Thoughout your life, your health could be compromised, prompting the need for medical checkups and Digital scans. The doctor can then use the results from your MRI body scan to make a correct diagnosis and determine the cause of your problem. Most doctors who request patients to undergo an MRI scan must have noticed abnormalities in their bodies.
Therefore, the scan results confirm the physician’s analysis by displaying the abnormalities. The results also help your doctor to offer you the ideal treatment and prescription. Often, undergoing the MRI scan could make the difference between receiving treatment and continuous health degeneration.
While undergoing MRI scans is necessary, you should have the scan performed by a trusted radiologist. The procedure should occur under the observation of a knowledgeable Radiologist or MRI technician who understands each step of the scanning process. At Los Angeles Diagnostics, we offer quality MRI scanning services to all patients seeking to undergo an MRI.
Knowing How an MRI Scan Works
Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a procedure where a magnetic scanning machine shows your internal body parts through imagery. Usually, the MRI is a painless process, as it does not involve any invasive procedures. An MRI scanner uses magnetic forces coupled with radio waves to produce your body's images through a computer. Although the technical procedures may be difficult to understand, note that the scan does not strain or interfere with your normal body functions.
Therefore, you can have an MRI scan at any time, provided your doctor approves and requests it as part of the diagnosis. The machine design includes a hollow cylindrical shape in which the functional components are fixed. There is a long resting extension that moves into the hollow section electronically.
During the scan procedure, you lie on the extended board, and the controller commands it to move inside the cylindrical section for scanning. The MRI machine also connects to a contrast liquid holder that supplies your body with the required amount of contrast dye, as discussed below.
Technical Functions of an MRI Scanner
When preparing for an MRI, it is necessary to understand how the technology functions to produce body images. With the information, you can learn what items are prohibited in the scan room. The details also help you remain calm, thanks to the assurance of non-exposure to harmful radiation.
As mentioned earlier, the MRI machine helps to show your internal body parts through magnetic function. Subsequently, the scanner holds two powerful magnets that function at intervals to highlight the body's layout.
It is important to discuss the human body's main components to understand how a magnetic force field scans and creates images for different body parts. Water molecules make up a significant amount of your body composition, often amounting to up to seventy percent of the entire body structure. Additionally, each water molecule comprises two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Moreover, each atomic composition includes a proton, a component that holds magnetic function in the body. Therefore, the MRI machine uses one of the magnets to align the body protons in a specific way, making it easy for imaging to occur. The protons may align towards the north or south poles, depending on the MRI scanner programming.
Further, the scanner holds another magnet that allows for continuous changes in aligning the protons in your body. Overall, the changed alignments lead to different hydrogen atom alignment, creating room for collecting multiple images at once. When the two magnets combine functions in quick successive stages, the scanner takes all required images before completing your scan.
Preparing for an MRI Scan
After consulting with a medical doctor, he/she will advise on several tests that you should undergo, including MRI scans. Once you establish that undergoing the MRI scan is vital, you need to prepare. The main steps to take also occur in stages, meaning that you should know what to do before, during, and after the MRI scan.
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What to Expect Before the MRI Scan
There are several base processes performed before the scan. Moreover, it helps to research before the scan, as it helps with preparing yourself more adequately. Some steps to take before the scan include:
Scheduling a Consultation to Discuss Your Medical History
Speaking to your doctor about any underlying conditions you may have is crucial before undertaking an MRI scan. To do this, you need to disclose any relevant information linked to your medical history to help the doctor assess the risks of undergoing the scan, if any.
For example, if you have suffered any recent kidney or liver disease, you need to inform the doctor of the details. The information will be useful, as contrast can be dangerous for patients with identified kidney problems. Hence, a failure to mention your previous medical experiences may expose you to severe consequences unnecessarily, leading to possible kidney and liver damage.
Moreover, it would help if you mentioned any recent surgical procedures you have faced. Your surgery details help the doctor identify possible body tissues or organs that may display abnormalities from the contact during surgery.
This way, he/she will know which abnormal images to sideline based on the information you avail. You may also provide any previous MRI scans you have taken, as they will form a good reference point for the new results. The doctor also gets a chance to assess both scans to identify the positive or negative development of your condition.
