DON'T WORRY !
It is not painful and could very possibly provide information that will greatly improve your health.
In my checklist they even wanted to know about if I worked in a metal shop, might have old shrapnel injuries or if I had tatooes or body piercings.
Plan ahead on this. If you have any surgeries that you wonder if a metal device was implanted inside you be sure to call the doctor's office before going to your MRI to have it determined for sure.
2. The main challenge for myself and many others in getting an MRI is overcoming the claustrophobia that comes about from having your body slid horizontally into a narrow tube.
Some machines are set up with nice comfort features like a fan to keep a little breeze going, special headphones to play music, or even a special mirror arrangement so you can look at your feet and the room outside. These are helpful, however it can still be challenging to keep it together in there.
There is also so called "Open MRIs" where the patient lays on a table and does not have to slide into a tube. In that case claustrophobia is not an issue. But for us tube-goers, my first time was not easy for me and maybe the suggestions below will make it easier on somebody else during their first time:
3. Do not dress too warm. You can wear ordinary clothes inside the MRI as long as they don't contain metal. The first time I had a flannel shirt on over a T-shirt. I was comfortable in the room, but inside the machine (the tube) I was too warm which only made it a more confining and unpleasant experience. Unless the room is freezing cold you should be fine in just a light cotton T-shirt and sweatpants.
4. Skip all caffeinated beverages for a time before going to your MRI appointment. My first appointment was at 8 am and I had drunken my usual 2 strong cups of coffee before going. Well I was ready to go to work! BUT it only made it more difficult to stay still and calm during a claustrophobic experience.
5. Most importantly you have to find a way to control your mind and not panic. The first time I thought only about being inside that narrow tube and not liking it one bit and how much I would love to be outdoors again. It was a cycle of thinking that almost led to panic. I was asking to come out after only a minute but they said no. The first 5 minutes were the worst and then it got better as time went on.
By my fourth time in the MRI machine, June 2, 2003 ( I had 2 MRIs at Duke), I was
becoming a "seasoned veteran". . .
I had been doing a lot more praying. That helped. I had more scripture memorized which I could recite inside my head during the procedure to give me something else to think about. That also was very helpful. God gave me peace and it was not nearly so bad as the first time.
6. You might receive an injuection at some point during the procedure. For me (190 pounder) this was 17ccs of Gadolinium DTPA which is a liquid which goes through the bloodstream and provides more information on the MRI especially if tumors are suspected because active tumors sometimes have a blood supply signature that the MRI picks up on. This is refered to as "Enhancement".
7. The machine makes a lot of buzzing and clicking noises. They are very noticeable but not extremely loud.