Needle Phobia

[StillHopeful]

Hi --

 

I want to take my DS11 to a specialist and assume they would want to do blood tests. There is no way my son will go or sit still for a blood test. He has built up such fear about it. Since I know this, I have delayed taking him. I am just wondering if anyone else has difficulty getting their children to dr visits when they suspect they will need a blood test and how do they get their child to sit for the blood test?

 

Thank you!

Edited November 11, 2012 by StillHopeful

[bsimon3]

We separate doctor appointments from blood draws. We go to the doctor appointment, get the test order slip, and then get the draw done on a different day. It helps to be able to tell doctor-weary DS9 that the doctor visit is just a "talking appointment". Good for you in taking the next step to help your child get well. It's not easy for DS (or you), but you are doing the right thing! Press on!

[StillHopeful]

Thanks Bsimon3!

[Hopeny]

I am sure this is not going to win me parenting award of the year have resorted to rewards for blood draws for my 8 yo. Now that DD's general anxiety has lessened its much better but if I promise a small toy it seems to make it much easier. Honestly I feel so *&^# bad for what she has been through, I like to indulge her in this small way

[Mayzoo]

NOTHING helps soothes my kiddo. No reward, no bribe, no talk, no rationale, no logic----nothing. We find it is best to simply have hubby, I and one aid restrain her in my lap with our hands, get the blood draw over with as fast as possible, then celebrate after the fact with maybe a small toy or a meal out. As soon as we drive up near Quest labs, the begging to go home begins and the screaming begins right before we are lead back and it simply breaks my heart as she has already been through sooooooo much in her little life, but she does understand that sometimes the docs need to see what is in her blood--that is until we need to draw blood she understands.

[tkageler]

My son had a major phobia to needles. He would start screaming as soon as he knew he had to get a blood draw and sometimes we couldnt get it. But, then our doctor gave us a prescription for lidocaine cream. It is a miracle worker!! You put it on 30 minutes before the blood draw and it numbs the area. Once my son realized it worked we never had a problem again...and now a year later he doesn't even use it. He now says the blood draws don't hurt and would rather not use the numbing cream.

[Missmom]

I am not sure if it is the same cream but our neighbor is an ob/gyn and prescribes cream that they use during circumcisions for some of our girls before they get their ears pierced. They never feel it. That is a great idea to use the cream.

[StillHopeful]

Thanks for the information about the cream. I'll ask his pediatrician about it. I think that would help a lot.

[norcalmom]

ABSOLUTELY get the lydcocaine (or whatever brand of cream your doc will prescribe) - do BOTH arms - a good thick amount of the stuff - at least 30 minutes prior to the draw. About a 3 " diameter circle. Takes that long to work.

 

Also, you may ask your doc for some kind of med to deal with the stress of that one day (for you!!) (no -seriously - when we went in for IVIG I got pych to give us single doses of clonazapam? - somehting like that - not for me, that was a joke, although probably would have been a good idea since I'm sure DS feeds off my stress of anticipating his behavior). I've even considered asking to get a a does when him when we TELL him he needs to get a draw done. We tell him a day or two before - because the worst thing in his mind is a "surprise" blood draw! Also, try to take him when the lab is not very busy so you aren't in agony in the waiting room.

 

DS no longer has this fear. But it was pretty bad for a couple years. Only got over it when he had a couple in a row that weren't so bad - because of the lydocaine, and using the same person that did the draw the last time - at the same lab. He likes some control over the siutaiona and what to expect.

 

We had a bad one once when we did one arm - and they couldn't get a vein, and had to do the other arm - which was not numb - and also had trouble finding vein. He had a fear prior to that, ...but after that day with - 3 nurses and me in room with him freaking out for 20 minutes - it got pretty bad. He was 12 at the time - almost as big as me, about 5-6 and 125 lbs - He had to have a couple that "weren't so bad" before he started to recover from this fear.

 

And, get every test you even think you may need for the next 3 years!!

 

Good luck.

[Iowadawn]

Hi --

 

My DS11 has PANDAS - anxiety, sensory, ocd, Tourette Syndrome. I want to take him to a specialist and assume they would want to do blood tests. There is no way my son will go or sit still for a blood test. He has built up such fear about it. Since I know this, I have delayed taking him. Right now he sees a psychiatrist for medication and his pediatrican will treat for strep, etc. Neither seem to be doing enough. My son is not doing well and went to school only for 2 days. He has some sort of phobia/anxiety about school and refuses to go. I am just wondering if anyone else has difficulty getting their children to dr visits when they suspect they will need a blood test and how do they get their child to sit for the blood test?

 

Thank you! Ngold24

 

OH. MY STARS, YES!!! It is awful! No help, just empathy.

[lulu4]

Thank you so much for asking this question and for all who have replied. We've been sitting on a lab order for 2 weeks now because DD's fear has escalated so high over needles. We too have been wracking our brains for how to make it happen with as little trauma to her (and us) as possible. So along with the bribe that we do (she's 12 and loves money!), I am going to go call our dr. for a one time prescrip and also go by the lydocaine today. Thank you, thank you; hopefully we can make some progress now.

[StillHopeful]

Thank you so much for all the great ideas and the specifics Norcalmom about how much to use, etc... Your advice is very helpful. Now I don't feel so stuck about what to do. I amgoing to get the lydcocaine.

 

We have given him clonazapam for issues related to school anxiety. It usually makes him fall asleep and does nothing to calm him down. I think it makes him worse. But I agree, it would probably do a world of good for me!

[lulu4]

Found out here in VA we can't get lidocaine otc. But pharmacist suggested benzocaine 20% instead. Found it at a chain pharmacy under the store logo and called "Boil Relief".