We also recommend declaring any allergies you have towards food or medicine. Some patients react to the contrast liquid infused before the scan, leading to severe hives and fatal effects in adverse cases. Therefore, you want to ensure that the doctor knows of a potential risk factor before advancing to take the scan.
If you are pregnant or think you may be, it is also a good idea to request a confirmatory test before the doctor clears you for the scan. Usually, pregnancy in the first trimester is the most delicate duration.
Subsequently, the pregnant person should take extra precautions against exposing the fetus to safety hazards to eradicate the risk of a miscarriage. Therefore, MRI scans are not recommended for first trimester pregnancies, meaning you will have to discuss other options with your doctor.
Taking Anxiety Medication Before the Scan
If you have medically diagnosed anxiety, we recommend taking your medication before going in for the scan to help you remain relaxed. Sometimes, the MRI scanning machine may appear intimidating, triggering a panic attack.
To avoid the consequences of these intense attacks, it is advisable to follow up on your prescriptions for a successful scanning process. Please note that we may not have the specific anxiety medication you use readily available at our facility. Therefore, we recommend taking your medication in advance to avoid any inconveniences.
Canceling Pending Appointments
Since MRI scans are long procedures, we also advise you to cancel any pending appointments or engagements you have for the day. While walking into the facility, you may believe that the scan will last only a few minutes. However, your doctor’s instructions may recommend an intensive imaging process that extends for hours. Hence, it is essential to reschedule urgent matters, to create a relaxed mental space during the scan.
Determining Your Eligibility to Undergo the Scan
Some patients cannot undergo an MRI scan based on electronic or metallic components in their bodies. The restriction comes as a safety measure because the magnetic interference between the scanner and the body components may cause severe complications. Hence, you need to identify the different limiting circumstances that prevent you from undertaking a scan, including:
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Having Insulin Pumps In Your Body
If you live with Diabetes, you will need a constant insulin supply to regulate blood sugar levels in the body. The innovative insulin pump releases automated doses of insulin throughout the day to reduce the need for multiple injections.
Since the insulin pump is an electronic device embedded inside the body, you should discuss various MRI scan alternatives. However, severe cases may lead to temporarily removing the insulin pump to run the diagnostic scans.
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Living with Metal Joints or Limbs
If you suffered a severe fracture that destroyed your natural bone structure, you might have a metallic fixture to support the fractured area. The metal parts are placed during a surgical procedure and should remain intact for a lifetime, or until significant wear and tear occur. Therefore, you may lack access to the MRI scan with metal joints or limbs from the potential magnetic interference.
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Having Metallic Braces or Fillers
Similarly, having braces or other metallic components in your teeth will compromise your MRI images’ quality. The braces need to be removed if the doctor requests an fMRI, as it involves scanning the brain. Discussing with your doctor to find a suitable option is necessary, as it reduces the need to retake a scan after producing unclear images.
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Having Pacemakers
A pacemaker is also a limiting element for anyone seeking to undergo an MRI scan, as it is an electronic device. Although it functions to steady an irregular heartbeat and maintain its rhythm, the doctor may have to find other options to diagnose your condition.
Additional features that may prevent you from taking an MRI scan include:
- Bullets embedded in the body
- Metal implants in your Cochlea
- Body piercings
Learning About the Contrast Liquid Used During the Scan
In some cases, the body tissue or organs to be scanned may not be visible. For example, the doctor who will assess your results may have difficulty identifying scarring in your liver without a dye to highlight it.
As a result, the radiologist performing the MRI may introduce contrast dye into your bloodstream before performing the scan. Usually, the fluid works as a safe dye that highlights your internal tissues and organs. The MRI scanner produces clearer images that can easily display abnormalities like growths and scarring because of the dye.
You could ingest the contrast liquid by drinking a measured amount and wait for a few seconds before performing the scan. Alternatively, you can have the contrast introduced to your body intravenously.
This second option is more common, primarily because most MRI scanning machines are delivered with the contrast holder connected to the entire machine structure. This way, the Radiologist will only insert the needle into a vein and initiate the scan. The machine releases the contrast into your body as programmed, in an automated process.
Once the scan begins, you may get a warm feeling around your chest that extends to your groin. Some patients may report feeling like they have wet themselves. Although the feeling is quite lucid, it is only a sensory illusion from the contrast interacting with your body.
