Having An MRI Scan

[Alan-]

For those people that have had an MRI scan, having had ear plugs in and wearing ear muffs, was the sound of the MRI scanner still loud, that it caused you concern? The reason I asked is because I’ll be having a scan in a few weeks time and am concerned that the sound of the scanner may make my tinnitus worse.

[MrsLifechange]

Hi Alan I’m afraid I had to abandon an mri for the reasons you give. I had explained to the radiographer beforehand but just couldn’t cope with pain the noise caused me. I do hope you manage . Good luck

[Ruckster in reply to MrsLifechange]

That’s what I’m dreading, got a neck mri and last time I had one I panicked as the noise was so loud it sounded like it was right in my head! So I pressed the panic button. I was thinking of taking diazepam before I go in to relax me. I’ve got 2mg tablets so anyone know how many I should take for them to work as the last time I used them for a different issue they didn’t seem to do anything?

I’m such a scardy cat and so worried about going in head first as your eight in the middle of the machine. Last time they couldn’t even put the padded head phones on because there wasn’t room in the head brace thing, so I had to have these hard fixed thin head phones in my ear of which I’m dreading as they didn’t even knock any of the mri sounds out with the music!

[Jojo313]

I had one in March this year and had no ear plugs or headphones! It wasn’t that bad , just noisy, my best advice is not to open your eyes, my friend told me not to, which of course I did and it was right above my eyes, ooh a bit scary, but it wasn’t that bad, I’ve just started to see a neurologist and she wants me to have another one, so I will definitely keep them tightly shut this time!!

[Jam-1 in reply to Jojo313]

To help keep your eyes shut - why not ask for a mask to cover your eyes worked for me

[Jojo313 in reply to Jam-1]

It was just me thinking I knew better!won't do it again!!

[Barbara-C in reply to Jojo313]

Hi are you sure you had mri or ct scan which doesn’t need ear protection.

[Ruud1boy]

I took my own earplugs and I think they give you some ear protection as well and it was fine. It was noisy but not overly so - like being on a bus. When I first had one many moons ago, they advised it's better to keep your eyes shut, but then the latest one, when they were investigating my T, they had a little mirror above your head, angled so you could watch them doing their thang in the control room. Not the most diverting thing to watch, but better than nothing.

[annpavitt250448]

I had one a few weeks ago. Had earphones and my own CD for some music. Was loud but didn't upset my tinnitus. Luckily this time as it was a scan of my hips I went in feet first so head was poking out of scanner.

[Lynne-H]

Hi Alan,

I had an MRI Scan three years ago and suffered no ill-effects. My husband had one recently and he too was fine. Try not to worry about it - I`m sure you`ll be fine. Lynne

[JanAtherton]

I didn't find it too bad, it made a soft humming noise, but then again there was some music playing in the room and the radiographer was talking to me for some of the time and he was very kind and reassuring. I think if it had been closer to the sounds of my tinnitus, it may have been more annoying.

[Alan-]

Thank you everyone for all the replies, it's given me something to think about. I am thinking of asking if I can have a CT scan instead of a MRI scan.

[bev4nicky]

i had one 6 weeks ago but was more anxious about being shut in.....i closed my eyes n it wasnt as bad as i feared...the fact a breeze of air kept blowing over me helped hugely....i had ear phones n it was very loud..the noises change depending what theyre doing n at times i was joining in in my head haha ...i have pulsatile tinnitus which comes n goes and i cant even remember if i had it at the time or not but it defo wasnt an issue....good luck

[LunaVi]

I have T&H and despite earplugs and headphones MRI was a very loud and traumatic experience but I stuck it out knowing it was a necessary process, threw up afterwards and T&H spiked for around 2wks but results were reassuring that I'm on right treatment path and nothing sinister lurking so I would say it was worth it for peace of mind. Everyone is different, please don't let it put you off. Try not to worry about what could happen, think of the benefits of getting the scan done and dusted and you can deal with the aftermath (if any) after...good luck!

[KC1961]

I don't know if there are different types of machine or if different scans work quieter than others but I have had abdominal MRIs done at St. Johns, Livingston and the volume was nothing like the brain scans that I had at Western General, Edinburgh. Neither affected my T.

[LuverlyLucie]

I had an MRI scan earlier this year and seriously it wasn’t that bad at all. Like you I was worried because I’ve heard some bad things about it. They only did my head And it just sounded like a large ship blowing its horn. I told myself stories when I was in there about a large ship coming into dock. It didn’t affect my Tinnitus afterwards at all.

[Alan-]

Thanks to everyone

[Keoni]

Hi, Alan.

I had an MRI scan a few months ago and it wasn't a big deal. Since they only did my head, it lasted about 10-15 minutes. Yes, the machinery was a bit noisy and to counter it the radiographer played some music. Thankfully, it didn't affect my tinnitus in any way. They do give you a panic button so if it gets too uncomfortable you can stop it at any time. As I understand it, an MRI scan gives a more detailed view of the body than a CT scan. Forgive me if I'm wrong - no doubt someone will correct me. My best advice is to just go with it. Chalk it up to experience. The ENT audiologist told me that at least 70% of scans are all clear. At the very least the result may put your mind at ease.

Respectfully submitted,

Keoni

[Alan- in reply to Keoni]

Thank you Keoni, I'll just be glad when it is all over.

[Seilman]

Yep had same scan done a while back and felt quite comfortable with the earplugs and ear protection provided. No worsening of Tinnitus for me because of scan t.g.

[welshexport]

I have always wondered why my TINNITUS has got far worse in the last 4 years Ive had 3 mri scans and have another booked this month but I will have to cancel as the Tinnitus is so bad and getting worse. I also have a problem with Mobile phones which I try not to use now I suffer from ear burn if Im on the phone longer than a few minutes.

[clifton60 in reply to welshexport]

Hi welshexport, I've got a scan yet to be scheduled..I have tinnitus in my left ear only.Had all the ear tests and now being sent for a scan to exclude Acoustic Neuroma. Are you in the same predicament?..Been all over the internet re acoustic neuroma,just a bit anxious as to the connection with tinnitus .

[Kiran2008]

Wouldn't recommend CT scan instead of MRI, CT scan gives you a large dose of radiation