Re: white coat syndrome

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/18/01 4:25:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

magnussen@... writes:

> It's Cheryl here with another survey question:

> Do any of your kids have White Coat Syndrome? Meaning: do they freak out at

> doctors offices and hospitals?

OH YES!!!!!! Maddie recognizes a sterile environment from miles away!!!

She's been having major blow outs in her pull ups every time we step into a

docs office. We've tried showing pics of where she's going, distracting

her, playing with her....you name it. She doesn't comprehend any verbal

language and has no real way of communication yet, so it's very difficult.

My pediatrician is fabulous though. He takes PLENTY of time with us.

Let's her play with his instruments first (and his tie......it

dangles...LOL); speaks very softly to her; rubs her legs first. He's very

gentle and that helps. When doing bloodwork, there is no better way than to

just hold her and be as fast as possible. She's an incredibly hard stick,

which adds to the entire mess, so bloodwork can send me into a total tizzy!!

She reacts the same if you're taking her blood pressure. But at our last

GI visit, the nurse was able to get a good reading because she had this

little baby bubble toy and Maddie was enthralled. Sometimes, if the docs

have a mirror in their office, she does well.

As you can see, distraction is the best ticket for our Maddie.

Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/18/01 4:25:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

magnussen@... writes:

> Angel held still long enough, so they called in another tech from emerg

> and had her do it while 4 of us held her down. Then we had success. We have

> to do this every 6 to 8 weeks and it is only getting harder each time.

> I would love to hear any stories on how you are able to help your children

> get through going to emerg, getting bloodwork, staying in the hospital

> overnight, etc.

>

> Thanks, Cheryl

>

Oh Cheryl....I forgot to mention. Have you ever tried emla with her?

We've used it for Maddie. She still has a fit each time, but at least *I*

know she's not in physical pain....just hates all those white coats!!

Actually, she just hates people she doesn't know and love...LOL

Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl,

If my son needed blood work they would have to put him out first. My husband

all of 280 lbs. of him would break his arms trying to hold him down.The

pediatrician is okay but hospitals forget it.

Charlyne,Pere,Cait LD 20,Zeb DS-? 8

[Guest guest]

Cheryl,

definitely has " white coat syndrome " . As soon as we walk in the door

of any medical facility, doctor's office, etc. he starts the SIB. We tell

him " no owie " (unless it's a lab visit) and that the doctor just wants to

" look " . It doesn't seem to help him, he is still miserable until we leave.

Terry

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/18/01 2:17:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

bfrey97147@... writes:

> Donna,

> You said that Maddie is a hard stick. Do you request butterfly needles

> for her? Craig is a hard stick also, and if he's too tense a regular

> needle

> doesn't work at all, but a butterfly needle usually does the trick. We

> have

> used EMLA also, although I don't know if it helps him or not. He seems to

> mind the whole affair, especially the tourniquet thing, more than the stick

> itself. One lab tech told me the EMLA makes the veins close up, so it's

> harder to get the blood to flow, so we don't use the EMLA any more.

>

> Bev

>

Bev,

Can you draw much from a butterfly though? When we do draw blood from

Maddie, we do it all in one stick. So this time, she's got to get enough

for her thyroid check (she's hypothyroid), her TB test, and a couple viles

for Dr. Capone as part of the 3 part study she's doing with him.

Thanks,

donna

[Guest guest]

Deb,

What a GREAT approach!

Terry

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/18/01 4:21:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

skrapido@... writes:

<< As far as lab work goes,

we always sing. I make everyone sing. And if the lab

tech doesn't/won't, I tell her to sing or get someone

else. Row Row Your Boat or Old Mac work fine.

Sometimes he wants a cartoon song. Whatever a

favorite may be. Sometimes sings, sometimes

not. But always everyone else does and he has never

screamed during the " stick and draw. " He does cause a

real fuss over the tourniquet, but we sing before that

also and he settles down. Same goes for a shot,

everyone sings.

