Brain MRI with and without contrast

I am not a medical professional.
I have had a few MRIs with contrast and I have had no problems.
I think that they are pretty safe. At the MRI, the technicians always ask about allergies, especially to seafood.
The technicians have warned me that the contrast can make you feel weird all over, but that is the normal reaction. I was glad they told me in advance.

Good luck with it!

Robson, why are they having you get a brain MRI? (If you don't mind sharing).
I have low-pressure glaucoma, which means that the pressure is normal but that there is something unusual about the optic nerve. Is that why you are getting the MRI?
Thanks!

@annewoodmayo. I’m getting MRI because of vision changes and headaches but not sure why is the contrast necessary

Robson,
I'm pretty sure that the contrast helps them see in better detail. Kind of like the contrast knob on old TVs!

When I had the MRIs, first they did some scans without contrast, and then they gave me the contrast IV, and they did some more scans with the contrast inside me. I think they compare the non-contrast scan and contrast scan to get a really good look at what's in the brain.

Headaches- yuck! vision changes- scarey- my sympathy!

I recently had an MRI with contrast and I think it is safe as there are a lot of them done every day. They inject contrast into blood stream and it does feel weird for a few seconds, but there is no real pain. The hard part is listening to the noisy machine and waiting for scan to be over. The good news for me was there was nothing new and nothing grew from the last scan. When are you scheduled to have the MRI?

@dsh33782 Thanks. I guess whenever I schedule it. I haven’t yet as was worried about the side effects from the contrast

I have had issues with GAD contrast. It makes me sick to my stomach but not while I am in the scan process. I had one nurse put a gauze pad soaked in alcohol under my nose during the contrast scan and I did not feel nauseous while I was in the scan. I haven't heard of others having issues with the contrast, just me. I feel it is safe to do and important that they see the issues to help you.

I have had numerous MRIs with contrast with no problems. They tell me to drink alot if water afterwards to flush out the contrast. They always use earplugs which helps and sometimes play music through the headphones which is a big help.

Obackus- Nurse and alcohol-- Isn't it amazing what some nurses and techs know about relieving problems? There are still some good ones out there!
Good of you to share that idea!

I have just had an MRI both without and then with the dye which I understand is a radioactive dye and enables every little blood capillary to show up. I was also advised to have additional water to flush out the dye.
I did feel more tired and the following day/night had a splitting headache but cannot tell if that was because of the MRI or not. My opthalmologist had asked for an MRI as tests showed I had pressure on one eye and it wasn’t being caused by any part of the eye itself but radiologists advised there was evidence of a brain lesion - referred to a neurosurgeon who then wanted another MRI to get a full picture of the lesion and so this week I had this one with the dye. Now I wait to see what the neurosurgeon has to say has to say. However the use of dye seems to be a common and necessary procedure to best understand what is happening inside our complex tissues and organs.
Best wishes for your procedure and health outcome.