Does anyone have any experience of cardiac MRIs

[Anmriquestion]

Hello,
I have put this in Chat in the hope that somebody with some experience of cardiac MRIs will see it.

My son who has ASD and an LD is having his first cardiac MRI soon. I am trying to make plans to make the process as easy and stress free for him as I can.

Is he likely to feel nauseous afterwards? How long does it typically take? Should he take his own music?

All information and experiences would be gratefully received.

Thank you

I had a cardiac MRI and don’t remember any sickness or feeling unwell after at all. I had lots of test and that one felt easy and relatively quick, maybe 40 minutes. I don’t remember being offered music which I have had for MRI’s before. I had an ASD which was repaired. Hope all goes well.

Do you mean ASD as in autism, rather than atrial septal defect? With a learning disability?

I've had cardiac MRIs and it's just a case of lying still. I had an amplifier thing put over my chest and there was some various instructions - breathe in, hold breath, breathe normally etc.

If your son is autistic, do you think he will cope? Mine was young (6) but has had his MRI and CT scans under anaesthetic as there was no hope in hell of him complying.

Yes, me. Its a case of lying still and they will ask you to breathe in and breathe out. It can be a bit noisy, but no sickness afterwards. Its CT scan that can make you feel weird not the MRI in my experience

OP, my son is Autistic and has had 4 x Cardiac MRIs over the last 12m.
The first was an emergency one as he was in Heart failure - there was no preparation which made it very very scary for him. It can be quite claustrophobic (Dd was 19 & 6'2")
It took around 50-60mins total. A wide plastic retainer was put over his chest. This all takes 10 mins. Then there is another 30 /40 + mins of precise breathing instructions. You need to keep very still. It's really noisy. You may be able to use headphones - ask. It's important to know you can stop it at any time - you'll be given a rubber bulb to squeeze if needed.
Question: will they use contrast dye (gadolinium) ? If so you'll need to prepare him. He'll need a cannula siting (a prob for my Ds). The fluid goes in 1/3 of way through the hour. It 'tastes' metallic, feels hot & you will feel like you've wet yourself - you don't - it doesn't hurt at all but us very odd (I've had one myself) so best to know. After, drink lots of fluid to flush it out of your kidneys.
I was allowed in for # 2, 3 & 4 (he wouldn't have gone back in otherwise).
I hope it goes well & gives you useful Info. Feel free to PM me if I can help further.

I have a congenital heart defect so long time user of the MRI. I have adhd and autism but not severe, I'd be be called high functioning. Its a bit of a weird experience but have never felt sick. As pp said there is the metallic taste and feeling you wet yourself. Worst thing for me is the claustrophobic feeling. Otherwise, lots of staying still, beeps, holding your breath. I've often been offered a music selection which can help though its interrupted by the instructions. I'm calmer when they are calm and tell me exactly what is going on from when I arrive, to getting changed and going in, through to the end - that doesn't always happen, hospitals can be very surreal, dehumanising places.

There may be an LD liaison nurse at the hospital could you ask the MRI unit to contact them? Or a play therapist if he’s under 12?

Sorry for the confusion. He had an atrial septal defect that was repaired along with some other defects when he was a baby. He also has a diagnosis of autism. His autism makes him very anxious. He was about nine before they could even do an echo without him screaming and fighting. Music is his favourite thing in the world. It could help him to stay relaxed enough for the scan to be completed.

He is sixteen and six foot tall. I will tell him about the metallic taste and the feeling like you have wet yourself. Thank you. I think he will panic about the cannula but allow it when it comes to it. He is very good with vaccinations.

Thank you so much for all of your help.

On the off chance that he’s going to Bristol Children’s hospital, they have a DVD player built in so you can pick from their box of DVDs and then watch it throughout on a screen angled above you.

I was allowed in the room with the scanner, sitting right at the edge of the room. Not necessarily visible from the scanner but so that DD knew I was there.

Different hospital, different child, but we’ve been offered contact with an autism liaison before an operation to discuss any adjustments that might help. If your hospital has anything similar they could probably help with info about what music etc facilities are there, and anything that might make a difference to how smoothly the experience is.

No, he is not going to Bristol. I will suggest he brings his own music and headphones just in case there is no way of listening to music at the hospital.

I am hoping that he manages OK. I have spoken to people who have had MRIs, but they were not for the heart. They did not have contrast dye.

Thank you to everyone for all of your help and advice.