Getting ready for your MRI

Going into a doctor’s office or radiology clinic to have an Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or similar exam certainly isn’t most people’s idea of a good time. Still, having a procedure like this doesn’t need to be stressful. As long as you prepare well and stay relaxed throughout, it is over before you know it and you are back out enjoying your day.

The best way to keep the jitters at bay is to have a handy list of everything you will need to do or keep in mind the day of your exam. Fortunately, we can help!

How to Prepare

When you come in for an MRI, unless you have been instructed otherwise, generally you will be asked to remove your clothing and change into a gown. Once in the gown, you will have to remove anything that could affect the device itself. Metal objects, for instance, pose a danger to the machine and patient when the MRI machine is activated.

Things you might have on your person that would have to be removed before getting an MRI include, but are not limited to:

• Jewelry of any type;
• Hairpins, bobby pins, or clips with metal spring coils;
• Eyeglasses;
• Watches;
• Wigs;
• Dentures or retainers;
• Hearing aids, and;
• Underwire bras.

During the Test

Now that you have prepared, what can you expect? The basic principle of the machine lies in the strong magnetic field it creates. The procedure is painless and uses radio waves to scan the inside of your body.

Typically lasting around 15 minutes, the only discomfort may come from how still you must lie during the procedure. In some cases, you may also need a contrast material injected intravenously. Occasionally, patients are asked to perform a task so that a deeper image can be resolved.

Although the prospect of getting an MRI doesn’t sound fun, these safe, effective machines are work-horses and life-savers in the battle against many diseases and conditions. In the world of hospital technology, these machines are an unsung hero.