Re: OT: Child terrified of needles

[Guest guest]

Some children need a little Valium for a blood draw. I haven't done this,

but it may be in my future. I've heard that valerian root is nature's

valium.

Pamela

" Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless

you're scared. "

Eddie Rickenbacker, top US fighter ace, WWI

_____

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of Wyndie

Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 1:41 PM

Subject: [ ] OT: Child terrified of needles

My 5 yr old is just petrified of getting her blood drawn. She is fine

until she sees the needle. She screams bloody-murder and kicks and

fights like we're trying to kill her. We put gobs of lydocaine on her

arm before hand and I've used it so I know it works. She doesn't say

it hurts, she just starts screaming when she sees the needle. We've

tried everything I can think of, we tried to play the don't look game

(she won't shut her eyes), we have bribed her with a trip to the toy

store. She really wants to not scream, but she just looses it when

that needle is visible. Anyone have any ideas? The tech was nice and

said not to worry about it, she'll get over it, but I don't think so.

She is high functioning and understands she needs to have her blood

drawn, but she is completely unreasonable when a needle is present.

Thanks, Wyndie

[Guest guest]

My son was also like this at age 5. And at age 6. And at 7. It was really

hard. But somewhere between 8 and 9, he was able to mentallly cope with it, and

now (only half jokingly) asks when he can get his blood drawn next as he knows

it means a new Lego set, or whatever his latest fad is.

I wish I had better advice for you. We tried so many things - different labs,

the same labs, special kid-friendly labs, superfast expert pro blood drawing

labs, of course the EMLA cream, even no EMLA cream (as that would work him up

for an hour ahead of time, just fretting) and just popping in quickly.

I'm so glad those days are behind us. He has no problem now.

Debbie

[Guest guest]

I don't blame her. I hate needles, too. It's amazing that I sew and that I've

had NAET/acupuncture considering there are needles involved. As a kid, I passed

out every time they did a fingerstick for camp or other activity form. I still

make them let me lie down, telling them that's how I'll end up. I don't look or

I'd pass out for sure. If she had vaccines, on some level she probably

remembers/knows they harmed her. Why does she need the blood draws? Does she

have low blood pressure? In my case, the thought of a blood draw sends my body

into fight or flight sending the vast majority of my blood to my heart, lungs,

and muscles with little left for my head.

Sorry I don't have any brilliant suggestions.

S S

<p>My 5 yr old is just petrified of getting her blood drawn. She is

fine <br>

until she sees the needle. She screams bloody-murder and kicks and <br>

fights like we're trying to kill her. We put gobs of lydocaine on her <br>

arm before hand and I've used it so I know it works. She doesn't say <br>

it hurts, she just starts screaming when she sees the needle. We've <br>

tried everything I can think of, we tried to play the don't look game <br>

(she won't shut her eyes), we have bribed her with a trip to the toy <br>

store. She really wants to not scream, but she just looses it when <br>

that needle is visible. Anyone have any ideas? The tech was nice and <br>

said not to worry about it, she'll get over it, but I don't think so. <br>

She is high functioning and understands she needs to have her blood <br>

drawn, but she is completely unreasonable when a needle is present. <br>

Thanks, Wyndie<br>

_______________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

, Fight or flight - good description of exactly what happens.

She gets blood tests to check levels of various things. Insurance

pays for practically nothing, but it is more likely to pay for blood

than urine, so we do some of her testing that way.

Wyndie

>

> <p>My 5 yr old is just petrified of getting her blood

drawn. She is fine <br>

> until she sees the needle. She screams bloody-murder and kicks

and <br>

> fights like we're trying to kill her. We put gobs of lydocaine on

her <br>

> arm before hand and I've used it so I know it works. She doesn't

say <br>

> it hurts, she just starts screaming when she sees the needle.

We've <br>

> tried everything I can think of, we tried to play the don't look

game <br>

> (she won't shut her eyes), we have bribed her with a trip to the

toy <br>

> store. She really wants to not scream, but she just looses it

when <br>

> that needle is visible. Anyone have any ideas? The tech was nice

and <br>

> said not to worry about it, she'll get over it, but I don't think

so. <br>

> She is high functioning and understands she needs to have her

blood <br>

> drawn, but she is completely unreasonable when a needle is

present. <br>

> Thanks, Wyndie<br>

>

>

> _______________________________________________

> Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com

> The most personalized portal on the Web!

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Pamela. I will look into using this next time.

Wyndie

>

> Some children need a little Valium for a blood draw. I haven't

done this,

> but it may be in my future. I've heard that valerian root is

nature's

> valium.

>

>

>

> Pamela

>

> " Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no

courage unless

> you're scared. "

>

> Eddie Rickenbacker, top US fighter ace, WWI

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: [mailto:Autism-

Mercury ]

> On Behalf Of Wyndie

> Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 1:41 PM

>

> Subject: [ ] OT: Child terrified of needles

>

>

>

> My 5 yr old is just petrified of getting her blood drawn. She is

fine

> until she sees the needle. She screams bloody-murder and kicks and

> fights like we're trying to kill her. We put gobs of lydocaine on

her

> arm before hand and I've used it so I know it works. She doesn't

say

> it hurts, she just starts screaming when she sees the needle.

