Getting an MRI referral from a doctor and then approved by insurance is truly a platinum status moment in navigating the medical process—which is ridiculous, but my thoughts on the healthcare system is for another time.
First of all, MRI’s do not hurt, there is no poking or prodding, it’s only a scan. Now, how to prep for an MRI?
Do not eat too much or too little before an MRI. Too little heightens the anxiety of just being there and too much makes it hard to lay still and not be miserable (I know from experience).
Bring water or tea to drink afterwards.
Go potty multiple times before, especially if you are having a contrast MRI.
What to wear to an MRI?
No jewelry, no metal and you’ll need to identify any implants or foreign objects in your body.
Tip: If you wear leggings/joggers/no frill pants, you will need to wear a medical gown on top with nothing underneath on top but they will let you keep your own pants on. They will give you full scrubs if you show up in anything other than comfy pants and a top.
Another tip: Wear or bring socks. You usually can not wear shoes during the MRI, so if you don’t have socks, they may make you go barefoot.
They’ll have you lock up all of your things, including phone, in a little locker.
If you are having a contrast MRI, they will put in an IV, tape it down and have it hanging from your arm for the duration.
The MRI machine is just like the ones you see on TV, a tube with a hard metal bed that slides in and out.
If you are claustrophobic at all, discuss medications with your doctor to help the anxiety for the duration of the test. They ask me every time if I brought any Xanax. I don’t take Xanax but it’s clear that they would like me to.
If you can or can’t manage your claustrophobia and/or anxiety, there are things you can ask for to help the experience (a little):
Ear plugs, the machine is SO loud. They should have them or offer them but if they do not, absolutely ask for them
Cushioning to help the earplugs stay in place since you can not move during the MRI
A washcloth or eye mask to cover your eyes while you are in the machine
Music, you can ask for music but choose wisely because once you’re in there and it’s on, you’re stuck with it. They usually have options for you and can’t play your playlist.
Ask for them to talk you through the sequencing of the MRI itself (more on this below)
A blanket. Its usually cold in those rooms but depending on your comfort needs, they have both thin and thicker blankets to cover your legs
Ask them how long they expect it to take, they should be able to narrow it to the minute
Once you climb up onto the high metal bed, they will have you scoot up into the “headrest” it is meant to cradle your head so that you don’t move, you still can a little but not more than an odd shimmy. The cushioning that is mentioned above, will fit between the headrest and your ears and makes it slightly more comfortable to be in there and keep ear plugs in place but also slightly more claustrophobic.
This is when you/they put the washcloth or eye mask over your eyes, but make sure it is comfortable and covering what is helpful because you won’t be able to adjust it.
They will give you a squeeze ball or a button to hold which you can press in case of emergency.
The technician(s) sit outside of the room with a little window looking in and no-one is in the room with you during the scan.
When you are ready, they will move the bed backwards into the machine and it is a very narrow machine, your arms and body will hit the sides and there is nowhere to move and nothing to see (especially if you have your eye mask on).
There is also no way to get out or get their attention if you are trying to climb out. They can’t hear you if you are banging on the machine and they can’t see you if you are waving or kicking (also all from experience).
MRIs are loud. I can not overstate this. It is jarringly loud. MRIs are done in sequences of radio waves and magnetic fields in order to create the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) but this is produced through metal coils vibrating and banging against each other, all which reverberate inside the tube you are motionlessly laying in.
The sequences are not all the same. Each one sounds and feels different, has a different pattern and creates a different resolution. They vary from a pattern of short bursts of sound and vibrations to long and short sounds to consistent beeping (but loud like an industrial buildings alarm going off 6 inches away from you). Each sequence has a predetermined amount of time. You can ask them how many sequences there are at the beginning and to tell you as each one begins how long the upcoming one will last—they are usually between 2-5 minutes each.
The technicians can talk to you but it sounds like the adults from Charlie Brown talking through a straw so I wouldn’t rely on them too much. They will check in and ask if you’re ok.
If you are having a contrast MRI they will slide the bed out of the machine at some point, tell you not to move—not to sit up or reposition so they can have the exact placement of the previous scan but one with contrast. They will inject dye (usually iodine but I’m not a doctor so it could also be molasses?) Through the IV hanging out of your arm. The dye feels like warm/hot liquid literally flowing through your veins and for whatever reason, gets the warmest in your crotch, making if feel like you need to pee—thus the potty recommendation above. But as all this is happening, make sure not to move.
The contrast part usually takes a fraction of the time of rest of it and while they say you are fine to go after having contrast, I highly recommend sitting for bit afterwards, before you leave, before you drive away and drink water to start flushing everything out of your body. Everyone is different, but the dye always makes me a little woozy and I take (on my own medical advice—so clearly not advisable) a charcoal pill afterwards and drink a ton of water to flush the system. The dye is hard on the kidneys.
If you’ve gotten this far in the medial process, I hope you get answers, I hope you get solutions and I’m impressed with your platinum status.
You are a platinum status friend. Thanks for sharing your journey. xo