| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
Andie 
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
Points: 3614
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: *Anyone’s child had an MRI??*
Posted: 28 August 2008 at 2:59pm |
I'm asking this on behalf of a friend, who is not as  geeky as I. Her child who is under two, is due to have a full-body MRI scan done soon. He'll be completely sedated for it to keep him completely still. If anyone else has taken their child through this sort of procedure, or knows much about these, can you please fill us in on what to expect for it? I imagine he'll have himself a great big nap and then some sort of recovery and it'll be OK for him, but what can his parents expect the sedation, procedure and recovery to be like for them?
Thanks.
|
|
Andie
|
 |
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
mummy_becks
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Points: 14931
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 28 August 2008 at 3:01pm |
If the sedation is anything like a GA, Andrew was horrible coming out of the GA he screamed, cryed, punched and hit me. I think it was just a different experience for him and I know he was sore.
|
|
I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
|
|
cuppatea
Senior Member
Joined: 05 February 2007
Points: 7798
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 28 August 2008 at 3:05pm |
|
I don't know about the sedation side of things but I have had an MRI. It is quite a lengthy process and the scans can take quite some time. I had a few the longest was 11 mins. So having an MRI scan is actually a lot of little scans all done one after the other. Mine was only looking at the brain area and probably took 45 mins altogether.
I could see the people doing the scan who were in a little booth so the parents might be able to be in there, obviously the child wouldn't be awake but it might make them feel better about it.
Oh and the machine is really really loud, you have to wear ear defenders whilst having the scan and I was left with quite a bad headache/fuzzy head for a few hours after.
Hope that helps a little
|
|
|
|
Kellz
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Gisborne
Points: 7186
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 28 August 2008 at 3:15pm |
|
I went with my 1 yr old neice when she has to have a ct scan,..the procedure for sedation will probably be the same. She had to have an iv line put in her hand ( i think that was for the CT scan contrast tho, so may not be needed for MRI). If they do need an IV, then they will put numbing cream on her hand covered with a clear dressing, then remove the dressing and insert the needle/ iv line, with one or 2 nurses to assist the dr/nurse doing it..ie- keep her still.
I was allowed in the room to distract my niece, and then cuddle her as soon as it was in. They then bandage it to keep it in place.
They gave my neice the sedation as a medicine. It was quite a bit of liquid and tasted bad. They had her in a single room on the kids ward,..and made all but one of us leave the room and closed the curtains to try get her to sleep. The sedation would make her drowsy, but she needed to be quiet and calm for it to really kick in. Once asleep they wheeled her on the cot to have the scan done.
MRI's are VERY noisy, and you have to lie very very still, and u lie on a bed that slides into a tunnel which is very small and enclosed,..that is why they sedate children and often adults too cos its very clasutaphobic and loud.
After the scan they will go back to the ward where they will have to stay til bubs is awake properly,..which will be several hours after having the drugs.
Edited by Kellz
|
|
Kellz
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Gisborne
Points: 7186
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 28 August 2008 at 3:27pm |
|
Also as with most scans/x-rays in a public hospital,..if an emergancey case comes in and needs that scan done, then they get priority and u have to wait.
So be prepared for a long day.
I hope it all goes well for them.
|
|
emz
Senior Member
Joined: 25 November 2006
Location: Christchurch
Points: 5321
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 28 August 2008 at 3:57pm |
Grrr MRI's... I've had like 3 of them I think (I lose track of scans lol). Big tunnel thing, bed goes in, noisy noisy noisy but if he's out to it it'll be OK. Parents can't wear metal in the room or it will gravitate towards the machine  (Being a magnetic machine and all...)
|
|
hooper
Senior Member
Joined: 24 December 2007
Location: Richmond
Points: 994
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 28 August 2008 at 4:07pm |
|
iam interested to, looks like dd will be having MRI or a CT.
|
Desiree
|
|
cuppatea
Senior Member
Joined: 05 February 2007
Points: 7798
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 28 August 2008 at 4:08pm |
|
They aren't that strict with the metal thing, I was still allowed to wear my jeans with metal fly and also my top had a zip on it, they just made sure it wasn't loose. It was only my head that went in the machine though.
ETA - although I was referred on the public system I actually got seen at the private hospital, so fingers crossed that happens for you as well.
Edited by cuppatea
|
|
|
|
Travelgirl
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
Points: 141
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 28 August 2008 at 7:45pm |
One of my little ones had to be sedated for an Echocardiogram, not an MRI but I am picking the sedation will be the same or similar. My DD was 6 months old at the time, and the sedation process was quite lengthy. The medicine was given orally via a syringe, and then we had to calm DD to an almost slep, then she was wheeled to where we had to go. The sedation lasted for about 45 mins, but I can only assume that if needed it can be made to last longer.
Coming out of it was a bit trippy, She was really groggy for ages (3-4 hours) and she was not allowed to feed for 2-3 hours after incase she choked, and as we had to travel to get to the hospital where the ECHO was performed, we had to moniter her every 20 mins on the drive back home. I sat next to her cot that whole night, just checking on her...... her twin sister probably thought I was loopy, but it really kinda messed with my head. In all seriousness though, it was harder on hubby and I than her tho.
Right...... novel iver 
|
|
*Anyone’s child had an MRI??*
