Has anyone's DC needed a head CT scan?

VivaAmore

How was your experience?  Mia needs one next week for these pains she's getting in her head. She'll be sedated and it's at CHOP so I'm comfortable with the service we'll get but I'm curious if we'll find out any results right away or if we'll have to wait, and how long.

Any info to ease my fears would be appreciated!

debs1018

Hi, my son had a few CT scans without sedation and 1 MRI with sedation. The sedation is done by an injection. CT scans are pretty quick. If they want contrast they will have her drink some "juice" before hand. They will take her in for the scan. I think if it is done by sedation you cant be in the room? Can you ask for it to be done without? We have done it a few times and it is really do-able.

Once she wakes up and can eat and drink you will get released.

I heard CHOP is great. We had ours at CHONY.

Oh and good luck!

JOEBunny

My DS had a CT scan without sedation.  We got results right away, with the warning that it would be read again by a different doctor in the morning (we went in at night).  It was very easy.  MRI is the one that is horrible.  Me no like that one.  I need to be sedated, much less a baby.  I would ask them if they could do the CT without sedation, and if not, why not?

VivaAmore

Thank you ladies!  I'm REALLY HOPING it's somehow related to her ear infection although the doctor doesn't think it's likely, but couldn't come up with any other explanation, or at least one he was willing to share.

Debs, how long before you got your results? I believe this script says without contrast. I will ask about the sedation but I'm almost thinking it will be less traumatic for her just to be out of it. I'm torn.

Anyway, hope everything with both of your scans/MRIs turns out OK too.

VivaAmore

Thanks JOEbunny. I'll read up on it some more. She can be still if she needs to be so I'm sure it would be OK as long as I can be with her.

MichelleWP

My daughter had one at 4 months with sedation and at 14 months without sedation. Both went well, during the first one it ended up taking 5 hrs - they were having trouble with the machine, it was really hard since she couldn't eat and really wanted to nurse. Once they did it she was awake and nursing within 2 minutes of finishing, We got the results from the first one the next day, the 2nd time was in the ER (she fell down the stairs) so we got it right away.

debs1018

With his last set of scans we knew that same day, the other scans we had done prior we got the results the next day.

As for the sedation, I would strongly urge without. It may be less traumatic for you and her. Not to scare you, but sedation isnt fun. And like I said the CT scan is quick. The only scary part is they get wraped like a mummy on a papoos type thing.

neesernicole

I have no idea. Big hugs to you both.

VivaAmore

Thank you so much ladies! I'm feeling better about it already. I'm just glad we'll find out before xmas. All I want from santa is for everything to be OK with my baby!

Andrewsgal

We had one yesterday with DS. My advice is try to convince them to try without sedation. It litterly takes 30 seconds. They let us try for DS without sedation and we were out of there in an hour. We got the results about 3 hours after we left the hospital. Thinking good thoughts for your little one.