Author Topic: Gold weight and high field magnets  (Read 7580 times)

mar

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 26
Gold weight and high field magnets
« on: June 19, 2019, 11:34:52 am »
I have a 0.6g platinum weight placed in my right eyelid. It doesn't help close the eye very much and I can close my eye without it, but there is some resistance from my ophthalmologist to getting it removed. The doctor who placed it has since left the area but he was more amenable to removing it before he left. Unfortunately I received the letter informing me he had left after he already moved. 

I would like to be able to work on and near high field magnets again (10T-18T) but the manufacturer says that they haven't studied the platinum weight near magnets of this strength. The highest they published on was 7T in an MRI machine. My boss knew I couldn't approach a HF magnet when I was hired but it seems to be a new issue every single time I request someone place my sample for me. I have been in the same room as these instruments and can operate from the console, but I try to stay out of the 5 gauss line.

Does anyone have the extremely specific experience of being an NMR specialist who also has a metallic eyelid weight? Can you approach the magnet safely?

samanthalambert

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 18
Re: Gold weight and high field magnets
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2019, 01:32:50 pm »
I just got a platinum eye weight last week. The doc and I talked about it being reversible. I do not know the answer to your specific question, but I would think you can find another doctor willing and properly trained to remove your weight if they think the weight is no longer a necessity. My doctor is a plastic surgeon/ facial reanimation doctor in Charleston, SC.
3.2 cm AN (right side) diagnosed in 10/2018
Only symptom: mild hearing loss
TransLab surgery 1/2/19 @MUSC w/ Drs. Lambert & Patel. Sliver of tumor left.
Rt. Side facial paralysis (nerve stretched), tumor was "sticky", SSD, getting platinum weight implant 6/13/19
Doing fine otherwise!

mar

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 26
Re: Gold weight and high field magnets
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2019, 02:28:50 pm »
I just got a platinum eye weight last week. The doc and I talked about it being reversible. I do not know the answer to your specific question, but I would think you can find another doctor willing and properly trained to remove your weight if they think the weight is no longer a necessity. My doctor is a plastic surgeon/ facial reanimation doctor in Charleston, SC.

I'm based in Ohio. I was told the same thing when my eyelid weight was placed. I have to admit my surgeon did a fantastic job. I do not have pain in the area nor has there been any movement of the weight. I think the issue doctors have with removing it is that my facial nerve and muscle control healed with the eyelid weight in place and if they take it out there's a chance I will no longer be able to close my eye all the way. I think this is a fairly small risk considering that I can close my eye fully upside down. Even with the weight in, I do not blink.

But I am experiencing professional setbacks due to the weight being there. If I knew it was safe to approach the magnet, I would leave it alone. But right now my options are to stay away from magnets I need to work on, or try approaching and risk either the eyelid weight heating up next to my eye, or risk the weight being magnetically attracted to the NMR magnet. Given those options, I would prefer to stay away. But this is the field I trained in and what I do and staying away is not a long term plan. It will limit my job opportunities if/when I change employment.

So at this point, I think it's best to just get the weight removed. But now the issue is finding a doctor who I trust to do it.