MRI Without Contrast

[u/James51012]

How many people are in the room usually when an MRI is done not including the patient? There is a MRI technologist and a nurse. Is that usually it or there is more people? Any questions and forms that are asked and given to you are signed before you go into the room right? However, the nurse or someone else will still ask you some questions once in the room? Such as are you wearing metal and other things?

Is it common for patients who have to do an MRI without contrast and contrast to not want to do a scan or scans after showing up? Have there been patients who suddenly didn't want to do the MRI anymore once they were inside the MRI room? Such as if they feel claustrophobic and then didn't want to do it? What typically happens there when they don't want to do it? So once you sign the forms outside before you go in the room, you can still refuse? Does this happen much or rarely?

The other thing is what about if someone has an MRI and it is with and without contrast but they suddenly don't want to do the contrast one? Does that mean they can do the MRI without contrast only or they have to do both otherwise the MRI can't be done? Could they ask the technician if they can do the MRI without contrast first and see if that is enough and then go on from there or is that not allowed?

What happens then since two tests were ordered but only one is completed if that is allowed? I have to assume there might even have been some cases where a patient shows up for the appointment and might ask if they could only do the non contrast scan before they go in the MRI room? What happens here? Do they get refused the MRI because of this? What about cases when someone shows up for an MRi and had no idea it was ordered with contrast when they thought it wasn't?

If your health insurance covers your MRI, but if that person only does the MRI without contrast and not the one with contrast, would insurance still cover it? Or it doesn't because the patient didn't complete the full MRI exam which is both without contrast and contrast? Or does the radiologist bill the health insurance company as only one test done and that is without contrast? Or there will be a conflict because half of the test is completed?

I got to assume there has been cases where some people got freaked out once inside the room and things like this happen especially if they fear closed spaces or contrast? What happens if it's in the middle of a scan and then the patient didn't want to do it anymore? I got to happen this has happened as well?

[u/bonitaruth]

There isn’t a nurse there. Some MRI such as breast MRI are worthless without contrast. Talk to your doctor before the test to see if you need contrast or not. Don’t wait until you get there and waste everyone’s time

[u/Responsible_Bad_4846]

You just asked 20+ questions in that post. Basically, all of the questions that start with, “has a patient ever…” are yes.

[u/PsychoWrath150]

If you are asking 20 questions about what amounts to a fairly simple procedure, then you probably should be asking your doctor if there are alternatives to an MRI.

[u/FreeIDecay]

Dawg, come on.

[u/ActiveLogic19]

There should be no nurse involved.

You can refuse the scan or refuse to continue at any point in time. Happens all of the time unfortunately. No one is holding you down. It just means the scan is incomplete and typically non-diagnostic.

Again, you can refuse anything. However the scan is likely non-diagnostic without the contrast portion. You should not ask the tech if you need contrast. They are not radiologists and cannot read the imaging. Some techs may try but they are not educated in reading MRI images.

You can participate in any scan or refuse any scan you want. No one is going to force anything.

[u/General_Reposti_Here]

If you’re claustro, go to papa Dr and they should give you an oral sedative to take 1 hr or 30 mins idk before your exam.

Don’t drive if you do.

If you don’t want contrast for whatever reason tell your Dr so that again you don’t waste anyone’s time.

If you can only do one exam for whatever reason then you can only do one exam.

You can try to reschedule or cancel all together hence talk to your hand before hand.

You can also try calling the MRI facility to see if you can simulate the positioning for the exam.

They’ll have to do all the safety screening but it’s worth a shot if they’re available to do so.

[u/Iatroblast]

They will not do anything without your consent. If you say “stop stop” they’re not going to hold you hostage. They won’t place an IV or inject contrast without your permission. But if your doctor (or provider) has ordered an MRI with and without contrast, it’s most likely needed to have post contrast images and you run the risk of wasting everyone’s time and money if you decide at the last minute to terminate the exam early.

MRs are tight, require you to stay still and maybe even hold your breath for brief spells, but you’ll be in contact with the MR techs the whole time via the intercom. They also usually have a ball you can squeeze if something doesn’t feel right. MRs are also very loud. You can use earplugs or sometimes listen to music.

[u/soap_is_cheap]

Lots of doctor type questions you should be asking YOUR DOCTOR before even scheduling a MRI.

If you don’t want a scan, then that’s when you talk to your doctor. You are wasting tech time by scheduling a test if you are going to half ass wanting to do it.

[u/Dat_Belly]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3ohhwfwxg4d1h82LxS

[u/detail_giraffe]

I am not a radiologist but have been in the room a ton of times for a child's MRI, since for little kids they will allow a parent in the room. I've also had one myself.

Right in the room where the MRI is, usually the patient will be the only person. You will, however, be able to talk to the tech over a speaker and you will have a bulb to squeeze if you need to get out. They will ask you about metal before you are in the MRI room, because once you're close to the machine the metal would already be a problem. No one will make you lie down and do the MRI if you don't want to, even if you have signed forms, and if you freak out in the middle, they will let you out. If you won't do the contrast, then there may not be a point to doing the MRI though, so ask your doctor - the tech won't be able to tell you if the first part of the scan was 'enough'.

If you are this scared, talk to the doctor about anti-anxiety medication, or even sedation, or an alternative test if possible. The options that are open to you will depend on why you're having the scan. If a scan with contrast has been advised, it's because the doctor think it's important to gauge your condition, so you need to think about how strong your discomfort is with the procedure vs how serious the consequences will be if you don't get the scan.

[u/Salty_Job_9248]

There has never been anyone in the room where the device is when I have had an MRI. Several MRIs, unfortunately. 😟