MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Discussion & Experiences & Questions

I got a CT scan in the beginning of the year for the fistula, but since things got worse I gotta do it. Yeah I don't care about radiating, better than 120 dB lol. Gonna have to do a DSM test too most likely. So much fun.
Do whatever you can to find a quieter one lol.
 
Do whatever you can to find a quieter one lol.
Yeah, lol. I'm hoping I don't have any veins or capillaries that are messed up. Because if it's not a PLF, CSF, or intracranial hypertension, it's something that can be detected on an MRI most likely. I just know that will worsen me.

What a nightmare!
 
Yeah, lol. I'm hoping I don't have any veins or capillaries that are messed up. Because if it's not a PLF, CSF, or intracranial hypertension, it's something that can be detected on an MRI most likely. I just know that will worsen me.

What a nightmare!
Do all the precautionary stuff. Have some steroids on hand just in case. Take NAC and Magnesium before or whatever. Double protect if you can etc. I think MRA checks the vessels?

Good luck. I'm sure you'll be ok unless you have bad hyperacusis.
 
Do all the precautionary stuff. Have some steroids on hand just in case. Take NAC and Magnesium before or whatever. Double protect if you can etc. I think MRA checks the vessels?

Good luck. I'm sure you'll be ok unless you have bad hyperacusis.
I have severe noxacusis lol, so if I do it it will probably put me in a grave. I'm gonna try everything first. Thinking even a CT with contrast maybe.

So MRI is like last resort if I start getting life threatening effects. Thanks though, I'm gonna keep seeing doctors and see what they think.
 
I have severe noxacusis lol, so if I do it it will probably put me in a grave. I'm gonna try everything first. Thinking even a CT with contrast maybe.

So MRI is like last resort if I start getting life threatening effects. Thanks though, I'm gonna keep seeing doctors and see what they think.
Sounds like a plan.
 
Based on what I have read here it seems like the Canon model is quietest. How do you go about finding the closest one?

With the GE "Silent" model can't you just make sure before the appointment that they will use the "Silent" software? And make it clear if they can't, you don't want it done?
 
Based on what I have read here it seems like the Canon model is quietest. How do you go about finding the closest one?

With the GE "Silent" model can't you just make sure before the appointment that they will use the "Silent" software? And make it clear if they can't, you don't want it done?
I am also interested in this. I contacted Canon through their website but got no response.

George
 
I had angio-MR in 3T machine four days ago.

It was much louder than 1.5T. Even with double protection, the sound was entering through my bones, the bed was trembling under me.

I took NAC before and steroids in the following two days, just in case.

No spike or tinnitus change until now. Nevertheless I will never do it again. Nothing has been found in the MRI results.
 
Make sure to get custom earplugs and insist on earmuffs, too. That should be sufficient. If you feel that the sound is too much, even a little bit, immediately stop the scan.

Ill-fitted foam earplugs and foam pads did not protect me enough and I have more distortions/tinnitus now.
So your audiogram showed no hearing loss? Was there anything close to a loss in it? Like maybe -15 or -20?
 
So your audiogram showed no hearing loss? Was there anything close to a loss in it? Like maybe -15 or -20?
My biggest dips are 10 dB, one at 6 kHz, one at 16 kHz, not including 10-15 dB loss at very low frequencies which I've always had.
 
My biggest dips are 10 dB, one at 6 kHz, one at 16 kHz, not including 10-15 dB loss at very low frequencies which I've always had.
What very low frequency losses do you have? I've been diagnosed with Ménière's and have losses of -35 dB @ 250 Hz and -25 dB @ 500 Hz. Other than that my hearing is pretty flat until 16 kHz. My low frequency loss also fluctuates from -35 dB to normal depending on the day.

Do you have fullness in the ears? Any vertigo?
 
I now have to deal with an MRI and would like to minimize noise exposure.

Do I understand this right: all Canon (previously Toshiba) Vantage machines (Orian, Galan, Titan and Elan) have Pianissimo silent hardware technology (magnets in vacuum chambers) and some additionally have Pianissimo Zen software technology to further reduce noise levels? Did anyone here use a Vantage machine with a bad experience? Any good experiences to share from others with hyperacusis and ear pain?

Thanks,
George
 
@GeorgeLG, I just took MRI with a Siemens. I believe it was Siemens MAGNETOM Avanto 1.5T.

