I’ve also heard about cumulative damage from gadolinium but I’m not sure how common it really is. I know many doctors will order a metabolic panel before the MRI to check kidney function to make sure you’ll be able to flush it from your system. I’ve also heard about trace amounts accumulating in the brain but the amount should be negligible.
If you’re worried about an allergic reaction, some doctors may start you on steroids and have Benadryl administered before the scan to make sure an allergic reaction doesn’t get out of hand. The contrast used for a CT is not the same as an MRI. I can handle gadolinium but I am allergic to iodine so I shouldn’t have contrast with a CT.
MRI’s don’t always have to be done with contrast. It’s just used to look for active demyelination which is important for detecting an acute relapse or to prove that it occurred on separate occasions which is important for diagnosis.
Some new lesions will only be seen with contrast as there is not enough damage yet to show on the T2 sequences.
If this is just to monitor disease progression, your Neuro may agree that contrast isn’t necessary.

Dont worry contrast is not ISOVUE its GADOLINIM. Xray 32 yrs for me know the better

I hear ya! Hang in there! I've done with & without contrast a LOT over the past 3 years. I'm not a huge fan either - but as someone who now knows they are very chemical sensitive, I'd love to not keep doing it! I will do it in December (my next round) but then am planning to talk with my DR about not doing it as often. You can use herbal teas and essential oils along with TONS of water to help with the cleanse. I definitely do that after all MRIs. Good luck to you! We're with you in spirit! XX

Thanks so much everyone, I'm feeling calmer currently. Lol I'm sure I'll feel the panic once I'm there.. But I have been praying and trying to think positive ( this could finally give a diagnosis)! 10 years of balance issues amongst other things may finally be answered. It feels silly to have this medication fear at almost 40 years old but I guess being sick for so long without a diagnosis has created internal Fear especially with the medical field. I had a .23 open MRI, paid cash for it only to find out it was not strong enough or clear enough to see anything. I hope this test will reveal something and I can finally close this medical search and I can focus on living.

I found the open MRI I had (for a non-MS issue) to be way worse than the closed ones. You always feel a bit vulnerable when you’re essentially locked into a tube but I take comfort in the fact that no one can see me in there. It’s like my own little cubby hole. An extremely loud cubby, but still.
The open MRI was worse because not only do you feel stuck but the techs can still see you and it was just weird.
I try to entertain myself while I’m in there. I’ve had some pretty strange thoughts but it always makes me laugh a little bit. I’ll take a thousand MRI’s over one lumbar puncture any day.