Making The MRI Manageable

If there is an MRI in your future, there are a few tips to keep in mind to make the scan a little easier. An open MRI scanner is often the best solution if you are afraid of being in small spaces or if you are physically unable to be inside the machine.

One of the things to keep in mind is that you should leave your modesty outside the door. You will likely have to wear a hospital nightgown, especially if you will need to stay in the hospital for a few days after the scan is completed. You can't wear anything metallic, and you should tell the technician if there is anything in the body that is metal as the machine is a large magnet. Some of the things that you might not think about are hair bows and earrings.

While in the scanner, don't move at all. This will only mess up the image, and you will likely have to repeat it until a clear image can be seen. You aren't strapped down on the table, and no one is in there to hold you down so that you don't move, so you will have to use willpower to not fidget while the machine is circling around you to take a picture. Patience is a virtue as it seems like it takes forever to get the results back. However, with the digital age, doctors can usually see results of the scan a short time after it's completed.

Some people think that you can't breathe while you're getting an MRI. It's alright to breathe, and the technician might tell you how to breathe at times in order to get an image of the lungs or other areas of the body. If you're afraid of being in the machine, then close your eyes. It doesn't prevent any kind of magnetic ray from harming the eyes as the scanner is safe, but it can make you feel a little more at ease with being in a confined space. The technician will tell you when you are done with the scan so that you can finally relax for a while before the results are back.