If You Must Get an MRI, Would You Opt for Full Sedation?

[ECP]

My doctors keep encouraging me to have an MRI, but I keep refusing because I am very worried about a catastrophic setback that could lead to a significant increase in noxacusis, tinnitus, and hearing loss.

They have told me I could be fully sedated for the MRI if I choose. They explained that I would be completely unconscious, similar to being under anesthesia for major surgery, and I would wake up only after the MRI is finished. This is apparently a standard approach for people with severe claustrophobia.

I understand that anxiety can make physical pain worse and that being anxious during the MRI might increase the chances of an unpleasant experience. However, as many of you know, setbacks can occur even after relatively normal activities, like attending a rock concert, watching a movie, or having dinner at a restaurant, even if you were in a good mood and not feeling anxious beforehand.

Being sedated for the MRI might prevent me from having a traumatic memory of the experience, but I have a gut feeling it might be better to stay awake. That way, I could use the panic button to signal the MRI technician to stop the machine if the noise becomes unbearable. It would be terrifying to endure such noise without the ability to opt out simply because I was unconscious.

Have any of you undergone an MRI with full sedation? If so, did you wake up with worsened hearing loss, tinnitus, or noxacusis? If you have never tried it, would you consider full sedation for an MRI in the future?

 

[Varda]

I'd be concerned about the potential ototoxicity of the sedation-inducing drug.

 

[dd314]

Some machines are noisier than others. I had to take Valium to avoid a panic attack, but I wouldn't call the experience traumatic—just panic-inducing.

The Siemens Aera with Quiet Suite is genuinely pretty quiet when used with tightly inserted foam earplugs and headphones on top. I recommend the cylindrical yellow earplugs. You can also ask the technician to skip the sequence called "diffusion-weighted imaging," as it's the loudest. The radiologist can usually manage without it.

 

[Mike_CA]

I've had two MRIs: the first with Xanax and the second without. I chose to skip the Xanax the second time because, after experiencing it once, I realized it wasn't as bad as I had imagined.

I don't think it's possible to be completely sedated during an MRI since you need to remain still, and full sedation makes that difficult to guarantee.

 

[ECP]

Some machines are noisier than others. I had to take Valium to avoid a panic attack, but I wouldn't call the experience traumatic—just panic-inducing.

The Siemens Aera with Quiet Suite is genuinely pretty quiet when used with tightly inserted foam earplugs and headphones on top. I recommend the cylindrical yellow earplugs. You can also ask the technician to skip the sequence called "diffusion-weighted imaging," as it's the loudest. The radiologist can usually manage without it.

Thank you! I wasn't aware of diffusion-weighted imaging. If I proceed with the MRI, I'll ask if this sequence can be skipped.

I also inquired about wearing earmuffs over foam earplugs, but they said it wouldn't be possible. They explained that my head would need to fit inside a coil, and there wouldn't be enough space for the earmuffs.

I've had two MRIs: the first with Xanax and the second without. I chose to skip the Xanax the second time because, after experiencing it once, I realized it wasn't as bad as I had imagined.

I don't think it's possible to be completely sedated during an MRI since you need to remain still, and full sedation makes that difficult to guarantee.

My MRI would focus solely on my head and neck, so they might restrain those areas to prevent any movement, regardless of whether I was awake or sedated.

It has taken me two years to tolerate the sound of shampoo and conditioner bottles snapping shut while I'm in the shower. I still can't use a vacuum cleaner. Clearly, I'm not the ideal candidate for an MRI.

I've tried to desensitize myself by listening to real-life MRI sounds on YouTube. Even at moderate volume, they are painful. This is why I'm so concerned about partial or full sedation—I might get through the procedure fine but then experience a significant worsening of my symptoms afterward. Unfortunately, no one at my HMO seems to take this seriously, which is incredibly discouraging.

Still, I find some comfort in knowing you chose to forgo Xanax the second time around. That gives me hope.

I'd be concerned about the potential ototoxicity of the sedation-inducing drug.

Good point. I could look into that.

 

[Rhawnhurst]

A couple of thoughts:

When you get a neck or brain MRI, the space is tight. However, there is usually room for a headset. If there is not enough room, they should have thick foam you can wrap around your ears, which is almost as effective.

