Blood test fear -any suggestions?

[Guest guest]

My son is 15. He has extremely high anxiety. Draw blood for test is almost

impossible. We tried bribery, bring a friend to support, demonstrate by drawing

blood from me but nothing worked. Dr. prescribed him Xanax, Ativan, and other

med. for the purpose of drawing blood, non of those worked either. The only

successful time was (five months ago) went to a dentist's office using

" laughing gas " while distracting him. We tried to take him to the same dentist

office this time, but he refused sensing that we'd do blood draw again. Did

anybody have such kind of fear and how did you solve the problem? He is

scheduled to see Dr. G and I know Dr. G requires frequent blood tests. Does

anybody know if Dr. G has a special way to handle extremely fearful people like

my son? Any suggestions are appreciated!

Lucy

[Guest guest]

He may treat him for PANDAS to address the anxiety....

He also recommends for a few people the stuff that numbs the arm before doing

the blood...

He must have a fear of his blood leaving his body or being taken .. does he

understand how testing can lead to treatment?

We always chat about blood and labs and why we do them and make it

informational.  Perhaps you could start easy casual conversation about allof

the

things we can learn from blood...

________________________________

From: LucyT <lucy1628@...>

Sent: Mon, August 23, 2010 12:58:24 AM

Subject: Blood test fear -any suggestions?

 

My son is 15. He has extremely high anxiety. Draw blood for test is almost

impossible. We tried bribery, bring a friend to support, demonstrate by drawing

blood from me but nothing worked. Dr. prescribed him Xanax, Ativan, and other

med. for the purpose of drawing blood, non of those worked either. The only

successful time was (five months ago) went to a dentist's office using " laughing

gas " while distracting him. We tried to take him to the same dentist office this

time, but he refused sensing that we'd do blood draw again. Did anybody have

such kind of fear and how did you solve the problem? He is scheduled to see Dr.

G and I know Dr. G requires frequent blood tests. Does anybody know if Dr. G has

a special way to handle extremely fearful people like my son? Any suggestions

are appreciated!

Lucy

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your reply, . Treating PANDAS needs blood test, right?

Take your advise, we will do more chatting about blood, lab and treatment.

Thanks again!

Lucy

>

> He may treat him for PANDAS to address the anxiety....

> He also recommends for a few people the stuff that numbs the arm before doing

> the blood...

> He must have a fear of his blood leaving his body or being taken .. does he

> understand how testing can lead to treatment?

> We always chat about blood and labs and why we do them and make it

> informational.  Perhaps you could start easy casual conversation about allof

the

> things we can learn from blood...

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: LucyT <lucy1628@...>

>

> Sent: Mon, August 23, 2010 12:58:24 AM

> Subject: Blood test fear -any suggestions?

>

>  

> My son is 15. He has extremely high anxiety. Draw blood for test is almost

> impossible. We tried bribery, bring a friend to support, demonstrate by

drawing

> blood from me but nothing worked. Dr. prescribed him Xanax, Ativan, and other

> med. for the purpose of drawing blood, non of those worked either. The only

> successful time was (five months ago) went to a dentist's office using

" laughing

> gas " while distracting him. We tried to take him to the same dentist office

this

> time, but he refused sensing that we'd do blood draw again. Did anybody have

> such kind of fear and how did you solve the problem? He is scheduled to see

Dr.

> G and I know Dr. G requires frequent blood tests. Does anybody know if Dr. G

has

> a special way to handle extremely fearful people like my son? Any suggestions

> are appreciated!

>

> Lucy

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Have you used Emla cream to deaden sensation in the area before having

blood drawn? We used to have to hold down my son kicking and screaming until

we began using Emla. That day, he fought at first and then suddenly

relaxed when the needle went in and he didn't feel it. I understand it's

possible to get the generic form without a prescription but perhaps Dr. G would

write an RX for it for him.

Gaylen

In a message dated 8/24/2010 12:12:43 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

lucy1628@... writes:

My son is 15. He has extremely high anxiety. Draw blood for test is almost

impossible. We tried bribery, bring a friend to support, demonstrate by

drawing blood from me but nothing worked. Dr. prescribed him Xanax, Ativan,

and other med. for the purpose of drawing blood, non of those worked either.

The only successful time was (five months ago) went to a dentist's office

using " laughing gas " while distracting him. We tried to take him to the same

dentist office this time, but he refused sensing that we'd do blood draw

again. Did anybody have such kind of fear and how did you solve the problem?

He is scheduled to see Dr. G and I know Dr. G requires frequent blood

tests. Does anybody know if Dr. G has a special way to handle extremely fearful

people like my son? Any suggestions are appreciated!

Lucy

[Guest guest]

Dear Gaylen,

In 1991 when my three daughters were having so many blood test, brain Spect

scans etc.... the doctor gave me emla cream,, Since that year they have come out

with many different types of Skin anesthetic products that seem to work really

well. Recently I had to take my five year old granddaughter for blood work and I

remembered the emla cream and had the doctor write a RX for a large tube.. I put

it on several spots just incase they could not hit a vessel correctly with a

very blonde child..

I also asked the Doctor, Dr Sears what is the best lab for children.. then I

called first and asked WHO was the best with kids and I went on her shift... all

of these things seem to help a great deal, the wise nurse with 1000's of blood

draws under her belt and the emla cream plus the toys I bought her afterwards!

