Tattoos and MS

Someone is spamming a bunch of newsgroups with "Come and look at my tattoo
site". The MS newsgroup I belong to (yes I have MS) said that while they
knew this was spam not to get iron oxide tattoos because they will
interfere with MRIs. While scanning a part of the body that is tattooed I
can see there might be a problem. Will an iron oxide tattoo on say the arm
interfere with a scan of the head? My last MRI they just had me pull down
my jeans and not take them off. If the metal buttons on my jeans did not
interfere I can't see how a tattoo would. I take out my piercing before my
MRIs just in case. I don't currently have any iron oxide tattoos. Is this
poster spouting bullshit or not?

Fred.

Fred wrote:
> Someone is spamming a bunch of newsgroups with "Come and look at my tattoo
> site". The MS newsgroup I belong to (yes I have MS)

How were you diagnosed? I know someone who had tingling in their hand
and, for whatever reason, the doctor ordered an MRI and discovered
lesions on their brain. MS was diagnosed.

> said that while they knew this was spam not to get iron oxide tattoos because they will
> interfere with MRIs.

Can you reword that? I mean, do you believe a tattoo can interfere
with MRIs? And, if so, to what degree?

http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/co...full/232/3/635
http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/content/full/183/2/541

>From the info there, I gather that occurrence of MRI interference are
rare and that any possible harm is not significant especially in
relation to the possible benefit of the procedure.

> While scanning a part of the body that is tattooed I can see there might be a problem.

Define problem.

> Will an iron oxide tattoo on say the arm interfere with a scan of the head?

No.

Or not unless you're waving your arm around your head during the scan.
D'OH!

> My last MRI they just had me pull down my jeans and not take them off.
> If the metal buttons on my jeans did not interfere I can't see how a tattoo
> would. I take out my piercing before my MRIs just in case. I don't currently
> have any iron oxide tattoos. Is this poster spouting bullshit or not?

Imo, it's BS.

Wait, what exactly was the poster spouting again? That an iron oxide-
ink tattoo would make a person's tattoo explode or cause complete
incineration of the body? Because, then, no. BS.

My last (and only, so far) MRI, the technician asked if I had a tattoo
and then inquired about the location. When I said the tattoos were
located at positions X, Y, and Z while the MRI area of interest was
far removed the aforementioned X, Y, and Z areas, the tech said
something like, "Oh, good."

Regardless, I'm still here. ;o)

However, I would not discount the psychological impact of being
slooooowly run into a coffin-like instrument and then HELD THERE for a
seemingly infinite period of time, oh, say, with a fan blowing in your
face, while a technician directs you not move a muscle. At all. Ever.
For JUST another few minutes (forEVER).

Given that scenario, I can well imagine someone screaming, "I'M
BUUURRRRRRNING UP! GET ME OUTTA HERE!"

Anyway, no burns here.

--
Curt

On Jun 27, 3:13 pm, Fred <n...@none.none> wrote:
> My last MRI they just had me pull down
> my jeans and not take them off.

And the real humor in this is they were just imaging your brain that
day . . .


Kavin

Kavin Taylor wrote:
> Fred wrote:
>
> > My last MRI they just had me pull down my jeans and not take
> > them off.
>
> And the real humor in this is they were just imaging your brain that
> day . . .

Hence perhaps the logic of the phrase "thinking with his little
head."

(ba dump bump!)

--
Curt

On Jun 27, 5:09 pm, Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Kavin Taylor wrote:
> > Fred wrote:
>
FR> > > My last MRI they just had me pull down my jeans and not take
FR> > > them off.
>
KT> > And the real humor in this is they were just imaging your brain
that
KT> > day . . .
>
C> Hence perhaps the logic of the phrase "thinking with his little
C> head."
>
> (ba dump bump!)


In your case it would have been about getting your head out of your
ass.

