When thinking about an MRI scan, is easy to imagine that you will be dealing with it “alone”.
The reality is that you will not be alone during your MRI scan. Along with you, there will be an “MRI technologist” (often shortened to MRI tech”), who will sit at a control desk near the MRI scanner. From there they can directly see you and the MRI scanner. MRI tech closely monitors you and also the MRI scanner. I am sure you will find it reassuring to know that they can physically reach you quickly if necessary.
As mentioned at the beginning of this website, it’s not uncommon for people to be anxious about having MRI scans. This means that MRI techs are very experienced in managing patients who are anxious and their expertise will help you get a successful scan.
During your whole scan, you will be in contact with the MRI tech. In the scanner, you will wear headphones. During your scan, through these headphones, the MRI tech can talk to you and also hear you. In addition, you will be given a special “ball” to hold in your hand. If you want to alert the MRI tech, you just need to squeeze this ball, and it will ring a “bell” that will lead to the MRI tech speaking and asking you what assistance you may need. Before starting the scan, the MRI tech will ask you to squeeze the ball to show you how it works. At various times during your scan, the MRI tech will talk to you asking if you are ok and keep you appropriately updated.
The most important thing to always remember is that you are in final control of being in the MRI scanner. One basic principle in the medical field is that one does not do things against a patient’s wishes, and that includes being in the MRI scanner. If you want to stop the scanning, the MRI tech will respect your wishes and you will be out of the scanner. I am sure you will aim to complete your MRI scan, but it will be reassuring to remind yourself that you are in control and can stop the scanning process.
MRI techs are very skilled. They know how to manage the sophisticated MRI scanner and with equal measure know how to manage patient’s anxiety. These two aspects together produce high-quality images.