How to prepare for your next MRI like a pro.
This is a quick and simple list to get you through your next MRI appointment.
Here are my best tips for acing an MRI from someone who has done two of them:
Wear metal free clothes like leggings (I like the Old Navy Powerchill Leggings) so you can start preparing yourself to remove metal from your body in general.
Remove your jewellery the night before or a few hours before so that you aren’t rushing to do it before you leave.
I like to shower before I go so that I am fresh because sometimes I sweat and I don’t want to smell unpleasant during my test.
Take out your hairpins.
Don’t wear too many layers and if you can go bra-less then do so. If not, I like sports bras or my current favourite, the Knix Luxe-lift bra.
Wear slip-on or off shoes so that you can change faster. I also find them to be comfortable for walking in long hospital hallways.
Don’t wear too many layers because you will have to undress when you get there to put on the three-hole gown.
Wear something that makes you feel good and comfortable like fun socks or a nice hoodie.
Prepare your relaxation techniques such as favourite songs to sing in your head or breathing exercises. The space inside the machine is very small and you will feel your arms graze the sides of the machine and there is not much space between your face and the top of inside of the machine. The machine is also very loud when it is taking the images of your body. I didn’t think it would bother me, but the first time I almost asked to be let out but I went into my mental toolbox to calm myself down. The second time, I was more relaxed and I kept my eyes closed the whole time so I couldn’t see how close the machine was to my face. I even started to doze off in the last 5 minutes. After singing “Bulletproof” ten times.
If you have chronic back pain or hip pain or really any pain, take your pain medication before going to the hospital. You will be lying on an uncomfortable surface and you have to hold the position for 10-30 minutes. I find this to be the worst part because I usually end up very sore and stiff and need some help to get off the table because of how bad my back gets so be prepared for that.
Talk to the technician before the procedure so they know your comfort level. You will be asked a series of questions about your medical history and they want to know about surgeries, implants, procedures and many others. If you have claustrophobia or anxiety, let them know. You can ask them to check in on you every x minutes or ask them not to check in on you. It’s up to you to let them know what you need.
If you have extensions check to see what they are made of and how they are attached to your real hair or scalp. I wear faux locs so my extensions are synthetic. If you wear weaves or wigs or clip ins, you might feel more comfortable taking them out for the test depending on how long you have had them in. You could also choose to keep them in and just let the technician or your doctor know in advance. If the metal from the extensions are attracted to their hand-held magnet at the hospital, they may ask you to leave and reschedule but if it isn’t attracted to the magnet then you could be at risk for burns if the metal heats up due to the MRI machine.
Have a designated driver if you think you might get fatigued or anxious.
You might have an MRI late at night or early morning so if you have fatigue issues, you may want to prepare yourself by taking it easy and using all the tools you have. For me, that’s resting, using cannabis, and eating foods that don’t trigger any of my diseases.
Note: MRI wait times in Ontario are all over the place at the moment. I have been waiting over a year for a chest MRI to be done and they basically said due to COVID they won’t do this type of MRI unless it is urgent. My other MRIs have been faster with a range of 2-4 weeks between the referral and doing the test.For some people, MRIs can be scary especially if you don’t know what to expect so maybe this list might help you to feel a little more prepared.
