To not want DD to have more blood tests

[wejammin]

DD is nearly 4. For the last few months she has been complaining regularly of having pins and needles in her hands and feet. Eventually I thought it was getting worrying so I took her to the GP who checked her over and said it could be a deficiency and she would need a blood test to diagnose.

Fair enough so DH took her to the hospital for the blood test and it was really really distressing for DD. I'd prepared her in advance, shown her a children's video of blood tests etc, she took toys for distraction. She's never one for fuss and has her immunisations fine, but she was hysterical. They couldn't get blood from either arm and had to use the back of her hand whilst she was restrained. After the test she wouldn't let anyone touch her arms for 2 days and I couldn't even change her top as she wouldn't lift her arms up.

The results came back and the GP wanted to see us, DH took her today and she has a mild to moderate calcium deficiency (normal range is 2.2 - 2.6, DD is 2.05). GP said it could be various things and she would need a different blood test to diagnose the cause. She wasn't really willing to engage in any discussion about it according to DH and dismissed his concern about DD being distressed again.

I fully accept that I am not a doctor and not medically trained. I've spent half the day doing online reading and tried to look at what seem to be reputable sources. From what I can see, the deficiency is most likely to be dietary or poor absorption due to low vitamin D. DD is dairy intolerant so dietary is very possible.

My thoughts were can't we try her with a supplement, see if it resolves the pins and needles, and if not then have the blood test? What happens if you don't agree with the GP? Should I try and have a telephone appointment to discuss this? I rang the surgery today but they were closed for training.

Usually theres a play nurse present for kids blood tests why wasn't there one for her?

@queenofthestress there was a play lady but DD wouldn't engage with her at all. She is quite shy and it takes her ages to talk or speak to new adults.

@LemonysSnicket really?! Oh gosh. Would epilepsy not have other symptoms?

I would request it’s done by a paediatric department with play specialist present.

Ds used to be fine with blood tests until he had a longline and problems with it so now we don’t consider a blood test without play specialist there

We don’t use “magic cream” either as that makes him more anxious we use a feeeze spray instead which works instantly

@wejammin - the best thing to do is to phone around hypnotherapists in your area to see what they charge - prices vary a lot between different regions. It's worth it though, as that magic spot will always be there for any further medical tests that need to be done in future.

I feel your pain. We had this with dd, but they couldn’t even get a vein in her hand they had to go for her feet and I had to help pin her down it was just awful. Luckily when they said they needed to do it again they said they’d wait for her to be under general anaesthetic to take blood again (she was due to have an MRI under general). I’m afraid I don’t have any advice but years later and dd doesn’t remember it at all.

My DD has had to have endless blood test since she was about 14mo and her veins seem to be difficult to find. We now know to go straight to the paediatric ward and ask for the most experienced nurse to draw the blood (some people just have a knack for it). We don't mess around with different people trying different sites, the most experienced person goes straight for the best site.

Oddly enough one time they had a ceiling TV and that really distracted her. Maybe try the same with a tablet?

As others have said you do need to look into this. I appreciate how awful it is having to pin children down, I've done it multiple times, but you do need a diagnosis.

Thank you everyone for your input. I've booked the test for 2 weeks' time and got a prescription for EMLA cream. Fingers crossed for a calmer easier time.

My DD is 2 and has to have regular blood tests.

I get her to dance before we go in, read her a story so she's distracted and take stickers and she gets to choose a sticker when she's done. Seems to help. I also ask for numbing cream which you put on an hour before the test and apparently really helps, last test DD said "ow" to the Nurse and carried on listening to her story. Ice cream or chocolate afterwards seems to help too.