Help - child has a phobia of needles

[notjudgejudy]

Hello!

im looking for help (not judgment please) … my daughter (age 6) broke her arm and displaced her elbow on Friday and had to have an emergency operation … they have our in 2 wires (pins) that are being removed Tuesday.

my daughter has a phobia of needles and gets into a real state when it comes to vaccines, or when they came to take her cannula out at the hospital she was beside herself and is very traumatic for her (and selfishly me although I try to keep calm). Tuesdays removal of the pins is playing on her mind so much and she is super anxious (has started chewing her sleeves or anything she can) … I was wondering if anybody had used something before anything like this to calm there children to help them get through such a thing? I know you can get gummies and patches but wasn’t sure if they worked. I’m just a mum trying to make something horrible the least worrying for my daughter as possible. Please help.

I’m assuming that your DD is having this procedure at your local children’s hospital. The hospital will have a play therapy service, play therapists are brilliant at preparing children for procedures etc. You could maybe look at the hospital’s website for their contact details.

I have given them a call, they didn’t mention anything about a play therapist but I know they had one on the ward when she had the op. Unfortunately something to take her mind off doesn’t quite cut it, when DD had the worry it tends to be tunnel vision on that despite being a very chatty/happy child otherwise. It’s such a shame! She asked if she could be put to sleep again Of course this isn’t the option but this is how worried she is.