Deb--ROTFLOL!!!!!!!!! that is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great idea. :-)

Sometimes, if they don't know us, the techs stack up

thinking they will all have to restrain him. That

truly upsets him. I ask them to back up, only one to

do the job, the rest are to sing, and directs

them with the unoccupied arm. As far as is

concerned, we have always said " music soothes the

savage beast! "

I bet once they've seen you, they don't forget! LOL That's great that

works for . Nothing would calm Seth down. We just work as fast as we

can so he doesn't have to be held down long. :-(

Gail

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/18/01 5:55:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

smilinggail@... writes:

> Nothing would calm Seth down. We just work as fast as we

> can so he doesn't have to be held down long. :-(

> Gail

>

Yea, same with Maddie GAil. She hates when everybody sings....scares her.

And the bubble thing works sometimes, but we cant' use that for blood draws.

Hard to take blood on an arm that's chasing bubbles!!! LOL

Donna

[Guest guest]

Deb--we sing for Craig too. One of my favorite (?) memories is Craig sitting

on the doctor's lap while the nurse took the blood, with the doctor and I

singing " 100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall! "

We try and give Craig some control over the situation--to pick which arm to

use, which song to sing, etc. It also is worse for him if a lot of people

come into the room. Everyone needs to be a calm as possible (while singing,

though!)

Donna--I'm not sure if you can get a lot of blood out of a butterfly needle

or not. I think the last time Craig had a blood draw they needed three

vials, and it took just the one stick. Bev

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl,

carries on so at docs offices and hospitals that

I try to bring my husband or his older sister when I

can. He gets the once over and leaves the room. Out

in the hall for a " walk " if there are other things to

be done, but sometimes all the way to the car. Giving

me time to talk to the doc. As far as lab work goes,

we always sing. I make everyone sing. And if the lab

tech doesn't/won't, I tell her to sing or get someone

else. Row Row Your Boat or Old Mac work fine.

Sometimes he wants a cartoon song. Whatever a

favorite may be. Sometimes sings, sometimes

not. But always everyone else does and he has never

screamed during the " stick and draw. " He does cause a

real fuss over the tourniquet, but we sing before that

also and he settles down. Same goes for a shot,

everyone sings. I have never seen a nurse, doc, or

lab tech do anything but smile when we leave.

Sometimes, if they don't know us, the techs stack up

thinking they will all have to restrain him. That

truly upsets him. I ask them to back up, only one to

do the job, the rest are to sing, and directs

them with the unoccupied arm. As far as is

concerned, we have always said " music soothes the

savage beast! "

Deb

--- Cheryl Magnussen <magnussen@...> wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

> It's Cheryl here with another survey question:

> Do any of your kids have White Coat Syndrome?

> Meaning: do they freak out at

> doctors offices and hospitals? Lab coats, needles,

> hospital beds,

> stethescopes, etc etc. Do they send your kids into

> fits of terror?

> It amazes me how loud and how long my child can

> scream when she is getting

> blood work done. And how strong she is when she is

> mad. 3 of us held her

> down for bloodwork today. >

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/18/01 7:01:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

bfrey97147@... writes:

> Donna--I'm not sure if you can get a lot of blood out of a butterfly needle

> or not. I think the last time Craig had a blood draw they needed three

> vials, and it took just the one stick.

Thanks Bev. I'll definitely ask if it's possible to do the butterfly for

what we need to do. ANd I'm jealous of you guys who can do the singing

thing. Maybe some day we'll get there!!

Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl,

After had his heart surgery last year he came home with a really mean

case of white coat syndrome. It's so bad that he gets upset when we take our

dog to the Vet!

Chris

Mom to , 5 ds- suspected asd

White coat syndrome

Hi Everyone,

It's Cheryl here with another survey question:

Do any of your kids have White Coat Syndrome? Meaning: do they freak out at

doctors offices and hospitals? Lab coats, needles, hospital beds,

stethescopes, etc etc. Do they send your kids into fits of terror?

