Manitol and mri

[nanny marley]

Hi I've been told I need a MRI on my bowels , I was booked for a colonoscopy, but because of my sever back issues and trapped nerve it can't be done , the nurse told me I will have to have a manitol drink a hour before the scan , I'm just a bit worried has I have issues with sweeteners like even a little,  I get a weird throat and ears and I've read it is a similar substance , not sure if anyone has had one of these scans or could give me some advise on the drink prep thanks in advance 😄

[RMJ]

I’m having this type of MRI this afternoon,  What specifically do you want to know?  From what I’ve read, not all facilities use the same drink prep.

[Scott Adams]

The substance you're likely thinking of is "mannitol," which is a sugar alcohol, and it is indeed used as a sweetener in some "sugar-free" products. However, for an MRI, the drink is almost certainly "Mannite," which is a brand name for a laxative preparation used to cleanse the bowel before the scan. Its primary purpose is not to sweeten but to create a clear image by distending the bowel and stimulating a bowel movement. While the names sound similar, the function and formulation are very different from a small-quantity sweetener. That said, your concern is valid and should be addressed with your healthcare team. The most important step you can take is to call the MRI department or your referring doctor directly. Explain your specific reaction to sweeteners in detail—mentioning the throat and ear sensations is crucial as it could indicate a more significant sensitivity. They can confirm the exact drink they use, check its full ingredient list for you, and determine if an alternative prep is available or if pre-medication is recommended to ensure your safety and comfort during the procedure.

[nanny marley]

Brilliant thankyou for the information I will contact them tomorrow, I was just concerned because I'm already in a bowel flare too , and I didn't want to take anything that would cause me more issues , especially with the way sweeteners make be feel I've had a really bad throat from this type of stuff before , and it upsets my digestive system too and I have a wedding in a week 😳

[nanny marley]

Oral drink: You will be given a solution of mannitol mixed with water to drink over a period of about 30-60 minutes this is what it says it is ,?

[Scott Adams]

It looks like "mannite" is another name for "mannitol":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannitol

You are correct that it can trigger IBS-like symptoms, as we recently did an article on this:

I'm not sure if there is a way around this, as it is likely needed for the test. Perhaps contact your doctor to see if there might be an alternative?

[nanny marley]

Thankyou yes I read up on it beforehand , because or my trapped nerve when I have a bowel flare up it's impossible to keep still  which I will have to do for the MRI ,and it's so painful , and I know if this is what I'm thinking it to be it will cause me terrible issues , sometimes I get to the point where I just want to diagnose myself and act accordingly, because I've been at this year's , and I clearly have all the symptoms , it's so frustrating when you have all this going in and still feel no further ahead 😳

[nanny marley]

Thanks for the list too makes me realise why I still get symptoms after cutting gluten , all that reading has just made sense to why I'm still struggling , thankyou Scott Adams very insightful , I've been baking to and there is xanthum gum in the flour , I understand now why I still have issues with that too, and ive had to cut dairy also , i had a terrible flare few months ago and my throat also was very irritable and I had sinuses issues all makes sence 👍

[Scott Adams]

Let us know how things turn out, and good luck!

[nanny marley]

Thankyou I will 👍

[RMJ]

The solution I had to drink contained sorbitol and mannitol. I was in the MRI, lying on my back, for about 40 minutes. I was given glucagon partway through, and a gadolinium contrast agent. After I got home there was some diarrhea from the prep solution.

[nanny marley]

That seems at lot of solution to have put threw you when you already have bowel issues , I will phone them tomorrow because it's sorbitol I have reactions too, thankyou for the input how do you feel now ? I'm not sure I can keep still for that long with my back issues either unfortunately I didn't know it could take that long 😕

[RMJ]

I wasn’t clear, glucagon and gadolinium were intravenous. I drank about 5 cups of the prep during 45 minutes.

I feel very tired now, probably partly because I was nervous, and partly because I had to fast for 6 hours beforehand and wasn’t very hungry when I got home.

[nanny marley]

Oh yes I can understand the tiredness after going threw all that, must be exhausting especially on the mind I have high aniexty so I can understand that , I wish there more easier ways for people to get help , I had a MRI on my spine some years ago without anything it was really quick and no prep , I understand the need for  them to see better with the bowel ,but you think they would use something a little less traumatic  for ibd sufferers on the bowels by now ,I hope your feeling better today 🙏

[nanny marley]

Had my MRI today I didn't have to have the manitol with my allergy's , I just had a litre of water , they were great with my concerns , so let's see if anything comes of if will keep posted once I have results 👍

[RMJ]

I’m so glad they listened to your concerns!  I hope you get some answers from the MRI.

[nanny marley]

Thanks rmj when I first rang up it was we can't do it without , but I talked to a lovely lady and she sorted it all out for me, so it pays to be persistent , I would have had to decline if I hadn't been given the water option too , so yes I'm glad too 😌