What is an MRI scan?

What is an MRI scan?

MRI means ‘Magnetic Resonance Imaging’. It is an imaging technique using a strong magnetic field to produce high-quality pictures of the internal structure and function of your body. It is very useful for looking at soft tissue structures, such as muscles and ligaments.

Is it safe?

MRI has been used for over 25 years in this country, and there are no known side effects.

Due to the magnetic field, safety is very important. To make sure you are safe to have an MRI scan, you should contact us if you answer ‘yes’ to any of the following:

• You are pregnant or may be pregnant.

You have a cardiac pacemaker.

You have had any type of heart surgery.

You have a cochlear implant, neurostimulator, or programmable hydrocephalus shunt.

You have any metal implant in your body.

You have had an injury to your eyes involving metal or metal fragments.

You have had any operations on your head, eyes, ears or spine.

Who will I see?

You will see a small team of radiography staff who will care for you during your visit.

Do I need an injection?

For some examinations, we may need to give you an injection of a dye (known as a contrast medium) into a vein, to increase the amount of information we can get from the scan. As with all injections, there is a very small risk of an allergic reaction. Our medical teams are trained to deal with this if it happens. If you have reacted to any other injection given for a kidney X-ray (IVP or IVU) or a previous scan, please let the radiographer know before the injection takes place.

Before the scan

We will ask you some safety questions when you book your appointment, and you will need to fill in a safety questionnaire that we will send you with your appointment letter. Please remember to bring this with you to your appointment.

Unless we let you know you do not need to make any special preparations before your MRI scan and you can continue to eat and drink as normal and take any prescribed medicine.

There are a few simple instructions that you need to follow before the scan:

• You should come dressed in clothes without zips or metal buttons if you can.
• You should leave any valuable possessions, such as jewellery or watches, at home.
• You should arrive 10 minutes before your appointment.
• You should tell us about any special circumstances (for example, if you need wheel-chair access, if you are hard of hearing, if you have poor eyesight or if you are claustrophobic)

What happens during my appointment?

When you arrive you should go to the reception.

The radiographer or another member of staff will meet you and explain the procedure to you. We will check your safety questionnaire once more.

We may ask you to change into a gown. If you need to change, your clothes and personal items will be kept in a secure place.

You will be asked to lie down on the MRI bed and we will make you as comfortable as possible. The radiographer will move you into the scanner. You will be asked to stay as still as possible and you will be given either ear defenders or ear plugs to wear because of the scanner noise.

The examination is made up of a series of scans. There is a short pause between each scan.

The radiographer operating the scanner will talk to you between scans.

• If you have difficulty during a scan you will be able to use an emergency call bell in case you need any help.

Will it be uncomfortable?

We will make you as comfortable as possible. You will hear some loud mechanical sounds from the scanner which is completely normal.

How long will it take?

Most scans take around 30 minutes but some can take up to two hours, depending on the area being scanned.

After your scan

You can eat and drink normally

You can drive home afterwards and return to work if you need to.

Are there any side effects?

There are no known side effects from having an MRI scan.

When will I get the results?

A radiologist will check the scan results shortly after your appointment and will send a report to your doctor or consultant. At the time of your appointment you will be told how long this should take.

If a follow up appointment is not already arranged, you will need to contact your doctor or

consultant to make an appointment to get your results.

Can I bring a relative or friend with me?

Yes, but they will only be allowed into the scan room in special circumstances (for safety reasons) and only after they’ve filled in a questionnaire which shows that they are safe to enter the magnetic field.

Children will not be allowed into the scan room while you are having the scan, so you will need to make arrangements for them before you come to your appointment. Staff are unable to assist.

Contacting us

• If you need any more information please contact us on the number given in your appointment letter.

Beth yw scan MRI?

Ystyr MRI yw ‘delweddu atseiniol magnetig.’ Dyma dechneg delweddu sy’n defnyddio maes magnetig cryf i gynhyrchu delweddau o safon uchel o strwythur a swyddogaeth fewnol eich corff. Mae’n ddefnyddiol iawn i chwilio am strwythurau meinweoedd meddal, megis cyhyrau a gewynnau.

A yw’n ddiogel?

Defnyddiwyd MRI yn y wlad hon ers dros 25 o flynyddoedd, ac nid ydym yn ymwybodol o unrhyw sgîl-effeithiau.

Oherwydd y maes magnetig, mae diogelwch o’r pwys mwyaf. I wneud yn siŵr eich bod yn ddiogel i gael sgan MRI, dylech gysylltu â ni os oes unrhyw rai o’r canlynol yn berthnasol i chi:

• Rydych yn feichiog neu efallai’n feichiog.
• Mae gennych reoliadur y galon.
• Rydych wedi cael llawdriniaeth o unrhyw fath ar y galon.
• Mae gennych fewnblaniad cochlea, neurostimulator, neu siynt hydrocephalus rhaglenadwy.
• Mae gennych fewnblaniad metel yn eich corff.
• Rydych wedi cael damwain i’ch llygaid a oedd yn cynnwys metel neu ddarnau o fetel.
• Rydych wedi cael unrhyw lawdriniaethau ar eich pen, eich llygaid, eich clustiau neu asgwrn eich cefn.

Pwy fyddaf yn ei weld?

Byddwch yn gweld tîm bach o staff radiograffeg yn gofalu amdanoch yn ystod eich ymweliad.

A oes angen pigiad arnaf?

