tattoo MRI problem

I have a large 9 year old black and grey tattoo on my lower back, and
I needed to have an MRI on the exact same area because there is a
hemangiamona there (the mri was without contrast). During the MRI my
tattoo got warm so we stopped the MRI. 15 minutes later I was
experiencing tachycardia , high blood pressure, and had a terrible
metallic taste in my mouth. the symptoms, including some full body
flushing, continued for a few days. my dr thinks it could have been
panic attacks, which is totally possible, but i've had no history of
panic attacks and have had multiple MRIs of different body parts
without issue.

Is it possible that the ink from the tattoo got into my bloodstream if
it was destabilized by the MRI? have you ever heard of any really
adverse MRI/Tattoo stories outside of tattoos simply getting hot? I am
just wondering if there have been any instances of really extreme
reactions. The tattoo is less than 10 years old, would ink that young
have less metal or iron oxide than newer inks? i have one on my
stomach in the same place that is about 5 years old which is also
black and one in the same area that is about 8 years old.

is it possible this was an extreme allergic reaction? could too much
iron have gotten into my blood stream and caused an iron overload? all
symptoms stopped about a week after the MRI was performed.

any help would be greatly appreciated because this whole experience
has been very odd. i'm just curious if you've ever heard of this
happening to any other tattooed folks or if you have any idea if ink
under 10 years old is traditionally considered the type to have less
iron oxide etc in it?

bridget.mcg...@gmail wrote:

> I have a large 9 year old black and grey
> tattoo on my lower back, and I needed to
> have an MRI on the exact same area <snip>
> my dr thinks it could have been panic attacks,

I came >this< close to what I'd call a panic attack during a recent
MRI on my right shoulder. I never thought of myself as claustrophobic,
however that tube was big time uncomfortable for me.

> which is totally possible, but i've had no history of
> panic attacks and have had multiple MRIs of different
> body parts without issue.
>
> Is it possible that the ink from the tattoo got into my
> bloodstream if it was destabilized by the MRI?

I don't know, however the MRI technician did ask about tattoos and
their location. When I said there was no tattoo near my right shoulder
she replied with something like, "Oh, that's good."

> have you ever heard of any really adverse MRI/
> Tattoo stories outside of tattoos simply getting hot?
> I am just wondering if there have been any instances
> of really extreme reactions. The tattoo is less than
> 10 years old, would ink that young have less metal
> or iron oxide than newer inks? i have one on my
> stomach in the same place that is about 5 years
> old which is also black and one in the same area
> that is about 8 years old.
>
> is it possible this was an extreme allergic reaction?
> could too much iron have gotten into my blood stream
> and caused an iron overload? <snip> or if you
> have any idea if ink under 10 years old is traditionally
> considered the type to have less iron oxide etc in it?

Google search string of tattoo ink, iron oxide:

"Yes, there is medical evidence that a tattoo can cause a reaction
during magnetic resonance imaging (an MRI). The tattoo inks expected
to cause a reaction are those containing iron oxide (some black,
brown, red, flesh, yellow, orange). Not all dyes of these colors
contain iron oxide. Also, some dyes of other colors may contain lesser
quantities of magnetic metal.
Magnetic metals can convert the radio-frequency pulses of an MRI
machine into electricity. The burning sensation that would be felt at
the site of the tattoo may be a result of electricity running through
the tattoo or from the 'pull' exerted on the magnetic material in the
tattoo.

I am unaware of any state laws requiring a technician to warn patients
of a potential interaction between a tattoo and an MRI, so if you
believe you may have a tattoo containing an iron oxide pigment, you
need to bring this up with your physician." /copy and paste from
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthi...ltattoomri.htm

See also:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...arch&DB=pubmed aka
http://tinyurl.com/48x2u
http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/u...5;t=001756;p=1
aka http://tinyurl.com/yugldb

--
Curt

On 8 May 2007 19:49:14 -0700, "bridget.mcgraw@gmail.com"
<bridget.mcgraw@gmail.com> wrote:

>I have a large 9 year old black and grey tattoo on my lower back, and
>I needed to have an MRI on the exact same area because there is a
>hemangiamona there (the mri was without contrast). During the MRI my
>tattoo got warm so we stopped the MRI. 15 minutes later I was
>experiencing tachycardia , high blood pressure, and had a terrible
>metallic taste in my mouth. the symptoms, including some full body
>flushing, continued for a few days. my dr thinks it could have been
>panic attacks, which is totally possible, but i've had no history of
>panic attacks and have had multiple MRIs of different body parts
>without issue.
>
>Is it possible that the ink from the tattoo got into my bloodstream if
>it was destabilized by the MRI?

