Not SN but as this is my usual hangout i feel better posting here .......need some hand holding please

[twocutedarlings]

DD2 (4NT) has really poor vision and needs to have an MRI scan to rule out the very slim chance of any sinister reasons for it.

Her last eye clinic appointment was just before xmas and this was when the docs first mentioned the MRI. I thought we would have to wait mths for the appointment so i had put it out of my mind for the time being, but this afternoon the hospital rang and asked if we could go in tomorrow as they have had a cancellation.

It will have to be done under general anaesthesia as there is no way she could keeps still for it, and iirc MRI scanners are quite load? i know it will only be a small general anaesthestic as she wont need to be out for long, but im petrified!! the thought of it all is making me feel sick , its not helped by the fact that i am 33 weeks pg and an hormonal blubbering mess!!

So ladies please reasure me (like you normally do) and tell me all will be well!!

How have you coped when your DCs have had to have a general? what do you do with yourselves while there in there?

My DD had to have a GA at 22 months for an accident. I held her while they put the mask on her face and it was the scariest thing in the world to feel her go limp. She fought it at first though. I had coincidently read an article recently that said about the child going limp when having a GA so I wasn't too shocked at that. I would have freaked otherwise I think.

A little tip - know how much she weighs as they may ask.

DH, I and our 3 week old baby sat in the waiting room for the whole time and said about 3 words to each other. Couldn't do anything else tbh.

Thanks for your replys,

Im not sure how i would go on watching from behind through the window riven tbh, however DH has the morning off work so i think if i knew he was there (so to speak) that would help me feel better, do they vent them for short GA?

I will make sure i put her on the scales before go NAB i have no idea of weight tbh. Im glad you mentioned about the going limp its not something that had even crossed my mind, so im sure being forewarned will help, thing is she a feisty little mare so im sure she will fight it .

Another thing does anyone know if they will need to put an IV in? and if so will they do this while she is still awake? or will they put her under with gas and then put it in? i should have asked more when they rang this afternoon, but i just went into panic mode and couldnt think of what i wanted to ask .

Thanks Riven I know i shouldnt LOL but PMSL (really but hey i am 33 weeks pg with DC 3 ) at the thought of you falling of the chair i hope they had put your DD2 on the bed before you fell!!!

Hope all goes well for you, my DD (11months) has had 2 MRI's in the last 8 weeks both done un GA. She was fine, I was very anxious the first time but children amaze you at how well they cope, the worst part was her screaming when she woke up as she was sooooo hungry!

Be ready with a drink of water is my advise as they are usually hungry and may have slightly sore throat!

The MRI is very quick I went for a coffee and when I came back it was almost done.

Hope it all goes ok for you, wishing you luck for tomorrow xxx

I cant offer any advice, but thinking of you. take care

dd had a mri when she was diddy she was just sedated and was fine.

Dd had a GA last winter for a knee operation. She was quite a bit older though (11), but I was still really upset beforehand. But very reassured when I got there, the anaesthaetist seemed to know what he was doing and it was over quite quickly.

Sympathies to you - it's scary to have to take your little one to hospital for something like this.

My DD2, who is 16 months, has been under GA twice - once for a cardiac MRI, then for her heart surgery. It was fine, really - much better than I'd feared. Both times I held her while they put her under, and it only took a few seconds - she was quite calm and relaxed. And both times she recovered well. But it's a big deal, of course it is. She's due to have another MRI scan shortly, of her brain this time (to try to find out if she has CP or something else) - and I hate the thought, but I know she did fine both times before, and she'll probably be just as fine this time.

Re IV or gas - both times my DD was put under with gas, which was much less traumatic than trying to insert a line while she was awake (her veins are practically unfindable - of all the many hospital experiences we've had, junior doctors trying to insert a line is the absolute worst).

Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks again for all your replys

2shoes I was surprised when they said they needed to do a GA i thought they would have just sedated her maybe i should ask about that in the morning.

Wispa The canuler is another massive fear of mine (not for me personally) DD1 had IVs in more or less every available spot when she was born and due to her hemaglobin (sp) being out (cant remember if it was high or low) her blood was really thick so they would constantly block and getting a line back in was nightmare .

Right off to bed now, but i doubt i will sleep!! bloody typical!! had very little sleep last week DD1 (6 AS) was to worked up about going back to school this week, slept rubbish last night a my back bloody hurt and now i just know i will be kept awake worrying about this now!! and to top it off i cant even reach for the wine!!

aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrraaggggggggg!!

I will let you all know how she is when we get back tomorrow, thanks again for all your support!!

All the best twocutedarlings. Think the sedation / ga thing comes down to how likely they are to wake up / move. dd had her mri under sedation cos it was at a time where she was having major hypos and they didn't want to risk the ga (she was down for ga at first) Her friend also had it done under sedation but he woke up so appt had to be rebooked for couple of months later and done under ga. Any slight movement willl nadger mri so prolly best to get it done under ga in first place.

dd has had ga on many other occasions and all has been absolutely fine. She sounds a bit like a muffled bonnie tyler when she comes round tho (that'd be the sore throat!)

Hope it goes well twocutedarlings. DS has had four now - one for his tongue stitching up when he fell and bit through it, one for adenoids out, one for appendix (week after his adenoids!!) then one for his MRI/lumbar puncture.

I can't imagine not worrying - I'm a nervous wreck until he is out of threate and back on the ward!

Hope all goes smoothly.

hope all goes well dd now 19m as had 4 under ga now sh/e was fine its normal to worry

Thankyou so much for all your advice and well wishes

We have just got home

It all went really well and thankfully she was first in, she was so brave!!! never cried when the canuler went in (the magic cream obviously worked well) but screamed the place down as the GA went in. It was a detailed scan that she had, so she was in the scanner for about an hour but was back on the day care unit half an hour later, it was the longest 1.5 hours of my life!! thank god its all over with, i take my hat off to all of you here that have to through all this on regular basis!!

Well she is demanding we make Jellys for after tea, so i had better go and do as i am told LOL .

Im glad it went ok twocute, she sounds so brave, well done

I missed this earlier but I'm glad it all went well, TCD. xx

so glad all went well go and spoil her now