CT Scan for 9 Month old...any Insights?

My daughter has been sedated several times... for a biopsy, an MRI and then an unrelated surgery. Her first time was right around 9-10 months.

For her MRI... They gave her a nasal spray and had me hold her, the spray was like Valium, to relax her about being taken from me. It made her feel drowsy and very content. They wheeled her back to be sedated. I was not there to actually see her go under (they didn't allow it.) They told us they would call us back after she was awake and warned us that every child is different - some cry when they come out of sedation because its disorienting. Our daughter didn't cry. She was quiet, sleepy and cuddly, just kind of sitting back taking it all in.

Truthfully I was much more upset by it then she was.

Once he comes home your experience may be different depending what kind of sedation he had. They could tell you clear liquids or light foods if its something that will keep them drowsy. Nothing too heavy on the tummy. We got some apple juice and let her have that in a bottle, she was still primarily nursing at the time - so it wasn't a big deal meal wise. She doesn't usually watch TV, but when we got home I put a little Baby Einstein on for her to sit and watch. I know for my own peace of mind I had her nap near me. I pulled the pack n play out and had her in the living room. It just made me feel better to be able to watch over her during her nap time that day. For all my concern she really had a very easy recovery from the sedation.

I know you can't help but worry, I hope your day will be as uneventful as our experience was.

my son had his first mri when he was nine months and the sedated him and he was just really groggy and sleepy the rest of the day and he didnt want to eat much that day until later in the evening but that was it oh and when he was first getting groggy from the meds he was giggly and he was also like that when he was waking up to for being sedated it was really cute laughing for no reason..good luck and i am sure your little one will be just fine

My daughter was quite a bit older than your child but I thought I would still respond so I could help ease your mind as far as the sedation. My daughter was 7 years old when they sedated her for an MRI. My husband and I were with her when she fell asleep and we were with her within minutes of her waking up. They sent us home immediately. I do remember she looked/acted like a drunk but she was hungary so we took her to Friendly's to eat. I remember a lot of people staring at us but once she sat down her balance was better. (I would say it was definitely more traumatic for me than for her.). Good Luck to you and your little one!

Just a few things. Where is he having the CT my son had two CT of is head and was not sedated, he did however get sedated for his head MRI because they take longer. I would really see why they feel he needs to be sedated because CT's are so quick.

Now aside from that for my sons MRI at 11 months he was sedated, it was a hard thing to see, depending on the hosiptal we were at childrens in Seattle we were not allowed to stay in the room for the sedation. We brought him in layed him down they started putting him out as soon as he was asleep we were ushered out of the room. When he came back he was still out, about an hour later he woke up, he didn't fuss much (they warned us he might) we were there ready to take his breathign tube out once that was out he was a bit disoriented for an hour or so but back to normal by the time we got home. Now his nurse said he handled it extremely well, which is uncommon, he never cried( which is more common) he was just kinda like "HUH what happened".

Sorry you have to go through this it is a rough experience to go through but you will do fine.

I suggest that your little one will be just fine. They will be sleepy/groggy for a short period of time afterwards. You will probably be with them when they are sedated and with them immediately afterward. If you're calm and confident with them they'll continue to feel secure and will act just like they usually act except be sleepy for awhile.

I've had several surgeries and have never been frightened by sedation. I can think of no reason a baby or child would be frightened. It's no different than falling asleep and then waking up again.

That is scarey I dont know how hw is going to react after but my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Please let us know what happend he is so little.

A.

HI A.,

Did they not suggest an MRI instead? A CT scan gives like 100 times the radiation of an xray.

I'd be more concerned about that. Your mommy instincts will help you through this.

My daughter had surgery on her tear duct when she was 14 mos old. Not the same as a scan but she was 'out of it' for a few hours after the anesthesia. You just go along with what your child does/does not want. You'll be fine.

You don't say if you are nursing or not. If nursing, I would be adding in lots of things into my diet to counter the effects of sedation medication and also of the radiation of the CT scan. Radiation accumulates. The things I take are lots of Vitamin C (1-2,000 mg 2 or 3 times a day), Vitamin E, Selenium, Omega 3s, lots of Vitamin D3 (all of the time! better and safer and a no-brainer than doing the flu shot). Vitamin Bs are good for the sedation medication, especially B12 as it gets depleted by most.

Just be aware of the dangers of radiation. As I said, it accumulates in the body. So at the dentist office (later - when he is older!) don't always get the x-rays - only when you know there is a problem. We use to get them every time they would say 'oh he /she is due now'... then I started reading and hearing that that is not a good thing.

Good luck. He will do fine. What are you having the scan for? Maybe we can offer some words on that.

After sedation my son cried..a lot. The nurses said it's a normal reaction. After a few minutes he was a little sleepy but no longer upset. You have to be prepared for this because you'll question what you did and think that you've harmed your baby. It has nothing to do with you...it's the drug they give him. Once that has worn off he'll be a little drowsy and a little short tempered. Be sure as soon as your son gets to recovery that they allow you to be there right away and have a bottle ready. If he can't have a bottle then ask what you can give him to comfort him. I've had my son sedated twice, once at 9mo and again at 2yr. I also had to endure my son getting a CT scan awake.....in order to keep him still they had to strap him to the board from the stretcher including putting his head into a contraption that wouldn't allow him to move at all. It was unbelievably painful to deal with. I felt so guilty because my son was terrified, tied up and stuck in a scary machine while I stood in the hall. He remembered it for a long time. The surgeries however, he doesn't remember at all. I'm sure while the procedure is going on you'll go back and forth in your mind questioning your decision. I've had it both ways and sedation is better. Just remember in recovery that he's not as upset as it seems because the anesthesia will cause anxiety and crying is your baby's only means of communication.