MRI "sunburn" ??

[njshell]

Hello,
I haven't been on much, just to read some posts once in awhile, so hope this question / topic hasn't already been discussed. Went to Dr. recently for numbness in my pinky - then to Neuro for a fun EMG to see if I had a pinched nerve in my elbow. No pinched nerve, although something was going on at the neck level, and he suspected a herniated disk, and asked how far I wanted to go w/ potential add'l testing or surgery given that I had no pain at the time, just numbness. Told him that one back surgery for a spinal tumor was more than enough back surgery for me, but that I wanted to be sure there were no add'l tumors. That took him aback (this was a new neuro for me) and once I briefed him on my Schwannoma / Meningioma at T9-T10, he started pondering NFS, so sent me for an MRI, with and w/o contrast (gaddolinium). I noticed that when I was done with MRI, I had a sunburn like rash on my chest. Didn't really hurt, but was warm and felt just like a sunburn. Then I remembered, I had gotten the same reaction on previous MRIs, but was so distracted w/ outcomes, that I had never noted it out loud before. So, I told the MRI technician, who informed the nurses and they asked me to wait 15 min or so to see if it was a reaction to the Gaddolinium. They didn't quite know what to do as they apparently had not seen that type of a reaction before. It started to fade, so I left.

A few months later, I had a second MRI, and this time I notified everyone upfront that I had gotten a sunburn rash on a recent MRI, so they had some internal discussions, wondering if it was the Gaddolinium as well. They decided to go ahead but pulled me out of machine to check me BEFORE they administered the contrast dye, and the rash was already developing, so now we've ruled out Gaddolinium as the culprit.

Can't imagine that that's a GOOD thing to have happen. Just wondering if it causes any lasting damage - probably just nervous after the recent articles about women getting mammograms and increased risk of cancer, etc.

Has anyone experienced this rash after MRI, or heard of it?

Thanks,
Shell

[Todd]

you don't happen to have a large tattoo on your chest do you? tattoos can leave burns after an MRI.

ok, on the outside probability that you don't have a chest tattoo. is the only place you get the rash is on your chest?

this is going to a way-out-there remote hypothesis that I am just throwing in here for research purposes, so, don't laugh at me too hard here. What if you have elevated iron in your blood? MRI reacts to metal. I know, I know, science fiction maybe, but it might be worth researching. If the MRI folks hadn't seen it before, then it's probably something way out there in left field.

todd

[Todd]

ok, a quick search produced this:

Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NFD)

you should get tested for this. problems with gadolinium are caused from the body not getting completely rid of the dye. If you body didn't completely get rid of the dye from the first time you had an MRI, then they can't rule out gadolinium problems by checking you prior to administering gadolinium in your most current MRI because that dye would still be in your system from prior MRIs.

since your kidneys are what filter out the dye, your kidneys need to be checked first.

todd

[njshell]

Thanks Todd, scary stuff. I can't remember now if I got the rashes EVERY time I had an MRI or not. I don't have any kidney issues that I'm aware of, though I did have high levels of protein in my urine during my last pregnancy (2007), which made the Dr's nervous enough that they decided to induce the baby a few days early. I THOUGHT that they had done a urine test a few days/weeks after birth to be sure that the protein levels had receded. I have an upcoming Dr. appt, so will be sure to ask.

[Todd]

protein in urine during pregnancy is a sign of pre-eclampsia (not sure I spelled that right). It can kill you and your child. Birth is the only cure. I almost lost my wife and my 1st born to pre-eclampsia. she's a freshed mouth teenager now. my 1st born, not my wife ;-)

if it only bothers you while you're in the machine, then you're probably alright. folks with the dye still in them have the rashes and other problems outside of the MRI.

google this: Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome (EHS)

you might not be fully allergic unless the radiowaves are at high levels like they are in an MRI.

docs are still on the fence about whether EHS is real but some folks swear they have it.

todd

[njshell]

Todd,

Yes, the doctors were worried about preeclampsia, but were puzzled that I had no other symptoms other than the protein in the urine, and at least one of the Dr's (I got to see almost all of them in the practice that last week) mentioned that if protein was still high after delivery, that I might need to get checked out to see if there wasn't any kidney issue. I'm glad that your wife and child came through safely. My oldest (only 5 1/2) is already moody like a teen, so I'm dreading her reaching that stage in actual years.

EHS sounds more likely - the warm, tingly feeling and rash sound spot on. Also, I THINK I may have gotten rash after mammo and/or ultrasound a year or two back. I'm due for ALL my dr. appts and such, so I may get a chance to find out shortly!

Shell

[dancer32]

hi. thought this might help someone else out there. i have a hard time with mris, and i found out why. MRIs make me hot and leave a sunburn on me. when i had my brain done, it felt like things moving in my brain( very uncomfortable). i was diagnosed, via hair analysis, of being copper toxic. not via Wilson's disease, but from low dopamine(ceruloplasmin, which removes copper, mirrors levels). high glycine also rises levels( which i have). suggest you have yours looked at via hair analysis( or biopsy). blood work and urine only shows "the moment", not accumulation. most doctors cannot read them anyway; they look only at ranges. low zinc is also a predictor. science has answers for everything, if you have the right tests, knowledge, and good analytical skills. good luck ;D

[yes, I had an MRI sunburn]

Yes, I recently had an MRI sunburn and it seems no one has any answers and possible cover ups. Had many MRI's before with no problems. They said they didn't do the dye, only saline. Please help, anyone have any answers to this? They said nothing was wrong with the machine. As soon as something came thru the IV, my mouth burned, back of head, body sunburn... now my stomach hurts. Help, anyone?

[Guest2]

Yes, I had a head MRI without contrast in February this year and began burning up like sunburn all over and became very ill with weakness and flu-like symptoms. Been in pain and very ill now for 2 months. Hope my body recovers eventually. I've aged terribly, skin looks like I just came back from 10 years in the desert with no sun lotion, shame because I looked so young for my 27-year old self.

[Guest 2]

Hi, ma again. It's been 3 months since the MRI, skin still burning up and still quite weak and unwell. Still flush like I have sunburn. It is most odd when I scratch, it stings, goes bright red and swells.

I think these reactions are more common than medics believe, and as a result, are not getting reported. Patients try to, but are told it is anxiety or virus. I have therefore created a Facebook group to bring people together (power in numbers) called MRI Victims, please search for it and ask to join.