MRI's

[MaggiesMom]

Hey!

Do any of you all have experience with MRI's? Maggie's going to have one May15th for her auditory nerves.

I'd love any info you all have to share.

Thanks!
Robin - Maggie's mom

[wrblack]

Does Maggie have any bullet wounds where the bullet remained in the body? Gosh, I hope not.
Charlie's had a lot of stuff, but he's never had an MRI. But his little brother did have an MRI to check on his big head. I don't remember them asking about bullet wounds. And I don't remember them saying that it was optional for one parent to go in with him.
You could read CHOP's description of this procedure at
www.chop.edu/consumer/your_child/condition_section_index.jsp?id=-9300
I think Robert was about one year old at the time, his fontanel was still open, was still drinking expressed breast milk--though I think he had juice after the MRI. He got his MRI with sedation and with contrast, so he had to be NPO for a short period before the procedure. He was young enough that chloral hydrate worked quite well. Think an older kid would get Versed or something similar, not general anesthesia just sedation.
Machine is very big and very noisy. Be sure to leave your credit cards outside, along with any metal jewelry. Took about an hour, Robert slept through it nicely, but awoke easily afterwards, drank some juice and we took him home.
For contrast they put the IV in before giving sedation. He didn't like that part, but otherwise putting in the IV would disturb child, again, it's sedation not anesthesia.
Nurses, techs said he probably wouldn't like the chloral hydrate, might gag. Nope, he sucked it out of the syringe and would have asked for more, yummy.
Your mileage may vary. I don't remember what Charlie got as sedation for his ABR, but that was by IV. And maybe that took a little longer to wear off. Your Maggie's MRI may be similar to that sedation experience, just throw in being rolled inside a big, noisy machine instead of being hooked up to a bunch of leads.
Maybe somebody else can be more helpful. -- Bob

[tworiveras]

My son, Roberto had an MRI a few weeks ago to confirm his co-diagnosis of CP. The doctors were really good. I'm pregnant, so I didn't go in to the MRI area with him. They told me they put on a mask with some medicine to put him to sleep. (They also added root beer scent so that he would breathe in deep to smell it) After that, they kept some type of breatheable anesthesia going through the mask to keep him asleep. After he was asleep they put the IV in to keep him hydrated, and to add contrast when the time came. When they came to get me, the only thing still attached was the pulse/ox monitor. Shortly thereafter he woke up, and was kinda grouchy and just wanted to go home. (He's had a few surgeries, and does not enjoy being at the hospital). As soon as he asked the nurse, she removed the pulse/ox monitor, and asked if he wanted to go home. I was told to start him on clear liquids at first, to give his tummy time to cooperate, but he was eating dinner with the family by the evening.
Hope this helps,
Karen

[andrewsmom]

Andrew also had an MRI a few months ago. Before the anethesia they gave him some liquid that they said would make him sleepy and calm...nope...didn't work at all on my little guy..LOL!They would not allow myself or my husband to go in with him. Bob was much better at explaining the differences between general anesthesia and sedation. Andrew is 2 and will have to have several more MRI's and they said they would always use the general on him. He also will start having CAT scans this year and from what I was told they will only use sedation for that. The only thing I can figure is that for the MRI you need to be COMPLETELY still, and the machine is very noisy, which would be hard for any young child to sleep through.

On another note I had an MRI while I was pregnant with Andrew. It's a big cylinder shape, and you lie down and the machine really does all the work. It is very loud and kind of makes a banging noise while humming..if that makes sense. Doesn't hurt at all. The machine itself doesn't even touch you. You can not have any jewlery, or metal on at all. (including bra hooks). So if you do get the chance to go in, leave your jewlery at home.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!!

-Trisha

[MaggiesMom]

Thanks!

Bob, I'm not sure we've had any flying bullets around here. Although you never know about the deer hunters out back! LOL

Thanks for the info. Maggie WON'T take any medicine by mouth...they'll get it back! So I expect they'll have to gas her to get the IV and stuff going. That's what they do when she has her tubes put in.

Boy, this is so much fun! I feel bad for our babies.

Take care,
Robin - Maggie's mom