How Bad is Contrast Dye

[paul.karen]

I have been putting off a procedure due to things i have heard about contrast dye.

How bad is it on the kidneys.  If i only have about 15% funtion what are the chances it will totaly kill the remaining funtion i have?

[Rerun]

After the procedure you need to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water.  Can you do that? 

I had the procedure done (Heart Cath) when I was already on dialysis and fluid restriction so I could not drink that much and it took the rest of my kidney function.

Hope this helps. 

[paul.karen]

yes i can drink that much.

So the water will keep the dye from hurting my remaining kidney funtion?

[Brianna!]

I thought if you had dialysis right after the procedure, it will keep your kidney function? I had a procedure for my fistula where they had to use the dye, and I had dialysis right after, and my kidney function is still the same.

What procedure are you having? I had a bladder test done with that dye after a surgery to see how things were healing, but I didn't need dialysis after, because it didn't go to my kidneys or something like that? So not all procedures with that dye will kill your kidney function, I guess?
I hope I'm not giving wrong answers!

-Brianna

[MooseMom]

I personally wouldn't go near contrast dye unless it was unavoidable for a procedure that was absolutely necessary.  I've had a couple of tests done in the past that called for the use of contrast dye, but when I told them that I had kidney disease and should avoid the dye, they were able to use another method (usually entailed drinking something horrid instead of being injected with it.).  There are a lot of people out there with kidney problems who need procedures done, so I find it hard to believe that an alternative wouldn't be available for you.  Wouldn't hurt to ask!

[paul.karen]

I am hemorrhaging  from my right kidney.  And there may be a tumor.  They want to use the dye to see if there is a tumor.  But my Neph says only about 5% of PKD patients have cancerous tumors in there kidney.  He also said we could wait a few months and see if it grows.  If it grows then he said to have it done.

I also may have a blockage (aschmia) in an artery.  Found this out during my stress test to be put on TX list.  I have no symptoms and it is a 50/50 chance that i do or dont have a blockage.  So im nervous about killing what function i still have left.

So it is not just one but maybe two doses of dye i will end up needing.
As for pulling it out with dialysis i do PD so im not sure doing dialysis that way would get it out of my body.  But if i have it done i will drink plenty like Rerun said.

Thx for your responses.

[Brianna!]

I forgot you were on PD! Sorry! I'm on Hemo, so I don't know if PD would get rid of the dye. I wish I could be more help to you!

[paul.karen]

No worries Brianna.  Others who read this will now know that dialysis(hemo) can drain out some of the contrast dye.  All input is usefull input

[MooseMom]

I can certainly understand why you wouldn't want to put your remaining kidney function at risk for tests that might end up showing that nothing was ever wrong in the first place.  Let us know what you decide to do; this is an interesting dilemma, and I hope everything turns out OK for you.

[sullidog]

This vascular surgeon that I can't stand wanted to do a venogram so he could build a fistula, this man swares by them but I refused, the altrasounds are good enough for me. When I told him the dye could kill my remaining function he's like well your kidneys are pretty much gone anyways.
Troy

[cloud393]

My neph says NO to the contrast dye.  Like MM said, I also have needed tests that require contrast and they were able to use one that you drink instead of inject and it worked fine with no further damage to kidneys.  You shoud see about using the drink.  It does taste bad but they mixed it with 7-up so it was tolerable.

[sullidog]

How would you describe the taste? Is it as bad as k-lite?
Troy

[FindingNeverland]

I would say it depends on what type of contrast, I had contrast dye to do my vein mapping for my fistula and I was fine. However, I absolutely refuse to do an MRI with contrast dye because that's the one I hear has given people problems. Over the summer I had a 'suspicious' looking spot on my liver that they wanted to get a better look at after viewing it on ultrasound and they wanted to do an MRI with contrast to which I refused, so they set an appointment to do a biopsy. My np from nephrology called in a furry as to why I declined and I was like look, I don't want it and they're more than likely going to end up doing the biopsy anyway. Which is weird because when I initially went for the MRI they had to call my doctor because I refused the contrast and he said I shouldn't get it anyway because of my kidneys, so I wonder why my np was so uptight about it...

[jennyc]

I know it's pretty bad. The first thing they asked me before the fistula plasty was "how much function do you have left" when i said about 4% (with dialysis as PD was failing) the surgeon sighed with relief. Had i had 15% i wouldn't do anything with contrast dye unless life threatening. I mean if it's to do with your heart i wouldn't put it off. It could very well kill off your remaining function so i guess you have to wiegh up the pro's and cons

[chiefsfan301]

In order to save what function I have left I had to drink Acetylcysteine 20% before the procedure on my heart.

[texasstyle]

My husband had a procedure done withthat and they dialyzed him right afterwards.

[Chris]

With a transplant, they do not want us having the dye and usually have some other stuff to drink that starts with a G. I have it written down somewhere, but the stuff is nasty, salty tasting. I had to drink 6 cups (about 12 oz each), but was also used in oatmeal for a gastro test I had.
 
So hopefully you will be asking for more options other than they dye they want to use. It is your body and not their's to toy with.
 
Good Luck paul.karen

[monrein]

With a transplant, they do not want us having the dye and usually have some other stuff to drink that starts with a G. I have it written down somewhere, but the stuff is nasty, salty tasting. I had to drink 6 cups (about 12 oz each), but was also used in oatmeal for a gastro test I had.
 
So hopefully you will be asking for more options other than they dye they want to use. It is your body and not their's to toy with.
 
Good Luck paul.karen

This has been my experience too Chris and I can't remember back to what went on when I was pre-transplant for the first time.

[RightSide]

The studies I've seen, suggest that with contrast dye you have about a 3% chance of total loss of kidney function.

As others have already mentioned, dialyzing immediately afterward can reduce this risk.

[kitkatz]

Ask the tech when you get there.  MAke them aware you are a dialysis patient or in kidney failure.  Tehyc an change the type of contrast or some tests to safer stuff.