We've

> tried everything I can think of, we tried to play the don't look

game

> (she won't shut her eyes), we have bribed her with a trip to the

toy

> store. She really wants to not scream, but she just looses it when

> that needle is visible. Anyone have any ideas? The tech was nice

and

> said not to worry about it, she'll get over it, but I don't think

so.

> She is high functioning and understands she needs to have her

blood

> drawn, but she is completely unreasonable when a needle is

present.

> Thanks, Wyndie

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is normal. I hate needles too. My son had a vein stick once at

3 yrs and he has never forgotten it. Everytime we go the doc, he

says...I'm not getting a stick am I? It hurts...there really is no

way to ease that other than talking with her. Acknowledging how she

feels and comforting her etc. Letting her know when she is going to

have it done etc. I would however, not expect her to cooperate at

any point...as an adult I still hate needles. It's instinct.

Try to aim for testing that does not require so many blood draws.

And also, combine then into the same drawn. Better to take six tubes

in one stick for 4 tests, than to stick her four separate times. So

try to coordinate a bunch of tests into one draw session.

Not sure what all the blood tests are for...don't have that

info..but we try to avoid any blood work unless it is life altering.

> >

> > <p>My 5 yr old is just petrified of getting her

blood

> drawn. She is fine <br>

> > until she sees the needle. She screams bloody-murder and kicks

> and <br>

> > fights like we're trying to kill her. We put gobs of lydocaine

on

> her <br>

> > arm before hand and I've used it so I know it works. She

doesn't

> say <br>

> > it hurts, she just starts screaming when she sees the needle.

> We've <br>

> > tried everything I can think of, we tried to play the don't look

> game <br>

> > (she won't shut her eyes), we have bribed her with a trip to the

> toy <br>

> > store. She really wants to not scream, but she just looses it

> when <br>

> > that needle is visible. Anyone have any ideas? The tech was

nice

> and <br>

> > said not to worry about it, she'll get over it, but I don't

think

> so. <br>

> > She is high functioning and understands she needs to have her

> blood <br>

> > drawn, but she is completely unreasonable when a needle is

> present. <br>

> > Thanks, Wyndie<br>

> >

> >

> > _______________________________________________

> > Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com

> > The most personalized portal on the Web!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

If you're testing to see how chelation's going, I would just go by observation

and hairtests once a year or so, unless she's got some specific issues that need

closer tabs.

S S

<p>, Fight or flight - good description of exactly what

happens. <br>

She gets blood tests to check levels of various things. Insurance <br>

pays for practically nothing, but it is more likely to pay for blood <br>

than urine, so we do some of her testing that way. <br>

Wyndie<br>

_______________________________________________

Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com

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[Guest guest]

Wyndie, here are a few links to some information that might help.

(You have probably tried most of these things, but maybe there is

something new.)

A really good post by Dr. Poppelwell on blood draws:

http://onibasu.com/archives/am/187862.html

another article here:

http://www.drgreene.com/21_113.html

Some parents have also had good results alleviating their children's

fears with homeopathy. If you have a good homeopath close to you,

they would be able to help find a remedy that fits.

take care

Rene

>

> My 5 yr old is just petrified of getting her blood drawn.

[Guest guest]

I found that the thing that freaked my daughter out was being restrained during

the blood draw, rather that the poke itself. I finally persuaded the nurses not

to hold her down (I remember once she had 4 adults literally laying on her to

hold her down, she was so hysterical). Now, while she doesn't enjoy blood draws,

she tolerates them because I think she feels more in control, rather than having

big people " do " this painful thing to her. It made all the difference. Imagine,

if you didn't understand what was going on, what that would be like. Not sure if

this helps...

-------------- Original message --------------

From: " joshisims " <joshisims@...>

Wyndie, here are a few links to some information that might help.

(You have probably tried most of these things, but maybe there is

something new.)

A really good post by Dr. Poppelwell on blood draws:

http://onibasu.com/archives/am/187862.html

another article here:

http://www.drgreene.com/21_113.html

Some parents have also had good results alleviating their children's

fears with homeopathy. If you have a good homeopath close to you,

they would be able to help find a remedy that fits.

take care

Rene

>

> My 5 yr old is just petrified of getting her blood drawn.

[Guest guest]

We are specifically watching her ammonia levels, so it has to be

blood draw I am totally in tune with you about just using

observation for chelation, but this is one of those things we have

to be careful to watch.

Thank you to all who replied on this thread. I have a few ideas now

that I will bring to her DAN! next time we need to draw blood.

Wyndie

> <p>, Fight or flight - good description of

exactly what happens. <br>

> She gets blood tests to check levels of various things. Insurance

<br>

> pays for practically nothing, but it is more likely to pay for

blood <br>

> than urine, so we do some of her testing that way. <br>

> Wyndie<br>

>

>

> _______________________________________________

> Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com

> The most personalized portal on the Web!

>