DD 4 is having an MRI scan

[anon1987]

My dd 4 is going to be booked into have an MRI scan soon. We've been told she'll be under general and we're quite nervous about it all.
It will be at st guys and Thomas evelina hospital. Anyone else been through it with your child? Any advice?

My DD had an MRI last year just after she turned 5yo and she managed to stay still without the GA, in fact she fell asleep half way through! It was a children's hospital and they had a toy MRI she practiced with her dolls on, plus a little video with cartoons explaining what was going to happen. In addition it was the new type, dognut shaped MRI so less claustrophobic.

Might be worth trying him awake to see, but if he is unhappy the GA is just the best option. Hope it all goes well.

Yes been through it lots with our son at the same age and younger. He started doing scans without GA at 4, but I had him practice a bit with a cardboard box etc to get him used to it. It's a bit loud and they have to be motionless, so I would frankly just do it with a GA.

She won't be able to eat/drink for a period beforehand so make sure you have the things she likes to eat & drink for when she comes around.
Wishing you luck.

Thank you guys, of course I would love for her to not have to have a GA but they recommended she did because she has learning difficulties and gets quite fearful.
I hate the thought of her going under, she doesn't understand things in the same way as most 4 year olds do so it's tricky and I'm worried about her lying there all on her own.
In truth I'm really very frightened about it.

Try not to worry - if she is upset before going in for the GA, they may give her something to calm her. Do you think she would cope better with having a GA using the gas, or with a cannula? The anaesthetist will speak with you beforehand. If she has a cannula then make sure the nurses use the 'magic cream' (Emla etc) to numb the area before she has the needle. The 'spray' they may offer as an alternative to the cream isn't really much good in my experience - it's just cold spray.

It's tough seeing your child go through these things, but it will be ok. And most importantly I hope the results are AOK.

I'm really not sure to be honest. My other dd had a GA to have a tooth removed when she was 5, and they gave her gas, but then summoned me away because they couldn't get the cannula in the back of her hand so had to go in through her wrist and didn't want me to know about it and freak out.

She's used to having blood taken, and doesn't even wince anymore, so she may be ok without the Gas.

I hope the results are ok as well.
How were the results for your dc? if you don't me asking.

I would recommend GA too, my DS has had regular MRI's since he was 5 ( now 8) and has been having them without GA since he was 6. He does really well at keeping still but I know a lot of children struggle with them ( as would I!!)

Good luck x

My DD had a CT scan in Feb @ 6 months old at the Evelina under general, and she was fine. The team there were lovely, you're in good hands

It is natural to be frightened if your child is due to have an MRI scan, but try not to worry about it too much. Your daughter will be in the best hands - Evelina staff are amazing.

I'm assuming it is a head scan?

If so, we found GA to be the best option while kids are little. MRI scanners are big and loud, they shake (a little) sometimes, you have to wear a cage around your head and (to be honest) they are quite scary, but every child is different of course. There is a children's guide to MRI scans complete with sounds on the Evelina's website, which might help you decide whether a GA is necessary?

A word of caution though: should you decide against a GA and your daughter does not like the scan, you may have to come back another time (with a terrified child who knows what to expect), so I would really only do this if you are reasonably confident that she will be fine.

Hope it goes well for you all and the results are what you are hoping for.

Thankyou everyone, I think I will show her some YouTube videos and google some pictures, so she has an idea of what to expect.
She is having a head scan yes, to check to see if the cause of her tremors are her metabolic condition or stroke related from when she was ill as a newborn.

All very nerve wracking, but we'll be glad when it's over and we know the results either way.

I was allowed to sit with my DD during the exam. She also had a head MRI so I could only touch her leg but I think it helped both of us. Perhaps you will be allowed to stay in the room?

I don't mind you asking, but ours wasn't great news - super extremely rare one in a couple of million type of tumour. But this is why MRIs are so important. It's not a good thing your daughter needs a scan, but it's the best thing that she's getting one. I hope you have peace of mind afterward.

Try not to worry too much - hospitals are very used to doing MRs under GA for children. My DD has had several head MRs. She has had a GA for all of them, bar one aged 6 when we tried without and it was a disaster (she was terrified and I felt awful that it was a big waste of everyone's time at the hospital). She has GA via a cannula and at the hospital we go to they put the cannula in just as they start in the X-Ray department (so no hanging around with it in her hand for ages, worrying). They always let at least one of us be with her to go under. It is so quick with the cannula - just a case of lots of cuddles and then quick dash out to let them get on with their job. We much prefer that to gas, which she puts up a struggle against. If your DD can do blood tests without wincing then she will probably find it fine. If you are worried that she won't cope then she might be able to have sedative too. I guess it depend on the scans they are doing, but they have always taken a fair while for my DD. We get to go and see her in the recovery room (maybe different in each hospital?) so she is not aware of being without us. Recovery should be quick since it is not an operation etc. The main complaint that we get is sore throat from where they have had breathing tubes. We take pots of jelly to eat to help with that. Home after she is able to eat, drink, wee - so not long to wait. We don't get results straight away since the experts have to review etc, but the person doing the scan has always come to talk to us afterwards with a bit of a summary. Hope that helps but just ask if you have any questions.
All the best