MRI while pregnant?

[rmummyofone]

So I had an audiology appointment yesterday where they found I have hearing loss in my left ear. I've just turned 23, and also just found out I'm pregnant.
Ive had some symptoms going on over the last 9-12 months, facial numbness (left side) smell hallucinations of smoke from the left nostril, and now this hearing loss. Some headaches now and then too.

My gp wanted to rule out an acoustic neuroma and requested a scan urgently, however the mri team at the hospital have said it's not safe for pregnant women to have a scan unless it's an emergency. I will have to wait until I've had my dating scan done.

I'm so upset. I feel like I'm going to spend the next 12 weeks stressing over this mri instead of trying to enjoy my pregnancy. I feel robbed..

I don't even know what to do now. Im worried if the symptoms get much worse I'll be pushed aside and will just have to get on with it, even more worried if there is something sinister going on it's going to be ignored for the next 12 weeks..

I've not heard of anyone having an MRI while being in early pregnancy either. AIBU to just want to over with so that I can enjoy my pregnancy.

They are insisting I wait until after the dating scan since the MRI scanner can make a lot of noise and can potentially cause hearing loss in the developing baby. This is a much wanted baby, I don't want to harm she or he in any way.. but can't help but think of the effect this could have on me if this turns out to be something sinister growing over the next 3 months.

What a scary situation for you. I have as several MRIs and they are very loud. If the team feel there is a risk I would tend to listen to them.
I have had to wait for investigations and results and it's so difficult. I manage too get trough it by trying to distract myself a good sort out,gardening,exercise or craft work for me. Also avoid any temptation to Google it will only add to your stress and anxiety.
Is there any chance of a second opinion, somebody might have an idea how the investigations you need can be carried out without a MRI . Congratulations on your pregnancy

Could your GP refer you to neurology? They might be able to get the scan done sooner. (although tbh the referral could well take longer).

@Runningwithoutstopping
Thanks for the reply x
I guess you're right, there's a reason they are delaying it and it's probably for the best. Feels a bit rubbish I can't enjoy the next few weeks worry free but yes it's for the best.

@girafferaffle
Yes so my gp actually rang the ent on call today out of worry this could escalate badly if ignored and the ent agreed to get the scan done ASAP, however when the radiology team at hospital rang me (same day as it's all urgent) the receptionist insisted no scans are done in early pregnancy due to the loud noises.

I'm just a bit confused as the scan will be on my head, but can only be done if urgent but was told my dr it is urgent?
The lady in the reception was extremely rude in the phone and said my dr doesn't know what he (she) is talking about, mri does have radiation?
So I insisted on speaking to someone else who was a radiographer and she said there's no radiation but the noise is harmful, she passed me on to her senior who said the same thing and I'd only be allowed one if the ent consultant speaks with the radiographer directly.

Will ring gp and let her decide what is best tomorrow. More or less know what the answer will be though. Better safe than sorry.

I am just so upset about it all mostly because I only found out on Monday.

I’m confused it being about the loud noises, as the bath can’t hear until 15 weeks?!

Baby!

@FlamingRoses exactly!! That doesn't make any sense at all.
Surely the baby would be able to still hear everything and would be even scarier!!

Other countries allow first trimester scans and many studies show they oppose no risk at all unless there's contrast used..

So upset about it all

Think you need to get ENT to contact them directly then rather than the GP.

I mean it is loud but

@girafferaffle can't get through to ent unfortunately:(
Only gp can.
Ent wrote on their notes to radiography that mri must be delayed until after the dating scan.
This is just a general rule all over the country. Unless it's a life threatening emergency like a possible stroke, and MRI is never ordered in the 1st trimester :(

What a stupid rule. What if this is an emergency for me..

I had 2 mris in my 1st pregnancy but they were in the second trimester. They were for my baby as he has congenital neuro abnormalities, one was at 23 weeks and one was at 28 weeks. They put a special shield over your bump to protect the baby. He also had an mri when he was 3/4 weeks old to check his brain after birth. Having two fetal mris and one baby mri has not caused any health problems for my son who is now 4.

@Tigger85 omg
Thank you for your reply! That's reassured me so much. Will give it a go to try get this sorted in this first trimester if they insist on a solid no, I'll just wait until the second trimester.