Determining Your Payment Options in Advance
You also need to conduct research and make adequate preparations for the medical scans you are about to undertake. For example, it is crucial to determine whether your insurance company covers diagnostic services and whether our facility accepts insurance payments from your company. For the best preparation, you can call us to determine the exact quotation for your medical scan and ask any further questions.
Similarly, patients who intend to make cash payments can request estimates on specific MRI scans. If you prefer the cash option, you may also need to know the different payment options available, including card payments and wire transfer options. Hence, we advise you to get the relevant details in advance to avoid inconveniences.
On average, the cost of an MRI scan may range between $200 to $1000 depending on the body part to be scanned. Some medical insurance companies may cover the entire procedure, while others provide partial coverage. Therefore, it is crucial to research your options and find the best financial arrangements before the scan.
Wearing Loose Clothes on the Day of the Scan
Finally, we recommend our patients to wear loose-fitting clothes before coming in for the scan, as it eases the imaging process. When dressed in tight clothes, the images may be less clear or even distorted. Conversely, loose-fitting clothes allow the magnetic resonance imaging to penetrate the body and align your hydrogen atoms uniformly for high-quality scan images. Nevertheless, our facility provides gowns for patients who require a looser fitting garment.
Discussing any Signs of Claustrophobia Before the Scan
Additionally, some patients may feel claustrophobic as they move into the cylindrical scanner. While the feeling is normal, it is essential to notify the Radiologist conducting the scan if extreme anxiety builds up.
Providing the information will be beneficial in helping us provide an alternative to the traditional MRI scanner. When you express your concerns, we can schedule your scan to happen in our open design MRI machines that provide the same imaging results as the traditional MRI scanner.
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What to do During The MRI Scan Process
If the doctor clears you for the test, we will handle the procedure, which takes approximately twenty to fifty minutes to complete. The duration varies depending on the body tissues to be scanned, among other factors like how calm you remain. Some actions to take during the scan are:
Removing All Metallic Accessories on Your Body
When you are ready, you will change into the hospital gown provided, as regular clothes may create barriers to an accurate scan. During this period, the Radiologist will also ask you to remove accessories and metallic objects you have. The step is crucial for the scan to succeed, as the metallic objects may interfere with the MRI machine magnets and ruin the entire procedure.
Lying on the Scanning Table and Remain Still Throughout
Once the Radiologist confirms that you are ready, he/she will then instruct you to lie on the extended surface and prepare you for the intravenous contrast injection. Fixing the needle takes a few seconds, and the Radiologist will talk you through it to calm your nerves.
Moreover, he/she will prepare you for the specific instructions that the machine electronically voices out and will ask you to follow them. For example, you may hear a voice asking you to breathe in and hold the breath.
The final stage involves the actual scan, where the surface you lie moves into the circular scanner and takes the necessary images. As discussed, the procedure is painless, and you will only feel the effects of contrast flowing through your body.
Asking the Radiologist to Stop for the Procedure if You are Uncomfortable
If you notice that your anxiety levels are rising significantly, speak with the medical professional in the scanning room. The radiologist will be reachable through the intercom system that lets you communicate with them. F
What to do After the MRI Scan
After the scan, you will be free to leave the facility as we process your images. You may choose to collect the scan results in person or have us send them directly to your doctor. Depending on what you choose, we will promptly send the reports to help you proceed with treatment. Some steps to take after the scan include:
Consulting Your Doctor About Persistent Side Effects of the Scan
As mentioned, MRI scans rarely cause any side effects to patients, except when contrast liquid is used. Typically, patients may suffer from nausea and headaches that should last for only a few hours after the scan. Therefore, if you experience persistent symptoms, we advise you to consult with your doctor for further medical guidance.
Scheduling a Review Appointment With Your Doctor
Finally, you need to schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss the MRI scan results. It is at this stage that you will receive a diagnosis for any identified abnormalities, to help you begin suitable treatment. Answering service
Find a Diagnostic Center Near Me
MRI scans play a valuable role in modern medicine as they have facilitated accurate diagnosis for numerous conditions. If you or a loved one is looking for a MRI diagnostic center in Los Angeles, contact Los Angeles Diagnostics today at 323-486-7502 for the best MRI scan services.
