United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Maia is skittish - mildly put. She is freaked out about an upcoming MRI. So if you have a middle aged child who recently had an MRI and can email Maia about it - to say how ok it was...we would greatly appreciate this. Her email is bratzfan@litzfamily.com. (It comes into my own outlook account so I can preview first)

She's had a lot of pain lately and we need to see what's changed so we can figure out if there's anything that should be done. She'll be having valium as soon as she arrives at the hospital, so I'm not worried about the scan itself...but I just want her to feel more at ease between now and then and on that day - if it's possible.

Thanks,
francine

Fran
Even adults get skittish about MRI. I can't seem to take any drugs because I always seem to have negative side effects from them.

I try to use mediation during the test.
I feel Maia will have many more tests like this in her future.
She is bright and perhaps you could teach her how to use meditation during the test.
I try to see myself on the beach and walking and meeting friends etc... including praying.
I am good as long as I keep my eyes closed.
My first mri was almost two hours in and out of the machine so they could get better views...
I hate MRI's, I feel bad for the kids because they can't possibly understand how important these tests are.

I hope all goes well for her during the test.
Pain seems to be part of our life as obpi and especially during growth periods and extreme stress.

Kath robpi/adult

There are no words, meditations, music or anything that will calm this child down once she has decided that it's freakout time...and MRI is without a doubt freakout time.

I'm going to have to medicate her before we even leave the house and maybe even the night before.

I'm just hoping that if some kids tell her that it's ok...then somewhere down in her deep subconscious levels she'll be ok and it might be degrees less of a freakout.

Poor Baby!

I have a daughter with MS.
Bright, sensible etc... well educated....
She has to get Interferon shot's each week and still freaks out.
She freaks out over needles and yet is afraid of nothing not even the disease.
She knows it's not "normal fear" but it does not change the anxiety before each shot.
My husband has to give her the shot she just can't inject herself.
She is a grown sensible woman and this is her ONE fear.
She was always my fearless child.

Different things make different people freak out.
Just because it does not make us freak out does not mean the other persons challenge is wrong.

I know many adults who refuse to go into the tube even with medication.
Poor baby it's something she will have to deal with and may never reach a point of not freaking out... that's the sad part.

Good luck and give her the medication!
Anything that will help calm her.

Kath robpi/adult

Hello Francine,
My 11 year old just had one done 3 weeks ago. I'll have him write to Maia.
He was also very nervous, and up to the actual time of doing it said that he wouldn't. I told him I'd stay with him and hold on to his foot and he did FINE. Better than I expected.
One thing to tell her, which may (or may not) help, is that they do the MRI in segments of 2-5 minutes. It helped Tyler to know he could at least wiggle his toes and take a deep breath in the mini-space between segments.
I'll have him e-mail her tonight.
Jaime

Thanks Jaime.

Kath - remember that tapping? I bet your daughter could do that for that reason. I'll email you the link to that process. Thanks for reminding me - Maia knows how to tap - we can revisit that next week when we have some relaxation time with grandma in florida....

Francine
I will give her the tapping link.
I know it works but she also knows her fear is not reasonable.
She works herself up before a shot...
Yet, she never complains about having the flu from the shot for 24 hours she is so brave about it and the disease.

I just wish she could get past the anxiety over the needle.
That is why I can truly feel for the parents as they put their little ones through these tests.
I have a grown woman who really freaks out about shots.
She has been this way about needles since she was a child.
She has not outgrown that fear.

I hope that someday soon we can have tests that are easier on the kids.

Kath robpi/adult
thanks for the link

Hi Fran!

We went through this not too long ago with Kate's first "big girl" CT scan. I spoke with the techs at the hospital and they let me bring her in and wait on a slow down time, took their time to show her the machine, how it worked, etc. Where I work our MRI machine has a beach scene overhead, music and a fan. Maybe you could speak with someone where she will be having this and ask for a brief showing. It won't releive her anxiety completely but may help. Also they MAY be able to let her watch one once the patient is inside (I often have to go to the MRI dept and while I am an employee I still do not even see the patient's while I am auditing the procedure)

Best wishes

christy

Jamie - Maia got Tyler's email. It was just perfect! Christy - I'll call & check on it. Kath - thanks!

Kayla will e-mail her when she gets home.

Angie