After you’ve been checked in for your MRI, you can expect the following:
MRI staff will verify your identification and the exam requested. You will be given an MRI screening form to fill out. The MRI staff will go over this form with you.
You will be asked to change into a hospital gown and place your clothes and belongings in a locker. Leave valuables at home, including jewelry, to prevent them from being lost. None can be worn during the scan.
If you wear hearing aids, you will be asked to remove them before entering the MRI scan room and should inform the technologist when you have done so. The magnetic field generated by the MRI can cause damage to hearing aids.
Some MRI exams include use of injected contrast agent to highlight features in an image and help radiologists diagnose medical conditions. If an injected MRI contrast agent (gadolinium) is needed for your imaging, an IV catheter will be inserted in a vein in your arm by a nurse or technologist.
You will be required to lie completely still during the MRI exam. Depending on the body part being imaged, you may be instructed to hold your breath.
The magnet tube is open on both ends. The enclosure is well lit and there is a fan for comfort. You can communicate with the technologist through an intercom system during the exam when images are not being acquired. The part of the body being scanned will be positioned in the middle of the machine.
You will hear loud intermittent noises during your scan. You will have been given ear plugs or headphones to decrease the noise. If you have trouble keeping these in place, please tell the technologist.
You will also have an alarm button to alert the technologist to any significant discomfort you may feel at any point during the exam.
If you are receiving an injected MRI contrast agent, tell the technologist if you feel any discomfort from the IV during the exam.
After the exam
MRI staff will bring you back to your locker and you can change back into your clothes.
If an injected contrast agent was used, the IV will be removed from your arm before you go home.
If you took medication to prevent claustrophobia or were given anesthesia, you must have someone else drive you home.
Allergic reactions to contrast materials are extremely rare – but if you notice any symptoms such as rash, hives or shortness of breath before you leave the facility, notify the technologist or radiology staff immediately. Or call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital if you have already left to go home.
On the day of your MRI scan, you should be able to eat, drink and take any medication as usual, unless you are advised otherwise.
In some cases, you may be asked not to eat or drink anything for up to 4 hours before the scan.
If you wear a medication patch or glucose monitoring patch it will need to be removed at the time of your exam for your safety. Before your exam, talk to your physician about removing and discarding your patch. Your physician can advise you about replacing your patch after the scan.
If you suffer from claustrophobia, please speak with your physician before your appointment. Only your physician can prescribe you a sedative as they are not offered in our department.