Kavin

Kavin Taylor wrote:
> Curt wrote:
> Kavin Taylor wrote:
> > > Fred wrote:
>
> FR> > > My last MRI they just had me pull down my jeans and not take
> FR> > > them off.
>
> KT> > And the real humor in this is they were just imaging your brain
> that
> KT> > day . . .
>
> C> Hence perhaps the logic of the phrase "thinking with his little
> C> head."
>
>
>
> > (ba dump bump!)

Get tired, Kavin? Couldn't muster the effort to type "> C>" to go
along with my "(ba dump bump!)"? I undestand. It's okay, pal. Take a
nap. Rest up.

> In your case it would have been about getting your head out
> of your ass.

Aw, Kavvy, my head's not up my ass. You've got your head, neck, and
shoulders so far up my ass, there's simply no room for anything else.
If you'd be so kind...

> Kavin

Tia.

--
Curt

Curt <curtjames@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1182974703.904248.260490@n60g2000hse.googlegr oups.com:

> Fred wrote:
>> Someone is spamming a bunch of newsgroups with "Come and look at my
>> tattoo site". The MS newsgroup I belong to (yes I have MS)
>
> How were you diagnosed? I know someone who had tingling in their hand
> and, for whatever reason, the doctor ordered an MRI and discovered
> lesions on their brain. MS was diagnosed.

My first symptom was optic neuritis in 1992. I was walking in a store a
few years earlier and my leg "just went out from under me". That may
have been a symptom, it may not have been.

>> said that while they knew this was spam not to get iron oxide tattoos
>> because they will interfere with MRIs.
>
> Can you reword that? I mean, do you believe a tattoo can interfere
> with MRIs? And, if so, to what degree?

I don't believe anything of the sort. I was asking if this was true.
According to follow ups in the alt.support.mult-sclerosis newsgroup it
is BS. The original message follows:

-> CAUTION: I know this is SPAM. but MSers must remember that getting
-> tattoos with inks containing iron oxides will make it impossible to
-> get an MRI.

> However, I would not discount the psychological impact of being
> slooooowly run into a coffin-like instrument and then HELD THERE for a
> seemingly infinite period of time, oh, say, with a fan blowing in your
> face, while a technician directs you not move a muscle. At all. Ever.
> For JUST another few minutes (forEVER).
>
> Given that scenario, I can well imagine someone screaming, "I'M
> BUUURRRRRRNING UP! GET ME OUTTA HERE!"

I am not claustrophobic at all. I have had over a dozen MRIs over the
years and I've never had a problem. I've not only had MRIs for my MS, I
have back problems and have had MRIs for that. The first time I had one
the technician did all of the things you talked about and right after
"Now don't move." she put on a CD of Kenny G. I am surprised that the
MRI did not show my brain trying to leave my skull. After the first scan
she asked me "How are you doing?" I said "Fine, but CHANGE THE MUSIC!!!"

Fred.

On Jun 27, 6:42 pm, Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:

CURT> Aw, Kavvy, [...] my head's[...]up my ass. <snip>

My point.

Kavin
(oh what? Like you never?)

Fred wrote:
> Curt wrote:
> > Fred wrote:
> >> Someone is spamming a bunch of newsgroups with "Come and look at my
> >> tattoo site". The MS newsgroup I belong to (yes I have MS)
>
> > How were you diagnosed? <snip>
>
> My first symptom was optic neuritis in 1992. I was walking in a store a
> few years earlier and my leg "just went out from under me". That may
> have been a symptom, it may not have been.

http://www.answers.com/topic/optic-neuritis?cat=health

:oS

Have you ever had to have a visual fields exam related to that 1992
event? I've got high pressure on those puff tests and so the military
recommended I get a v.f. periodically to track for glaucoma. So far,
so good. Some people have higher pressure as the norm.

> >> said that while they knew this was spam not to get iron oxide tattoos
> >> because they will interfere with MRIs.
>
> > Can you reword that? I mean, do you believe a tattoo can interfere
> > with MRIs? And, if so, to what degree?
>
> I don't believe anything of the sort. I was asking if this was true.
> According to follow ups in the alt.support.mult-sclerosis newsgroup it
> is BS. The original message follows:
>
> -> CAUTION: I know this is SPAM. but MSers must remember that getting
> -> tattoos with inks containing iron oxides will make it impossible to
> -> get an MRI.

