MRI Brain Scans: May i ask if anyone else has... - Tinnitus UK

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MRI Brain Scans

Kenneth65 profile image
13 Replies

May i ask if anyone else has gotten Tinnitus as a result of a mri scan.

I already had tinnitus on the left side of brain as a result of brain tumor a long time ago and went for a routine mri scan 4 years ago , i have had well over a dozen scan without any issues and was very relaxed but as a result of this scan it has ruined my life and left me with extreme tinnitus on my right side of brain as well. my body has gotten immune to my meds for sleeping as i have been on for so long and have had to stop working as my insomnia is so bad. so far other meds have not helped for sleeping.

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Kenneth65 profile image
Kenneth65
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Ssmf profile image
Ssmf

Hi, interesting as I too have a brain tumour which they have neither confirmed or denied is linked to my tinnitus . I was due my yearly scan in June but didn’t go as the MRI really ramps the T up, but I know I have to go for my next one as the Consultant has said so due to changes possibly taking place. I am also claustrophobic when it comes to that machine but I know we need to keep these things checked out so when I go this year , I will just prepare myself for the aftermath!

Kenneth65 profile image
Kenneth65 in reply to Ssmf

Hi.. thanks for your info.. when i had my tumor on the left side of brain 34 years ago i was told the tinnitus was as a result of my nerve endings being cut in the brain in order to remove the tumor. the high pitch noises is one thing but trying to sleep and lead a normal working life i found was difficult. its every 5 years i get my routine scan.. so it was while having that 4 years ago it went horribly wrong for me.. brand new mri scanner, i never had any issues at all in the past and was very relaxed.. but i don't know what went wrong , i only know i felt extreme pressure in my head/brain and was trying to hang on as i knew half way threw the procedure they would take me out to put dye in my arm, but for the first time i had to press the alarm button, i ask the staff to remove the neck clamp so that i could sit up, but my head was burst and i could not carry on.. i have read study's on search engines

janlmayes.com/2020/05/18/mr... that suggest the high decibel noise can have an impact or cause tinnitus.. i still have a tumor, i grew back after my operation and i had radiotherapy to fry the sucker and stop it growing, i have only had a very small change, touch wood, and know the importance of keeping it monitored, i feel Ssmf it really important to get the VERY BEST hearing protection to protect you from the 110 to 115 decibel noise from the MRI Scanner, Depending on what type/make of MRI machine it is.. check with the hospital or ENT consultant as to what type and level of decibel protection the hospital uses, i did read that you can buy or bring your own head set, but not every hospital/MRI suite might let you use them unless you have a certificate to say there MRI safe.... You would need to check this out.. Kenny

Ssmf profile image
Ssmf in reply to Kenneth65

thank you very much for this & yes I will go this June for my check up come what may. The reason I didn’t go for my latest check up was because I had an operation on my left ear as I have otosclerosis & the T went for 5 whole weeks after this so there was no way I was going to jeopardise it coming back, but it did & will defo go in June. Take care. Sarah

Yay Kenneth, greetings from one GJT survivor to another. I'm sorry to learn the problems the MRI scanner has probably caused you. I only have one hearing ear left and I use to use a wax ear plug for my scans as you can mould it to plug the ear better than the foam ones the hospital use to dish out although time has moved on and there are much better ear plugs available on the market now but I've never bought any.

T was just one of the symptoms of my GJT and unfortunately it never left and was made extremely worse by one medication I was given and have intrusive t in my deaf ear 24/7 and it comes and goes in my hearing ear. I have always had problems with sleeping since the op and was left on zopiclone for years till it no longer worked. I managed to wean myself off of it and now I just go with the flow and sleep when I can.

I have a MRI scan every three years but the boredom bothers me more than the noise of the scanner. I hope you manage to get some help or answers but I have long since learned that it is something I have to live with.

Kenneth65 profile image
Kenneth65 in reply to

yea I'm the same regarding only hearing left on right side, i was able to deal with the raging tinnitus since op on the right side but having it on both sides since the MRI has been hell with the mind and sleeping, i have always been working and getting on with life as we do, my body gotten immune to the pills that use to help with sleeping and have tried quite allot of other types without much joy.. lovely to chat with someone else with similar issues.. take care kenny..

Kenneth65 profile image
Kenneth65 in reply to

Hi.. with me just joined in the this forum i didn't expect to hear from some one that's had a glomus jugular brain tumor.. it was very kind of you to reply and i have to say Hughley overwhelming to hear from you and someone that's been through it, i don't always put in to words the kind way i mean too with this racket up the stairs, it's just not eh , hard to put into words.. well done YOU.

Saveourplanet profile image
Saveourplanet

I’m so sorry to hear this Kenneth 😞 this has happened to me too and I swear my left good ear starting ringing after my MRI scan a few weeks ago. My Audiologist booked me in for one after I complained of persistent T in my right ear which I have had since May 2021.

I wish I hadn’t gone for a scan now, my left ear was the ‘Good’ ear but now it’s constantly buzzing away-even when I sleep.

Have you tried Gingko Biloba tablets? I’ve heard they help with the T and with blood circulation info the brain etc. I’ve started on them again (gave up a few months back as didn’t have faith in them lol) I’ve noticed a very slight dip in the intensity of my T in one ear, hoping to finish this bottle to see if anymore improvement.

Kenneth65 profile image
Kenneth65 in reply to Saveourplanet

Hi.. thank you for getting in touch.. i have not tried this as i have just stuck to whatever the doctor's has prescribe. i wish for people with Tinnitus that the ENT Consultant or Doctor's would make sure the radiologist team new in Advance of the patients scan, that there patients suffer from T and ensure they have the very best Ear Protection to help from the decibel noise that the mri scan machine makes..

doglover1973 profile image
doglover1973

They have a quieter MRI scanner in the US . It only reaches 65 -70 decibels at its peak. You can listen to the difference here princetonradiology.com/quie... I think it's risky to refer people with T for MRI scans in case it damages the ears further . So sorry it happened to you.

bournville profile image
bournville

hi I was on the hunt for a quiet MRI scanner several months ago due the volume of most MRI scanners - they can be crazy loud peaking over 110 db. Please have a look at this company I found who are manufacturing quiet MRI scanners.

esaote.com/en-GB/dedicated-...

I phoned them direct They were really helpful and found mr a quiet MRI scanner (approx max peak 85db level) in London. They have them dotted around the country at various private hospitals. it cost 200 quid to have it done privately but it was worth it.

Kenneth65 profile image
Kenneth65 in reply to bournville

my next 5 yearly scan is due around this November.. i was staying in Inverness but due to my health i had to leave the job i was in for nearly 21 year's and move back home to Stornoway in the western isle, i know deep i should continue to have the more detailed mri scan but after the last experience in a way i may just go for the spin dryer and have the less intrusive ct scan.. will certainly ask my NH's doc up here if there's another MRI scanner available in Scotland with a lower Decibel than the one i had in Raigmore in Inverness.. i was told that the lower the decibel the scanner produces then , the results don't show as much detail of the Tumor. Don't know if that's True or not. Thank You so Kindly.. K

bournville profile image
bournville in reply to Kenneth65

Yes I think you might be right about less detail with the quietest scanners - my dr said the same.

Kenneth65 profile image
Kenneth65

i can't put into words the thanks to all the kind people who have been in touch the last few days and sharing some of there experiences and others giving advice.. for were i am in my life it's so kind of you all to help.. Kenneth.

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