Brain scan.

[Kayley12345]

I have my CT brain scan on Wednesday, due to dizzness, headaches and ringing in the ears. I'm very afraid of the contrast dye they might use. I just don't like like the idea of an dye being injected into my veins. Has anybody had one done before?

[HearYou]

Yep. Been there, done that. Two questions: has the position or existence of tiny "crystals" in your inner ears been ruled out? If so, do you know what they are looking for?

As far as the "contrast" (not contact) "tracer" material goes, I have never had a problem with it. It doesn't stay in your body long. It is used to "highlight" in some fashion how certain parts of your brain are functioning or not to detect or rule out what may be causing your health situation.

This method is used in many diagnostic procedures of different parts of the body as it provides a very succinct rather than a general idea of what is happening there. I have had it for MRI, brain scans and several other diagnostic tests over the years. Have had no after effects and in some cases prevents exploratory surgery or a variety of medications or types of physical therapy being tried to determine what's happening.

Give your doctor a call if you still have questions to reassure you.

[Kayley12345 in reply to HearYou]

No, I'm yet awaiting to have my ENT appointment, I heard of these crystals, what exactly are they? I've had doctor's say many things about my ears, some say they can see fluid in both ears, also middle ear infection. I've other doctors say I'm might have an inner ear disturbance. Thank you for your reply, I do want the contrast dye done because I know it's for my own good, but it just sounds scary.

[HearYou in reply to Kayley12345]

I actually don't know much about these "crystals". A friend, a neighbor and my sister were found to have them when they were having dizziness and balance problems. They went to physical therapy where the therapist placed their head in different positions. That's really all I know. You can be scared if you want, but hope not too badly ok? Think anything new can make one nervous. I wish you very good results in determining your medical issue.

[Ashley228]

I just had it done today for my MRI and I was also slightly concerned about the dye aslo. But everything went fine. You should have nothing to worry about.

[Kayley12345]

Thank you for your comments, making me feel slightly better about it

[Jeff1943]

The 'crystals' are pieces of miscellaneous debris (like particles of skin) that sometimes end up resting on the hair like structures in the ear that help us maintain balance. This causes vertigo. Eventually they go away on their own but they can be assisted to go by the Epley Manouvre which HereYou mentions. There are YouTube videos of how to do this but it's safer to have the Epley Manouvre under the supervision of someone who knows what they're doing.

[HearYou in reply to Jeff1943]

jeff,

Will they show up on the brain scan? Or the scan will eliminate other causes so the possibility of the crystals would be considered?

[Jeff1943 in reply to HearYou]

HearYou, I'm no expert but I tend to think detrius the size of bits of dust would not show up on a brain scan but the scan will eliminate other possible causes.

I've had vertigo caused by these bits of debris a few times and had a braon scan. Never had the Epley manouvre but heard its highly effective in 90% of cases in moving the debris/crystals. I just waited until it went away.

[HearYou in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you for replying. (But how long did you have to wait? I have a physical issue from an accident that causes my leg to buckle, and I have learned to fall quite nicely. Don't like falling, but accepted it will be a permanent part of my life) Just hope you didn't have that happening to you for long. Again thanks.

[Jeff1943 in reply to HearYou]

No it wasn't long, took about 2 months to pass but the vertigo was quite mild not disabling.

[HearYou in reply to Jeff1943]

Whew, good to hear. My neighbor was walking like a drunk for several months and falling before the useful diagnosis was made.

[b1b1b1]

Contrast is not a problem. Ask the nurse if you will feel anything when she administers it. That will reassure you.

[seaShelly]

I had a brain MRI scan a year ago with contrast. At that time my anxiety and panic were at an all time high. I thought everything would harm or kill me somehow. I was so scared I rescheduled it many times and finally my fear of a possible brain tumor overcame my worrying and I finally went and had the damn thing done.

I was sitting with the nurse who was about to do my iv thing for the contrast and I started bawling. Yup. Straight up bawling. She was like omg what is wrong sweetie? I told her I was scared it would give me an allergic reaction or poison me and she tried hard not to laugh too much. She told me the dye is made from minerals in the earth and that in all the years she has done it she never saw a single person have a reaction.

She said "I hate to say it but,,, you are not special. You are not going to be the magical One Person who has an issue. It's not gonna happen. Now give me your arm " lol. I am prescribed Xanax so I took one (she said it was fine for me to do that), and between the Xanax and her reassuring me, I was able to get through the procedure. I was in the mri machine for a good 30 min and I just kept singing the whole time. After it was over I realized it was one of the easier tests I've done and not a big deal.. But I know what you are feeling. Go and do the test and afterwards let us know that you did it. You'll be done worrying about

[reinagrace]

Hi Kayley12345 i have had MRI with contrast dye injected, for tumor in my throat. I was going crazy the other year trying to figure out what was causing same symptoms as you- i started having dizziness, ringing in ear (more like a constant sound in my head) plus nausea- but all physical causes were ruled out after bloodwork so my psychiatrist said it's anxiety. though brain scan was never done. i did believe it was anxiety eventually bc the symptoms are not as bad when my anxiety level goes down. none of this has to do with tumor in my throat- that was accidentally found when i had MRI for neck pain due to cervical disc problems.But you wanted to know if anyone had contrast injected and yes i have. i had my klonopin with me in case i would need it , but i didn't. i just held on to the rosary in my hand and prayed (it's plastic so they let me bring it in MRI). the contrast just feels like something cool filling your body, doesn't feel bad at all. Just make sure you pee right before. I would like to know your results, since i also have dizziness /sound in head--so please update us. Blessings

[Kayley12345 in reply to reinagrace]

