Today my heart broke into million little pieces. I took Miss Gabby for blood work and it didn't go so well. I took her to a local hospital to have blood drawn. I called a day in advance to find out when the facility would have the most staff on hand, because I knew it wasn't going to be an easy task. Boy, did I under estimate the task it was going to be. I had 3 nurses in a room trying to help get blood from a very strong two year old. After many attempts they called for a PA to assist. After sitting in a waiting room for about an hour and 20 minutes, the PA showed up. The plan was to swaddle my daughter in a blanket to help hold her still. After two attempts the nurse went to get something ( in all the commotion I have no idea what she even went to get). My daughter was screaming in tears and crying for one of her sisters or father to help her. I let her down for one moment and she ran out of the room into the hall screaming for her father. After a lot of screaming and crying I brought her back into the room to try again. The nurses re-swaddled her and attempted again to draw blood AGAIN. After spending almost three hours at the facility the nurses were able to get less then half a vile of blood!
It is so hard to see one of your children in that much distress..... I wish I wouldn't ever have to do it again (I know that is an unlikely wish). I know my intentions were not to harm her, and that the blood work was only to help her.... but it doesn't make my heart ache any less. </3
I am not a knight in shining armor... Just a mom wrapped in tin foil!
Poor thing (and poor mommy!). I have heard that you can get a prescription for a sedative to use to calm the child or they can even put the child under for blood work (I assume they would only do the second one if the first one didn't work). You might find out what could be done next time to make it easier for her.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid to inject her with anything at this point. A few towns aways is a Children's hospital. If I need to get blood drawn or anything else, I will go there. It's about a 35-40 minute drive, but I think it will be worth it (for both of us). <3
ReplyDeleteIknow, it is heartbreaking. nothing harder for a parent than this. I have been there too and my heart goes out to you. stay strong.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard of a topical numbing cream called EMLA? you need a script for it. you put on the cream about 40 mins in advnace and it numbs the skin. Must be done absolutely right though, for the right amt of time. if you have to wait in the stupid waiting room too long, it looses its effectiveness. anyway, its worked for my daughter. but, sometimes they get worked up anyway, esp. if they have had bad experiences with multiple blood draws.
Thank you Alicia :)
ReplyDeleteThey were not even able to hold her still, she kept twisting her arm.... which knocked the needle out of the vein (multiple time).
I shall not lie.. I have been procrastinating going back for the rest of the blood work :(...