MRI scans are one of the safest imaging technologies available in the medical industry today. That said, its appearance does make it a tad intimidating for those who’ve never had an MRI scan done before. While MRI scans are safe for most ages, they don’t stop people from feeling nervous or anxious about their scans.

Knowing what to expect and preparing appropriately for the scan can help you deal with some of the emotions you might be feeling.

Before the MRI Scan

Before going for MRI scans, you’ll likely need to fill in a questionnaire, which will ask you about your health, whether or not you have any existing medical conditions they need to know about, including if you have any metal plates in your body or any other issues. By metal objects, we’re referring to aneurysm clips, a pacemaker, metal pins, or plates. Your radiologist will need to adjust the scan according to your needs, so it’s important to be as thorough as possible.

In some cases, your doctors may ask you to avoid eating or drinking anything 4 to 5 hours before your scan. This is usually done when the scan is focused on the abdominal and pelvic areas. When the stomach, digestive system and bladder are empty, it may provide a more detailed picture of your body, allowing the doctors to have a higher chance of diagnosing your issue.

Most of all, before your exam, you should know what to expect. An MRI machine is like a large metal doughnut with a bed in the centre of it. When you lay on the bed, it’ll be pushed into the machine that’ll form a circumference around you. When it turns on, you might hear a pulsating knock or sawing sound. Trust us, this noise is perfectly normal. You may need to lay there for a while, so it is best to plan how you’ll keep yourself busy and distracted during the scan.

When to arrive

When you’re given your test date, you’ll normally be given a time for it as well. We suggest trying to get to the radiology centre early before your scan to ensure that you have time to sign any forms if you have to. Getting there 30 to 40 minutes early should suffice.

During the scan

As you begin the session with the radiologist, they’ll ask you to remove any metal items or jewellery you may have, including your cellphone and wallet, etc. Depending on the scan type, they may ask you to remove your clothes and wear a medical robe, too. From there, the radiologist or assistant will lead you into the MRI room. They run through the procedure to ensure you know what’s going on and guide you to the bed on the MRI machine.

The procedure could last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the complexity of the scan they need and how much of the body they’re scanning. You must lie as still as possible during the procedure. Movement could distort the images, making them difficult to read and redundant. You’ll also be given earplugs and a button to press in case there’s anything you need while the scan is happening. The test itself is painless. However, in some cases, a contrast is given to patients to improve the images. This contrast is injected directly into the body, which may give you a little pinch.

After the scan

After the scan, you’ll be guided back to your locker when all your belongings are. There, you’ll be able to get dressed again. If you were injected with contrast, the IV will need to be removed before you leave. Likewise, if you had any medication to prevent claustrophobia or were under anaesthesia during the scan, someone else would need to drive you home. If not, then you should be fine to leave.

Making sense of your report

After a few days, you’ll likely receive your results, and so will your doctor. Often, the scan results have big words that you might not understand. When you see your doctor, they’ll likely describe your diagnosis in more detail to you. At this stage, if you have any questions, you should ask them.

Final Thoughts

MRI machines have been around for almost 60 years now and continue to improve as technology advances. In comparison to X-rays and CT scans, an MRI machine uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images instead of ionised radiation. Because of this, they’re a lot safer, so you have nothing to worry about. Remember to prepare well before you scan, and feel free to ask your doctor or radiologist questions if you have any.