Ar gyfer rhai archwiliadau, efallai y bydd angen i ni chwistrellu lliw (sef yr hyn a elwir yn ‘gyfrwng cyferbynnu’) i’r wythïen i gynyddu faint o wybodaeth y gallwn ei chael o’r sgan. Fel pob pigiad arall, mae risg isel iawn o adwaith alergaidd. Mae ein timau meddygol wedi’u hyfforddi i ymdrin â’r achosion hyn os ydynt yn digwydd. Os ydych wedi cael adwaith i unrhyw bigiad a roddwyd ar gyfer pelydr-X o’r arennau (IVP neu IVU) neu sgan yn y gorffennol, rhowch wybod i’r radiograffydd cyn iddo roi’r pigiad.

Cyn y sgan

Byddwn yn gofyn rhai cwestiynau diogelwch i chi pan fyddwch yn trefnu apwyntiad a bydd angen i chi gwblhau holiadur diogelwch y byddwn yn ei anfon atoch gyda’ch llythyr apwyntiad. Cofiwch ddod â’r holiadur hwn gyda chi i’ch apwyntiad.

Oni bai ein bod yn gwybod nad oes angen gwneud unrhyw baratoadau arbennig cyn eich sgan MRI, gallwch barhau i yfed a bwyta fel yr arfer a chymryd unrhyw feddyginiaethau ar bresgripsiwn.

Mae ychydig o gyfarwyddiadau syml y mae angen i chi eu dilyn cyn y sgan:

• Dylech ddod yn gwisgo dillad heb sipiau neu fotymau metel os oes modd.
• Dylech adael unrhyw eiddo gwerthfawr, megis gemwaith neu oriorau gartref.
• Dylech gyrraedd 10 munud cyn eich apwyntiad:
• Dylech ddweud wrthym a oes gennych unrhyw anghenion arbennig (er enghraifft os oes angen mynediad i gadair olwyn arnoch, eich bod yn drwm eich clyw, yn cael trafferth gweld neu os ydych yn glawstroffobig).

Beth sy’n digwydd yn ystod fy apwyntiad?

Pan fyddwch yn cyrraedd dylech fynd i ddesg y dderbynfa.

Bydd y radiograffydd neu aelod arall o staff yn cwrdd â chi ac yn esbonio’r broses i chi. Byddwn yn gwirio eich holiadur diogelwch unwaith yn rhagor.

Efallai y byddwn yn gofyn i chi wisgo gŵn. Os bydd angen i chi newid, caiff eich dillad a’ch eitemau personol eu cadw mewn man diogel.

Gofynnir i chi orwedd ar y gwely MRI a byddwn yn sicrhau eich bod mor gyfforddus â phosibl. Bydd y radiograffydd yn eich symud i’r sganiwr. Gofynnir i chi aros mor llonydd â phosibl a byddwch yn cael amddiffynwyr clustiau i’w gwisgo oherwydd sŵn y sganiwr.

Mae’r archwiliad yn cynnwys cyfres o sganiau. Ceir saib byr rhwng pob sgan.

Bydd y radiograffydd sy’n gyfrifol am y sganiwr yn siarad â chi rhwng sganiau.

Os ydych yn cael anhawster yn ystod y sgan, bydd modd i chi ganu cloch mewn argyfwng os bydd angen help arnoch.

A fydd yn anghyfforddus?

Byddwn yn sicrhau eich bod mor gyfforddus â phosibl. Byddwch yn clywed rhai synau mecanyddol uchel o’r sganiwr ond mae hyn yn arferol.

Pa mor hir fydd hyn yn cymryd?

Mae’r rhan fwyaf o sganiau’n cymryd oddeutu 30 munud, ond gall rhai gymryd hyd at ddwy awr. Mae hyn yn dibynnu ar yr ardal sy’n cael ei sganio.

Ar ôl eich sgan

Gallwch yfed a bwyta fel arfer ar ôl eich sgan.

Gallwch yrru gartref ar ôl y sgan a dychwelyd i’r gwaith os bydd angen.

A oes unrhyw sgîl-effeithiau?

Nid ydym yn ymwybodol o unrhyw sgîl-effeithiau o gael sgan MRI.

Pryd byddaf yn cael y canlyniadau?

Bydd radiolegydd yn gwirio canlyniadau’r sgan ar ôl eich apwyntiad ac yn anfon adroddiad at eich meddyg neu’ch meddyg ymgynghorol. Dywedir wrthych ba mor hir y dylai hyn gymryd yn ystod eich apwyntiad.

Os nad oes apwyntiad dilynol wedi’i drefnu eisoes, bydd angen i chi gysylltu â’ch meddyg

neu’ch meddyg ymgynghorol i drefnu apwyntiad er mwyn cael eich canlyniadau.

A allaf i ddod â ffrind neu berthynas gyda mi?

Gallwch, ond mewn amgylchiadau arbennig yn unig y cânt fynd i’r ystafell sganio (oherwydd rhesymau diogelwch), a dim ond ar ôl iddynt gwblhau holiadur sy’n dangos eu bod yn ddiogel i fynd i mewn i’r maes magnetig.

Ni fydd plant yn cael mynd i’r ystafell pan fyddwch yn cael y sgan, felly bydd angen i chi wneud trefniadau ar eu cyfer cyn i chi ddod i’ch apwyntiad. Ni fydd staff yn gallu helpu.

Cysylltu â ni

Cysylltwch â ni ar y rhif sydd ar eich llythyr apwyntiad os oes angen rhagor o wybodaeth arnoch.