To ask questions about an MRI?

[dray9925]

Posting here for traffic sorry!

My son has had hospital appointment for his headaches. They did blood and vision tests on the day and when we went back to see his consultant she had been called down to a&e
Another doctor said that she would be in contact because of his results.
I was told by the optometrists that his eyes were 100% so the issue must be his blood, now they are sending him for an MRI does that mean they found something in his blood?
Will I be able to stay with him the whole way through?
And anyone who has been in my situation can you recommend anything I can take with him to make him more comfortable afterwards
I was thinking of getting him a new little toy or teddy for when he wakes up to play with when he wakes is that a bit over the top?

Poor you it's always worrying when little ones have to have hospital visits.

Have they said he will be asleep for his MRI? I have them very often because of epilepsy and have never been anaesthetised or had a sedative but this may be because I'm an adult so sorry if the below isn't relevant!

If you haven't had one before they are quite a lot louder than you think inside and I can imagine for a child that might be a bit scary but the MRI people talk to you the whole time eg "OK Oliver you're going to hear a few loud bangs now and then a whooshing noise, but we are right here and can talk to you".

Funny thing to say but they feel quite futuristic - maybe you can position it to him as something a bit Star Wars-y or spacey? I heard a mum do this for her son once when I was waiting and it was really fucking cool of her!

As I mentioned above people don't realise is that the lovely people doing the scan have a mic that goes right into the MRI scanner so they can say are you ok / only a few minutes now etc which is reassuring.

The most important thing is that once he's lying down comfortably he needs to try not to move much at all so it will be important for him to understand that he needs to be as still as he can and not panic when he's inside because then it will all be done and he won't have to do it again. Rewards always work well, maybe a toy or a treat dinner afterwards?

To be honest the MRI teams I've had have all been AMAZING and they are really used to patients of all ages so try to trust them and remember it's not an invasive or painful procedure at all so worst case scenario he finds it a little scary but it is all to help get him well 😊

Hope that helps OP you sound like a lovely mum!

Thank you! Sorry I forgot to say he is 2 so they have said he will have to be asleep because they can't expect him to stay still (never going to happen)
I know he will be asleep I just hate the thought of not being there and knowing what going on he's my only child so I probably am being a bit dramatic I've only just found out he's having one and it's on the 6th of August so freaking out a little! Xx

My son had one 2 years ago when he was 8 and he was awake and surprisingly managed to stay still lol. The staff were amazing with him, helped that it was a kids hospital and I got to sit with him the whole time. I remember wearing headphones as it is very noisy. At the end they let him have a quick look at some of the images of his brain, it was amazing - he still talks about it.

He's to get another MRI soon, just waiting on the appointment as his seizures have increased (he has epilepsy).

Good luck, hope it all goes well.

Awww sorry OP I didn't realise he was so little so my advice was a bit useless - sorry 🙈

Really hope he's ok - if he's asleep he'll be absolutely fine and it'll be more you than him worrying

If he's 2 they will let you sit in with him but of course try not to let him show before or after that it's a big deal so he doesn't get second hand fear from it if he needs them in future.

Hope all is OK, like I said you sound like a lovely mum!

Ps the waiting time for an MRI can be 3 months+ in certain areas so that's BRILL they've found an appointment nice and quickly!

My son has them every 8 weeks, they’re fairly straight forward under GA,

Is your DS going to a children’s hospital for it? If so, they’re brilliant (he’s been scanned at 2 different children’s hospitals) very understanding and child centred, gentle wake up too.

You won’t be allowed to stay with him when he’s under GA, too risky, but, of your hospital has a different approach and you can, make sure you leave bank cards, mobile, pager (yes, I’m that old) and anything that can be interfered with by the magnetic waves. (I’m not allowed to wear my insulin pump during my scans)

With regards to comfort,

Favourite teddy/blankie/you/toy
Something to drink after, as he will be starved and not able to drink before the scan.
Something light and bland to eat after, (my DS likes cheddars, and they seem to settle his stomach)
Remember to ask for vomit bowls for the drive home after, it may be worth asking the anaesthetist to give your DS an antiemetic after to prevent him being sick.
They should tell you if he’s had pain relief, and recommend what you should do/who to notify if there are any problems post GA.

Hope things go well for your DS, my own will be on his 110th GA at the end of next month, kids are tougher than they seem.

@ThatCurlyGirl no your advice was lovely you never know someone else might see this and get some really good tips for it !! Thank you ❤️ I am really thankful they seem to be taking everything really seriously he also has a referral for absence seizures as well and everything is being felt with really quickly x
@GoJetterGirl No not a children's hospital but a well respected one I know a few parents with children who have regular appointmentsand they have nothing but good things to say which makes me feel good about it
Thank you they weren't very clear on whether I should bring food for after (I was going to just incase) and what I should bring he loves cheddars!
Thank you it will be a fair drive home to be honest so I'm going to sit in the back with him will put some towels and things on the boot just incase
Wow that's a lot bless him thank you for all your advise xx

No advice but hope your son gets on ok x

@dray9925 You're so welcome! I'm going to start asking my other half to bring me cheese after mine 😂

Absence seizures are a big part of my epilepsy and I've found mumsnet really helpful for advice so do keep asking questions on here 😊

My Dd is 4 and had an MRI two weeks ago she had it whilst awake as a sleep MRI appointment is 7/8 month wait.
I was advised to show her some videos on you tube and it really helped as she had some idea of what was going to happen.
On the day she was the first one in and I was able to stay with her I could touch her feet and legs so she knew I was there.
It was over very quickly and she was fine

She had her MRI for a recent diagnosis of epilepsy and she is having a sleep EEG tomorrow.
I hope it goes well for your son

The MRI is a standard part of the work up for neurological issues. My daughter had one under GA at 8 months old. The worst bit was starving her, but they do try to put little ones first on their list. I was able to stay while they put her to sleep which was better for her but I found it upsetting feeling her go limp, and then be there to give her a cuddle in recovery. It's worth asking if any other tests can be done at the same time - my daughter had more bloods taken for genetic tests and a lumbar puncture, which saved her a few unpleasant procedures. Good luck!

My dd had an mri under general anaesthetic. We were allowed to stay with her whilst they gave her the anaesthetic, but not during the mri. She knew nothing about the mri and wasn't aware she had it. She was very grumpy about being nil by mouth and having to stay in hospital for several hours after for obs!