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How do you handle blood draws if you have a needle phobic anxious kid? (Espeically if they are...

post #1 of 4
5/2/11 at 7:27am
Thread Starter 

Anyone here with a tween/teen who panics for blood draws?  My dd will be 13 tomorrow.  She needs some blood work.  She's had the hiccups for a month and has some fatigue.  Her doc is worried about anemia and electrolite balance.  The last blood draw was awlful with 4 people trying to hold her down, her screaming and fighting.  This was after taking a large dose of xanax.  It was alwful.  I'm not sure we'll even get her in the car this time to get her to the lab.  But if anyone has any suggestions or stories on how you handle it please share. 

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post #2 of 4
5/2/11 at 9:47am

 About halfway down this page is some advice from someone with this condition. There seems to be two types of needle phobia; the type with the extreme sensitivity to pain being more difficult to overcome. Have you tried looking for a location that has someone experienced in dealing with this?

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post #3 of 4
5/3/11 at 4:33am
Thread Starter 

thank you for the information.  We went ahead and took her yesterday.  Her doctor prescribed her valium this time and I got her numbing cream.  I had to prove to her the medicines would work before she agreed to go but when she saw they were infact working she got in the car.  The valium worked so much better than the xanax last time.  And thank goodness I found the numbing cream on amazon.  I still do not understand why doctors won't prescribe it for her.  I've asked several and they all say no or oh the lab will have that, which they don't, and you have to put it on an hour ahead anyway.  We also got her a wheel chair to sit in at the hospital and the lab workers said she could stay in it for the draw.  I think that really helped her feel more secure.  when she was little her stoller was like a security blanket for her so I think it gave her the same feeling.  She did great this time.  She didn't even move. What an incredible difference. 

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post #4 of 4
5/3/11 at 8:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dairy2dogs View Post

.  I still do not understand why doctors won't prescribe it for her.  I've asked several and they all say no or oh the lab will have that, which they don't, and you have to put it on an hour ahead anyway. 


I've heard this complaint before; I don't understand it.

 

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