MRI scan

[NellyTheElephant]

My 7 yr old DD has to go for an MRI scan and I wondered if anyone has any tips? I know she will have to stay still for some time and that it is a noisy experience, but not much else - any advice on preparing her would be welcome. Many thanks

I had an MRI just a few weeks ago Nelly. There are clips on YouTube showing the machine, the process you go through and the noises that the machine makes (less surprising if you hear them first). In terms of keeping still - the practitioners may give her supports to keep her body aligned. It is a slightly surreal experience going into the tube - but the doctors talk to you all the time via a speaker in there. They can arrange to take her into the machine in stages if she is nervous. People have likened the noises to a building site/computer games/load club music. There is some vibration that comes through the machine as it scans - but I found this very pleasant and like a massage. She is likely to be given headphones, ear plugs or perhaps music to block out some of the noise - but she will be still able to hear quite a bit. The practitioners watch from another room- but they have a screen with her on it the whole time she is being scanned so they can check on how she is. If she really needs to move - the scan comes in blocks. She will be told when each one is starting and stopping and she can twitch/itch/adjust in between if she really needs to.

Hope this helps

DD has had a few MRI scans and they have a screen in the scanner so that she can watch a DVD, so I suggest that you take along a favourite DVD for her to watch - preferably something long like a film.

You will be allowed to stay in the room with her, but not use electronic equipment so take a book or some puzzles to do while you are waiting. You won't be able to use your phone.

Also, make sure your daughter isn't wearing anything with metal on it - she won't be able to wear a pair of jeans with a metal zip for example.

An MRI scanner makes an awful lot of noise so be prepared for that.

Good luck, I hope it goes well and they don't find anything untoward.