Tricks for Pokes?

[Guest guest]

I took Cole to the lab today to get his blood work done for our

immuno appt coming up. He had to have the full workup - 5 viles

worth to be exact. I took him to the same lab we always use, it is

part of DeVos Children's Hospital here in GR and the lab techs are

super with the kids. Well, we had hardly set foot in the door and

Cole was wise to what was coming. I warned the gals that we were

due to have a fight on our hands, and boy was I right! It took us

15 min. to draw the necessary amount of blood with only a drop to

spare. He had to have 3 pokes to get it all because he kept blowing

the line he was stiffening up and fighting so hard.

He of course is a little gun shy since having his surgery on Monday,

but he has always fought the needle. When I mentioned that this

blood draw would help us determine his need for IVIG the one lab guy

laughed. He said, " There's no way this little guy will be able to

do IVIG! " . The other lab tech chimed in, " No! Certainly not

without sedation. "

Now, I must say I really know nothing about how the IVIG thing

works, other than some things you guys have said, but I am pretty

sure once you get the IV in the kid he'd be fine. Am I wrong?

My worry is having to fight him every single time we would do IVIG

or every time we need to update his lab work with a blood draw. Any

of you got any tricks? Do they ever have to sedate kids for IVIG?

I hope not, that just sounds awful!

-Rogena (Mom to 4 boys, including Cole -IgA & IgG Subclass Def,

GERD, possible Celiac)