To be nervous about heart MRI scan for DD

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Posting here for traffic.

DH had a cardiac arrest 19 years ago; thank GOD he survived; due to this our kids are monitored at the hospital; however they never found the reason or a condition that caused this. He was under a lot of stress and I was 37 weeks pregnant,

DD19 doesn’t have controls anymore but I don’t think she ever done an MRI. She has been transferred to the adult part now.

DD15 is under a different consultant and he has requested an MRI; before she becomes an adult, she will be 16 in December.

I am a bit nervous about this procedure; and not sure why is needed. Can someone please give me more information please?
She has some fixed retainers in her teeth.

I've had a couple of MRIs and they are fine, although some people find it makes them claustrophobic. It would be hard for anyone here to tell you why the consultant wants one - you'll have to ask that directly. If her retainer is metal she won't be able to have the MRI until it's removed.

I’ve done many MRIs. You lie on a bed, the bed slides into a tube, it makes a noise and you need a to stay still. I used to fall asleep!

Watch a YouTube video about it with her. Seeing the process is very reassuring.

Fixed retainer will probably be fine but they may need info from the dentist on the type of metal.

Thank you. This is helpful; will call them to mention the retainer as it is fixed. How long did it last?

I understand sometimes they have to inject something

Will do. Thanks

I suffer from claustrophobia but she doesn’t

I’ve had a cardiac MRI. It was a little claustrophobic to be honest but it was fine. They offer to play you the radio station of your choice and Women’s Hour happened to be on so I just zoned out and tried to focus on that. Mine took about 30 minutes.

Gadolinium, and if a stress test is required, adenosine (lasts less than a minute and a Dr should be present for that part. Can you contact the department, they should be able to go over the procedure with your daughter and answer any questions. Unit I worked at would allow a quick visit to view the scanner. I'm very claustrophobic and have had scans, it's fine.

The injection is weird, it feels like you are peeing yourself but they do warn you about that and reassure you that you will not wet yourself, it’s just a weird sensation.

Honestly, it’s fine, and I’ve fallen asleep in an MRI machine plenty of times!

I've had plenty of MRIs. In France, so maybe procedures are a bit different - I certainly haven't ever been offered the choice of listening to something to take my mind off it.

Mine have all been brain and spine and take quite a long time but the claustrophobia and having to lie still worry has never happened.

I don't think the dental retainer will be an issue but you should tell them anyway.

I've never had the urinary problem from the dye injection.

I've also, if not actually fallen asleep, sort of drifted off during some of mine. They are fantastic diagnostic tools, non invasive and really quite a wonder.

That's a CT scan - very different contrast agent. MRI contrast doesn't have that effect.

I thought that. The CT scan one makes me feel really hot. Is it iodine?

I remember one radiographer asking me if I was allegic to shellfish before a CT scan so possibly.

Ds had two MRIs recently one on his chest and one on his spine. He has fixed metal braces but that was fine.

Possibly, but I don't know exactly what CT uses. But MR contrast shouldn't have anything other than maybe a cold "flush" as it goes in.