Posted by llrrrpp on June 3, 2006, at 13:34:43
In reply to Non-Consensual Research/SPECT, posted by Think1234 on May 31, 2006, at 6:03:29
Hi Think,
I'm glad that you're getting treatment from a psychiatrist, and that you've been taking your medicines as directed. This is very good. You must tell your treatment team about your concerns about this SPECT procedure. Please bring them all of the documentation that you can, and let them help you put the pieces together.I'm not sure whether you were or were not part of a non-consensual research program. It would be pretty unusual, however.
I am qualified to say that a lot of "non-invasive" medical procedures, like SPECT, may have side effects that are not well-reported, well-studied, or well-understood
I used to perform research studies (with consent forms and everything!) using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain. I also participated in several studies myself. Part of working around an MRI machine involves exposing yourself to strong magnetic fields (3Tesla, in my case) and pulses of radio waves. Now, there is currently no literature which says that MRI's are harmful, but General Electric has a warning for technicians and radiologists that patients should not hold their hands in the scanner. To do so might create a circuit which would allow for unpleasant tingling sensations "peripheral nerve stimulation". Also, the pulses of radio waves and the magnetic fields raise the temperature of the brain slightly (kind of like being in a microwave) is this healthy? well, probably not, but it also hasn't been proven to be unhealthy. I also experienced a dizzy sensation when I was in the scanner. It felt like my head was spinning. Exactly like the vertigo I got when my otolith dislodged in my semicircular canal last year. Very unpleasant vertigo which stopped when I got out of the bore of the magnet.
I am not aware of any cognitive or emotional or physical symptoms once I left the magnetic field.
If you believe that SPECT contributed to your symptoms, you should speak with your doctors about it. regardless of whether you were in a research study or not, you may have experienced side effects from this procedure that fall under the category of "adverse events". Such effects need to be documented to educate the medical field, and ultimately to help give patients the most information possible when they decide whether to undergo a procedure or not.
hope this helps, good luck with everything
-ll
poster:llrrrpp
thread:650844
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060530/msgs/652389.html