I don't think so, particularly in the time period you're describing.

> have you ever heard of any really
>adverse MRI/Tattoo stories outside of tattoos simply getting hot?

No, and I keep a look out.

> I am
>just wondering if there have been any instances of really extreme
>reactions. The tattoo is less than 10 years old, would ink that young
>have less metal or iron oxide than newer inks? i have one on my
>stomach in the same place that is about 5 years old which is also
>black and one in the same area that is about 8 years old.

Reactions with MRI are almost all with much older ink, and I believe,
with coloured inks as well. Since no one but your artist, (and maybe
not even them) can say for sure what's in your ink, however, it's not
impossible that you have old-style ink in there, though I suspect it's
very unlikely.

>is it possible this was an extreme allergic reaction? could too much
>iron have gotten into my blood stream and caused an iron overload? all
>symptoms stopped about a week after the MRI was performed.

I think it's very unlikely that you had an allergic reaction, though
obviously you had a reaction of some sort.

>any help would be greatly appreciated because this whole experience
>has been very odd. i'm just curious if you've ever heard of this
>happening to any other tattooed folks or if you have any idea if ink
>under 10 years old is traditionally considered the type to have less
>iron oxide etc in it?

I've not heard any story like yours before.

I think that your doctor's suspicion of panic attack is certainly a
plausible scenario, even when you don't have a history and such that
doesn't preclude the possibility by any means. In general warming of
tattoos with MRI, which does happen occasionally, is easily controlled
by wet compresses and the procedure continuing.

I assume you've never had a reaction to tattoo ink before, or had
trouble healing, that sort of thing.

I hope you investigate the occurrence with your health care
professionals, and I wish good results and ink-friendly reasoning upon
you. I will take a good look at the newer literature in the next week
or so and post anything interesting that appears. Please post any
follow-up information.

nj"good luck"m

--
"I do not rhyme to that dull elf
Who cannot imagine to himself..."

thank you for your response, if you don't mind my asking, why are you
so interested in this subject? do you have any medical background?
in general, your opinion totally seems to be with the majority, so
that's good (for me at least)

it's just been hard getting a decent timeline on when tattoo ink
became less metallic, since some sources say 10 years and others say
20.

also, considering i've had other mris on other parts of my body, maybe
that brings the likliehood down too. one thing that was interesting is
that my iron count after this experience was very high, though it's
since dropped down. that could be coincidence, i'm not sure.


