DEXA Dilemma - Round 4

[Nerak12]

Finally success!!!! I have managed to get my Gadolinium-enhanced MRI scan appointment brought forward to next Tuesday 😀. It’s taken 3 weeks 6 e-mails and 15 phone calls! Looking after ones health is hard work!!! Tenacity rules OK!! 💪🏻

[Ansteynomad]

Result! Sounds like you have the same issue as me, that being unwell is a full time job!

[Nerak12 in reply to Ansteynomad]

Just as well I’m retired - ha ha! Well, I thought I was. I’m sure there’s more delights to come 🤦🏻‍♀️ I was going to go back to work (on my own terms), that’s why I’m trying to complete a diploma. May be a dream at this rate, but keeps me sane - normally!

[Jan_Noack]

off topic for PMR I think but are you sure you need the gad? They all romoe it and the imaging radiologist wanted to give it to me , but it turns out I never needed it at all when I saw the nerusurgeon.

[Nerak12 in reply to Jan_Noack]

No, I’m not sure I need the enhancement and always right to query, but the consultant gave it some deep thought before changing plain MRI to enhanced and decided on that rather than a PET scan, so I’m having CT without contrast as well. Maybe overkill, but with the symptoms I’m getting at the moment and prior history he’s covering all bases! Radiologist has reviewed the need for Gad MRI and has approved it and in my experience they’re pretty conservative and not slow to suggest alternatives. We’ll see! Watch this space... 🧐😀

[Jan_Noack in reply to Nerak12]

loads of people have nasty reactions to gad.. the contrast on a CT scan is usually iodine which isn't as bad (though they do use others as well like Diamox as well as Iodine). read up on it first. There is currently a lot of controversy and it can be mostly replaced by a lot of new software, which is sadly not available in Australia mostly except for research. This is a facebook (yes it has its nutter(s) but it has some valid points too MRI Gadolinium Contrast Safety Side Effects & Toxicity Research there are probably lots of other places. The guidelines for MS patients is to no longer have it (maybe after the first scan). The toxicity does build up but it can affect some with only one scan. It depends what the MRI is looking for and it is more difficult for some radiologists to read with out it.. but with the software enhancements it is almost as good (if one could get it). the software naturally is too pricey to be used over here!..ie it requires a lot of volume and while there are extremely large medicare rebates for using Gad and nothing for using the software Gad will be used.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Nerak12]

appliedradiology.com/commun...

At present there is no definitive diagnostic procedure for PMR - it is possible this is it. Only using it will confirm that.

[Nerak12 in reply to PMRpro]

This was a good article. The incidence of side effects with gadolinium enhanced MRI are low. Risk v benefit always has to be considered. On current best evidence I’m persuaded that Gad-enhanced benefit for me outweighs risk 🤞🏻. Bit of a surprise when I rocked-up for my CT this afternoon. - it was with contrast! 😲 ooh, that wet and warm peeing yourself feeling!! Very sweet Spanish Radiographer with an excellent canulation technique and an interesting conversation on the difficulties of growing pomegranates in England 🙄 Told him to stick to berries! Now off to flush out the kidneys 💦💦💦💦💦🍺 cheers!!

[Anna135]

Hope it gives you answers!

[Nerak12 in reply to Anna135]

Let’s hope . Everything crossed 🤞🏻