You feel sick or in pain and you would like to know why. For this purpose, the doctor sometimes asks for a scan to be taken with a large machine: the NMR. This special device can take pictures of the inside of your body: your stomach, your head, your arms or legs...
NMR is an abbreviation for a few difficult words: ‘Nuclear Magnetic Resonance’.
First you have to register. To do so, your mum or dad first have to pick up stickers with your name at the reception. Take these to the Radiology service. The person at the desk will show you where you and your mum or dad can wait for a while.
You won’t get bored while you wait. There are play panels, colouring pictures and a chalkboard. This way, the waiting goes a little faster!
The doors to the machine are near the play corner. After waiting, you may enter through one of the doors. Isn't it exciting!
Behind the door is a changing room. If you have anything made of metal, you can give it to your mum or dad, for example your glasses, shoes, trousers, T-shirt with buttons... An NMR is a very large and strong magnet that attracts anything metal. That is why you should not wear any metal during the examination.
If you don't know what you can't wear, feel free to ask.
In order to make clearer pictures, it is sometimes necessary to give you a shot of contrast medium. The fluid can make you feel a little warm inside. Usually you know in advance whether or not you need a shot. In most cases your mum or dad may be present during this procedure.
Once you have changed clothes (and had the injection if necessary), someone will come and get you to go to the machine. Your mum or dad must now wait in the corridor. Your favourite cuddly toy can come along (at least if it doesn't contain any metal)
The NMR is a large tunnel that is open at both ends and has lights inside. The white table slides into the tunnel during the examination. You may now lie down on the table.
There is no need to be afraid, because the nurse will help you and will always be close by. They will help you get ready for the examination: you will first be given headphones, as the machine makes a lot of noise. Just like a big drill!
Then they slide a strange device over the part of the body to be photographed.
Once you are fully installed, the nurse moves you to another room and the examination begins.
The nurses can see you through a large window and you can hear them through a microphone.
The examination does not hurt at all, but you have to lie still. Just as if you were playing hide and seek and no one should see you move. I'm sure you can do it!
If you lied really still, the photos will have turned out well and the doctor will be able to see what is going on.
After the examination, you may put your clothes back on. If you have done really well, you get to choose a present after the examination and then go home!
