Experiences with MRE?
- Thread starter sadiegoo
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My son had one last year at 16. He had to drink a contrast barium type shake but chose to do it by nasogastric tube instead. He was then taken to the MRE, I was able to go in the room with him. They explained that they would take 45 minutes of pics then give him this med that would make him hot and that he may feel sick or even get sick but it would only last a few minutes.it did make him nauseated and I think he may have vomited but maybe not. Then he took maybe 10 or 15 more minutes of pics.
He said the worst part was lying perfectly still. They set up the foam like things under him but he said the position was just uncomfortable.
I'm going to tag Tesscorm, Mehita and jmrogers4 I think their sons may have had the tests as well.
He said the worst part was lying perfectly still. They set up the foam like things under him but he said the position was just uncomfortable.
I'm going to tag Tesscorm, Mehita and jmrogers4 I think their sons may have had the tests as well.
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Oh, yes, the lovely MRE. My son has had one every year for the last three years.
With ours...
No eating or drinking four hours before the test and we have to arrive two hours before the actual MRE. Each time he has had to drink 800cc of the barium contrast. Ours is served cold and supposedly fruit flavored, though DS would disagree. It has been suggested here that you can flavor it yourself with a little Kool Aid. I'd strongly suggest not using a straw because that just adds air to the stomach and fills you up faster. He'll need to drink as much as he can within an hour. This is where we've always struggled. My son has never been able to drink that much. He simply gets filled up and nauseous. Some kids can, some can't. Might be worth a try for your first time, but if you think he's going to be too anxious or really won't be able to drink it, I'd jump right to an NG tube.
An alternative to drinking the contrast is having an NG tube inserted and pumped in that way. This is my preferred method, though not my son's, because they get all the contrast in which allows for better images. We book a radiology appt and a dr inserts the tube, checks it via X-ray, pumps in the barium removes the tube and you're done.
Once the contrast is in, he gets a IV placed, then it's off to the MRE. It usually lasts about 45 minutes. My son is given headphones to listen to music and drown out the MRE jackhammering noise. Throughout this time he'll be holding his breath during imaging - sometimes as long as 20 seconds. It can be quite the workout, but it's nothing super hard or scary. Just holding his breath and tolerating the machine's noise.
Near the end, he most likely will be given a dose of glucagon via his IV. This might make him nauseous or feel funky. It's pretty common for people to throw up, but it passes quickly. Twice my son was fine. Third MRE he did throw up. Bring a change of clothes.
A little more time in the machine and then he's done.
They may cancel the test if he throws up the contrast or has too many BM's.
Afterward, he'll need to drink lots and lots of water to flush the contrast out of his system because worst case scenario, it can harden and cause a blockage. Lots of water!
Afterward my son is usually exhausted and naps for awhile. He's completely fine for school the next day.
Hope that helps!
With ours...
No eating or drinking four hours before the test and we have to arrive two hours before the actual MRE. Each time he has had to drink 800cc of the barium contrast. Ours is served cold and supposedly fruit flavored, though DS would disagree. It has been suggested here that you can flavor it yourself with a little Kool Aid. I'd strongly suggest not using a straw because that just adds air to the stomach and fills you up faster. He'll need to drink as much as he can within an hour. This is where we've always struggled. My son has never been able to drink that much. He simply gets filled up and nauseous. Some kids can, some can't. Might be worth a try for your first time, but if you think he's going to be too anxious or really won't be able to drink it, I'd jump right to an NG tube.
An alternative to drinking the contrast is having an NG tube inserted and pumped in that way. This is my preferred method, though not my son's, because they get all the contrast in which allows for better images. We book a radiology appt and a dr inserts the tube, checks it via X-ray, pumps in the barium removes the tube and you're done.
Once the contrast is in, he gets a IV placed, then it's off to the MRE. It usually lasts about 45 minutes. My son is given headphones to listen to music and drown out the MRE jackhammering noise. Throughout this time he'll be holding his breath during imaging - sometimes as long as 20 seconds. It can be quite the workout, but it's nothing super hard or scary. Just holding his breath and tolerating the machine's noise.
Near the end, he most likely will be given a dose of glucagon via his IV. This might make him nauseous or feel funky. It's pretty common for people to throw up, but it passes quickly. Twice my son was fine. Third MRE he did throw up. Bring a change of clothes.
A little more time in the machine and then he's done.
They may cancel the test if he throws up the contrast or has too many BM's.
Afterward, he'll need to drink lots and lots of water to flush the contrast out of his system because worst case scenario, it can harden and cause a blockage. Lots of water!
Afterward my son is usually exhausted and naps for awhile. He's completely fine for school the next day.
Hope that helps!
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Same as above
We use a kiddie hospital so everything is painted and geared towards kids including movie goggles fans etc to block out the mre process.
Lots of koolaid single packets have been used for DS.
We make drinking the barium a race . Trying to finish before the next fifteen minutes is up
Have him look at one on you tube it may help.
Can his psych talk him through it if he has anxiety ?
We use a kiddie hospital so everything is painted and geared towards kids including movie goggles fans etc to block out the mre process.
Lots of koolaid single packets have been used for DS.
We make drinking the barium a race . Trying to finish before the next fifteen minutes is up
Have him look at one on you tube it may help.
Can his psych talk him through it if he has anxiety ?
AZMOM
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We've had two. Claire cooperated with the prep and drinking the contrast.
