MRI made me sick to my stomach

[RightSide]

Yesterday, I went for an MRI to look at the bone pain in my neck. 

I wasn't in that magnetic field for more than a minute before I started getting a severe case of vertigo, and they couldn't do the MRI.  It was just like being carsick or airsick; I was sick for 8 hours before it subsided.

The technician told me that with the new-model MRIs, the strong magnetic fields can actually affect the fluid in the inner ear, causing vertigo, dizziness, nausea, etc.  in sensitive people.  (I do have a sensitive inner ear; I still get carsick from time to time.)  In fact, the technician told me that working around the machine, she sometimes gets dizzy herself.

So I'll need to talk to my doc about this.  I'll need to take some kind of anti-vertigo medication or else I won't be able to tolerate MRIs.

Anybody else have this problem?  There is some stuff on the Internet about it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/22/mri-dizziness-vertigo_n_976281.html

[billybags]

Rightside that must have been awful for you. Is it a new machine? I know my husband has had a couple of MRI's but had no effect.

[Brightsky69]

MRI - is that the one where you go inside the machine?? I get CT and MRI mixed up.

 I had one not too long ago....no problems with vertigo but some big problems with claustrophobia. I have to take something for it when I am stuck in one of those machines.

[willowtreewren]

This was NOT the right thing for me to read a few hours before going in  for an MRI to see what is going on with the severe headaches I've been having. 

 

Aleta

[Jean]

Wow, I had never heard of those symptoms. I had a MRI, but had nothing like that. Hope they can get it all sorted out for you soon.

[MaryJoe]

I didn't get dizzy or nauseous, but when I looked in the angled mirror that lets you see out the bottom of the tube all I could see was a big poster of The Good Shepherd!   I told the tech he might want to rethink his artwork.

I hope the results let your doc figure out what was causing your pain.

[Annig83]

I didn't have the vertigo... that's what they were testing me for... I have had tons of open MRI's...I'm actually surprised I don't glow in the dark, with all the radiation, and x-rays and MRI's and CT's I've had this past year!
When they had to scan my head, I got so claustrophobic I thought I was going to have a panic attack in the machine.  I also do PD.  They told me that the magnets wouldn't affect anything with it....I think they were wrong... I know part of my cath. is titanium... but I don't know what they used to tack up the fatty tissue inside... I felt a burning and pulling sensation and I couldn't get anything done.  I wonder if it was because the tech told me to watch for it, and with the combo. of claustrophobia and panic, I freaked myself out into thinking it was burning?  LOL    made myself so sick I couldn't even believe it! 
I hope they figure out what's going on with you RightSide.  Neck pain is no fun... I've been having it for about a month... I know it's the damn pillows I use... I need new ones!    Are you able to take Valium?  At least a low dose... or an anti-nausea pill of some kind?  I know sometimes they give Ativan, or Xanax to relax a patient beforehand... which is deinitely what I'll need next time... Get well soon and Good luck!!

[sullidog]

Nope no problems here. I have a cover stint in my access but it didn't affect it any.

[pitagory]

my problem is I am allergic to the dye. I get very sick after I have an MRI but as long as I let them know,they inject me with something else.