Chest wires and MRI

[bvdr]

Yesterday, I had a shoulder arthrogram and MRI. I had a form to fill out and all these questions to answer about previous surgeries, implants, pacemakers, heart valves, wire sutures, and the like. I truthfully answered each one. I checked YES for mechanical heart valve and YES for wires in my chest (I had a rib removed and wired back into place during VR). I had my MRI compatible card ready to show them and I had already in my mind determined that the wires wouldn't present a problem either. They didn't. I was surprised that no one asked about either affirmative answer though. After the MRI, I asked the tech and she said, "most heart valves are OK these days." It just seemed a bit sloppy and reinforced my belief that we all have to be alert and informed regarding our own health issues.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

I had these same questions a couple of months ago when I had an MRI. They asked me before I asked them, but didn't seem interested in the specifics of the mechanical such as manufacturer, model, etc.

Seems like there should be some sort of non-destructive, non-injurious compatibility test beforehand. But then, how often do MRI problems with implanted devices actually happen, I wonder?

 

[Sherry]

Hi, Betty. I will be interested to hear what you find out about your shoulder. (I bet you had that MRI because of the recent fall.) Mine still bothers me daily, but no one can seem to spot anything on scans. Let us know what you find out.

Regarding the MRI, I had my first one last year, and I too found it odd that they ask those questions but don't seem to elaborate as to which ones cause problems. I asked him point blank, and the tech said, "Well, I can look it up in the book for you," to which I agreed that he should. It seems that my particular St. Jude's is compatible but that there were older valves that weren't. We valvers definitely have to watch out for ourselves, don't we?

 

[bvdr]

Well, I just got a call from the hospital regretfully informing me that the arthrogram and MRI need to be redone tomorrow . I am a little upset since the arthrogram is quite painful and a part of the MRI was as well because of the required position of the arm. I asked why and was told that the materials that were injected into the joint space had either not been in the joint space or had leaked out before the MRI got all the pictures it needed. I think he was in the joint though since the radiologist was showing me some things on the screen. He did tell me that I had a nasty spur and the "most wicked" hook on my acromion he had ever seen. He was pretty young though so he probably hasn't seen too much. I'm just hoping that it isn't a complete rotator cuff tear that allowed all that stuff to leak out so fast.

There is no additional cost for the next one and I guess that is something positive. The other positive is that obviously the coils of wire in my chest didn't cause any problems.

Sherry, you are right. These are tests being done as a result of that fall I took several weeks ago. There was too much swelling and bruising to do them before now.

I had much nicer plans for tomorrow. I was going to spend it with my little granddaughter but sometimes things don't work out the way we plan, do they?