I didn't know they put a shield on you. What was that like? Haha

@rmummyofone it's a big plastic pregnancy bump shaped thing they put over you I think it has a lead core. If I remember rightly there's also some foam wedges that support your body and keep the shield from being directly on top of your bump as it is a bit heavy. I was quite comfortable during the scans, baby did go a bit crazy inside me during the 1st scan, but much calmer during the second one. He slept through the one after birth.

its nothing to do with the noise, its to do with RF power deposition and you can of course have an mri in your first trimester if its urgent. if its not, the only reason to delay is that the risk of miscarriage is highest in the first trimester so they don't want to be sued essentially.
there is a massive Canadian study showing that MRI is actually safe in the first trimester
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27599330/
quote this to your ENT and radiologist

MRI doesn't involve radiation, it's safe to have during pregnancy. The shield with lead in would be used for a CT scan or an x-ray, as those do use radiation. (I was a radiographer)

@CloseEncountersOfTheTurdKind thank you for your response! Do you know the reasoning behind why the nhs dont do mri scans in the first trimester? They said it's due to the loud noises but that doesn't make sense to me as the noises would still be loud in the second and third trimesters too

Thanks for your input x

@Carriemac thank you so much for the response
That's really helpful! I just saw a YouTube video on a Canadian study too. I'll mention it but I doubt they will even listen to me but I will for sure pass the info on

Radiologist sounded adamant the mri is unsafe. Her receptionist was even more adamant and stupidly said the mri does give off radiation

MRI radiographer here.
MRI doesn’t use radiation, it’s a very strong magnet. We don’t generally scan ladies until after the first trimester as this is when there is the biggest risk to the baby. We would in an emergency and would need to be discussed by your consultant and radiologist and they would need to agree to that it’s an emergency and overrule.
There are no known risks (apart from potential heating and hearing damage) but it is a relatively new modality so they can’t be certain. Doctors weigh up risks vs benefits. The first trimester is when the cells are dividing and foetus is forming and is thought to be the riskiest so they try and avoid unless it’s an emergency.
I chose not to even enter the scan room until my second trimester.
I personally wouldn’t insist unless it was a life or death situation

MRI uses a magnetic field rather than radiation. The NHS prefer to wait until the 2nd trimester for MRI scans because not enough data exists on exposure to strong magnetic fields during the first trimester. There hasn't been any evidence of MRI in the first trimester having an impact on foetal development, but the NHS tends to err on the side of caution! I wouldn't have any concerns about having an MRI scan if I was pregnant. Sometimes it depends on which part of the mother is being scanned- for example you might find that doctors would carry out an MRI of the head but not the abdomen in the first trimester. To be honest, it probably varies between hospitals and consultants. But in my studies and my career I've never heard of an unborn child being impacted by an MRI! It is true that MRI scanners are noisy and so the baby might react to that, but it's not loud enough to be harmful.

I had an MRI while thirty-something weeks pregnant due to foetal cardiac abnormalities identified at a previous scan. The MRI itself was pretty loud but I also fell asleep so...
Doesn't seem to have had any impact on my DC who is thriving

@Mustbeme124 thank you for your response I suppose you are right x
Will still ask and whatever they say, I'll stick to. Though deep down I know they'll probably say no.

How often is it that Mri scans come back clear or as nothing at all 😩 the internet hasn't helped to ease my worries

@CloseEncountersOfTheTurdKind thank you for the response x

I just want it all to be okay. I will try mention it to the gp / ent but I doubt they will agree to allow it

@Mustangsallyis thank you! That's great to hear 💓

I think the fact they are not rushing you in for a scan is a good sign so just try and remember that as hard as it is.
Acoustic neuromas are rare. They are also benign (meaning they don’t spread) and slow growing. So even if you do have one the chance of you and baby being fine is very good. Obviously I’m not a doctor but that is my understanding. It’s easy for me to say but try not to worry and try and enjoy your pregnancy. You will be 12 weeks before you know it and hopefully you can get your scan and put your mind at ease.
Good luck with everything x

Yes, if they thought it was needed urgently they would do it. Try not to worry x