were freaking me out - - but it was the beginning of my realizing that I had to be more educated and more careful.