Thank you for your reply, I've also been having problems with my throat and neck, my neck has been very painful lately, with horrblie crunching noices. The contrast sounds so really scary, it's just the thought of having a allergic reaction to it. And yes I'll keep updated, also did anything come up in your blood? X

[reinagrace in reply to Kayley12345]

Hi Kayley12345 all bloodwork was normal and i repeated the tests bc i couldn't believe that all that dizziness could be just from anxiety, but i believed finally bc it calmed down when i put a plan in place to alleviate the fears, what i was obsessively fearing at the time- long story . now it's a matter of putting that plan in place. i still get the dizziness but not constant like it was at that time , but it's still scary. The sound in my head never stopped- a hearing specialist gave me a book to cope with tinnitus (ringing in ears) and a lot of how i manage it is similar to how i learned to manage anxiety . i now have to sleep with a fan on all the time to help drown out the sound. it's connected to anxiety too, for me , bc sound in head is worse when anxiety is worse. I'm glad in your case, though, that they are being thorough enough to do a brain scan so you know for sure what's going on. As for neck pain i assume that would be a separate test - a cervical MRI which is what i had. I'm sure my neck pain is connected to my anxiety too, bc i hold so much tension in my muscles, esp around my neck area. i know it's scary to have procedures- do you have a pill you take for panic, that you can take half an hour before the brain scan? I'll pray extra for you Wed. that you get thru it ok

[Kayley12345 in reply to reinagrace]

Thank you! X

[reinagrace in reply to Kayley12345]

Kayley12345 praying for you today and will continue to, that everything goes smooth tomorrow and you are able to feel calm thru it

[Kayley12345 in reply to reinagrace]

Thank you x

[Kawa]

Very rarely are people allergic to the dye. Plus if you happen to be allergic, they have things ready for that, so you won’t be in harms way.

The dye will most likely heat your body from head to toe, then make you feel like you have to pee really bad. But other than that, you’re fine.

They will most likely tell you to drink lots of fluids, then send you home.

Just watch the site that they put the needle in. It’s normal for liquid to come out at first, but it’s so tiny that it really only shows a bit on the gauze they first put on.

Overall it’s a really quick test and very simple. I’ve had three CT’s with dye. I was terrified each time, but they all went well.

[Kayley12345]

Thank you guys for your comments, making me feel much better! X

[valachia-t]

Please let me know what they say about the MRI ?

[valachia-t]

I mean CT Scan ?

[Kayley12345 in reply to valachia-t]

Yes I will do x

[valachia-t in reply to Kayley12345]

Ok

[Ashley1489]

Please keep up all updated I've had dizziness five years

[valachia-t in reply to Ashley1489]

Ashley, what do you take for your dizziness, if you don't mind me asking ?

[Ashley1489 in reply to valachia-t]

Xanax 0.5 mg

[HearYou in reply to Ashley1489]

That's interesting. I didn't know an anxiety med could help that. Has that helped you significantly? Thanks.

[Ashley1489 in reply to HearYou]

I can definitely tell if I don't take it that's for sure

[HearYou in reply to Ashley1489]

Thanks for the answer.

[valachia-t in reply to HearYou]

From my understanding, anxiety meds are prescribed a lot if times for dizziness

[Kayley12345 in reply to Ashley1489]

Hi, I will do, I've been reading your posts and I too have had your symptoms, mine has been going on for 6 months now. Dizzness is quite bad sometimes, even when I'm lying down, relaxed I still get it. Also with the sinus pressure. I've also now got tinnitus, doctor said that i've got an ear infection that's probably been caused by my sinus problems, but I have no idea what to think. What tests have you had done?

[grandmavic]

I had vertigo 4 years ago. It felt like i was on a ship rolling in 100 ft waves. It lasted a few weeks until they showed me how to do the exercises. Its when u sit on the floor and fall to the right and then to the left and eventualy it went away. 10 years ago, i had a brain tumor taken out, had vertigo at that time too. Then some seizures that made me shake bad. I am now tumor free and seizure free and vertigo free with meds for seizures. I have had a ton of mri with contrast. Never had a problem with the dye at all. Good luck to u. Hope all comes out ok

[Kayley12345 in reply to grandmavic]

Hi thank you for your reply, I'm glad you made a full recovery and thank you!

[Lvictoria81]

I've had it done and honestly I'm a HUGE hypochondriac, but let me tell u the honest to god truth, you don't feel it. When it's injected they go slow and then all of a sudden u feel warmth. It kind of feels like u wet yourself but u didn't. It just feels like a warm blanket is laid upon you. It didn't scare me at all.

[Kayley12345 in reply to Lvictoria81]

Thank you for you reply, it's just a very scary idea of having something like that injected into you, I keep thinking what if something goes wrong! What was the result of your scan? X

[Lvictoria81 in reply to Kayley12345]

Well I had a cat scan on my throat... That's where my anxiety is located. Always my throat. I thought I had an abscess or something but it came back normal... The best thing to do is breathe. The technician that did it was amazing they took some without the dye and then when he put the dye in. He said ur gonna get really warm and omg it was so warm and so comforting in the strangest way. I actually liked the feeling. It had no after affect or during affect. It was the quickest feeling of warmth. I'd do it again if I had to. Just don't be afraid. I give better advise for others then I do myself. I can help u if u need me to

[reinagrace]

how'd it go Kayley12345 ?

[Kayley12345 in reply to reinagrace]

Hi, it went okay, despite being very nervous though, they didn't end up using the dye, I'll have my test results back in about 2 weeks x

[HearYou in reply to Kayley12345]

Glad to hear you went through it well.