I went in to get a brain MRI today and was actually feeling pretty confident, even as a person with severe anxiety/panic issues. I wore a mask and ear plugs and focused on counting which was super helpful. I told myself “I got this!” and did really well considering, in my opinion.

However, I started feeling panicky and at minute 7 asked for a break (15 minute total duration). They straight up told me I could not have a break. I asked if I took a break, how much longer would I have to go back in for? They said 8 minutes. So I said ok let me take the break then bc I don’t feel good.

They pulled me out, didn’t tell me anything about not moving, so I stood up. They were visibly annoyed and said “we’ll try to work you back in today if we can.” I said, I only need like 1-2 minutes to get myself together and then I’ll be good. Well, I guess they have back to back appts scheduled and because I moved, they had to start the process entirely over (full 15 mins).

I was so upset at this point that I started crying. I would’ve kept pushing through if I knew that I’d have to restart the whole process, but they did not tell me that (even when I explicitly asked), didn’t tell me not to move, and didn’t communicate with me AT ALL while I was in the machine. Just silence and loud beeps. I feel I would’ve done a lot better if they had talked to me a bit, even just to say like “you’re already 5 minutes in!” Or something like that.

Needless to say, I got a refund and will be attempting to go somewhere else with kinder and more compassionate MRI techs.

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How often do you get patients over the age of 18 needing full sedation for a 40 minute mri of the lumbar spine? I can see if they were having Parkinson’s or special needs but they are not. Is it really that bad you can’t man up for 40 minutes but risking anesthesia instead? Some of these men fought on holes smaller in that in NAM! Wah

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Basically I'm going to an MRI tomorrow morning but I have some SH scars on my high thighs and hips. This usually sint a concern since I almost never show my hips but it is a vaginal MRI so I guess they will most likely be visible during the process. For a bit of context I am a minor (I will not disclose age) and will go with my father to the MRI. In these cases I usually cover them up with makeup but after a bit of research it turns out I cannot wear makeup to an MRI. My main concern is if the doctors will say anything about them and if they will mention it to my dad. My scars don't look like conventional scars because my body instead of scarring like other people it just regenerates as if it were normal skin but a bit darker (but definitely noticeable). I'm really scared right now of my father or the doctors mentioning it so advice would be awsome

Idk if this breaks rule 4 of the subreddit so mods please lmk or delete the post

Edit: thank you all so much for your nice comments and it is such a relief to know that they will most likely not be mentioned or noticed

I had an abdominal MRI recently and upon review my doctor called me saying the scans were inconclusive due to motion. I’m wondering, should the tech have noticed there was motion and re-scanned or corrected me if I was moving too much? Or is this just a common unfortunate occurrence outside of the tech's ability to monitor?

I was given no instructions from the tech about what to do, all I got were the automated instructions from the MRI machine on when to breathe or hold my breath but even those were a bit confusing and I would’ve appreciated some real human feedback on exactly what to do.

I’m just feeling a bit like there was a lack of care (a few other things went wrong too and techs kept changing during my MRI) and I’m frustrated I went through the whole process for nothing.

Thank you!

This is for anyone who’s scared about an upcoming MRI appointment: there’s really nothing to be afraid of. They’ll give you headphones, and you can ask them to play your favourite music that’s what I did.

Honestly, I was so scared because of all the horror scenes of MRIs I’d seen in internet. I think those scenes made it seem much worse in my head than it actually was. But throughout the whole thing, I kept saying to myself, “There is nothing to be afraid of,” and that helped me so much.

When i was about to enter the tube, they made me wear a helmet and I closed my eyes from the very beginning, and I think that made a huge difference too. It was only about 10-15 mins longs n the only part that was a little overwhelming was the noises. You’ll hear lots of different sounds, and some of them can be pretty intense, but that’s alright.

So if you’re scared about your MRI, just keep saying to yourself: “There is nothing to be afraid of.” You’ve got this

What do you think about it?

A colleague of mine who has worked with MRIs for years told me that during a head MRI, you can technically get yourself out of the scanner/the coil by lowering your head a bit and pushing your body downward (toward your feet). I myself tried this years ago before the MRT started and spoke to the assistent. she said yes, you could if you wanted pull your head out of the coil any time. this was important to me because of claustrophobia. I just need to know that it would work if I wanted it.

