bringing your child for blood work

amother ↓

Wed, Jul 15 2009, 4:10 pm

My 8 year old is very nervous and scared of needles. She screams and screams at the doctor's office and I'm looking for advice on how to calm her. She is VERY loud, doesn't care who hears her and can't be bribed with a present or treat. She has real anxieties about this and even if she goes in calm and says she'll be fine because she does want the present, she freaks out when she gets there and a few people have to hold her down to get the blood. It is like a panic attack that she can't control. She is so traumatized from previous visits and now she has to go again. Any advice?

JC ↓

Wed, Jul 15 2009, 10:03 pm

I have a son who just went to draw blood yesterday. I told him (and always tell him)- it will hurt, it will suck, and its in your best interest to do it anyway. I told him to look at it and to face it--- suck it up be a man. All said while holding his hand. Most importantly I have had him hold my hand while I was getting blood drawn, where I was scared, but we repeated together this will hurt this will suck but its in my best interest to get this over with.
Its the same as taking medicine or eating foods you dont like. You just need to suck it up and DO IT sometimes.

Course that works for my first born, I havent had to do it with my second son--- I think I let Dad hand it when it comes up.

Mitzvahmom ↓

Wed, Jul 15 2009, 10:46 pm

I am training to be a nurse...

So every time we go to get my son's blood drawn, he always asks if I have learned how to do it yet because he wants me to poke him not a stranger..

It takes a while, but b"H I found a location at my hospital that is smaller and they are really good at blood draws.

↑ amother ↓

Thu, Jul 16 2009, 1:46 am

OP

Yes, yes, yes, all good replies but what about the screaming? She won't stop. She's like a 2 year old with a tantrum even though she logically knows it will hurt a little but it will be okay and over soon. It's the panic attack that I don't know how to deal with. She gets a present but can't see through the panic to focus on that.

↑ JC

Thu, Jul 16 2009, 7:15 am

Have you tried Duct Tape?

Seriously, I dont know what to suggest, other than starting to talk to her about it earlier...

No wait I have a suggestion- it may not work, but they always say not to tell a child how she should feel. So when you talk to her about it before hand - why not tell her that you have thought about it alot, and you can tell that when she is scared or hurt she screams, and acknowledge that it is scary and it does hurt SO now you see that its OK for her to scream, and that if that helps her get through it then its alright. Tell her you will not let anyone get upset at her for screaming and sometimes screaming helps let out the pain.
If nothing else it may disarm her, and at least she will know that you are on her side and there to protect her.

If she takes this approach well, you can ask her for suggestions on how to keep her yelling from bothering everyone, suggest telling into a pillow. Ask her if while she is yelling does she want you to hold her. Have all these discussion BEFORE she gets hysterical.

Just throwing thoughts out there... hoping something works

momomany

Fri, Jul 17 2009, 11:00 am

Can you ask your doctor for a prescription for EMLA. Then, explain to your child that you really don't want him to have pain & this med will help that. It needs to be put on 1 hour in advance I think, & covered with plastic wrap.

Merrymom

Mon, Jul 20 2009, 10:46 pm

I take my kids with me to see me getting allergy shots and they see how I don't even blink so that calms them down. Why not get some blood work yourself or for DH first and take her with to watch? Give her a little pinch and say it doesn't hurt more than this, can you handle this? Being held down is probably what traumatized her, you should have left, bribed her and let her come back when she was ready. I did that with my daughter at the dentist once, and the dentist understood since he wasn't going to work on someone screaming bloody murder.

↑ amother

Tue, Jul 21 2009, 2:16 am

Merrymom wrote:

It's funny you mention this as this was my thinking too. I had to have a blood test on Sunday and my daughter's is on Wed. We have to schedule them here. I begged her to come with me but she refused and was all melodramatic with how she can't stand the sight of blood and wouldn't get in the car with me. Most of her fear is illogical and just her fears eating her up. She's getting used to the idea now and is telling everyone what a poor soul she is because she has to go this week. Last time, I didn't tell her where we were going as I couldn't take her refusal to get in the car. So, this time I have a different approach and we'll see how it works out.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

jayne

Tue, Jul 21 2009, 6:51 am

My 9-year-old daughter is fantastic about blood tests and her twin goes BEZERK. They both take growth hormone, so the blood tests are required a few times a year. He freaks out, becomes hysterical, kicking, etc. It always takes a few nurses to hold him down. I haven't found any solution except to hope he outgrows the fear. The irony is that he takes his nightly "growing medicine" like it's a tickle instead of a shot!