After seeing the pead last week ds is having a multi disciplinary assessment for ASD. Part of this is taking ds to a drop in clinic at the hospital for blood tests.
We tried taking him last week, when we arrived they put anaesthetic cream on his arms and put plasters over them (ds very unhappy about both) and told us it would take half an hour to work. We sat down in the waiting area which was very busy and hot (perfect for children with sensory issues) and ds started to get quite agitated. I tried to distract him by reading to him and suggesting we go and buy some sweets at the shop but he was just getting more and more unhappy, crying and whinging, a meltdown was on the horizon. I asked the receptionist how long the wait would be and she told me two and a half hours!
Ridiculous. We decided to go home and try again another day, the receptionist said tues and weds were quieter and gave us some of the anaesthetic cream to apply beforehand.
As ds heard this, he got even more distressed just at the thought of having to come back to the hospital at all, we hadn't even broached the subject of the needle itself as (unlike most asd types) he copes better when things just happen, anticipation is torture for him. He cried in the car all the way home "never take me back to that horrible place ever, ever again"
So, now we know that he will begin a massive meltdown as soon as we drive in through the hospital gates. We have asked our GP surgery, explained the circumstances, but they say they do not do bloods on under 12s.
I have visions of us having to hold him down kicking, biting and screaming, and then visions of him never forgiving us and being hospital-phobic for the rest of his life- Help!!!