My 3yo is scared of health professionals/being poorly

[Laurenmarie21]

Whenever she is ill I can't get a word out of her about how she feels she goes into lockdown and won't talk about it won't accept medicine won't let me touch her/take temperature or anything related to the illness. When at doctor or dentist she throws hysterical tantrums and won't let them touch her, and it's the same when I have to take her with me for me; she hates the doctor touching me or even talking to me about the problem
I've tried several tactics, she knows what doctors are for, plays doctor/patient with me, I've explained before hand exactly what they are going to do and that it is to make us feel better, and even tried bribing with treats "if you're a good girl the whole time we're in the doctor...."
I am at a loss! Had to have a wound dressed yesterday and the nurse said seek help this is not normal behaviour.

I have the same problem. I will watch with interest.

Our DS had some health problems when younger including a time in hospital with pneumonia and had a lot of anxieties re doctors. I think the nurse saying it's not normal doesn't help, I saw lots of kids with anxieties whist DS was in hospital!. We actually bought a stethoscope and some (cheap) bandages etc and talked to DS a lot about it. The more he understood the less scared he became. Also explaining things in his level e.g. a paediatric nurse called his IV line a "magic straw" which would help get medicine in to his body. Our DS was very into Star Wars and his Peads doctor whispered to him that he was a Jedi like Yoda and he would make DS better, DS let him do the examination without any worries after that. Try out different things, hope your DD becomes less anxious in time.

And as someone with the same problem I would ignore the nurse 'not normal behaviour' - I'm pretty sure it's quite common.

We watch a lot of 'get well soon' with dr ranj in the run up to any planned doctor trip. Dentist is a whole other kettle if fish.

I even practiced letting DS give me medicine when I was I'll, instead of taking paracetamol capsules I had Calpol instead, got him to take my temperature etc. just tried to make it more 'normal' for him
Sorry i realise I've really rambled on in 2 posts!

Thanks guys, have tried all of the above to no avail, she loves doctor ranj I've even tried saying "if doctor ranj was here he'd tell you to take this medicine" normally if I can get a tiny bit of calpol on her lip she'll take a spoon as she remembers how good it tastes!
Main concern is the doctor visits it's a massive inconvenience having to fight off a toddler whilst trying to receive treatment!!
Tried to discuss why she was acting like that and she said its a bit scary
I asked what was scaring her and she said they were gonna do things
I've reinforced her whole life that what they do is to help is and make us better etc etc and she hasn't been exposed to anything that might have given here these ideas.. Really am at a loss!

Oh we had this dd1 was hysterical at idea of being ill/hurt let alone anyone touching her to look or treat her. Chickenpox was nightmare as she wouldn't look at the spots had to bath her with something over her eyes so she couldn't see them.

Even foot measuring at the shoe shop led to full blown frightened crying - this was not tantruming in a getting my own way type scenario but utter fear. for that reason I say roll with it some things are non negotiable reassure her as much as you can but just get through it best you can, I arranged for someone else to mind her when I had an appointment.

dd1 is 6 now and has totally and gradually grown out of it, likes to wallow in the slightest cut or bruise now and loves getting the plasters out. recently had invasive dental treatment and was trouper this was inconceivable a few years ago.

is your dd generally sensitive, mine was to noise, people, strange places anything really sometimes wondered if there was an underlying issue but she has grown out of all of these behaviours now.

Watching... Same issues here! Dread DS getting sick. Any examination makes him hysterical. Can't imagine if he had to have a blood draw. Probably need to sedate him. Dentist visits the same. Two so far, just regular check ups, and they haven't been able to do more than do a visual as quite handily he had his mouth wide open for yelling. Both times have set us way back on the teeth cleaning though, very anti afterwards. Yes, watching this thread!

Haywire sounds like a very similar situation difference being with new people/places she is initially apprehensive and turns into her normal outgoing fearless self after ten or so mins,
And would dread a blood draw had to restrain her to have the doc take her temperature!
Glad to hear they can grow out of it, sounds like I'm doing the right things but comments from health professionals urging me to 'get it sorted' scared me a tad
Must learn to trust my instinct more!

Family nap please the screaming is handy for getting calpol down them too ;)

My dad has white coat hypertention... which basically means if someone tried to take his blood pressure, his blood pressure goes up. That's the adult version.

Does she have health problems that mean a lot of trips to the doctor? You say you're worried about her having blood taken- is this likely to happen?