Posted 12/28/2010 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
MRI is very noisy. They will give you protective headphones so they can talk to you. They may offer to play music for you. If you like bring an iwhatever, mp3, cd player with your favorite stuff and they may be able to play it.
Also an MRI is usually a very small tube. They put you on a narrow, hard but slightly padded bed that slowly and gently slides you into and through the MRI machine. You have to lay very still during this. The MRI is giant magnets and they make this enormous banging noise as it works. The tube is usually just big enough for your body to fit through. The top of the tube may be only a few inches from your face - probably no more than 6-10 inches. You can call the MRI place and ask about the one they'll be using with you.
If you have any issues with claustrophobia (someone should have asked you about this) you may need some mild, short acting sedation while there in which case you should take someone to drive you to/from. If you think this is going to be a problem I'd call the MRI place and tell them in advance.
When I took my sister for her MRE (E=enterography) we had to be there 3 hours early and she drank stuff there. It was tedious to wait but I think that might be a better plan that using Depends. Also we had to wait a little longer because they had several emergencies and delayed her about 45 minutes.
Good luck.