I call it numb and bribe

Re: Blood test fear -any suggestions?

Have you used Emla cream to deaden sensation in the area before having

blood drawn? We used to have to hold down my son kicking and screaming until

we began using Emla. That day, he fought at first and then suddenly

relaxed when the needle went in and he didn't feel it. I understand it's

possible to get the generic form without a prescription but perhaps Dr. G

would

write an RX for it for him.

Gaylen

In a message dated 8/24/2010 12:12:43 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

lucy1628@... writes:

My son is 15. He has extremely high anxiety. Draw blood for test is almost

impossible. We tried bribery, bring a friend to support, demonstrate by

drawing blood from me but nothing worked. Dr. prescribed him Xanax, Ativan,

and other med. for the purpose of drawing blood, non of those worked either.

The only successful time was (five months ago) went to a dentist's office

using " laughing gas " while distracting him. We tried to take him to the same

dentist office this time, but he refused sensing that we'd do blood draw

again. Did anybody have such kind of fear and how did you solve the problem?

He is scheduled to see Dr. G and I know Dr. G requires frequent blood

tests. Does anybody know if Dr. G has a special way to handle extremely

fearful

people like my son? Any suggestions are appreciated!

Lucy

[Guest guest]

Hi Gaylen,

Thanks for your reply. We tried it. It needs 20 to 30 mins. to be effective.

He started to be fearful the min. we put Emla on him, and took us 1 hr. to get

him in the car. Wouldn't open his arm in lab.

I'll use it again, hope something like your son's sudden relaxation will happen.

Appreciate your post.

Lucy

________________________________

From: " Googahly@... " <Googahly@...>

Sent: Tue, August 24, 2010 10:03:44 PM

Subject: Re: Blood test fear -any suggestions?

Have you used Emla cream to deaden sensation in the area before having

blood drawn? We used to have to hold down my son kicking and screaming until

we began using Emla. That day, he fought at first and then suddenly

relaxed when the needle went in and he didn't feel it. I understand it's

possible to get the generic form without a prescription but perhaps Dr. G would

write an RX for it for him.

Gaylen

In a message dated 8/24/2010 12:12:43 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

lucy1628@... writes:

My son is 15. He has extremely high anxiety. Draw blood for test is almost

impossible. We tried bribery, bring a friend to support, demonstrate by

drawing blood from me but nothing worked. Dr. prescribed him Xanax, Ativan,

and other med. for the purpose of drawing blood, non of those worked either.

The only successful time was (five months ago) went to a dentist's office

using " laughing gas " while distracting him. We tried to take him to the same

dentist office this time, but he refused sensing that we'd do blood draw

again. Did anybody have such kind of fear and how did you solve the problem?

He is scheduled to see Dr. G and I know Dr. G requires frequent blood

tests. Does anybody know if Dr. G has a special way to handle extremely fearful

people like my son? Any suggestions are appreciated!

Lucy

[Guest guest]

Emla rocks.

I would add to your suggestion that Lucy, since your son is old enough to have

plenty of scary memories about blood draws, you should use Emla in a trial

situation -- just Emla, no needle -- and write a social story about what Emla is

(special cream, not the medical explanation!) and how it will help. Statements

like, " The needle won't hurt anymore. " " If you close your eyes, you probably

won't even notice when the needle goes in and comes back out. " " It will be

much, easier. " Use whatever language he can understand, focusing on the

positive upcoming experience, as opposed to the negative past experiences.

Combining the social story (read daily for a couple weeks before your next blood

draw appt.) with the experience of numbing the arm and not feeling you touch him

on the numbed spot will likely help.

Then when you actually go for the blood draw, bring the social story (the

physical presence of it offers something for him to focus on physically, as well

as cognitively) and read it to him over and over again in a very calm, soothing

voice.

I suspect (but don't know) there are different strengths of Emla. Investigate

that before you try it.

Dena

>

> Have you used Emla cream to deaden sensation in the area before having

> blood drawn? We used to have to hold down my son kicking and screaming until

> we began using Emla. That day, he fought at first and then suddenly

> relaxed when the needle went in and he didn't feel it. I understand it's

> possible to get the generic form without a prescription but perhaps Dr. G

would

> write an RX for it for him.

> Gaylen

>

>

> In a message dated 8/24/2010 12:12:43 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

> lucy1628@... writes:

>

>

>

>

> My son is 15. He has extremely high anxiety. Draw blood for test is almost

> impossible. We tried bribery, bring a friend to support, demonstrate by

> drawing blood from me but nothing worked. Dr. prescribed him Xanax, Ativan,

> and other med. for the purpose of drawing blood, non of those worked either.

> The only successful time was (five months ago) went to a dentist's office

> using " laughing gas " while distracting him. We tried to take him to the same

> dentist office this time, but he refused sensing that we'd do blood draw

> again. Did anybody have such kind of fear and how did you solve the problem?

> He is scheduled to see Dr. G and I know Dr. G requires frequent blood

> tests. Does anybody know if Dr. G has a special way to handle extremely

fearful

> people like my son? Any suggestions are appreciated!

>

> Lucy

>

>

>

>

>

>