Is there something he REALLY wants or somewhere he's wanting to go (that you are able to provide) that you can use as an incentive? I think sometimes that with all these kids have to endure that they must get sick of hearing "you have to do this so the doctor can check" or "we just want you to feel better" or "it's not as bad as a colonoscopy/surgery/being in hospital" or "you're so brave - you can do it". Now all those things are true but when the child has a ton of anxiety about it or just is flat out digging their heels in and they are too big to carry in kicking and screaming (ha ha ha), you have to find a way to make it tolerable. Is that a bribe? You betcha. Do we do that all the time at our house? NO!! But when we sensed that it's a tough one for her, yep, we've done it.
I hope you can find a way to make it tolerable for him!!
J.
Is there something he REALLY wants or somewhere he's wanting to go (that you are able to provide) that you can use as an incentive? I think sometimes that with all these kids have to endure that they must get sick of hearing "you have to do this so the doctor can check" or "we just want you to feel better" or "it's not as bad as a colonoscopy/surgery/being in hospital" or "you're so brave - you can do it". Now all those things are true but when the child has a ton of anxiety about it or just is flat out digging their heels in and they are too big to carry in kicking and screaming (ha ha ha), you have to find a way to make it tolerable. Is that a bribe? You betcha. Do we do that all the time at our house? NO!! But when we sensed that it's a tough one for her, yep, we've done it.
I hope you can find a way to make it tolerable for him!!
J.
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I was worried about this too sadiegoo. My oldest daughter has anxiety she has had to be medicated for when she was young. My youngest is the one with CD and has had to do 2 MREs so far. I was concerned my youngest could have issues with it but managed ok. Even though the MRE machine you lay down and the machine glides you in the top of the machine is open so it isn't as bad as I thought if he has claustrophobia (I have it). If he has learned his breathing techniques for managing his anxiety he could probably manage.
If the place he is going is familiar ask if you can come by for him to see the room. Seeing it will help deal with the unknown. It is worth a try. Big hugs going out to you. I'm not sure where your sons anxiety is on the spectrum but from my own experience I know its tough. Good luck and keep us posted on how you all manage it.
If the place he is going is familiar ask if you can come by for him to see the room. Seeing it will help deal with the unknown. It is worth a try. Big hugs going out to you. I'm not sure where your sons anxiety is on the spectrum but from my own experience I know its tough. Good luck and keep us posted on how you all manage it.
My daughter has had three this past year.
The one thing that helped the most was giving her a zofran. I think they let me give it to her before the test, but it could've been as soon as the test finished. I'm sorry I can't remember. We did this on the third test and it prevented her from vomiting which she did the first two times. It was a HUGE difference for her.
Good luck!
The one thing that helped the most was giving her a zofran. I think they let me give it to her before the test, but it could've been as soon as the test finished. I'm sorry I can't remember. We did this on the third test and it prevented her from vomiting which she did the first two times. It was a HUGE difference for her.
Good luck!
nogutsnoglory
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Whether you drink oral contrast depends on the type of MRE. MRE of the abdomen requires the drink but the pelvis does not. They are generally 45 min to one hour and it is uncomfortable to lie in the position but it's a great rest and radiation free.
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Just saw this yes my son had one in December. He was supposed to drink 800cc of the contrast but was puking so badly after 400 (the nurses could hear him down the hall) that they decided to try at that point and see if he had enough in him (Yeah he did) which was good because there was no way he would have been able to drink the second bottle. Pictures were clear and they got plenty. He did throw up again once they had him in the machine but they were able to stop and get him out in time to do it in a barf bag.
The test itself was no big deal just had to hold his breath when they told him. Like Mehita's son no food/water before hand and no dairy the night before either.
He stood and walked around while drinking the contrast which seemed to help. The drink was super sweet and he called it Satan's drink but he recovered pretty quickly after the procedure and was fine by lunch time.
Good luck
The test itself was no big deal just had to hold his breath when they told him. Like Mehita's son no food/water before hand and no dairy the night before either.
He stood and walked around while drinking the contrast which seemed to help. The drink was super sweet and he called it Satan's drink but he recovered pretty quickly after the procedure and was fine by lunch time.
Good luck
DustyKat
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Perhaps you could discuss a Pillcam as an option due to your son’s anxiety? It won’t help if they are also looking for any abnormalities outside the bowel but at least it will do the inside.
I wouldn’t normally suggest radiation over no radiation but if the time taken is a factor in his reluctance to have it done then a CTE has exactly the preparation as an MRE, including fasting times and oral/NG and IV prep but the procedure itself only takes a few minutes.
Also be aware that the oral prep may cause diarrhoea. It didn’t happen with my son but we were advised that when he started drinking the prep to stop if and when diarrhoea commenced. They also advised to go straight back to the hotel we were staying at as it can occur in the hours after the procedure as well. That he needed to drink decent amounts of water to flush the dye out.
Dusty. xxx
I wouldn’t normally suggest radiation over no radiation but if the time taken is a factor in his reluctance to have it done then a CTE has exactly the preparation as an MRE, including fasting times and oral/NG and IV prep but the procedure itself only takes a few minutes.
Also be aware that the oral prep may cause diarrhoea. It didn’t happen with my son but we were advised that when he started drinking the prep to stop if and when diarrhoea commenced. They also advised to go straight back to the hotel we were staying at as it can occur in the hours after the procedure as well. That he needed to drink decent amounts of water to flush the dye out.
Dusty. xxx