Angel has really developed a fear of medical environments and this is

becoming very difficult. She used to be the perfect patient, always sat so

nicely on the examining table, loved going for check ups, even bloodwork was

a breeze. That has all changed incredibly this year. How do parents deal

with this? Do you use social stories around going to the doctors, hospital

etc? I use pics to help her understand there will be something motivating

happening afterwards but this doesn't cut it at all. It is a real terror.

It amazes me how loud and how long my child can scream when she is getting

blood work done. And how strong she is when she is mad. 3 of us held her

down for bloodwork today. And the tech couldn't get any cause we couldn't

get Angel held still long enough, so they called in another tech from emerg

and had her do it while 4 of us held her down. Then we had success. We have

to do this every 6 to 8 weeks and it is only getting harder each time.

I would love to hear any stories on how you are able to help your children

get through going to emerg, getting bloodwork, staying in the hospital

overnight, etc.

Thanks, Cheryl

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Matt does not have " white Coat Syndrome'. He loves doctors, as long as

they are male.

When we go have blood drawn, he sits on my lap, and the techs are always

very afraid that we need 3 more to help hold him down. I dotn' have to

hold his legs, or hold his other hand to prevent them from being hit.

But, we do need a " daddy " to come and hold that other hand, for support.

Last time, the only 'daddy " around was someone from the cleaning crew. He

came in, washed his hands, held Matt's other hand (while I held his arm

that they were drawing blood), and comforted him wonderfully, then went

back to doing his regular job. IF there is a male tech available to draw

the blood, that extra person is not even needed. As long as it is a

" daddy " .

YOu should hear what happens when we go to a basketball game and one of

the refs is female.......

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[Guest guest]

is usually pretty good at docs and labs, the

only time he has a fit and we require help is having

his ears cleaned out, and putting those things on him

for his sleep study. he occasionally whines a little

during a blood draw, but sits on my lap nicely and the

tech just has to hold his arm--the big thing is they

can only give him the gauze to hold over the wound, NO

band-aids, that is worse than the needle stick for him

dont understand why though. shawna.

--- J Stolz <stolzfamily@...> wrote:

> Matt does not have " white Coat Syndrome'. He loves

> doctors, as long as

> they are male.

> When we go have blood drawn, he sits on my lap, and

> the techs are always

> very afraid that we need 3 more to help hold him

> down. I dotn' have to

> hold his legs, or hold his other hand to prevent

> them from being hit.

> But, we do need a " daddy " to come and hold that

> other hand, for support.

> Last time, the only 'daddy " around was someone from

> the cleaning crew. He

> came in, washed his hands, held Matt's other hand

> (while I held his arm

> that they were drawing blood), and comforted him

> wonderfully, then went

> back to doing his regular job. IF there is a male

> tech available to draw

> the blood, that extra person is not even needed. As

> long as it is a

> " daddy " .

>

> YOu should hear what happens when we go to a

> basketball game and one of

> the refs is female.......

>

>

>

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> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for

> less!

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>

>

[Guest guest]

<<NO

band-aids, >>

A bandage to Ted is worse than any injury or blood draw too!

Gail, mom to 20, 17, and Master Ted! age 9

gboughton@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/19/01 9:10:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

stolzfamily@... writes:

> YOu should hear what happens when we go to a basketball game and one of

> the refs is female.......

>

ROTFLOL !!! HOnestly, I can't stop!!!! TOO TOO funny. Um, I think my

Dad was like this too, cept we called him ARchie Bunker. LOL

And I'm SO jealous of Matt's excellent behavior with docs. Kids like Maddie

(And Seth, right Gail?) make doctor visits so stressful!!!! I HATE them!!

\Donna

[Guest guest]

On Thu, 19 Apr 2001 09:50:49 -0400 gboughton@... writes:

>

> <<NO

> band-aids, >>

>

Same here. I tell them not to even get them out!

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<< ROTFLOL !!! HOnestly, I can't stop!!!! TOO TOO funny. Um, I think

my

Dad was like this too, cept we called him ARchie Bunker. LOL

And I'm SO jealous of Matt's excellent behavior with docs. Kids like

Maddie

(And Seth, right Gail?) make doctor visits so stressful!!!! I HATE them!!