Had earplugs and earmuffs over. I was probably more stressed about the situation than it was insanely loud.

Loud when you have noise sensitivity, yes. Felt like 10 long minutes. But I was okay. I tried to focus on my breathing, and staying as calm as possible. That helps too.
 
What very low frequency losses do you have? I've been diagnosed with Ménière's and have losses of -35 dB @ 250 Hz and -25 dB @ 500 Hz. Other than that my hearing is pretty flat until 16 kHz. My low frequency loss also fluctuates from -35 dB to normal depending on the day.

Do you have fullness in the ears? Any vertigo?
I don't have Ménière's. I had a bit of fullness after my trauma, now it's mostly gone, never had vertigo in my life apart from one occasion (jetlag). Here's my LF audiogram:

IMG-20210829-171633.jpg


(10 dB loss at 125 Hz).

And the HF one:

IMG-20210829-171647.jpg


I used to have a 10 dB loss at 16 kHz, now it's only at 6-8 kHz? It fluctuates, I guess.
 
I don't have Ménière's. I had a bit of fullness after my trauma, now it's mostly gone, never had vertigo in my life apart from one occasion (jetlag). Here's my LF audiogram:

View attachment 47734

(10 dB loss at 125 Hz).

And the HF one:

View attachment 47735

I used to have a 10 dB loss at 16 kHz, now it's only at 6-8 kHz? It fluctuates, I guess.
Interesting audiogram. Your hearing is really good. You don't have any real losses. I'm around -5 dB or -10 dB from 1 kHz to 16 kHz.

Are you in the US?
 
Interesting audiogram. Your hearing is really good. You don't have any real losses. I'm around -5 dB or -10 dB from 1 kHz to 16 kHz.

Are you in the US?
Europe - before this my hearing was even better. I could hear bugs on the floor, etc. In my teens I could hear up to 21 kHz. But all the high frequencies sound wrong to me now, and I have confirmed auditory neuropathy (probably synapses).
 
Europe - before this my hearing was even better. I could hear bugs on the floor, etc. In my teens I could hear up to 21 kHz. But all the high frequencies sound wrong to me now, and I have confirmed auditory neuropathy (probably synapses).
How old are you now? What did you do to get tinnitus? How did it begin?

Ever since my ear became stuffy in 2013 nothing has sounded right in it. It has become worse. That was probably the beginning of Ménière's.
 
How old are you now? What did you do to get tinnitus? How did it begin?

Ever since my ear became stuffy in 2013 nothing has sounded right in it. It has become worse. That was probably the beginning of Ménière's.
I'm 32. It began with new headphones (listened to music too loud for a month, the new headphones sounded amazing, I had never been a loud music lover before that). I got a beeping tinnitus, very very quiet. I then tested my hearing at home and increased the volume at 16 kHz because I did not hear the tone. Well, I did not hear it at max volume (a few seconds of exposure, about 110 dB, it must've been clipping or something because I do hear the tone at my otologist's), so I switched everything off. That started my sound distortions and some high frequency tinnitus. This happened this June.

Music sounds horrible, especially complex music like rock.

Sorry about your condition, hope we get a treatment soon!
 
Anyone decline an MRI?

They seem useless. If you got tinnitus from acoustic trauma, what is the point of an MRI? I believe it's to rule out a tumor or something like that.

I think it accomplishes little and risks worsened tinnitus.

What's the ratio of discovering anything helpful (predicting 0) vs causing a spike or worsened tinnitus?
 
Anyone decline an MRI?

They seem useless. If you got tinnitus from acoustic trauma, what is the point of an MRI? I believe it's to rule out a tumor or something like that.

I think it accomplishes little and risks worsened tinnitus.

What's the ratio of discovering anything helpful (predicting 0) vs causing a spike or worsened tinnitus?
I agree that often, testing and drugs are overused. I declined a hip MRI for this very reason. Low perceived payoff and high risk. Glad I did because lifestyle modifications and home remedies have made this tolerable. My ENT never wanted an MRI but rather a CAT scan of the sinuses which is now on hold.

Recently, however, my cancer has spread and is of such a type that my Med Onc needs to rule out acoustic neuroma since that could be consistent with my history and I have repeated ear pain.

