No special preparation is required prior to the MRI exam. You may eat normally and go about your daily routine. Continue to take any medication prescribed by your doctor unless otherwise dictated. Prior to entering the scan room for your exam, you will be asked to leave those items that are not compatible with a magnetic field in a safe place outside the scan room.
Non Compatible Items Include: Coins, jewelry, watches, glasses, credit cards, hearing aids, keys, hair pins and other metal objects. Some implants may also be incompatible. Check with your physician or MRI technologist if you have had any brain, ear or eye surgeries or have any of the following: Pacemaker, Neuro-stimulator (Tens Unit), Metal implants, Intrauterine device (IUD, etc…), Aneurysm clips, Surgical staples, implanted drug infusion device, foreign metal objects in eye, shrapnel or bullet wounds, permanent eyeliner or tattoos. Also, if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, please notify your physician.
A technologist will be with you and will be able to see you at all times. For your convenience, an intercom system is built into the MR imager so that if you need anything, the technologist will be right there. In certain instances, a contrast agent may be administered to enhance the study. There are no extra precautions if your physician requires this type of study. Consult the physician or technologist if you have any questions.