Okay. And, yeah, then - from what I read and from personal experience
- that is BS. I've had an MRI, so it certainly wasn't "impossible" as
the one newsgroup patron indicated. Then again I didn't have an MRI
done exactly at the point or position of one of my three tattoos.
Still, that seems irrelevant, again according to the info I've read
and heard.

> > However, I would not discount the psychological impact of being
> > slooooowly run into a coffin-like instrument and then HELD THERE for a
> > seemingly infinite period of time, oh, say, with a fan blowing in your
> > face, while a technician directs you not move a muscle. At all. Ever.
> > For JUST another few minutes (forEVER).
>
> > Given that scenario, I can well imagine someone screaming, "I'M
> > BUUURRRRRRNING UP! GET ME OUTTA HERE!"
>
> I am not claustrophobic at all.

Wish I could say the same. I certainly didn't anticipate having any
problems with the procedure, but the ceiling of the machine was at my
nose and I (internally) freakedthe&#%$out. Squozed dem eyeballs shut
tight and prayed for daylight.

> I have had over a dozen MRIs over the years and I've never had a problem.

That's good. And I know for those who DO have a prob, they've got open
machines? And machines with a larger coffin, er, patient area or tray
thingy. (Yeah, medical terminology is a hobby for me.)

> I've not only had MRIs for my MS, I have back problems and have
> had MRIs for that.

Fortunately, I've never had (well, seldom and not seriously) lower
back problems. I get a stiff neck occasionally, but trips to the
chiropractor work like a dream for me. (I initially thought chiro =
nonsense, but no longer.)

> The first time I had one the technician did all of the things you talked
> about and right after "Now don't move." she put on a CD of Kenny G.

heh :o)

> I am surprised that the MRI did not show my brain trying to leave
> my skull.

HA! :oD That was a barking laugh. Thanks. Nice way to end the day.

> After the first scan she asked me "How are you doing?"
> I said "Fine, but CHANGE THE MUSIC!!!"
>
> Fred.

Awesome.

I think the technician played jazz, but I was otherwise occupied
trying to maintain my limited grasp on sanity, what with the walls
seemingly closing in. If I'd opened my eyes, I just mighta outwardly
freaked and attempted ye olde scoot-out-the-tube-frantically
maneuver.

If you don't mind my asking, you were diagnosed in 1992. How are you
doing now compared to prior to your diagnosis?

--
Curt

Kavin Taylor wrote:
> Curt wrote:
>
> CURT> Aw, Kavvy, [...] my head's[...]up my ass. <snip>
>
> My point.

heh :o)

Fun, isn't it? Like a word puzzle.

> Kavin
> (oh what? Like you never?)

But, no, I've never snipped to change the statements that others have
made, iirc. I am a fan of the judicious snip overall, but, hey, do
your thing, Kav.

Anyway, Georgia's getting some press recently. Drug-resistant TB and
multiple murder-suicides. Yeesh.

Unlike you, however, I'm not inclined to wish anyone dead. With that
in mind, Kavvy, DUCK!!!!

Don't mention it, pal. ;o)

--
Curt

Curt <curtjames@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1183001129.331209.69780@q75g2000hsh.googlegro ups.com:

> Have you ever had to have a visual fields exam related to that 1992
> event? I've got high pressure on those puff tests and so the military
> recommended I get a v.f. periodically to track for glaucoma. So far,
> so good. Some people have higher pressure as the norm.

I had a VF test in 1992. The neuroopthalmoligist was sure I had MS. I got a
second opinion that was wrong. I was formally diagnosed with MS in 1998.
One thing that I haven't mentioned is that the neuroopthalmologist was my
Sister's. She had MS worse than I do. She was diagnosed in 1984 and died in
1995. MS didn't kill her, but if she didn't have MS she wouldn't have died.

> If you don't mind my asking, you were diagnosed in 1992. How are you
> doing now compared to prior to your diagnosis?

