Magnets. How do they work? (when you feel like crap)

April 1, 2021 4:44 AM

I've got an MRI coming up, but it's scheduled in the evening on the day after I get my second Pfizer COVID vaccine. Given all the anecdotal evidence about the after-effects of the second shot, should I reschedule?

Everyone I know who's received the Pfizer vaccine has had a rough time for a day or two following getting the shot. My ENT scheduled me for an MRI/MRV with gadolinium contrast to look into why my tinnitus is getting worse, and I wanted to get that done before my followup appointment with that doc. I get the vaccine in the morning on 4/5 and then go for the scan in the evening on 4/6, then have the followup on 4/12.

YANMD, but am I overthinking it?

posted by emelenjr to Health & Fitness (12 answers total)

Lots of people (including myself) don't have significant side effects, particularly after the first dose, and even if you aren't feeling great you might as well get it over with instead of losing time you feel GOOD to go through the unpleasant MRI. If you're feeling REALLY bad you'll probably have a fever and they will turn you away; if that happens you can reschedule at that point.
posted by metasarah at 5:17 AM on April 1, 2021

Have you had MRIs before? How stressful do you find them (and how difficult is it for you to get to the MRI facility)? Some people (myself included) just kind of zone out in the MRI tube... my husband always used to fall asleep, but he was the kind of person who can fall asleep anywhere. So if an MRI isn't an inherently stressful situation for you, even if you do feel crappy it could just be a good way to kind of multitask and do two mildly-to-moderately unpleasant things at once.
posted by mskyle at 5:23 AM on April 1, 2021 [5 favorites]

My main concern would be if you developed chills during the MRI to the point where they can't get a clear image. I had mild chills & feverishness after my first dose of the AZ vaccine, to the point that I probably wouldn't have been able to keep still enough to get a good MRI image.
posted by terretu at 5:46 AM on April 1, 2021 [1 favorite]

I have had at least a dozen MRIs. I do not think the issue is feeling badly after your 2nd dose. It is simply can you keep still long enough for them to get the scan. I was exhausted for the two days after my 2nd Pfizer dose. I think that would have been a plus. I have fallen asleep in the tube several times. Sleeping or being exhausted would help me remain still.

I don't know that you are overthinking it, I just think that after consideration it should be a non issue.
posted by AugustWest at 6:37 AM on April 1, 2021

My concern is that they'll probably tell you not to come in if you have any symptoms related to COVID, and a lot of the post-vaccination symptoms line up. Can you call the office and ask then what they'd recommend?
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:46 AM on April 1, 2021 [3 favorites]

No. Get the shot.
posted by james33 at 6:50 AM on April 1, 2021

Do you have someone who will drive/accompany you to the MRI? If you feel lousy that day you won't want to get yourself there by yourself.

Call your ENT's office and ask what they think.
posted by mareli at 7:01 AM on April 1, 2021

I would reschedule the MRI.

You want to be certain that whatever they see in the MRI is actually due to your ongoing problem, not some fluke due to the test's proximity to the vaccination.

You don't want an ambiguous "Well, it could be this but it might be this" outcome. You want as much certainty from the test as possible.

I wouldn't reschedule the vaccination.
posted by MrJM at 7:05 AM on April 1, 2021 [3 favorites]

I work at a vaccine site in California, and if I were you, I'd try to reschedule my covid shot for a day or two after the MRI. Having your second shot 23 or 24 days after your first is just fine (the 21 days is the minimum effective spacing, not maximum), and at least where I work, we will do our very best to reschedule someone that needs it. We actually reserve a few appointments daily for this kind of shuffling. Life happens, sometimes people cannot make their appointments for whatever reason, and the goal is the get everyone vaccinated. I don't know what it's like where you are, but if you have any way of talking to a human about your upcoming appointment, and explaining that your appointment conflicts with a necessary medical procedure, try that route first.

If that's not possible, I think I'd do things as you have them scheduled now, and hope for the best. I find MRIs more boring than anything else, and I think I could handle one while feeling crappy. YMMV
posted by JuliaIglesias at 7:49 AM on April 1, 2021

I have had no effects from my second Pfizer shot that I got Tuesday, so really, you have no idea for sure if you will actually be ill or not. But I'd say to talk to the medical professionals about rescheduling anyway just in case.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:38 AM on April 1, 2021

Canada is scheduling the second Pfizer and Moderna shots FOUR MONTHS after the first shot. This is kind of a huge gamble, but it's being taken because vaccine deliveries have been really slow, we're in very bad shape, and it was decided that the strategy of getting at least the first dose into as many people as possible would save more lives. Delaying your second dose by a few days past the 21 day recommendation is probably going to be a non-issue effectiveness-wise.
posted by heatherlogan at 5:58 PM on April 1, 2021

I was really worried about vaccine reactions, but I had Pfizer and had no reaction other than a bruised feeling at the injection site. My second dose was two days ago. I was tired, but I'm also going through a health issue with my cat and my normal reaction to a low-level stress is to sleep more. But I think asking your doctor for their thoughts would be best.
posted by agatha_magatha at 9:07 AM on April 2, 2021