preparing for IVIG/ anxiety/valium

[rockytop]

We just saw Dr L a few days ago and we are working to get our child (12) calm enough for IVIG. We started Valium...anyone done this? How long did it take ot work. We have seen a 50% improvement prob in anxiety, but that still does not make her able to get this yet! Just wondering if anyone else had done valium first and if it took a day or a few weeks to work. Anything anyone else tried to get kid calm enough? I am wondering about medication specifically. I read about the play kit, but my child's level of cognition is not at that point now, thanks to this problem!

[peglem]

We just saw Dr L a few days ago and we are working to get our child (12) calm enough for IVIG. We started Valium...anyone done this? How long did it take ot work. We have seen a 50% improvement prob in anxiety, but that still does not make her able to get this yet! Just wondering if anyone else had done valium first and if it took a day or a few weeks to work. Anything anyone else tried to get kid calm enough? I am wondering about medication specifically. I read about the play kit, but my child's level of cognition is not at that point now, thanks to this problem!

Valium is not a med that has to build up in your system. For heavy duty anxiety situations (like IVIG, getting through the airport to fly, surgery) we have given as much as 30mg. My understanding is that this is a hefty dose- but she still has plenty of fight left in her, even at that dose. So, in answer to your "how long?" question- about 1/2 hour! We only give it on an as needed basis and usually only 5 mg- for day to day anxiety. 10 mg if she has a doc appt, or blood draw...we have become pretty adept at judging how much she'll need.

 

I'd try the kit anyway- my daughter tests out at the IQ of a rock, but the kit helped her to get comfortable with what would happen. We probably did 20 play IVs before she would touch the play needle (flexible plastic), and @ 10 more after that, until she was comfortable with it. The first 5 times, she sorta watched what I was doing from across the room...but it really helped her to feel like she knew what was going on. And I talked to the toys that were being IV'ed about being afraid and how long it would take and how brave they were. Bottom line, its free and its worth a try!

[melanie]

We just saw Dr L a few days ago and we are working to get our child (12) calm enough for IVIG. We started Valium...anyone done this? How long did it take ot work. We have seen a 50% improvement prob in anxiety, but that still does not make her able to get this yet! Just wondering if anyone else had done valium first and if it took a day or a few weeks to work. Anything anyone else tried to get kid calm enough? I am wondering about medication specifically. I read about the play kit, but my child's level of cognition is not at that point now, thanks to this problem!

Valium is not a med that has to build up in your system. For heavy duty anxiety situations (like IVIG, getting through the airport to fly, surgery) we have given as much as 30mg. My understanding is that this is a hefty dose- but she still has plenty of fight left in her, even at that dose. So, in answer to your "how long?" question- about 1/2 hour! We only give it on an as needed basis and usually only 5 mg- for day to day anxiety. 10 mg if she has a doc appt, or blood draw...we have become pretty adept at judging how much she'll need.

 

I'd try the kit anyway- my daughter tests out at the IQ of a rock, but the kit helped her to get comfortable with what would happen. We probably did 20 play IVs before she would touch the play needle (flexible plastic), and @ 10 more after that, until she was comfortable with it. The first 5 times, she sorta watched what I was doing from across the room...but it really helped her to feel like she knew what was going on. And I talked to the toys that were being IV'ed about being afraid and how long it would take and how brave they were. Bottom line, its free and its worth a try!

 

 

 

Try to contact kmcfalls@igliving.com. she was soooo helpful and a unbelieveable resource when we were trying to get the IV started. You can tell her melanie says hello.

 

The IV isnt that horrible.If you have a good nurse start the IV itgoes quickly

 

Melanie

[rockytop]

I was kind thinking that Valium does not take that long... people take before the dentist like a 1/2 hour, right? The IV is not really the problem itself, actually, my child has a PICC line already- though it does terrify her even though it has been in for several months! She has been on IV abx for lyme. We are doing 10 mg bid and I am going to call Dr L today and see if we can bump it up or increase frequency. I wanted to give it time and not be pushy by calling her office- we only started this Wed- but if it is not enough meds- it is not enough, I guess. I am anxious (for lack of better word) to get this going! Thanks and any other other ideas are welcome