MRI auditory meatus

[hollyrain]

I've had the letter from the ENT Dr to my GP and he has said he may wish to consider sending me for the above.

Anybody had one and what specifically would he be looking for?

Thank you

[perlcoder]

I have had a few MRIs in my time, two of them T-related. The first was 20+ years ago at the onset of T. They do that to rule out the acoustic neuroma, which is very rare.

The second was about 6 years ago, and specifically to image the auditory meatus . It is possible, I suppose, that all T MRIs do that, but this was the first occasion I had heard the term. It was ordered by an oncologist - don't panic, I was past my C treatment which was not brain related and this was to rule out recurrence as a possible (improbable), cause of mild dizzyness. He thought the dizzyness was probably just due to my T worsening, and the MRI confirmed it.

The procedure was the usual T MRI - into the machine, accept the offer of headphones / music because it will be uncomfortably / unavoidably loud. It takes a few minutes. They will probably inject the contrast chemical at some point if the radiographer thinks it will help with the imaging - it means nothing more than that.

Best wishes.

[hollyrain in reply to perlcoder]

Thank you for your explanation and advice. I was just a bit surprised because altho he had said he would probably send me for MRI but it would be pricey, so it could wait til I see NHS. But in the letter he has suggested it to GP......I'd have to pay anyway and go to the Open MRI, I can't tolerate them, I have terrible panic attacks. I looked on line but it was mainly images which meant nothing to me lol!! I was just curious.

Hope you are doing well, thank you

Holly

[Yogachamp in reply to hollyrain]

Hi

I have had 2 of them to check not C related as was & still am having c checks for c elsewhere in my body . Wear the headphones as advised as noisy & close your eyes & try to relax . I had the dye injected & they tell you to drink plenty of fluids afterwards to prevent headaches. Thankfully no C found but I have a leasion or something which they will monitor every 12 months . Told it wasn’t T related . Just try & relax they don’t hurt at all just noisy .

[Ponay]

Hi Holly, I was offered an auditory meatus MRI scan, too. The ENT had said that it was up to me if I went and it was just to check for a tumour on the nerve. They left it entirely up to me if I went for it or not because based on my history they were pretty sure it wasn’t. I went anyway and it wasn’t. I do want to stress though that that was just the advice that I was given for me. There might be other circumstances where it’s more important to get one done. As my understanding goes it’s kind of like the end of the line test on the NHS treatment pathway - I was discharged from ENT after the scan showed nothing. (Though I have had follow up phone calls from the audiologist so I haven’t been entirely foresaken!)

[MooseHouse]

Hi,

If this is the IAMS scan, then I had this done last December because I had been feeling dizzy and spaced out and my long-standing noise-related tinnitus had become substantially worse. All this happened shortly after my covid booster jab, but could have co-incidentally been symptoms of menopause.

Thankfully the MRI was clear, but I found the scan a lot noisier than any other MRIs I’ve had before. Please make sure you protect your ears as much as you can. My advice would be to familiarise yourself with inserting foam earplugs prior to the scan - take some high attenuation ones with you in case they don’t offer them - and of course, wear the headphones they give you.

Good luck and I hope all’s well.

[Earear0071]

I’ve had an MRI done it’s no problem at all in and out in no time

[Poetry19]

Hi, I had an MRI last week after my visit to ENT. After suffering long bouts of vertigo, tinnitus and feeling sick most of the time the consultant said she thought I had Menieres Disease and wanted me to have an MRI. My MRI results confirmed Vertigo. She prescribed Betahistine tablets which are helping me.

I did find the MRI very uncomfortable and claustrophobic but luckily it only lasted 15mins. Good advice on trying rubber ear plugs at home so you can make sure they are in comfortably at your appointment as you just get a few seconds to put them in.

Good luck