Contrast scan

[aladymo]

I remember seeing something here about dye being injected for a scan. Was this ok with PMR?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

PMR isn't the problem - even without PMR there can be problems with reactions. Always something to discuss with the doctors.

[aladymo in reply to PMRpro]

I’ve never had any scan with dye before. What shall I discuss with the dr ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to aladymo]

They are supposed to ask you medical history questions - and have checked renal function as well as explaining it to you and getting your signature consenting to the procedure first. But it depends what sort of scan it is, what they are scanning and what medium they are intending using so it's a bit difficult to suggest quesions.

[aladymo in reply to PMRpro]

How do they check renal function? Not with an image scan I hope 😱

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to aladymo]

The first thing is to do blood tests where a standard inclusion these days is an eGFR, an estimated glomerular filtration rate. Originally it was a study to see if it was possible to flag up patients who needed closer monitoring for renal problems. Used properly it is quite a good tool - unfortunately some GPs and practice nurses don't realise that the staging they use isn't really indicating a patient has kidney disease, just is normal progression with age, tell the patient they have Stage 2 kidney disease and scare them half to death!

labtestsonline.org/tests/es...

[aladymo in reply to PMRpro]

So good to know. thank you again and again❤️

[lizzie47]

I had a CT scan with dye this year and asked the very same question on this wonderful site and had such a lot of help.If you put in CT scan with dye in the search box on top right you may be able to find questions and answers to help.I have GCA not PMR.I am sure you will get lots of replies from the loverly people on the site.I wish you well.Lizzie

[aladymo in reply to lizzie47]

Thank you

[piglette]

I had a CT scan with contrast media dye recently. I must admit it did make me feel a bit rough, but nothing that a visit to the pub afterwards could not cope with.

[aladymo in reply to piglette]

Love it!

[HeronNS]

Depending on your age you may wish to have your kidney function checked before agreeing to any dye. My stepmother was having a heart procedure, dye was used. It poisoned her kidneys, which apparently had already been at low functioning level but no one had checked. She spent the rest of her life on three times a week dialysis treatments. But she was between 90 and 92 when this occurred.

[aladymo in reply to HeronNS]

Yikes !

[Telian in reply to HeronNS]

Yikes again!

[Telian]

Depends what the scan's for. Don't think having PMR is a worry. I have GCA and PMR and had kidney scans with dye and been okay but don't have the contrast when I have brain scans, might disintegrate the bits I have left, no seriously they asked if I was allergic to iodine as a child! but decided it was too risky as I've had too many reactions to meds over the years. The dye they use is different for the brain to one used on the body. PMRpro explains what you should do.