In this case I am going to do it and I am researching a location with a Canon Vantage MRI machine using Pianissimo noise reduction technology (hardware and sometimes software) along with buying high NRR "MRI safe" ear muffs to go with my 3M Earsoft plugs.

It's a risk but it seems appropriate now, unless they won't allow my bombproof earmuffs - that may change the calculation. I think I have the MRI location and I just need to confirm with Mayo if they can work with them for the scan.

Point is, it depends. I don't think I have ever read of someone actually having such a thing found on this site but I have been here less than a year, I am sure that others will chime in.

George
 
It's a risk but it seems appropriate now, unless they won't allow my bombproof earmuffs - that may change the calculation.
I have had three head scans until now. Earmuffs were not allowed, not because of incompatibility with MR, but because my head was put inside a sort of helmet in order to keep it in place and still, there was no space for earmuffs. They put their sponges inside the helmet to cover my ears. I have added my earplugs, they revised them and said they were OK.
 
I now have to deal with an MRI and would like to minimize noise exposure.

Do I understand this right: all Canon (previously Toshiba) Vantage machines (Orian, Galan, Titan and Elan) have Pianissimo silent hardware technology (magnets in vacuum chambers) and some additionally have Pianissimo Zen software technology to further reduce noise levels? Did anyone here use a Vantage machine with a bad experience? Any good experiences to share from others with hyperacusis and ear pain?

Thanks,
George
Yes, as already described and discussed in all the various MRI threads in here, Canon/Toshiba are the ones to go for to get the quietest possible exams.
I have read extensively all the MRI topics and did not find any single comment mentioning bad experience (meaning spike or worsening) after MRI with Canon machine.

I did one a year ago with a Canon Orian and all went fine even if it still appeared very noisy to me and I was a bit in panic but afterwards, it was clearly more due to my extreme level of anxiety rather than the noise level itself...

I have tinnitus + mild hyperacusis (which used to be quite severe few years ago).

I must do 2 other MRI exams in the upcoming 2 weeks... booked on Canon Orian 1.5T again.

I am using Earsoft FX earplugs + special MRI headset.
 
So I had 2 additional MRI exams last week.

1st one on Monday (coccyx) then a 2nd one on Friday (thoracic spine). Both on the latest Canon Orian 1.5T.

Both with EarSoft FX earplugs carefully deeply inserted + MRI approved earmuffs. 1st one with the head slightly outside the MRI tunnel, 2nd one with the head right in the middle of the tunnel. Both around 15-20 minutes long.

Like with the 1st one a year ago, I hummed/whispered a melody during the various sequences in order to cover the noise of the machine and relax (since with earplugs, it resonates in your head, so only a whisper is enough). It worked great again. Some sequences are louder and/or longer than others and are still stressful, clear, but I think it is more due to the anxiety and the negative emotion you put behind the context/type of noise than really the noise level itself.

It was obviously not pleasant, but both MRI exams were fine. No spike or any effect on my tinnitus or hyperacusis.

So I have been through 3 MRI exams in 1 year. All with Canon Orian and I am now sure MRI exams on that machine are no problem for me.

I have noise induced tinnitus + mild hyperacusis but I used to have quite severe hyperacusis a few years ago.

BTW I discussed a long moment with the MRI operator. He is also working on a GE MRI at the local hospital nearby and he confirmed the GE are WAY louder.

He told me he has worked over the last 10 years on every MRI brand (GE, Siemens, Canon) and the Canon are by far the quietest (and GE the worst in terms of noise). On the Canon Orian he usually does not supply any ear protection to the patients. By the way Canon Medical is apparently no longer supplying earmuffs with the machine since the average sound pressure/level is probably below the regulatory limit. On the GE it is not allowed and he would anyhow NEVER do an MRI exam without giving ear protection to the patient.

He added that even for them, as operators, it is much more comfortable to work on Canon because it is much more quiet behind the glass wall.

All in all, it confirmed to me that everytime I need an MRI I should go for the Canon, which is btw already exactly what I am doing.

So no surprise here.

Take care.
 
So I had 2 additional MRI exams last week.

1st one on Monday (coccyx) then a 2nd one on Friday (thoracic spine). Both on the latest Canon Orian 1.5T.

Both with EarSoft FX earplugs carefully deeply inserted + MRI approved earmuffs. 1st one with the head slightly outside the MRI tunnel, 2nd one with the head right in the middle of the tunnel. Both around 15-20 minutes long.