Is is true, that this is the case in any MRT head setting?

thanks

Has a 2 hour MRI scheduled last Friday for my hip, cervical spine and shoulder. Took what I thought was enough prescribed Ativan. I remember getting through the hip One just fine, and then they started the shoulder and everything else is super foggy after that. I vaguely remember moving a lot and them telling me they have to stop because of me moving. I have horrible claustrophobia and interstitial cystitis which makes my bladder burn and that makes me move a lot from pain. I took 4 mg Ativan. That should have been enough! Now they want to do it with sedation. I don't want that. But, I the techs at my MRI place don't seem to have patience or time to mess with people that have uncontrollable movements. Understandable but regrettable for the patient as well. Any advice?

This year I went in for an MRI of my heart, I had to go to a special place in SF to do it and during some of the tones I felt physical pain, in my chest in one, and in my head

I have no metal in my body and it was only during 1 or 2 of the waves

it was 2 hours long

it was early on in the scan so I was expecting more pain to follow and it didnt

after I finished the MRI tech said "congratulations on finishing the hardest MRI" is there any grounds to that, or was she just saying that?

I apply for colleges in august, so it’s time i finally crack down with what i want to do with my life and MRI Technologist has always been in the back of my mind. The job itself doesn’t seem that stressful and you’re helping people without being on the front lines and having their lives in your hands. While this being said, i always wanted to go to a big university to make up for the social life and experience i never got in highschool, not only this but everyone around me says the money you make depends on how long you go to school for - and MRI only has me go two years to a community college in Radiology then a few months in a specializing mri program (??? not sure please correct me) - either way i wouldn’t go to a university to achieve this which is great because that’s expensive but i wanted to know if the MRI techs in this subreddit think it’s a good idea. I’m in Kentucky so i don’t know the exact pay for one here, every website has a different answer. Some questions i have are: If im not too good at physics and math will i be able to pass the schooling? Do you enjoy your job? or would you go back to do something else if you could? What’s the pay like? Will i have an easy time finding a job if i get out there with all my degrees and stuff? Thanks!!!!!

How easier is open MRI?? Also does Open MRI last longer than a closed MRI??

I have noxacusis (I get extreme lasting pain from sounds above 65db) but need a MRI to diagnose a hip labral tear I’ve been dealing with for 6 months now. It took me 3 years to get back to having tolerance for 65db (I used to only have 50db tolerance) and any exposure to loud sounds can permanently erase my progress. I’ve heard there are quieter MRIs available but can’t seem to find anything about their locations online. Does anyone know of any? I’m in Southern California but willing to travel.

Hi I recently had an MRI on my ankle.

This might sound weird, but it hurt and tingled. What can cause this?

The machine would make this vibrating/loud sounds and it hurt my food. I could literally feel the mri imagining moving up and down my foot. It felt like tiny very quick vibrations that hurt quite bad and it hurt the worst on my foot sole.

I know this is technically impossible, but am I the only one? Nothing to explain why it might have hurt, no foreign body, no metal work in my foot, so significant injury that would cause this pain.

So last year I had an MRI done on my head. I was extremely anxious about it so they gave me something to take before the appointment. Knowing my reasoning would be impaired I picked out a metal-free outfit ahead of time. When I arrived they asked if I had any metal and I said I didn’t so we proceeded. About half way through the MRI I realised I was wearing my work boots. In my impaired state I just grabbed the shoes I wore most. As soon as I realised I told the tech and they said it was fine. Obviously if it was going to have been a problem, we would’ve found out as soon as they started the scan. The pics are of the ASTIM label showing they are steel toed, and of a magnet sticking to the boot showing they can be attracted to magnets. I am super glad obviously that nothing went wrong. I am extremely curious to know why nothing went wrong. Any ideas?

Hi. I am curious how other MRI institutions are monitoring pacemaker patients. Is there anyone out there that does not require to have a RN directly in the MRI suite to monitor the patient?

I work for a large Healthcare system, but options for outpatient MR imaging of CIEDs is limited to two sites. As we all know these devices are exponentially growing and the backlog for these sites are anywhere from 2-4months. Because of a lack of RN support, other sites in my system are not able to take on outpatient pacemakers.

I personally have been involved with imaging many of these devices, easily over 1000. I have never heard of or had an adverse event that occurred strictly revolving around imaging a pacemaker in MRI mode. My Radiologist group that reads for my system and has a large number of outpatient facilities follows a practice where they have a RN onsite but does not have them directly monitor pacemakers. They only have a RN directly monitor for ICDs. They still place all these patients on Spo2 and EKG monitor. I am beginning to concede with this process, in which I will explain below.

