Experience with mannitol for mri contrast?

[Layla]

I'm having an mri next week and after having a bad experience with Metamucil as contrast for a CT enterography I've asked what they will use for contrast for this mri and it's mannitol.

Does anyone have experience with this?

The Metamucil caused a blockage which led to a week long hospital stay so I'm trying to avoid a repeat of that. I know I have strictures again so don't really want anything that bulks up like Metamucil.
I've asked the radiology dept but they didn't really have any useful info
I've done some googling but most results just talks about how effective mannitol is compared to other contrasts, nothing on what effect it has on the patient. I did find one reference to it causing the runs and anal leakage, just what we need!

So if anyone can tell me more about their experience, please share.

Thanks

 

[Layla]

Anyone?

 

[ronroush7]

I don't have any experience but I saw online where it is a diuretic.

 

[RNGirl]

Hi Layla, I am getting ready to schedule a CT Enterography and am quite concerned about the contrast too. Mannitol is not allowed on the low FODMAP diet and is a polyol. I have a very hard time with artificial sweeteners. A few tums with sorbitol and a small amount of Maalox sent me into a flare. I am going to look into the options for people that don't tolerate these artificial sweeteners. Good luck to you, I'm not looking forward to this at all. Take care.

 

[ronroush7]

Hi Layla, I am getting ready to schedule a CT Enterography and am quite concerned about the contrast too. Mannitol is not allowed on the low FODMAP diet and is a polyol. I have a very hard time with artificial sweeteners. A few tums with sorbitol and a small amount of Maalox sent me into a flare. I am going to look into the options for people that don't tolerate these artificial sweeteners. Good luck to you, I'm not looking forward to this at all. Take care.

My best to both of you.

 

[RNGirl]

Thanks for you nice words Ron.

 

[tots]

I had a CT scan with contrast but not an MRI.

It really did a number on my GI system.

I am sorry I couldn't be more help!

Let us know how you do and what your experience is, I hope it goes well!

Good Luck


Lauren

 

[Layla]

Oh dear, now I almost wish I hadn't asked!
Thanks for your responses everyone.

I'm also sensitive to artificial sweeteners, not terribly but I'm assuming it will be a large quantity. I'll ask on the day if there are any other options, didn't get very far over the phone. I'm driving myself so will take a change of clothing just in case.
I'll let you know how it went.......

 

[Layla]

Well that went better than expected!
The mannitol itself isn't terrible to drink, not very nice but miles better than most other preps and I made it home without an accident.
The MRI itself is also easy, takes about 20 minutes and you have to hold your breath a lot but that's about it.

My stomach is rumbling like mad now so a "purge" is probably imminent, hopefully that will be all and there will be no lasting after-effects. If there are I'll update this post.

RNGirl, I hope it goes equally well for you! I did ask about alternatives but they were not very forthcoming with options so probably worth while to call them sometime ahead of your CT.

 

[RNGirl]

Layla, so glad it went well for you!! I am on the fence for an MRI too. Did you have Voluman? Or the sweet bottle of stuff that is like citrus or something? Did you get sick when they injected the med to shut down the bowel? I know I have to do either the CT or MRE, just don't want to flare again. Good for you, just getting it over with Heal fast!

 

[Layla]

Not sure what it was called, it was just mildly sweet water, no citrus or other flavouring.

They used Buscopan to relax the bowel, have had that before and never had any noticeable side-effects so that was fine. They also inject a contrast half way through the procedure, a different one than for the CT, that one makes you feel like you need to pee and this one doesn't. I could feel it going in when it started up but that was all.

The tummy rumbling continued into the night, the mannitol is supposed to have laxative properties but it just made me really really gassy, bloated and crampy. Most of that is gone now so back to normal D, maybe slightly worse than normal but not ridiculously so.
All the gas did aggravate the fissures though, hopefully they'll go back to sleep soon!

Do you know when and what procedure you'll be getting yet? Good luck either way!

 

[RNGirl]

I just had my first appointment with a new GI doc. She's the one who wants me to have the MR Enterography or CT Enterography. I am having second thoughts about her now. I work in a very large medical center and one of my friends happened to mention that she did a colonoscopy on her daughter and she had problems afterwards. They had to rule out a perforated bowel and had to do a CT as well. She is really pushy and seems to want you to do only what she wants instead of being your partner and let you make some decisions too.
I think the testing is on hold for a while. I may go back to my old GI. He's not great, but he is supposed to retire soon and then I can get into one of his partners that I think will fit my style better. I've been told by two GI doc's now that I have mild to moderate crohns and I really don't have much in the way of symptoms. Will see my old doc in May. Best of luck to you too Layla!

 

[ronroush7]

I just had my first appointment with a new GI doc. She's the one who wants me to have the MR Enterography or CT Enterography. I am having second thoughts about her now. I work in a very large medical center and one of my friends happened to mention that she did a colonoscopy on her daughter and she had problems afterwards. They had to rule out a perforated bowel and had to do a CT as well. She is really pushy and seems to want you to do only what she wants instead of being your partner and let you make some decisions too.
I think the testing is on hold for a while. I may go back to my old GI. He's not great, but he is supposed to retire soon and then I can get into one of his partners that I think will fit my style better. I've been told by two GI doc's now that I have mild to moderate crohns and I really don't have much in the way of symptoms. Will see my old doc in May. Best of luck to you too Layla!

Wish you the best.

 

[JaimeM]

Ask about gastrografin maybe? We use it on ppl that may have perforations as it's safer than barium. It probably depends on the facility and what they have as well.

 

[RNGirl]

Thank you so much Jaime!!

 

[lika]

I had a very different experience to a lot of people (everything I read before my MRE). The mannitol didn't taste bad and I didn't need to got to the toilet until around 2 hrs later but it wasn't bad at all.

However, what I want expecting was to feel weak and ill the next day, I had very strong pains in my stomach (up GI) and ended up vomiting. I havent read many other people having this reaction to the mannitol and I'm not particularly sensitive nor is my suspected Crohn's bad at all.

 

[Scifimom]

Not much of a help here, I am allergic to all contrasts for MRI. I had an allergic reaction during my first MRI and I am not allowed to have any contrast any more.

Funny thing is they told me to push the button only if I had a VERY good reason and I did not think that feeling itchy all over was a VERY good reason. By the time they finished the exam I was covered in hives .