[James]

#1063765

Hi Ann Marie,

You are correct, we cannot diagnose, but you clearly are taken the correct steps by advocating so well for yourself already. For a lot of patients, they are afraid to ask questions, and often don’t properly communicate the symptoms they are experiencing, so good for you on that.

You, in conjunction with the Doctors that you are working with, have to rule everything out. You stated that you had TSH, T3 & T4 taken in August and all appeared normal. Your symptoms came on suddenly and then subsided according to you. When we are truly hyperthyroid, the symptoms can wax and wane slightly, but as a rule not suddenly go away altogether. Getting thyroid levels under control when hyperthyroid takes weeks and sometimes months to get under control. If you can’t get in to see your endocrinologist soon; why not suggest that your Dr. test your thyroid again, just to be sure everything is in check (TSH, T3 & T4 is a good start). In all my years of reading discussion boards on Graves’ disease, I have never heard of an MRI, triggering a Graves’ relapse. Continue working with your physicians to get the answers that you deserve. The body is definitely a complex machine. Self advocating for yourself and working with your physicians like you have been is your best line of defense. We don’t see that all the time with all Graves’ patients.

Wishing you the best,

James

[ariz4me]

#1018289

Hi,

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease about 6 years ago and was in remission for about 3 years. I had to have a liver MRI with contrast (gandolinium) in July. Right after the MRI, I felt lightheaded, nauseous and my chest was beat red like a sunburn. The next day, I started with hyperthyroid symptoms – anxiety, frequent bowel movements, "rush feeling" through body; etc. These symptoms lasted for about a week. Things seemed to settle down. Then in September I had to have another MRI for my cervical spine (I have severe cervical spinal stenosis). This time I requested it be done with no contrast. The same symptoms started a day later. This time I have what I believe to be is lingering thyroiditis. That God the rushes have subsided but I’m still getting several of the other symptoms. Additionally, my eyes are really hurting when I move them about and I’m feeling dizzy and nauseous when they hurt. I had an ENG today and my vestibular did not respond with marked dizziness when they filled my ears with air or super cold water. I had so dizziness but it wasn’t what it should have been. I am supposed to go in for another MRI – this time of my brain and I’m scared to death about reoccurring symptoms. I contacted my psychiatrist for the anxiety/panic and he indicated that I am having some sort of a reaction to something and that the MRI cannot be discounted as just a coincidence. I also have a call into my endocrinologist but he cannot see me until December. In the meantime, I am trying to obtain a script for bloodwork from my internist for thyroid antibodies; cortisol and estradiol. I had a physical in August and according to my internist, my thyroid looked normal – he just did the usual tests – TSH, T3, T4. To make matters worse, I am also going through menopause.

My question are: Can an MRI trigger all these symptoms? Does it sound like Graves? Can anyone shed light on what could possibly be going on? I know that we cannot diagnose. I’m just hoping to get guidance in pursuit of an answer.

Sorry for the long post,
Ann Marie

[bluewave]

#1063766

Hi Ann Marie,

I was dx w/ GD about 8 months ago. I’ve had 4 MRIs in the last 1.5 yrs or so, including two this week. I had one of my face/sinus area on Monday, and it was w/ and w/o contrast (gadolinium). The second was on Wed, and was a liver MRI w/o contrast Ferriscan (iron content study). The first two were brain, one w/ and w/o contrast the other w/o only.

I’m always anxious during an MRI and find my symptoms a little worse before and after it. For me, I think it is the stress of worrying about what I’m having the MRI for that worsens my GD symptoms. However, the last one on Wed was my fourth MRI, and I was very, very dizzy afterwards. I thought it was because they made me hold my breath so many times towards the end of it, but the techs said the dizziness was a common side-effect of the MRI. This was done at Johns Hopkins, so I assume they know what they were talking about, but I’ve never felt anything but nervousness w/ my other MRIs. The contrast agent used w/ an MRI does not cause problems for most people, unlike CT contrast dye, but maybe it, or something about the magnetic field caused you trouble. I know either the breath holding or the MRI made me very dizzy this time.

By the way, about a year ago I also had an ENG. They used hot water in each ear, and it made me so unbelievably dizzy I would not even let them do the cold water. So, I’m sure your ENT or audiologist will want to follow-up on you if it did not provoke significant dizziness.

Sorry to hear you are having these multiple problems. The last year plus has been an unpleasant one for me w/ the GD and all these tests…went from feeling very healthy to being a mess, though I’ve improved w/ ATDs lately.

Good luck to you.

[Author]

Posts