Like with the 1st one a year ago, I hummed/whispered a melody during the various sequences in order to cover the noise of the machine and relax (since with earplugs, it resonates in your head, so only a whisper is enough). It worked great again. Some sequences are louder and/or longer than others and are still stressful, clear, but I think it is more due to the anxiety and the negative emotion you put behind the context/type of noise than really the noise level itself.

It was obviously not pleasant, but both MRI exams were fine. No spike or any effect on my tinnitus or hyperacusis.

So I have been through 3 MRI exams in 1 year. All with Canon Orian and I am now sure MRI exams on that machine are no problem for me.

I have noise induced tinnitus + mild hyperacusis but I used to have quite severe hyperacusis a few years ago.

BTW I discussed a long moment with the MRI operator. He is also working on a GE MRI at the local hospital nearby and he confirmed the GE are WAY louder.

He told me he has worked over the last 10 years on every MRI brand (GE, Siemens, Canon) and the Canon are by far the quietest (and GE the worst in terms of noise). On the Canon Orian he usually does not supply any ear protection to the patients. By the way Canon Medical is apparently no longer supplying earmuffs with the machine since the average sound pressure/level is probably below the regulatory limit. On the GE it is not allowed and he would anyhow NEVER do an MRI exam without giving ear protection to the patient.

He added that even for them, as operators, it is much more comfortable to work on Canon because it is much more quiet behind the glass wall.

All in all, it confirmed to me that everytime I need an MRI I should go for the Canon, which is btw already exactly what I am doing.

So no surprise here.

Take care.
Thank you for the Canon information. Which headset did you use?

George
 
I had angio-MR in 3T machine four days ago.

It was much louder than 1.5T. Even with double protection, the sound was entering through my bones, the bed was trembling under me.

I took NAC before and steroids in the following two days, just in case.

No spike or tinnitus change until now. Nevertheless I will never do it again. Nothing has been found in the MRI results.
Did you have these tests in Barcelona? Which is a clinic place for MRI testing?

I have heard good things about Corachan...
 
I don't have Ménière's. I had a bit of fullness after my trauma, now it's mostly gone, never had vertigo in my life apart from one occasion (jetlag). Here's my LF audiogram:

View attachment 47734

(10 dB loss at 125 Hz).

And the HF one:

View attachment 47735

I used to have a 10 dB loss at 16 kHz, now it's only at 6-8 kHz? It fluctuates, I guess.
That's close to perfect hearing. Still, one thing is the hearing input, sound getting to your cochlea let's say... And another thing is how a person processes that sound... sound quality after processing.
 
I have had three head scans until now. Earmuffs were not allowed, not because of incompatibility with MR, but because my head was put inside a sort of helmet in order to keep it in place and still, there was no space for earmuffs. They put their sponges inside the helmet to cover my ears. I have added my earplugs, they revised them and said they were OK.
Did the helmet provide sound attenuation? Are the sponges added to the helmet or the helmet is like "padded" with sponge?

I had a jaw MRI in the past and it was the worst experience in my life. There's no helmet for that, and at the clinic (Ruber) they did not provide even earplugs. I carried my own foam earplugs but no earmuff (did not use them at the time, although I should have used them)...

A jaw MRI is like the worst kind... as the patient has to open the mouth and sound kicks in. I was pretty new to hearing problems then... I would not repeat the experience.
 
As far as I am concerned I am using these earmuffs (on top of earplugs) during my MRI exams.

Already did 2 MRI with it and no image artefacts or any similar issue.

It is written clearly "Metal Free" and "suitable for MRI" on the box.

View attachment 47260

View attachment 47261

View attachment 47262

Only Issue is to get the approval from the MRI center to use it... Recently I contacted another MRI center closer to my home which has now been equipped with Canon Orian device and they told me "you can come with earplugs but earmuffs are not allowed"... Despite showing picture of the earmuff box mentioning "Suitable for MRI", "Metal free" they don't want me to use it... so I said go to hell...

I will do my MRI in the same center as last time even if further from my home.
For those asking what earmuffs I am using...

They are metal free.

By the way, the center I mentioned in that post and who were refusing my earmuffs, finally accepted them. They checked the earmuffs and their box and finally said they were ok during the appointment.
 

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