"The dye used in my MRI scan has left me in a wheelchair – it feels like poison to me."
Clare Garrett, a 45-year-old nurse from Camberley, claims that after undergoing a private MRI scan in June 2024 due to an accident at home, she became reliant on a wheelchair.
This previously active and healthy nurse asserts that the dye utilized in what was supposed to be a routine MRI scan has poisoned her, resulting in her current mobility struggles.
In June 2024, Clare accidentally bumped her head against a kitchen cupboard while taking care of a pet. Following the incident, she began to experience symptoms consistent with a concussion. To expedite her diagnosis and avoid the lengthy waiting periods associated with the NHS, Clare opted for a private MRI scan.
Prior to her MRI, she was injected with gadolinium, a contrast agent that enhances the clarity of MRI images. This chemical is typically eliminated from the body within a day. However, just one day after her scan, Clare woke up unable to lift her head off the pillow, soon noticing a concerning "crunching" sound in her neck and knees.
As her symptoms worsened, Clare underwent two additional MRI scans, both involving gadolinium, during which she unexpectedly developed a heart condition.
Fast forward 18 months, and Clare’s health has continued to decline. Now, she finds herself in a wheelchair for about 90% of the time due to severe pain and ongoing mobility issues.
Dismayed by her rapid health deterioration—especially since she had been running half-marathons just weeks earlier—Clare took to the internet to research her symptoms and discovered a rare but serious condition: gadolinium toxicity, characterized by long-term side effects from the contrast agent used in MRIs.
Testing ultimately revealed that Clare still had alarmingly high levels of gadolinium in her system, even 16 months post-injection. The NHS maintains that adverse reactions to gadolinium are quite rare and typically mild.
Determined to reclaim her health and raise awareness about the potential dangers of gadolinium, Clare shared her story. "Before this, I was very active, maintaining a healthy diet and running five times a week, often participating in half-marathons. But then, in June 2024, I hit my head while pet-sitting. I didn't think much of it at first, but as the days went by, I started feeling dizzy, exhibiting symptoms akin to a concussion."
Clare initially visited her local A&E, but when her condition failed to improve, she decided to proceed with the private MRI scan the following month. After receiving the gadolinium injection, she was shocked to find herself completely unable to move her neck or head the next day.
Since then, her health has taken a further nosedive with severe neurological problems, unstable cervical spine, tachycardia, dysautonomia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, connective tissue disorders, frequent fainting spells, exhaustion, and more.
"After that first gadolinium scan, something felt incredibly wrong the next day. I couldn't even lift my head off the pillow. It was terrifying," Clare recounted. "Now, I collapse almost daily. My partner often comes home to find me on the floor. My connective tissues have deteriorated significantly. I'm confined to a wheelchair most of the time. While I can walk, it's a struggle due to the increasing pressure in my head. Living like this is incredibly painful, and there’s virtually no quality of life left for me."
Eight months ago, Clare learned about possible health risks linked to gadolinium and received a formal diagnosis of gadolinium toxicity last year.
With recovery uncertain, Clare is now actively fundraising to cover future treatments aimed at eliminating the gadolinium from her body. "I had no clue what was happening to me until I started researching MRIs this past year. I was never informed about any risks associated with gadolinium. I was told that it would be out of my system within 48 hours, yet blood tests reveal it’s still alarmingly high in my body nearly a year and a half later. It feels like I was poisoned. This chemical is taking my life away, and I feel as though I’m living in a nightmare."
"Once the gadolinium accumulates beyond a certain level, it may never leave the body naturally. I sincerely hope this therapy will help. I’m exploring options abroad to consult specialists."
"I hold onto hope that I won’t be wheelchair-bound for life. This has entirely altered my existence. Although I know this reaction is rare, individuals need to be made aware of the potential risks. Had I known, I would definitely have reconsidered proceeding with the MRI. This situation has likely cost me around £45,000 over the past year and a half."
You can support Clare in her journey towards recovery by making a donation through her fundraising page.
Gadolinium is a type of contrast medium used in MRI scans to enhance image clarity, injected directly into a vein. These colorless liquids have been administered over 460 million times globally since their approval in 1988. For patients with normal kidney function, the NHS states that over 90% of the gadolinium is usually expelled from the body within 24 hours. An article published in the British Journal of Medical Practice confirms that acute allergic reactions to gadolinium are uncommon.
