Bloodwork

[crunchy_mommy]

We had to take my 1yo for bloodwork today (first time) & it was horrible.

I held him, she stuck the needle in, then DUG AROUND for a good 3+ minutes. DS was calm at first but screaming by the end. I said lets take a break, give him a chance to calm down, and she wouldn't take the needle out of him!! She wanted to leave it in while we calmed him down etc.!

Then she says, let's have dad hold him, maybe he'll have more control over him (um way to make me feel good, I HAD control until you kept digging) and of course he only wanted me but he calls me "dadadada" lol...

OK so then DH sits down with him and she sticks him again -- in the same arm -- digs around more -- FINALLY finds a vein & gets the blood out. Then she insists on putting a bandaid OVER the bandage -- herself -- even though he's screaming and just wants me & DH.

The poor kid, I felt so bad for him. I tried singing to him & reading his favorite book etc. while she did it but it was no help.

I know it's tough to draw blood from such a young kid, but is that really supposed to be that bad? I hope he doesn't need bloodwork again for a very long time, but if he does I'm wondering how to help the next time go better.

[Thalia]

Yikes, that's awful! I have no advice, just .

[bluejaunte]

We've had lots and lots of bloodwork -- including a needle they stuck in his arm at 1 WEEK old because he'd run out of room for heel sticks -- and I can tell you, a good phlebotomist is worth her weight in gold.

[crunchy_mommy]

Yikes! I'm glad he doesn't have to have lots of bloodwork like that (hopefully won't have to as a result of this test!!) but I think next time I will call around and ask if the lab has anyone that specializes in kids or something (do they have pediatric phlebotomists???) I have to bring him tonight for a chest xray too so hopefully that's not as traumatic (at least it won't physically hurt him!) He is very anxious around strangers to begin with so I think her touching him etc. was almost as bad for him as the actual needles...

[texmati]

I"m so sorry . I was 9 when I had to have surgery adn an IV. I can remember an idiot nurse trying to get a vein 4 maybe 5 times before getting a nurse who could do it right on the first try.

[sapphire_chan]

file a complaint with the office you went to. Tell them to someone on staff with more experience with tiny veins and children.

That was absurd, first off, they should've had someone who was used to doing blood draws on infants. Secondly, people who dig around with the needle in ANYONE should be sent back for more training. Thirdly, WTF is wrong with her that she argued with you and got your dh to hold down your ds???

[sapphire_chan]

And yes, they do have pediatric phlebotomists. The one we saw for Lina's blood draws at 11 months was so fast that she was done by the time Lina had just started to complain about me holding her arm down and not being allowed to grab the fun toy (the syringe) the technician had. Literally 30 seconds from sitting down to two vials draw.

[crunchy_mommy]

OK now I'm not just mad but scared... I just noticed he has a bunch of little tiny pin-prick size bruises all over his arm. I expected a few big bruises (and those are there too) but I've never seen pin-prick bruises like this, it looks like a rash only with bruises instead. I'm panicking that she really injured him!!!

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy

OK now I'm not just mad but scared... I just noticed he has a bunch of little tiny pin-prick size bruises all over his arm. I expected a few big bruises (and those are there too) but I've never seen pin-prick bruises like this, it looks like a rash only with bruises instead. I'm panicking that she really injured him!!!

Broken blood vessels?

I'd take him to the lab and complain. I'm sure he's fine, but they need to know that it is unacceptable to dig around in a tiny arm (any arm, it's just worse with a little guy ) like that.

[crunchy_mommy]

I think the lab closes in 5 minutes I hope he's OK, I made DH call the doc but he hasn't called back yet. I'm usually not paranoid about things like this but I think after the way the whole experience went I'm still shaky & on edge. I just hope my baby is ok. :*( I should definitely complain. I'm so upset now, although DS is happily playing of course, totally unphased!!

[sapphire_chan]

http://peytonmanning.stvincent.org/content.aspx?p=163

It's a long distance call for you and I don't know if they charge or have residency restrictions, but that's a 24/7 nurse help line tied to one of our local children's hospitals.

