Can MRI and/or MRS trigger nocturnal seizures?

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masterjen

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I have had at 4 MRIs in the past 2 years. Once anything overly serious (like brain tumor, MS and other debilitating or lifethreatening illnesses) have been ruled out, the aim of the last two included an MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) has been to find a more benign seizure focus of some sort. I'm not claustrophobic, the huge worry of finding something deadly was removed from these last two MRIs and in fact I was looking forward to them in some ways (getting an answer to explain seizures).

However, after both these last two MRI/MRS exams (the most recent one being yesterday) I had particularly bad nocturnal seizures with clustering. I didn't think too much of it after the prior MRI, just attributing it to coincidence. But after it happened this time as well, I have to wonder. Also during a portion of yesterday's scan I repeatedly had images (resembling inkblots lol) flashing in front of my eyes, and I had to stare at one spot to sort of ground myself although I was dizzy or lightheaded.

To me this is rather weird, but I would appreciate hearing thoughts and opinions.
 
Correction: I was NOT dizzy or lightheaded (re. last line of what I typed initially).
 
Since just about anything that causes stress can lower the seizure threshold, the MRI/MRS could be a factor in your clusters. Hospitals can be stressful places (I almost always get lost in them), and the lighting is usually annoying fluorescents. Plus there are those germs floating around. My late aunt (who was a doctor) always used to say that a hospital is a terrible place for a sick person... Not so great for a healthy one either I think.
 
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