MRI/Pregnancy

[Katherine38]

I have a question for everyone.... does anyone know the risks of having an MRI while pregnant? I'm also discussing this with my high risk pregnancy doctor but thought I'd ask here too. I've been having great difficulty getting a hold of my NS in Seattle and no NS in my local (within a 2 hour drive of me in all directions) will touch me with a 10 foot pool as one doctor put it. I have a subependymoma and its located T4-11. They attempted to remove it almost 3 years ago with no luck. 14 hours of surgery and only able to remove 1/2 a cm. The reason its unable to be removed is because its got a mass inside the dura and then it wraps around the cord and then back through the strands itself. I have regained a lot back but am in chronic pain. Thats the second portion of this post. I believe I am doing everything I possibly I can to reduce the pain and live a functioning life but I may be missing something. Figured I'd ask you guys again since you actually understand what I am going through. I currently take baclofen, neurontin, and fentanyl (sorry if spelling is off). I also go to massage therapy and acupuncture once a week. Is there anything else you guys can think of for pain or atleast breakthrough pain? I am being monitored very closely by the OB's, soon to be my old NS (Visit with them in Oct), and then my reg doc. Being pregnant with my tumor has been such an experience. So far my baby (a little girl) is developing right on tract and the pregnancy has been "normal". The docs freak out a little because theres no good research on this topic. Anyways thanks for letting me ask you guys these questions. Its nice to know we all have the resources of each other.

[phylscircus2]

I am not the patient...my oldest son is. I had three more babies after him since his diagnoses. My daughter (baby #2) I was 11 weeks prego with when they did an MRI.....I was not allowed in the room. Baby #3 I was asked to not be near the door. Baby #4 I didn't know I was already prego and panicked when I found out I had been in the room when I was about 3 weeks. He is perfectly fine.....I believe the purpose of not being in the room as the patient would be wait until you really have to be in the MRI. They truly try to avoid any form of x-rays when your pregnant even if you broke an arm. I fractured a wrist and though not even anywhere close as serious as monitoring a tumor.....they would not give me an x-ray. I just waited until the baby was born to make sure it set and thats that.
The pressure of being prego when your not a spinal cord tumor patient can be intense and alot of pressure too. I was on my couch for the last 3 weeks with #4......I have scoliosis and this baby was leaning in all the wrong spots.
I am keeping my fingers crossed your pain in your back is from the pressure of being prego. How far along are you and are you concerned that there is tumor growth? If you can avoid that MRI until you have your beautiful healthy daughter....I would wait.

[rugger8]

Hi Katherine,
I'm very sorry to hear about your tumor but congrats on your little girl!!!! There is nothing like having children....can't describe the happiness that mine bring.
I too suffered through a pregnancy with a spinal tumor but didn't know it was there. The nerve and back pain was terrible!! But not knowing I had the tumor and never having been pregnant before I just figured it was all part of the great joys of pregnancy!
I don't mean to scare you but my labor was even more painful than normal because of the tumor and I couldn't go pee for about an hour or two afterwards. Not such a great thing when you really need to go. Also not normal! Looking back now I realize that it was my tumor telling me how unhappy it was with me for going through labor. But on the positive side my son was born happy and healthy with no problems!!! Thank goodness!
I'm not sure what your OB has recommended but for my second pregnancy (post tumor) my oncologist highly recommended a c-section with absolutley no epidural. He said that my spine was screwed up enough without someone poking around in there!
The only pain reliever I tried was tylenol and lots of walking which seemed to help some days.
As far as the MRI is concerned I haven't needed one while I was pregnant so I can't help you there I just know they don't like to do it because they don't really know what it may do to the baby. Like you said, not to much research has been done in this area.
How far along are you? Is there anyway you can wait for the MRI until after the baby is born? I wish you the best of luck with your pregnacy and I will be thinking of you and sending positive vibes your way!!!!

Kristi

[Katherine38]

Thank you for your replies. I am 26 weeks now. My docs have decided to wait till after delivery. THANK GOODNESS! They still advised me to do it but I don't feel any new tumor symptoms and they just "want to see" whats going on. I don't feel I need to put my little girl through anymore then I already am (w/ the medications). My docs also have said NO Epidural....its a Csection for sure. They don't want me pushing in any way. Thanks again for your comments. Like one of you said, being a first time mom/pregnant is scary enough, doing it with a tumor is almost agony. Luckily the tumor has taught me not to freak out about symptoms. Anyways I'll try to keep you guys updated. Luckily we're nearing the end of this journey. Not too much longer

[juliefromca]

a friend of mine had an MRI of her brain while pregnant with no apparent side effects. I think they will chance it if risk is greater to not do it. Good luck!

[deirdre612]

Hi Katherine! Glad to hear your pregnancy is going well, in spite of your tumor/pain problems. I'm kind of glad the docs have said no epidural, even though they know your problems are T4- T11 and they do the epidural between L2 and L3, you just never know how a needle poking around near that area might affect it, better to be safe than sorry.

I pushed out a 10lb baby no trouble, although I didn't realise I had another tumor lurking in there at the time. And then silly me, went and did it all over again with ANOTHER 10lb boy - you'd think I'd have worked out I make them big! But really, the pushing wasn't an issue. I think because of the tumor I got tired really easily though, and if I'd had a long labour it would have meant a lot of interventions that I really didn't want.

Its probably a wise idea to wait until after you've had the baby for the MRI, its not just the risks of it affecting the baby in some way, but also can you imagine lying still on that cramped hard narrow bed long enough to get it all done?! Ouch! With pregnancy there is a risk of the baby's weight pressing down on one of the major arteries that leads back to the heart, you can feel faint when you lie flat on your back as the baby gets bigger. We don't want you passing out!

Keep us updated on the progress of your pregnancy, its so exciting. I was in the same situation 5 years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest - yes everyone, Leo turned FIVE in August, how time flies huh?!

Deirdre

[katherine28]

Hi everyone,

Pregnancy seems to be going along smoothly. I'm now 28 weeks! Time really does fly! Everything with the pregnancy is looking to be TEXT BOOK! I dont have any complications (knock on wood) in any way. If it wasn't for my little belly and the lovely kicks from the inside, I wouldn't know I was pregnant at all. The only "pains" I'm feeling is from the tumor. I think its because I'm not getting my FULL dose of meds as the baby is getting big enough to "steal" them too. I hate knowing that the baby is being exposed to the meds but I dont have another choice. I've continued to do acupuncture once/twice a week for pain management. I was lying on a heating pad to help with the muscle spasms but I ended up getting a 3rd degree burn on my rib cage. So now we're trying to heal that on top of my high risk preg. I knew better then to lye down on the heating pad at 10 pm but I was in so much pain. Luckily in the section where the burn is I'm fully numb so it doesnt hurt. Just live in and learn I guess. I'm in good hands so I'm not too worried. Just gotta keep the infections away I'll continue to keep you guys updated as I am nearing the end of the pregnancy. I know I still have some time but I feel it starting to wind down.

Thanks again for all your support. I also chat with other preg women on a pregnancy forum but they dont understand the worries and everyday issues we have with a SCT. They think I'm just the bravest, strongest women out there. LOL I tell them they have no idea and that there are others that deal with the exact same issues I have. I've even sent a few out here to read about what SCT's can do to someone.

Have a great evening everyone!

Katherine