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Original poster

So how on EARTH will I get ds, not yet 2, to lie still for a series of x-rays?????

38 replies

emkana · 12/03/2008 23:13

In May they want to do a full skeletal survery of ds again, to try and find out what type of dwarfism he has.

ds is extremely shy and esp weary around medical staff. There is no WAY he's going to lie still just like that, and he doesn't respond to bribery yet either. So what can I do???? Is there anything harmless I could give him to take?

OP posts:
policywonk · 12/03/2008 23:15

Have you discussed it with the medical staff? DS1 had to have an MRI when he was two, and he had a general anaesthetic. I guess a general would be overkill for an x-ray, but maybe they could sedate him?

Original poster
emkana · 12/03/2008 23:16

I asked the consultant's secretary about that, and she said they wouldn't do that because it would mean that a doctor would have to get involved??

Might ask again though.

OP posts:
soapbox · 12/03/2008 23:17

Do the post in the field thing.

'Oh DS, let's play a game. We're going to pretend we are posts in a field and see who can stay still the longest before moving. First person to move is the loser! The winner gets a XXXX!'

Original poster
emkana · 12/03/2008 23:19

soapbox, he doesn't have the verbal skills (yet) to understand such a game.

OP posts:
yurt1 · 12/03/2008 23:21

DS1 needed some x rays (8 years old, severely autistic). We didn't manage to get them but the staff tried really hard. For example one of the nurses donned a lead apron and helped us to hold him down - whilst 2 others tried to hold him down before running behind the screen.

Does it have to be done in May? They grow up a lot between just 2 and closer to 3 - could it be put off if it's going to be hard now?

Is there anything he is totally distracted by (portable DVD player and favourite TV show?)

policywonk · 12/03/2008 23:21

Yes, I'd get back to them and just say that you can't see how you're going to get him to stay still for long enough - put the ball back into their court. If that means they have to get a doctor in, so be it... it is a hospital, after all. They should have a doctor around the place somewhere.

mistlethrush · 12/03/2008 23:21

Does he know the 'sleeping bunnies' song or the 'jingle jangle' scarecrow song - both have a first section that required them to lie still and be 'asleep' before jumping up and doing things - if the staff can cooperate, this might enable you to get him to stay still. Can you be in the room OK with him when this is done?

snice · 12/03/2008 23:23

When my DS had an X-ray aged 7mths he had a large sandbag type thing put across his legs to keep him still whilst I wore a lead apron thing and held him down at the top end. Don't know if this would work on a 2yr old though.

snowleopard · 12/03/2008 23:25

Could you time it so that he's asleep? (if he still naps)

Original poster
emkana · 12/03/2008 23:26

Please don't all jump on me but I was thinking maybe an anti-histamine as a one-off to make him more sleepy? or would that be terrible?

OP posts:
milge · 12/03/2008 23:27

DD has this age 1.5 and she was given a mild sedative on the childrens ward before, slept through the xray( with me and a nurse moving her around if necessary), and then was kept in until she woke up, had a wee, ate something, had a check up and was then discharged.
You must insist on a sedative. No need for GA - too risky.

snowleopard · 12/03/2008 23:28

Not if it's OK for his age, risk-free and can be used for other things, I think that would be OK. But could you discuss with the staff about having him be asleep and how you could get it to work? I know I could do this with my DS but the appointment would have to be at the right time.

yurt1 · 12/03/2008 23:30

I;d also ask about melatonin actually. I think it might be better at knocking someone off to sleep than antihistamine.

Original poster
emkana · 12/03/2008 23:31

What's melatonin? (just so I know what I'm talking about)

OP posts:
yurt1 · 12/03/2008 23:31

Although it's probably not allowed to be prescribed in that way- perhaps buy some from the states (it's sold in health food shops there).

melatoning gets ds1 off to sleep in about 15 mins.

yurt1 · 12/03/2008 23:32

it's a hormone that regulates sleep. people use it to combat jet lag. It gets you off to sleep but doesn't necessarily keep you asleep.

Here it's consultant prescribed, but in the states you can just buy it in shops!

yurt1 · 12/03/2008 23:34

melatonin Ds1's is prescribed. I don't use it very much, just when he gets out of a going to bed/sleep routine, but it does work really quickly.

intravenouscoffee · 12/03/2008 23:35

Don't see why the hospital can't give a mild sedative. I'm a nurse and where I used to work it was common to give sedatives for procedures which a child would find distressing or struggle to cooperate with. Sounds totally appropriate for your DS and I don't see why a dr has to be present for it. He'll just need to be admitted for the day and monitored util it's worn off. Really not a big problem. I agree with milge - go back and ask again. No way is a 2 year old going to lie still for a full skeletal survey IMO

yurt1 · 12/03/2008 23:36

changed my mind about melatonin. Ask the hospital- they may have a solution.

Original poster
emkana · 12/03/2008 23:38

Okay. Am seeing a different consultant at our local hospital on Friday, will talk to her and ask her whether she can support us in getting him a mild sedative.

thanks for advice

OP posts:
Candlewax · 12/03/2008 23:42

Melatonin cannot be prescribed by a GP. It has to be done by a consultant and as it is not licensed in the UK, it is not something they prescribe readily.

Melaton is used in this country to aid a natural sleep pattern. It does not, as Yurt1 says, keep you asleep.

As it is not licensed I personally would not give it to my child unless it was monitored. You would have to tell them that you had given it to him otherwise they might be surprised by his reactions or lack of them???

My child actually does receive it and is constantly monitored.

I personally think you would have huge difficulties getting them to prescribe this as a one off. If you are concerned, tell them now and they could arrange a more effective sedative for the procedure that does not have a lasting effect - ie. would calm him considerably but not send him to sleep.

marmadukescarlet · 13/03/2008 00:03

Emkana, my DS is due to have this and I asked for it to be done whilst he had his last GA, but sadly not possible. So we are putting it off until he is older, for us it is a test for information to help with dx it will not make any difference to his treatment/meds so we feel it is not essential atm.

A friend has experience of this with her DD, aged 2 was given sedative which made her hyper - although I believe this only happens in a small %. She was given a sheet of thick perspex to hold each limb still as she (mother)couldn't be in the xrays holding her at all.

yurt1 · 13/03/2008 07:29

How is your child monitored candlewax? Ds1 has melatonin prescribed (has done for years) and has never been monitored at all They don't seem to monitor it at all here.

I do agree with your post - I was just suggesting it as a more effective alternative to an anti-histamine.

Candlewax · 13/03/2008 08:56

My ds goes to the surgery once a month and has his height, weight and blood pressure taken. They also chat to him to find out how he is feeling, on a score of 1 to 10 how is he finding his sleep etc. They do not appear to be in any rush to take him off it either which is good news for him. It definitely does help him get to sleep.

tortoiseSHELL · 13/03/2008 09:00

emkana, ds2 (who as you know is the same age as your lovely ds) had an xray on his hips done a few months back - I was given a lead tabard thing, and stood with him, and he SCREAMED the place down - it was SO loud - but they managed the xray. I think they are quite used to managing little ones. Ours was done in a specialist childrens hospital though - could you maybe have it done here (Bristol?) - they were really good, and obviously used to working with children.