\Donna >>

I'm still laughing over what said too! LOL Yeah, Seth is fine at the

docs and hospital UNTIL someone comes near him! LOL I find I am wrapping

him for more and more things now. He likes being wrapped and everything goes

much quicker. :-) Now I have to find a *quick wrap*! LOL This folding

the blanket and rolling him down the floor is getting old! LOL

Gail

[Guest guest]

LOL Seth can't do Band-Aids either. I always find them in his dirty diaper

if they sneak one on him. LOL

Gail

<< hates bandaids more than the stick also. I

think it is his SI problem. If we have to put a

bandaid on a finger or arm, he won't use that limb.

Same for a leg or foot. He drags it behin >>

[Guest guest]

Deb,

We have been singing to Brook for so long that now he is often very

suspicious of singing and will get upset when I try to sing to distract him.

Seems like he is often suspicious of me and what am I going to do next to

him. Poor guy. He's petrified of hospitals, haircuts, dental appointments.

He does really well now finally with his pediatrician who is great. We

usually wait in the car until they call us into the exam room, Brook doesn't

do well at all in waiting rooms. Then the doctor comes in fairly quickly and

we get it over with. My dh usually has to come to all appointments except the

pediatrician. Last time we went to neuro at Children's Hosp my dh was late

because of traffic and Brook was completely wild. Even if we bring tape

players or musical toys it usually won't help if he is in a waiting room. He

is just really afraid of those kinds of environments, I guess because of all

the surgeries and procedures and hospitalizations, etc., he has had. I would

love to find a drug to really relax him for these kinds of visits.

Marisa

[Guest guest]

--- Green a <mashawnag@...> wrote:

the big thing is they can only give him the gauze to

hold over the wound,

> NO

> band-aids, that is worse than the needle stick for

> him

> dont understand why though. shawna.

hates bandaids more than the stick also. I

think it is his SI problem. If we have to put a

bandaid on a finger or arm, he won't use that limb.

Same for a leg or foot. He drags it behind him.:)Deb

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Marisa,

Craig is generally quite good for doctors and procedures, but the thing

he absolutely hates is having his ears suctioned out. I now give him a Xanax

about 1/2 hour before the appointment. It seems to take the edge off and the

ENT is ususally able to suction his ears then.

When he needed a CAT scan of his ears and surrounding bones, the neuro.

gave me some Xanaflex tablets for him. I think that also helped a little.

It's so hard that our children have to endure so many difficult tests.

Bev

[Guest guest]

Bev,

We have tried Valium and it really agitated him and he started crying; I

wonder if Xanax would do the same or if it would work? Thanks for the

suggestion

Marisa

[Guest guest]

Bev,

Why do they have to suction out his ears? Brook has ear tubes, which his

pediatric ENT wants to take out if Brook keeps getting ear drainage. We are

using Floxin every night as a prophylactic which has helped, but Brook still

gets sinus infections and colds and then he gets the ear drainage too.

He has been better though using the Floxin every night.

Marisa

[Guest guest]

I can totally relate . My son hates band-aids , too . Today ,

was sent home from school .Ped. Doctors office knows by now ,

and he was able to be seen . As we arrived , the wait was not long

for him . Speak about Special Service and there was alot of sick kids

waiting . I was surprised with again , he was such a big boy

and well mannered . Doctor was impressed . cooperated along .

Before it was a power-struggle . But , when the doctor stepped out

and a lab tech . walked in and gave him an injection all was fine ,

then came the band-aid and he had a fit . I finally calmed him down

with a stuff elephant that he likes to carry and he uses it for

stimming ,along with a Disney video . This was my back-up to bribe

him , it worked . Oh ! He's ill with a sinus infection and allergy

thats going around school .

Irma , 12 DS/ASD

In @y..., gboughton@j... wrote:

>

> <<NO

> band-aids, >>

>

> A bandage to Ted is worse than any injury or blood draw too!

>

> Gail, mom to 20, 17, and Master Ted! age 9

> gboughton@j...