Sedation during tests?? was Re: tobramycin/Roxxe

[Guest guest]

What would they use for sedation during a hearing test? Or any test

on children with cf, for that matter?

The reason I am asking is that we have a clinic appointment

approaching with yearly bloodwork, x-rays, etc., due.

Levi is one tough little trooper (usually) and is (generally)

fearless. Needles, however, bring him to tears easily. Okay,

maybe " tears " isn't quite the word for it. " Hysterics " would be a

better description. In fact, when we went for our annual flu shots

at our local health department, he took off when he saw them put the

needle in his brother's arm. (And his brother was putting on a very

good, **see me smiling, doesn't hurt a bit** show, too!) He got

half-way down the hall to the exit before I tackled him.

Actually, that was much easier than holding him down for the stick.

He's always been upset with needles, much more so since he had to

get stitches inside his mouth and on his chin when he was about two

years old. (14 stitches, I think - he's a really active kid. lots

and lots of injuries for him, lots and lots of gray hair for me to

color.)

I'm not looking for ways to calm him (we've tried EVERYTHING that

parenting books, doctors, nurses, social workers, family, friends,

and strangers have suggested.)

At this point, I'm just wondering if they could give him some

medication that will either calm him substantially, or knock him out

completely for the blood draw.

This may seem like I just want to drug him, but I'm really not that

way at all. I always question when medication is prescribed (is

this really neccesary? how soon can we discontinue it? is the dose

too high? what side effects are likely? etc.)

The reality is that clinic is weeks away and I am unable to sleep (5

a.m. here, been up all night) dreading it already. It is going to be

a nightmare from the time he suspects that there will be a blood

draw until we are half-way home from the clinic visit (which is

about an hour's drive on a good, clear, low-traffic day - and about

two and a half eternities with a screaming, ticked-off five-year-old

kicking the back of my seat and banging his bandaged arm on the

window.)

So, the question for those who have gone before me:

What are our options here?

EMLA cream doesn't seem to help, we've used it for the past three

years when blood draws were required, and it just doesn't seem to

make much difference. He is just petrified of the whole experience.

If sedation is an option, what are the risks? Are there increased

risks of complications due to cf? He's generally really healthy

(strong fighter, takes several people to hold him down for a stick.)

Also, will medication that sedates him affect the results of the

blood tests? I don't want to have to repeat this because of some

medication causing invalid results. It is just typical yearly blood

work, nothing out of the ordinary that I'm aware of. He will get

throat culture, x-rays, height/weight check, pfts, and the usually

exam by the dr. the same day. Not sure if any of this would be

affected by sedation - pfts maybe? Does anyone know for sure?

I am going to place a call to the clinic nurse (who is WONDERFUL)

after the holidays and before our visit to see what can be done, but

really wanted some input from the experts on cfparents before I

speak with her.

Thanks for any information or advice!

~

mommy to 3, 1 with cf

> ,

>

> Jack is in a study about the use of tobramycin (and using

bronchscopies) and

> I found out in a very round about way that tobi can cause hearing

loss when

> they asked to do a hearing test. They wanted to sedate him to do

the test