straight jacket for blood work?

[laure]

Blood draw for Dr. B tomorrow. Is it really necessary to do it 2 separate days? I understand it is a lot of vials, but is this others' experience? 1st day will be a challenge, but 2nd day???? Look out!

[emmalily]

With Dr. B he ordered a huge list of tests for me and didn't suggest going tow separate days. So I did it all in one day--11 vials of blood from a 110 lb body (and I'm sure child is smaller) is not a good thing. First time I got very dizzy/nauseous from a blood test. So two days might be easier.

[Suzan]

We have blood draw issues too. She's had a horrible time with her draws (many sticks and blood stops flowing) and so now she gets very afraid and cries a lot and it just gets bad and over the top. After several draws of having to hold her down and still not being successful, she has learned that if she is hydrated, stays warm and is relaxed that the draw goes better. I only take her to the good place with the really good tech and I give her 5-htp and l-theanine calming amino acids before hand. All this has helped a lot to keep her calm and so her blood will flow right out. Then I take her for ice cream.

[laure]

Got blood work today, all suggestions from you folks were awesome! Other that the fact that she hated me (and told me so) for about 30 minutes afterwards in the car, it could not have gone better. got her up, gave her hot chocolate, Dad broke the news, carried her to the car like a baby with hot chocolate in a mug, ipad with new movie downloaded, and emla cream ready to go on her arm. All was peaceful and easy with the draw of about 12 vials of blood, 2 minutes tops. Afterwards she ranted and cried and even swore once at me on the way home (shock value I guess) then calmly ate the rice krispie treat I bought her, watched another movie, bought one toy, then off to school by 10:30. she definitely won't be volunteering to do this again, but for now, this worked. Thank you my faceless friends!