(er it's a link to a page with the telephone number and some information about the help line )

[JBaxter]

Coming from a family of nurses. YOU NEVER let someone do that to your child again. There is NO reason to do that. Ive had 4 kids and various blood draws from them Good techs get a quick stick the first time. NO DIGGING EVER. Im sorry your LO went through that but next time THROW A FIT.

Call and file a complaint tomorrow.

[JBaxter]

sounds like she really bruised up his arm the tiny red speckly marks are probably from her holding tight and the twisting .

You probably wont get a chest xray done tomorrow After the trauma of today. Make sure when you take your little one in you let them know what the witch did to him yesterday.

IF you need blood drawn from now one you may want to ask for a papoose board. It sounds horrible BUT it holds them super still so the draw takes a few seconds. Basiclly it swaddles them to a little support board so they cant thrash and jerk.
My oldest has meningitis when he was 15 months old and they drew alot of blood. I would ask who ever waked in to do his blood work ... CAN you get a good stick on a chubby toddler on the first stick because WE are NOT poking him full of holes. About half of them walked back out and sent someone else in.

Blood draws arent fun but they can be made quick and less traumatic

[Harmony08]

My son was just in the hospital for dehydration and we went through a lot of that. They took blood from all over him. It really sucks. We had one time when they couldn't get it. Fortunately when I said "I want you to stop now" she stopped. They tried one more time but no dice. Unfortunately we had to change his fluids and everything because the couldn't get blood but it turned out to be no big deal after all.

Here is what I know for next time...

1. There is something called LMX topical anesthetic cream. You have to ask for it at the pharmacy counter. It takes like 20 mins to kick in but if you're going to get bloodwork or to the ER you could apply it. Of course it is hard to know where they will draw from but it is good to know. Apparently you can ask for it in the office/hospital as well though they are usually resistant because of the time it takes to kick in. Next time though I think I would say okay pick the vain, now apply the stuff. Okay we will see you in 25 minutes.

2. If they can't get it next time (I keep saying next time..I hope there isn't a next time) I will request a phlebotomist from the NICU or from Sedation. This is what the Child Life people at the hospital said to do.

3. Request Child Life. They are usually available in the hospital and sometimes I have seen them in the Ped's office. They have awesome toys for distraction or recovery. They will work with the nurse to find more comfortable ways to hold your kid etc. It is just nice to have someone who knows what is going on be your advocate. Like a doula!!!

I hope your little boys arm looks better. It is no fun.

[kfillmore]

I Know! At 6 month DD had blood taken. The woman did a heal prick. It was soooo awful, She took forever. She said her foot was cold etc. She said I could not hold her. She sried and cried. This is THE worst memory ever.

Next time we got blood I only allowed a finger prick. There was no crying. It still took awhile. DD liked the braclets the woman was wearing.

I understant how awful awful awful your experience was!

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Harmony08

My son was just in the hospital for dehydration and we went through a lot of that. They took blood from all over him.

They drew blood from a dehydrated toddler? How? They've got eensy little veins and dehydration makes it hard to draw on some adults (according to friends who've had that not so fun experience (both as the drawer and the drawee )) I get that they wanted to check for what was causing the dehydration, but surely if they were going to be sticking needles in they could've done an IV and got him hydrated a bit before poking him all over.

[Harmony08]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

They drew blood from a dehydrated toddler? How? They've got eensy little veins and dehydration makes it hard to draw on some adults (according to friends who've had that not so fun experience (both as the drawer and the drawee )) I get that they wanted to check for what was causing the dehydration, but surely if they were going to be sticking needles in they could've done an IV and got him hydrated a bit before poking him all over.

He did have the IV before his first blood draw.

They actually had an even harder time one he was puffed up on fluids.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Harmony08

He did have the IV before his first blood draw.

They actually had an even harder time one he was puffed up on fluids.

Poor little guy!

(Which I was thinking about your previous post and didn't type. )