Prior to your first brain MRI, make sure to wear comfortable clothing that is also without metal and take off any jewelry, wristwatches, or accessories prior to entering the scanner. In most cases, you are allowed a normal routine of eating and drinking unless otherwise stated by your healthcare provider.
Be sure your doctor is aware of any allergic conditions, especially related to contrast dye, and of any metal implants or devices that are in your body. If you have claustrophobia, you will want to alert your doctor beforehand as they may be able to prescribe medication for this, or would suggest an open MRI.
Prior to Your Appointment
Clothes: It is always advisable to wear loose and comfortable clothing. Avoid loose fitting clothes with any type of fastener (i.e., metal or plastic, zippers or buttons).
Eating and Drinking: Please check with your imaging department for any instructions.
Metal: Just before the MRI, you will need to take off all jewelry, watch, hairpins, eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, and any metal items.
Make-up: Please do not wear anything make-up that has any metallic properties.
Medications: Please take all your normal medications unless you are instructed by your Doctor to refrain from doing so.
Eating and Drinking: Most brain MRIs will allow you to eat and drink as normal.
Contrast: Please let your doctor know, if you have an allergy to contrast, if you have had issues with contrast dye, or if you have kidney issues.
Metal Implants/Devices: Please let your doctor know if you have any metal implants like, pacemakers, or aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, etc. These could foster some special preparation or considerations.
Claustrophobia: If you are claustrophobic please inform your doctor. Your doctor can either provide you with a prescription for anxiety relief, or recommend an open MRI.
While During the Appointment
Changing: You will change and be asked to remove all metal.
Positioning: You will lay on a table that will move into the MRI machine.
Staying Still: You will be asked to try to lay still for the images to be the most accurate possible.
Communication: You will be given a call button to communicate with the technologist if needed.
Noise: MRI machines are loud, so you may be offered earplugs or headphones.
Medical Information To Share
You should inform your medical personnel of any metal implants (pacemakers, artificial joints, aneurysm clips, stents, or inner ear implants).
Also, inform them of major health issues, prior surgery, or any allergies to contrast substances.
Let your physician know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding because this may affect the use of contrast substances.
Scanning Day
It is important to arrive early enough to get through the paperwork, get prepared, and relax before your scan.
You will lie down on the table.
If you were asked to have a contrast agent, the technologist will place an IV to inject the contrast agent just prior to the scan. This is very safe, and the only things you will likely notice are a weird metal taste or warmed feeling during the injection.
The MRI machine is very loud the entire time you are being scanned. You will be offered earplugs or headphones, and sometimes music to help cover the noise.
The most important thing you can do is to lay still throughout the scan so good images can be collected.
Conclusion
The only easy steps to get ready for your first brain MRI are to disclose any metal implants or medical conditions to your doctor, remove any metal items, and any instructions related to food or contrast media If its your first MRI and you have worries, however, or feel you’re likely to be anxious, do not forget to express these worries directly to your health care provider! They will work with you at the moment if you are having any difficulty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What should you not do before a brain MRI?
Prior to brain MRI, it is best to not wear or bring items that have metal in them (jewelry, hairpins, glasses, watches, hearing aids, and anything like these items) to the MRI.
Q. How to mentally prepare for brain MRI?
Prior to undergoing a brain MRI, it can be useful to know about the procedure, address any fears, and focus on planning relaxation techniques.
Q. How do I prepare for my first MRI?
To get ready for your first MRI, wear something comfortable with no metal, tell your doctor about any metal implants or allergies you may have, and follow any special instructions from the imaging center.
Q. What to wear for brain MRI?
For your brain MRI, please wear loose and comfortable clothing with no metal. You may even be requested to wear a hospital gown, so we recommend bringing an alternate set of clothing, or clothing that can be removed easily.
Q. Will brain MRI show eye problems?
Definitely, a brain MRI may show some ocular issues and ocular related pathology, especially those related to the optic nerve and surrounding structures, as well as any eye disorders that affect vision.
