I just got my letter from the hospital asking me to call and make an appointment for my Contrast MRI.
It says to “remove everything loose or metal from your person” but only lists things like coins, lighter,hair clips, mobile phones… all metallic items.
Now I have wood, Fimo, plastic & rubber beads in my hair … in my dreads… ones that I simply CANT get out without either breaking them or cutting off my dreads.
Will they refuse me into the MRI?
panic
I should think they will be fine; you can tie them back or whear a hairnet. It’s metal is a no; no as an MRI is more or less a large electro magnet. Someone with a Pacemaker is not even allowed in the same building.
G
Yes I can tie them back and wear a hairnet no problem… phew… I was even too scared to call up and book the appointment as I thought they might say “Go away, call back when your hair is ‘bead free’”
OK I shall call now… fingers crossed.
YAY ok so I called and the lady said I can keep the beads… so long as I am 100% they aren’t metal.
OMG… I’m having an MRI!!!
the only thing i might be a tad worried with beads is if they were painted with actual metallic paint, or if there was a core to the bead made out of metal with fimo/plastic over it. i’ve seen a few but not many. i have had lots of friends get MRIs with dreads with beads and they had no problems. glad you phoned them, they would know exactly what to do in a situation like this.
Oh crumbs. You really, seriously, do not want to be anywhere near an MRI magnet if you have anything that is the wrong sort of metallic about your person. These aren’t magnets like you or I know magnets - these things turn loose metallic items into missiles. Google ‘how dangerous is metal in an MRI scanner’ and check out the YouTube clips if you need convincing.
I am sorry if this sounds alarmist, but you really need to be very careful to keep yourself safe.
(This makes MRI scanners sound like monsters, which they aren’t at all! - they are incredibly safe and incredibly useful - you just don’t want to be in one when there are rogue bits of highly magnetized metal crashing around your head.)
Alison
I made the Fimo ones so know they are not metallic. The wood ones are just wood, the rubber ones are just rubber and the plastic ones are just plastic.
As for paints… I am not sure what the wooden beads are painted with to be fair they look like they’ve been stained with brown dye or burned into a pattern?
But then what about tattoo’s… I have 60% of my left arm covered in tattoos!
OK lets say something did go mental while I was having the MRI… I will be watched wont I? They can switch the machine off can’t they quickly?
On further thoughts I think I might get Hubby to crush the FiMo beads so they break off as I am not 100% sure any metallic ingredients weren’t used in the colouring of the clay …
from the NHS site “Some tattoo ink contains traces of metal, but most tattoos are safe in an MRI scanner. Tell the radiographer immediately if you feel any discomfort or heat in your tattoo during the scan.”
it might say on the packaging for the fimo if it has any type of metal in the ingrediants
and not sure, but don’t think the MRi machine can turn off like a light switch since it does take a few seconds to spin up
I know the nurses could see me from the other room when I have had mine done and i was givn a panic button to push if something did go wong so i could call for help
I have a full sleeve, and had well over an hour under MRI looking at that arm’s shoulder joint, and had no problems at all, don’t worry about the tattoo! Honestly, try to stop worrying, you’ll be fine, you have an intercom to communicate with the radiologist so if there are any problems they can help you straight away 
Thank you Chick!