I am doing OK considering. I mainly walk with a cane. I have a power
wheelchair for long distances like a mall or a casino. I was still getting
around pretty good prior to my diagnosis. I am definately worse now, but it
is 15 years later. Almost everyone is doing worse than they were 15 years
ago. My Neurologist here in Las Vegas actually had me stabilized (before he
retired). My Neurologist in Florida, where I used to live, simply watched
me get worse. I have a new Neurologist that took over for my old one that
is doing me good.

Fred.

On Jun 27, 11:34 pm, Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:

> But, no, I've never snipped to change the statements that others have
> made, iirc.

Your memory is faulty.

Kavin

On Jun 27, 11:34 pm, Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Anyway, Georgia's getting some press recently. Drug-resistant TB and
> multiple murder-suicides. Yeesh.
>
> Unlike you, however, I'm not inclined to wish anyone dead. With that
> in mind, Kavvy, DUCK!!!!

What? Implying I might be part of a murder-suicide pact? I might
come down with TB?

Duck to avoid death?

Typical Curt. "I'm not wishing your death, but I won't cry when it
happens. Oh, but try to avoid it."

Further proof, imo, you should be dead.

Kavin

Kavin Taylor wrote:
> Curt wrote:
>
> > But, no, I've never snipped to change the statements that others have
> > made, iirc.
>
> Your memory is faulty.

Sez you. (Oh, and sez me, but not in relation to you, Kav.)

If I've snipped for fun, I've made it clear as such. Iirc, you have
seemed to have a problem with judicious snipping in the past wrt my
posts. But, hey, I'm open to you offering up examples to support your
whatever it is you're doing.

Have at!

--
Curt

Fred wrote:
> Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote innews:1183001129.331209.69780@q75g2000hsh.googleg roups.com:
>
> > Have you ever had to have a visual fields exam related to that 1992
> > event? I've got high pressure on those puff tests and so the military
> > recommended I get a v.f. periodically to track for glaucoma. So far,
> > so good. Some people have higher pressure as the norm.
>
> I had a VF test in 1992. The neuroopthalmoligist was sure I had MS. I got a
> second opinion that was wrong. I was formally diagnosed with MS in 1998.

:o/

I've read that people can live there entire lives not realizing they
have MS. That it has, in some cases at least, been diagnosed or
observed post mortem. From what I know about the disease (very
little), it's highly unpredictable. Is that true? The unpredictable
part.

> One thing that I haven't mentioned is that the neuroopthalmologist was my
> Sister's. She had MS worse than I do. She was diagnosed in 1984 and died in
> 1995. MS didn't kill her, but if she didn't have MS she wouldn't have died.

That's terrible. My sister is two years younger give or take some
amount of days. I'd hate to lose her in any manner. My condolences, of
course.

> > If you don't mind my asking, you were diagnosed in 1992. How are you
> > doing now compared to prior to your diagnosis?
>
> I am doing OK considering. I mainly walk with a cane. I have a power
> wheelchair for long distances like a mall or a casino. I was still getting
> around pretty good prior to my diagnosis. I am definately worse now, but it
> is 15 years later. Almost everyone is doing worse than they were 15 years
> ago.

Let's see, 30 years of age. Hmmm. I was just graduating from college
(well, three months prior). Definitely had fewer aches and pains and
my vision was stronger. One crown reduced - busted that molar on a
piece of freaking popcorn several years later. What else? Dunno.
Rather not think too long on the subject of aging. Although, hey, I'm
relatively blessed, imo. Otoh, you never know. Ignorance really can be
bliss, if unhealthy at times, I'm certain.

> My Neurologist here in Las Vegas actually had me stabilized (before he
> retired). My Neurologist in Florida, where I used to live, simply watched
> me get worse.

Nice. The Sunshine (and eff you over health-wise) state!

> I have a new Neurologist that took over for my old one that is doing me good.
>
> Fred.

Good. Great! Best wishes for continued health, mobility, etc.

--
Curt