Iodinated contrast makes CT scans far more useful, but many people with Long COVID, ME/CFS, dysautonomia, and related conditions worry that common does not always equal harmless for us. Formal research on this question is almost nonexistent; what we do have are dozens of real-life stories, a handful of case notes, and a pathophysiological picture (neuro-inflammation, blood-brain-barrier leak, immune hypersensitivity) that hints at a different risk profile. Here’s a clear-eyed look at what is known, what the community is reporting, and how you can help others by adding your own review.

What Little Science Tells Us

• General safety record: In the wider population, severe reactions to iodinated contrast hover around 0.2 %-0.7 %. Kidney injury is the main serious risk, mostly in people who already have reduced renal function.

• Research gap: No peer-reviewed trials have examined contrast safety specifically in Long COVID or ME/CFS cohorts. That means we don’t yet know whether our higher rates of neuro-inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, or mast-cell activation change the odds.

• Theoretical red flags:

  • Blood-brain-barrier fragility could allow trace contrast to circulate in the CNS, perhaps worsening brain-fog or insomnia.

  • Immune dysregulation may amplify even mild hypersensitivity reactions.

  • POTS & dysautonomia can make the warm “flushed” feeling or blood-pressure swings feel far worse.

What Patients Are Saying (Anecdotal but Important)

• “Sleep wrecked for weeks.” Several long-haulers describe new-onset or extreme insomnia after contrast-enhanced CT.

• Brain-fog spikes & head pressure. Others report a foggy, chemical “hangover” lasting days.

• Cardio-autonomic flares. Extra palpitations, wild heart-rate swings, or POTS crashes show up in community threads.

• No problems at all. Many still breeze through contrast with zero issues — a reminder that response is highly individual.

• Feeling dismissed. A consistent theme is frustration when clinicians wave away these stories as coincidence.

Tell the Community How It Went 💬

Because robust studies are still missing, your firsthand report can guide the next person facing the same decision. After your scan — good, bad, or totally uneventful — please:

1. Scroll to the “Add Review” box above.

2. Include helpful details such as type of contrast, dose (if you know it), immediate reactions, and how long any effects lasted.

3. Hit "Post" and help us crowd-source the data researchers don’t yet have.

Every voice makes the picture clearer. Thank you for paying it forward and helping this community make smarter, safer choices.