Mri's

My mom is suspected of having brain cancer that metastasized from her lung cancer. They have tried 4 times unsuccessfully to get an MRI because even though they give her some sedation she won't hold still long enough. There has to be a way they can do it. Does anyone know if they can put a person "under" all the way like they do for surgery? If they can't get an accurate MRI is there any other way to confirm the diagnosis of brain cancer? thanks for any help or answers.

Hi there...

I went through a similar situation with my dad, who was in the end stage of multiple myeloma. He couldn't lay still because he was in a great amount of pain due to the tumors in his bone marrow, and bone damage.

Working with the doctor who had ordered the MRI and the MRI Tech, we finally were able to have him assigned a nurse who worked at the MRI facility. She administered high doeses of sedatives (not just valium, but a combination of things) via IV which were prescribed beforehand by his doctor. This put him into a sort of "twilight sleep".

You may want to talk with her doctor to see if he would be willing to do something like that.

Hang in there!! Hope this helps...

I worked in the operating room as a secretary and many times our anesthesia personnel would go to radiology and IV sedate a person and monitor them while they slept. I believe this would work for your mom. They used this method on those with Down's syndrome and also the elderly who could not lie still and it was absolutely vital to get a diagnosis. The other method depending on the type of cancer would be a biopsy of the lesions or cancerous cells if medically possible and this could be under IV sedation too. My prayers are with you and your mom.

I suffer from Daily severe migraines and have yearly MRI's but am extremely claustrophobic....so I am admitted outpatient and am sedated under general anesthesia by an anesthesiologist for this procedure. My insurance pays for this. Good luck....just ask them...they CAN DO this...I have had it done the last 5 years....

We FINALLY were able to get what they say is a good read on an MRI last night after 6 tries! (& heavy, sedation with adavan (sp?) & benadryl) We now await the results today. Don't hold much hope at this point but at least we'll confirm what we are dealing with. She's gone down hill sooo fast & seems worse every day. Thanks to all who responded & for your prayers. I just don't want her to suffer.

Dear Leslie: I have pancreatic cancer and understand your Mom's problems with having an MRI. I'm extremely claustrophic and have problems myself. Ask your mom's doctor if she can have an open MRI - it's like a CT scan and is not at all bad. If not, ask if she can have a PET Scan. She's only in the tube for a short time, and a PET Scan has become a good diagnostic tool. My girlfriend had the same thing - lung cancer that went to her brain, and she had PET scans all the time. If none of that works, get your mom's doctors to prescribe valium for her tests (I take 10 mg - alot I know, but it helps me) about an hour before the test. It does help sedate me. In addition, the place where I get my MRIs give me a headset so I can listen to music during the test - if they don't have one, ask if you can bring a portable CD player so she can listen to the music of her choice to help soothe her mind and relax her - I also pray the whole time and the Lord is with me to help me get through the ordeal. I hope these suggestions help - if I can be of further help, please let me know. I'll pray for you, your mom and your family. God Bless You. With God's love, I remain
Marsha B.