On May 9, 3:35 pm, N Jill Marsh <njma...@storm.ca> wrote:
> On 8 May 2007 19:49:14 -0700, "bridget.mcg...@gmail.com"
>
> <bridget.mcg...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >I have a large 9 year old black and grey tattoo on my lower back, and
> >I needed to have an MRI on the exact same area because there is a
> >hemangiamona there (the mri was without contrast). During the MRI my
> >tattoo got warm so we stopped the MRI. 15 minutes later I was
> >experiencing tachycardia , high blood pressure, and had a terrible
> >metallic taste in my mouth. the symptoms, including some full body
> >flushing, continued for a few days. my dr thinks it could have been
> >panic attacks, which is totally possible, but i've had no history of
> >panic attacks and have had multiple MRIs of different body parts
> >without issue.
>
> >Is it possible that the ink from the tattoo got into my bloodstream if
> >it was destabilized by the MRI?
>
> I don't think so, particularly in the time period you're describing.
>
> > have you ever heard of any really
> >adverse MRI/Tattoo stories outside of tattoos simply getting hot?
>
> No, and I keep a look out.
>
> > I am
> >just wondering if there have been any instances of really extreme
> >reactions. The tattoo is less than 10 years old, would ink that young
> >have less metal or iron oxide than newer inks? i have one on my
> >stomach in the same place that is about 5 years old which is also
> >black and one in the same area that is about 8 years old.
>
> Reactions with MRI are almost all with much older ink, and I believe,
> with coloured inks as well. Since no one but your artist, (and maybe
> not even them) can say for sure what's in your ink, however, it's not
> impossible that you have old-style ink in there, though I suspect it's
> very unlikely.
>
> >is it possible this was an extreme allergic reaction? could too much
> >iron have gotten into my blood stream and caused an iron overload? all
> >symptoms stopped about a week after the MRI was performed.
>
> I think it's very unlikely that you had an allergic reaction, though
> obviously you had a reaction of some sort.
>
> >any help would be greatly appreciated because this whole experience
> >has been very odd. i'm just curious if you've ever heard of this
> >happening to any other tattooed folks or if you have any idea if ink
> >under 10 years old is traditionally considered the type to have less
> >iron oxide etc in it?
>
> I've not heard any story like yours before.
>
> I think that your doctor's suspicion of panic attack is certainly a
> plausible scenario, even when you don't have a history and such that
> doesn't preclude the possibility by any means. In general warming of
> tattoos with MRI, which does happen occasionally, is easily controlled
> by wet compresses and the procedure continuing.
>
> I assume you've never had a reaction to tattoo ink before, or had
> trouble healing, that sort of thing.
>
> I hope you investigate the occurrence with your health care
> professionals, and I wish good results and ink-friendly reasoning upon
> you. I will take a good look at the newer literature in the next week
> or so and post anything interesting that appears. Please post any
> follow-up information.
>
> nj"good luck"m
>
> --
> "I do not rhyme to that dull elf
> Who cannot imagine to himself..."

On 9 May 2007 18:19:24 -0700, "bridget.mcgraw@gmail.com"
<bridget.mcgraw@gmail.com> wrote:

>thank you for your response, if you don't mind my asking, why are you
>so interested in this subject? do you have any medical background?

I'm a former radiographer, keep sort of a FAQ about bodymods and
diagnostic imaging procedures, and I'm generally nosy about shit.

>in general, your opinion totally seems to be with the majority, so
>that's good (for me at least)

Speaking purely selfishly, I hope you pursue this aggressively and get
a definitive answer, then report back here. Considering the
confounding factors, however, I suspect that's unlikely. I do hope
you get a sufficient answer for you to proceed with medical treatment
without too much trouble.

nj"knows what lurks in the heart of men"m

--
"I do not rhyme to that dull elf
Who cannot imagine to himself..."

On May 9, 9:19 pm, "bridget.mcg...@gmail.com"
<bridget.mcg...@gmail.com> wrote:
<snipped>

Just wondering why you know your iron levels were up after the MRI?
That means you knew the before numbers, what is normal for you, and
what means elevated for you.

Somewhat curious.

Kavin

Kavin Taylor wrote:
[...]

> <snipped>

re

"one thing that was interesting is that my iron count after this
experience was very high, though it's since dropped down."

> Just wondering why you know
> your iron levels were up after
> the MRI?

A blood test?

> That means

Does it?

> you knew the before numbers,

Maybe.

But not necessarily.

Perhaps "my iron count after this experience was very high," refers to
the OP's iron count compared to the norm.

http://www.ecureme.com/emyhealth/data/Iron_studies.asp

Hth.

> what is normal for you, and
> what means elevated for you.
>
> Somewhat curious.
>
> Kavin

--
Curt

On May 12, 7:44 am, Curt <curtja...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hth.

Hope that helped your little boner problem.

Do you think you'll explode if you don't reply to one of my posts?


Kavin

Kavin Taylor wrote:
> Curt wrote:
>
> > Hth.

Well, look at that! You actually left some bit of text to go along
with the attribution. Will wonders never cease!

> Hope that helped your little boner
> problem.

Viagra, Cialis and, hey, Kavin Taylor asking stupid questions. ED meds
have a new champion!

> Do you think you'll explode if you
> don't reply to one of my posts?
>
> Kavin

Iirc, I've ignored more than one of your posts.

Still in one piece, Kavvy.

--
Curt