MRI (What to expect)

On Tuesday, I had my MRI.  I might not remember everything, but I thought it might be beneficial to go through the steps... in case anyone is scared.  Your experience may differ.
________________

Notes:  Depending on what part of your body is scanned, you may have to fast. 

Eyeglasses, hearing aids, jewelry, shoes, etc. will have to be removed before you get to the machine.  (If you wear a bra, find one without hooks or metal stays, like a sports bra.  Leave clothing with zippers, metal buttons, metallic studs at home.)  

Tell them if you have a pacemaker, insulin pump, or other internal machinery because the MRI can cause them to malfunction.  Tell them if you have any metal rods, pins, plates, or replacements (and about metal dental work).  

If you are (or ever were) a metalworker, tell them!  Shavings can get inside your body and cause havoc during an MRI scan, potentially injuring you internally.

On extremely rare occasions, pants may burn skin in an MRI machine.  You may have to pull down or take off your pants before being scanned.

Tell people if you're claustrophobic.  If you are, an MRI will be rough.

It might help you to have a conversation with your doctor before scheduling.  Some of these things may mean you can't be scanned safely or thoroughly.
___________________

1.  A technician comes into the waiting room and gives you a card to read about metal and MRI machines.  Certain metals can obscure parts of you.  Metals that are magnetic will be attracted to the machine... hurting you.

2.  Before you enter the scan room, you will be asked questions about past surgeries, implants, etc.  (When you scheduled the appointment, you might have been asked some of the same questions.)

3.  When you are brought to the room (maybe before), you will have to remove anything metal or with metal components, including shoes.

4.  You will be scanned with a metal-detecting wand, like at the airport.

5.  They will start an IV on you.  They need to give you an injection near the end of the scan.  This doesn't have a metal needle in your skin, so don't worry.

6.  You lie on the table.  They will put pillows under your head and (possibly) parts of your body and position you.  They may put a pillow between your legs, depending.

7.  They will put (and secure) rectangular things on the parts of your body that need scanning.  These are antennas.  It doesn't hurt.

8.  You will be given something to help with noise (the scan is LOUD).  Many hospitals give you music via headphones, which is also how you will hear the person running the scan.

9.  They give you a ball to squeeze if you need them, put pads around you anywhere your bare skin might touch the inside of the machine, and move you into it.  If you are fat, this might be more uncomfortable because it is a snug fit.

*The scan is a cylinder.  There is a gray stripe at the top middle.  If your head is near the opening of the machine, air will blow in your face.  It might feel a bit warm in there during the scan (especially around the antennas), but never like you're burning.*

10.  Over the next (how many minutes) you will be scanned multiple times.  The machine will whir, beep, bleat, and vibrate during the scan phases (loud and annoying barely covers it).  There will be periods (brief) where the machine will be silent and still.  Once and awhile, they will adjust the table you're on... slightly.  You will be glad for those headphones.  A good technician will tell you what is going on each time and will check on you verbally.

11.  Right before the last scan phase, you will be given an injection through the IV.  You might taste (or smell) metal.  It shouldn't make you feel hot or anything (to my knowledge).

12.  You're done!  Yay!
________________________
End note:  If you have chronic pain, this will be hard on you.  I was crying silent tears about halfway through the ordeal.  But, you will get through it.  I did.