Preparing for an MRI
Unless your doctor requests that you not eat or drink anything before the exam, or you are there for an exam under anesthesia, there are no food or drink restrictions. Continue to take any medications prescribed by your doctor unless otherwise directed.
- Please plan to arrive 30 minutes before your appointment so that we can complete any necessary paperwork before your visit.
- Please bring your appointment letter along with any health insurance cards or forms
- Be sure to bring any medical reports and x-rays concerning your condition that have been performed at a hospital other than Ruby Memorial Hospital.
You won’t be allowed to wear or carry anything metallic during the MRI exam, so it would be best to leave watches, jewelry, or anything made from metal at home. Even some cosmetics contain small amounts of metal, so it is best to not wear make-up.
Items that need to be removed before entering the MR system room include:
- wallet, money clip, credit cards, or other cards with magnetic strips
- cell phones, pagers, etc.
- hearing aids
- metallic jewelry, watches
- pens, keys, coins, pocket knives
- barrettes, hairpins, etc.
- clothing that has a metal zipper, buttons, snaps, hooks, or under-wires
- shoes, belt buckles, safety pins
You will be asked to fill out a screening form asking about anything that might create a health risk or interfere with the exam. Even if you have undergone an MRI before at this or another facility, you will still be asked to complete an MRI screening form.
Examples of things that may create a health hazard or other problems during the MRI exam:
- pacemaker
- implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
- neurostimulator system
- aneurysm clip
- metallic implant
- implanted drug infusion device
- foreign metal objects, especially if in or near the eye (piercings)
- shrapnel or bullet
- permanent cosmetics or tattoos
- dentures/teeth with magnetic keepers
- other implants that involve magnets
- medication patches that contain metal foil (transdermal patch)
**Important note: If you are pregnant or think that you could be pregnant, you must notify your physician and the MRI technologist at the MRI department prior to the MRI procedure.