Blood draw suggestions

[JAG10]

I have to take both dd10 and dd7 for blood work tomorrow afternoon. Neither will be thrilled, but dd7 threw an absolute fit last time! It took 3 of us to barely hold down a 50lb 7 y.o. and all in the zip code have permanent hearing loss!

 

Any suggestions? I'm desperate and I have to take them solo. I made appt at 2pm thinking the place might be empty. I don't think bribing will help. I just wish there was something I could give her to calm her down ahead of time? Just buck-up, right?

[mkur]

I use to have DS sit on my lap in the chair and put his head back to look at the ceiling (no peeking) while I talked and talked. Sometimes it would turn into a struggle but it had to get done. I always took him to DQ for banana split afterwards. He still wants DQ.

[susie]

I have to take both dd10 and dd7 for blood work tomorrow afternoon. Neither will be thrilled, but dd7 threw an absolute fit last time! It took 3 of us to barely hold down a 50lb 7 y.o. and all in the zip code have permanent hearing loss!

 

Any suggestions? I'm desperate and I have to take them solo. I made appt at 2pm thinking the place might be empty. I don't think bribing will help. I just wish there was something I could give her to calm her down ahead of time? Just buck-up, right?

 

 

Do you have Emla cream? It works wonders for my 6 year old- she has no problems with blood draws (she actually likes going because she gets a beany baby from the lab each time). You just put a pea size amount on a tegaderm, then put it on the area where the blood will be drawn. Do this about 2 hours prior to the appointment and the area will be completely numb when they insert the needle ("the pokey thing" as my daughter would say). Also, be sure they use a butterfly needle so they're not moving the needle in and out when they switch out the tubes. I'm always completely amazed that doctors don't automatically give people a prescription for this when they order bloodwork for kids! Hopefully you can get some first thing in the morning. Most pharmacies carry tegaderm- it's expensive, but the Emla wont work without it.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Susie

[AmberM]

I really feel your pain. Blood draws are really traumatic for my dd. She has awful veins and she just gets so worked up. The more worked up she gets, the more the veins constrict and the harder it gets. At one point it took us 1 1/2 hrs to get blood after they literally poked her on every limb and then her head. So after that, we found versed. We go to a lab that pretty much works with special needs kids exclusively and the versed has been a real miracle. I don't know if you're at that point but if it is super traumatic, you may want to ask your dr. about this. We didn't see any side effects and my dd wasn't traumatized afterward.

-Amber

 

I have to take both dd10 and dd7 for blood work tomorrow afternoon. Neither will be thrilled, but dd7 threw an absolute fit last time! It took 3 of us to barely hold down a 50lb 7 y.o. and all in the zip code have permanent hearing loss!

 

Any suggestions? I'm desperate and I have to take them solo. I made appt at 2pm thinking the place might be empty. I don't think bribing will help. I just wish there was something I could give her to calm her down ahead of time? Just buck-up, right?

[JAG10]

Thank you for the suggestions! I'm going to ask their doctor for the EMLA script when I pick up the lab orders and then get the bandage while they fill it. Maybe between that and bribing...the drama will be less; at least I can hope!

 

You all are the best!

[peglem]

Also, valerian root has a relaxing effect, similar to valium. We've actually been kicked out of a lab b4 blood draw, but only one with this very witchy manager. Too bad, because its the lab closest to our house.

[lfran]

Also, ask for their best ped. phlebotomist -- call ahead and go there when he/she is there. We did that and travel over 30 minutes to the lab with a phlebotomist that my son likes -- he goes very willingly to her and terribly for others.

 

Thank you for the suggestions! I'm going to ask their doctor for the EMLA script when I pick up the lab orders and then get the bandage while they fill it. Maybe between that and bribing...the drama will be less; at least I can hope!

 

You all are the best!

[parents4eyes]

x

Edited September 9, 2010 by parents4eyes

[JAG10]

That is a sin! Some folks are just not cut out for the service industry and should be in front of computers...where they can be grouchy at a monitor that isn't depending on them!

 

You all really pulled through! The doc gets in at 1pm, so we're off and then to the pharmacy!

[JAG10]

Mission Completed!!!

 

The EMLA worked great; they loved the saranwrap.

 

Quest Diagnostics.... the state of customer service these days! I feel like such an old lady saying that, but honestly WHY have online appointments if you aren't going to honor them??? I understand everyone deserves to eat lunch in peace (NOTE: 3:15-4:00 must be an unofficial lunch hour there!) but don't make those times available for appts. then!!! We had 3:30 and 3:45 appts (I changed the appts online to allow for the EMLA to take effect), got there at 3:20 with NOBODY in the waiting room and had to wait until 4pm, then full waiting room. I know I should have complained, but who wants to do that before those same folks poke your kids?

Edited July 15, 2010 by JAG10

[danddd]

That is a sin! Some folks are just not cut out for the service industry and should be in front of computers...where they can be grouchy at a monitor that isn't depending on them!

 

You all really pulled through! The doc gets in at 1pm, so we're off and then to the pharmacy!

 

 

What is tegaderm, and what is versed?

thanks (sorry if it is obvious)

[JAG10]

That is a sin! Some folks are just not cut out for the service industry and should be in front of computers...where they can be grouchy at a monitor that isn't depending on them!

 

You all really pulled through! The doc gets in at 1pm, so we're off and then to the pharmacy!

 

 

What is tegaderm, and what is versed?

thanks (sorry if it is obvious)

 

Yeah, so obvious I had to look both up!!

Tegaderm is a type of bandage, but I used the SaranWrap idea-which the girls got a kick out of

Versed is a med that may be like a mild valium? Ok, how bad is this... when I read "versed" I thought it was the name of the lab that help those with special needs!

[norcalmom]

our pychiatrist gave us scrip for lydocaine - its great - put it on 30-45 minutes before the draw it will numb the area. The tube was $35, and will probably last us a lifetime. Makes it soooo much easier when they know it will not hurt. and they will know this - because they can pinch their own arm and not feel a thing.