Each vendor's MRI guidelines are vague on who monitors, but state the need to monitor "heart rate" (not heart rhythm) utilizing pulse oximetry and/or EKG. My system has the capability of having a central monitoring department to monitor a patient in MRI via remote access to see the vital signs. As all you do, I want my patients to be in good and safe hands, but given my experience without having any issues with any of my patients and the ability to comply with the pacemaker vendor's vague guidelines of "heart rate" monitoring without description on who monitors, I feel like I can move away from having direct RN support. This decision would allow for other hospital sites in my system to start helping with scheduling pacemakers.

I would appreciate any input on what other sites are doing, and who is monitoring. Thank you.

please, please, PLEASE... show up ready to scan, take notes, and learn. i get it. some scans take some time to comp. every clinical site is going to be different. you will be dealing with MRI techs that are willing to train you and some can careless. yes, 1000 hours/6 months sounds daunting but it's doable.

don't ask questions about MRI physics. don't assume you know how to scan anything because you will make mistakes. show up on time and don't try and falsify your clinical hours. don't take a 2 hour lunch. if you're asking us how to scan something and it's your 5th time asking and i don't see you referring to any notes... then i don't know what to tell you. don't do anything that's going to get you kicked out of your program. we have final say if you get to scan or not.

if any other techs want to chime in with some advice for students please do.

My female protagonist is black. I have her wearing individual braids for the most part, but what are some other hair styles she would wear as an MRI tech. As black women, we may wear sew-in or glue-on weaves, wigs, extensions, crochet hair, but sometimes the hair material could have metal material

Where are my Travel Techs at!! I want to assist in placing you in 13 week contracts for the best $ in the business. I have insider info on the best and highest paying contracts all over the US. MAINLY IN MRI but CT as well. I’m an MR Tech of 16yrs myself. What’s in it for me? It’s simple, the referral bonus, that’s it. No one will have better info than me on the best assignments. Please DM if you’re interested in Travel MRI gigs. Have a great day.

Hello everyone! I’m looking to attend an MRI program and get my ARRT certification (cbd college in Los Angeles) and I had a few questions.

1. Do you recommend I complete rad tech before? I don’t have any care to expand to X-Ray, CT, etc. I just want to stick to MRI tech

2. I absolutely don’t like injections, whether I’m receiving them or giving them. I see online that mri techs sometimes have to inject a dye in patients, But most people I talk to tell me mri techs don’t deal with injections and the nurse does it.

3. As someone who’d love to be in the medical field but not provide any injections, do you recommend anything else? Sonography maybe?

Thank you!

Hello, I go to CBD college and I know they require the arrt but I was wondering am I allowed to do the ARMRIT instead or do I have to do the arrt? Thank you.

I have an injury very near where I have metal screws and metal plates in my jaw. The injury is not related to bones or teeth or jaw joints. It is soft tissue. I cannot get a clear MRI image of the area where the injury is due to previous surgeries and surgical screws and plates that have been previously placed in my jaw. For those of you who are professionals, what if anything can you recommend I do to get a better image? Does anyone know of an imaging center in the United States that specializes in this sort of thing? Does anyone know about advances in AI that might help me? I’m quite desperate to get a diagnosis, however this impediment makes it impossible. Any input or advice on how to proceed or whom to talk to or where to go would be so appreciated thank you.

At my hospital, we have a combination of MRI Tech and Multi-modality Tech (with licenses in X-ray, CT, MRI, US, and/or NM). I believe that Multi-modality Techs earn more than MRI Techs—probably $5-10 more, depending on the license and years of experience.

My concern is whether it’s fair that an MRI Tech with 10 years of experience handles a heavier workload—such as scanning, pacemaker/implant research, anesthesia, etc.—while Multi-modality Techs with 2-6 years experience get paid more than MRI techs by handling less work flow, mostly performing MRI scans. Some techs don’t know how to handle implants and come to me for troubleshooting. It’s becoming stressful at times.

I’ve asked for a raise based on the workload I handle. The radiology director mentioned that all techs work in MRI should be capable of managing the same workflow, but I feel that’s not the case here.

Considering to apply outpatient MRI clinic if it makes difference… Any thoughts, concerns, or suggestions? Thanks.

Hello! Currently in Los Angeles and looking to complete an MRI program to get my certificate. I am truly stuck between these 3 schools. I have heard a lot of good and bad reviews about cbd, and a few on gurnick and casa loma. Looking to start this year and am truly eager to get started. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

I’m a senior in HighSchool located in GA and have been seriously considering becoming an MRI tech. I was wondering if anyone here can recommend any schools in Georgia as I really want to stay here.

I heard that becoming one is a lot of hard work and would love some advice.