Need help ASAP for how to apply numbing cream before bloodowork

[eljomom]

Nothing like waiting till the last minute.....I've had orders for some bloodwork for 3 months. Have sat on it because in my gut I know it's another dead end (just like being sent to Infectious Disease....but I digress...). Anyhow, going today to get it done because we have appt. next week with ordering doctor. A pediatrician I saw a few weeks ago for a possible ped. change gave me an rx for a numbing cream, but I can't remember how to to apply it. Someone said 30 minutes before, but I read 1 hour before. Also, how much? Both arms in case one doesn't work? DD is 7 and about 48 pounds. Apt. for blood draw is at 2.

Thanks!

[laure]

Nothing like waiting till the last minute.....I've had orders for some bloodwork for 3 months. Have sat on it because in my gut I know it's another dead end (just like being sent to Infectious Disease....but I digress...). Anyhow, going today to get it done because we have appt. next week with ordering doctor. A pediatrician I saw a few weeks ago for a possible ped. change gave me an rx for a numbing cream, but I can't remember how to to apply it. Someone said 30 minutes before, but I read 1 hour before. Also, how much? Both arms in case one doesn't work? DD is 7 and about 48 pounds. Apt. for blood draw is at 2.

Thanks!

 

 

Apply a thick gob of Emla cream, don't rub it in. Cover it with a really large band-aid and try not to smush the cream out the sides. You could do both arms to be on the safe side. 1 hour is recommended, but 30 minutes works pretty well too. Try to cover at least 2 inches, and cover the vein if you can see it.

[eljomom]

Thank you! Just remembered I think the ped said to put saran/plastic wrap over it (which of course I don't have....)....nor do I have a big bandaid. HOw about a plastic baggie over it?

 

Nothing like waiting till the last minute.....I've had orders for some bloodwork for 3 months. Have sat on it because in my gut I know it's another dead end (just like being sent to Infectious Disease....but I digress...). Anyhow, going today to get it done because we have appt. next week with ordering doctor. A pediatrician I saw a few weeks ago for a possible ped. change gave me an rx for a numbing cream, but I can't remember how to to apply it. Someone said 30 minutes before, but I read 1 hour before. Also, how much? Both arms in case one doesn't work? DD is 7 and about 48 pounds. Apt. for blood draw is at 2.

Thanks!

 

 

Apply a thick gob of Emla cream, don't rub it in. Cover it with a really large band-aid and try not to smush the cream out the sides. You could do both arms to be on the safe side. 1 hour is recommended, but 30 minutes works pretty well too. Try to cover at least 2 inches, and cover the vein if you can see it.

[formedbrds]

Thank you! Just remembered I think the ped said to put saran/plastic wrap over it (which of course I don't have....)....nor do I have a big bandaid. HOw about a plastic baggie over it?

 

Yes, use a baggie. Just cut a 2 X 3+ inch square. As you put the plastic over it, rub it around (with the plastic so you don't get it on your fingers) and make sure it covers all the big veins that you see. NEVER use a bandaid or anything with tape. Secure it with the top of an old men's dress sock or a head band. You don't want the area to get hot, so no hot fabrics. One hour is best. We have found that 30 minute sometimes isn't as numb as it could be. Yes, put it in the crook of both arms. If your child is poked once, and they don't get the vein insist on another technician.

Good luck.

Edited July 16, 2011 by formedbrds

[norcalmom]

might wanna do both arms - in case they can't get a vein in the numb one - we had this happen - nightmare trying to let him use the arm that was not numb!!

[eljomom]

Thanks for all the great advice! Well, as would have it with the crazy mentality of a pandas kid...she FREAKED OUT about the cream. I mean freaked out, like I was asking her to pour some battery acid on her arms before the blood draw. I tried to tell her it was just like lotion. Nope. That it would make it not hurt. Nope...said she'd rather have it hurt. Then I said "hard way or easy way"---she knows I will wrestle her down if need be, so she let me put it on, crying and screaming the whole time. After I got it on, the plastic felt bad, the unsticky tape felt bad, it hurt, etc. I then saw the post about tops of socks, and that was great, although when we walked in, she said everyone was going to stare at her.

I do get her a little prize if she cooperates, and I told her I don't mind crying if something hurts, but that carrying on when something doesn't hurt (like the cream) will NOT mean she gets a prize.

So we go in, get called back, sits on my lap in the chair. Doesn't like the rubber thing they tie around the arm (neither do I for that matter!). She does not flinch when they put the needle in. Even watched the blood fill the vials. I kept saying how cool it was , awesome, etc. Done. Off she went on her merry way to get the stuffed weiner dog she had had her eyes on for a while

[AmySLP]

Thanks for all the great advice! Well, as would have it with the crazy mentality of a pandas kid...she FREAKED OUT about the cream. I mean freaked out, like I was asking her to pour some battery acid on her arms before the blood draw. I tried to tell her it was just like lotion. Nope. That it would make it not hurt. Nope...said she'd rather have it hurt. Then I said "hard way or easy way"---she knows I will wrestle her down if need be, so she let me put it on, crying and screaming the whole time. After I got it on, the plastic felt bad, the unsticky tape felt bad, it hurt, etc. I then saw the post about tops of socks, and that was great, although when we walked in, she said everyone was going to stare at her.

I do get her a little prize if she cooperates, and I told her I don't mind crying if something hurts, but that carrying on when something doesn't hurt (like the cream) will NOT mean she gets a prize.

So we go in, get called back, sits on my lap in the chair. Doesn't like the rubber thing they tie around the arm (neither do I for that matter!). She does not flinch when they put the needle in. Even watched the blood fill the vials. I kept saying how cool it was , awesome, etc. Done. Off she went on her merry way to get the stuffed weiner dog she had had her eyes on for a while

 

You really gave me a good laugh-this could be my house/my child. Me too-I do anything it takes to get the end result, especially when it's the better choice and will not hurt. My daughter knows it's happening some way-the easy way or the hard way! I plan to get this cream too. Blood work is the worst. My 6 y/o gets resistant on the way to Dr. B asking the whole 4 hours if she will have to go to the lab. My heart really does break for her, but she'd be the same way in her PANDAS kind of way about the cream. So honestly it is refreshing to know I'm not the only one who'd do that same thing!! LOL