Sedation for blood tests ?

[Heytheredelilah1987]

Hi there my ds is 2 and is undergoing diagnosis for ASD. The paed has also requested blood tests done for genetic testing. This is something I want done too as I had high risk screening results in my pregnancy so feel we do need more info in that area just to be sure either way (if there's genetic issues )

Anyhow... sadly my son became very distressed despite numbing cream and lots of fun distractions and basically wouldn't allow the blood tests- we geld him down and tried twice with no avail. I simply cannot put him through that again.

I've contacted the consultants sec to ask if ds could have pin prices instead or even sedation. I know it's a bit extreme but beats putting him through that distress again imo.

Has anyone else experienced similar? They said my ds is very strong but I can't imagine he's the only 2 year old they've struggled getting bloods from. Surely there must be some other ways around this ? I do hope so!

Pin prick heel testing **

My daughter had oral sedation at about that age for a scan and the blood tests were taken whilst she was still 'asleep'. She had a few samples taken at about age 8 with a lot of people holding her down which was horrible but necessary at the time.

Thanks vj

We had to go twice as the first time they couldn't get anything , it was quite distressing and DS struggled like crazy.
The second time they had everything ready and I held him in a 'bear hug' facing me with his legs wrapped around me and we were lucky that they found a good vein and it was over very fast.. although he cried the whole time :(
Its really hard, sending you a hug xx

Thanks 2 boys x

Do you feel they had the experience and techniques for it? Was it a general clinic. My daughter is 4 and would fight to the death for one, but I hold in a bear hug, someone holds the arm whilst a good phlebotomist does it fast. It's not nice, but the hold is so firm and secure it's an under 2 min job following by any bribe she likes such as chocolate. The last was awful, but it was actually the tape and cotton wool she hated and she calmed when that was off. Also long sleeves to pull down after are great. How were you holding him? Honestly I couldn't move how they hold dd in ours. Plus it's a hold she can't actually see in

User we did the bear hug. Due to ds suspected asd it's hard to explain- plus he's on my 2 - bribes don't generally work well

Dd has asd, by bribe I mean calm down I guess. She wouldn't be calm for the chocolate, but it can (sometimes) re focus her after. She is obsessed with kinder eggs. She doesn't have the language to explain it so we use speed really

It is all about the speed, it's awful and I felt terrible putting him through it.. but once it's over DS recovered pretty fast and all is forgotten by him (not me!!)