Child with HFA refuses blood test

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amother

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 8:03 pm

Wwyd. DS7 who is on the spectrum high functioning needs bloodwork. Not routine. He has health issues. He refuses. No bribes help. He says it hurts him terribly. He smacked nurses and tried to run away several times. I gave up and took him to school.

Trying to figure out what to do now. His ped is fine with me taking him to the ER to do it. She will send a referral. But ER is far and we could be stuck there for hours. And I also worry they will give me trouble about some specialty tests we need. Not routine...

Or do I bring dh to the clinic and have him help me hold down DS?

amother

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 8:13 pm

I will add that I need to do it stat because he has a specialist appt coming up.

amother

Seablue

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 8:15 pm

I don’t have an answer but just wanted to post with support.
This isn’t easy and you’re doing your best.
I hope some experienced moms have good advice.

amother

Brass

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 8:15 pm

There's a product Buzzy Bee that helps decrease the pain from needles and blood draws. You can see if there's a lab near you that has one.

https://paincarelabs.com/buzzy

amother

Honeydew

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 8:17 pm

Get ur lab to send someone to do it at home. Put numbing cream half hour before...etc...but doing it at home works best...

amother

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 8:40 pm

I'm in Israel. I doubt home is an option but IME with other things, he hides.

He has social anxiety too.

I've tried discussing with him why he needs I and explaining it's like a pinch when it goes in and out. He tells me he's strong and healthy and it's unnecessary. Strong he is... bH

amother

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 8:40 pm

I messaged the ped for numbing cream. Thx for that idea.

amother

Bronze

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 8:43 pm

amother OP wrote:

I messaged the ped for numbing cream. Thx for that idea.

There's an over-the-counter (available without prescription) teething gel that you can use as numbing cream.
Good for you, op!

amother

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 9:03 pm

amother Bronze wrote:

There's an over-the-counter (available without prescription) teething gel that you can use as numbing cream.
Good for you, op!

What's it called? If it's OTC here in Israel that would be a huge help since he needs this done asap.

amother

Milk

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 9:18 pm

Can you offer him a prize if he does it?

amother

Snow

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 9:29 pm

amother OP wrote:

What's it called? If it's OTC here in Israel that would be a huge help since he needs this done asap.

Emla

amother

Quince

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 9:30 pm

What about going with your husband and physically holding him down?

amother

Lightblue

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 9:34 pm

I don't have any practical tips but my ASD son was like this for years and we had regular blood work that needed to get done. I just want to give you hope and let you know by the time he hit his teens he did outgrow needing so much support for blood draws and can now tolerate them fairly well.

amother

Darkblue

Sat, Mar 02 2024, 9:44 pm

They have a buzzer that can work... it distracts the kid and sends a buzzing signal so it doesn't feel the same way...

amother

Sun, Mar 03 2024, 12:11 am

amother Milk wrote:

Can you offer him a prize if he does it?

I tried. Nothing doing.

amother

Sun, Mar 03 2024, 12:13 am

amother Quince wrote:

What about going with your husband and physically holding him down?

It's likely what will happen. I'll get the emla and do that. My son prefers the hospital though but it's such a shlep plus I'm afraid they will give me trouble about specific tests that the insurance aready approved.

amother

Hunter

Sun, Mar 03 2024, 2:14 am

The nurse in the kupat cholim should have emla available by request. My personal experience is that it totally depends on the nurse. Maybe the pediatrician will be able to do it quicker and easier for him?

Elfrida

Sun, Mar 03 2024, 2:16 am

amother OP wrote:

What's it called? If it's OTC here in Israel that would be a huge help since he needs this done asap.

The clinic should also have a spray they can use - just ask them.

I have to say, though, it probably won't help. If children are convinced that it hurts, its psychological. All I have to do is feel.the vein with a finger, and they're already convinced I'm torturing them. They brain can be so worked up, that every touch is interpreted as severe pain.

If you think it would be better at home, ask your doctor for a referral for a biker bayit.

It sounds horrible, but sometimes just holding them down can be best.

WhatFor

Sun, Mar 03 2024, 2:23 am

I'd ask the doctor if they could prescribe some kind of anti-anxiety just for these purposes, before doing the "hold him down" strategy. Holding him down is very likely to exacerbate and increase phobias around this. Giving a child-safe, one-off anti-anxiety pill has a chance of creating memories that this isn't such a terrible experience.

amother

Snow

Sun, Mar 03 2024, 4:03 am

Elfrida wrote:

[I]

The emla needs to be applied about a half hour at least before hand. It does work. I’ve tried it on my son. Who had asd non compliant. When we got to the clinic I distracted him with a book & nurse did it

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