Those yellow earplugs are excellent, offering around 32 dB of noise reduction. Be sure to read the instructions carefully, roll them thin, insert them properly, and insist on being given 5 to 10 minutes to let them expand fully.

For claustrophobia, keep your eyes closed the entire time so you do not see your surroundings.

Additionally, many MRI machines offer a procedure to reduce noise volume, although this often means the scan takes about 10 minutes longer. I usually opt for that.

To avoid worsening tinnitus due to the noise, it is important to prepare beforehand. This includes meeting with the lead technician at the MRI facility to discuss all your concerns. They will typically explain the process and do their best to accommodate you.

 

[MindOverMatter]

@ECP, I was in a similar situation to you regarding tinnitus and hyperacusis, and I had (and still have) the same concerns about MRIs. I ended up having both a jaw and brain MRI. Both times, I wore foam plugs and headphones (I didn't have any issues with the enclosed space). The experience was unsettling, but I managed, and everything turned out fine.

For the second procedure, I took diazepam beforehand to help me stay calm.

I can't remember exactly, but I probably experienced a minor spike afterward, though it was short-lived.

Personally, I wouldn't opt for full sedation. Diazepam was enough to keep me relaxed during the procedure.

Good luck!

 

[Jupiterman]

I am honestly amazed you are going for an MRI having read the severity of your tinnitus.

Good luck!

 

[MindOverMatter]

I am honestly amazed you are going for an MRI having read the severity of your tinnitus.

Good luck!

You do not get an MRI for fun. It should only be done for a good reason, and I assume there is one in this case. Otherwise, @ECP would not bother posting about it.

For your information, I experienced a similar situation. At the time, I went through two different MRIs in the same year. I used double hearing protection and only had a minor spike afterward, nothing more.

Managing the anxiety associated with the procedure can make a big difference. In my case, diazepam helped a lot.

 

[ECP]

I see now, after reading all the replies, that some of you may have thought I have claustrophobia in addition to ear problems. My apologies for the confusion. I only mentioned claustrophobia in my first post because that is what all my healthcare providers say. They have suggested they could put me under full sedation as if I were a claustrophobic patient.

Months ago, I spoke with someone from the MRI department, who told me that the MRIs at this hospital do not have a "quiet suite" for people sensitive to noise. Earplugs would be my only available protection, and I will definitely want 32 dB or higher. I am glad to hear that @MindOverMatter did not experience a significant spike and that diazepam worked well for them.

I do not want the MRI, but in addition to noxacusis in my right ear and tinnitus in both ears, I have always had a headache on the right side of my head, which is likely caused by pain radiating from the affected ear. When I had a CT scan over the summer, they discovered dehiscence in the bones of both ears and a mysterious growth on my pituitary gland. This growth is almost certainly a benign and nonfunctional pituitary adenoma. (Nonfunctional means the adenoma does not cause any unwanted hormone alterations.) However, it has a 1 percent chance of being cancerous, and even if it is not, it could eventually interfere with the pituitary gland or grow large enough to press on the optic nerve, potentially requiring surgical removal to prevent loss of peripheral vision. Because of this, when the growth was identified on the CT scan, my doctors strongly recommended that I get an MRI.

Pituitary adenomas are actually very common and, for the most part, harmless. As many as 1 in 7 people have one, and doctors often would not even know unless brain imaging or autopsies revealed them. I told my doctors I would prefer to take my chances, so they reluctantly agreed to a compromise. Instead of an MRI, we would monitor the situation with periodic CT scans, peripheral vision tests, and bloodwork to check hormone levels.

Fortunately, my peripheral vision test and bloodwork came back normal, and I will not need to repeat them for another year. Still, the thought of having a potentially growing brain tumor weighs heavily on me.

Another reason I am reconsidering the MRI is that some healthcare providers seem unwilling or unable to work with me unless I have it done. It feels like getting the MRI might open a lot of doors for me.

Thank you all for listening and sharing your thoughts on this situation. I would not wish reactive tinnitus and noxacusis on anyone, but sometimes I wish everyone in the healthcare system could experience it briefly, just so they would treat us with more empathy.