Had a proper good old cry today, nasty hospital blood test kind of a day

[ThomCat]

We had our appointment with the head honcho consultant at the hospital. we decided that we needed to test Lotties blood again to check her thyroid. She gained a bit of weight in a year and has defo got taller but deo a small petite kid who has taken to going down for her afternoon sleep at 3 and not waking up till the morning. Also with a almost constant cold of some description they want to check she's not anemic or anything.

The blood test was awful. I made them give me te 'I've been a brave girl badge' today.

As soon as htey saw her they remembered her from last time and the woman said,'oh she's strong this one, girls, I'll need your help here'!

It took 4 adults to restrain her and me to wisper sooting things and stroke her hair.

It's like she was posessed by the devil. The screams, OMG. It was horrific. She almost stopped breathing and was choking at one point.

I didn't realise at the time as I was too busy trying to calm her and trying not to cry but D said that the woman doing it was a student, or he's pretty sure she was and he heard her say to the other girl 'ohhh, I think I've hit bone'.

I know it's only a blood test and that when it's over it's over, but in my life that was as bad as it gets and it just made me sad that we have to put her through that, even if it is only twice a year. At 3 years old she's had at least 7 of them so far and that's 7 too many.

She was so exhausted when we'd finished that she fell asleep on the way to nursery. I felt so bad leaving her there but I had nowhere else to take her and I had to work, I wish I hadn't have had to work today. I felt like shit dropping her off at nursery, having to wake her and carry her in, hand her over and going to work.

Anyway, that's it, I couldn't have a shitty morning without telling you could I!

[Chandra]

Oh Thomcat! I'm sorry . Lots of hugs to both of you.

[morningpaper]

Sounds HORRIFIC. Very sorry and (hugs).

[JakB]

Oh, TC, that is really traumatic, for you and Lottie. So sorry you've had a crap day. Hope all goes well with the blood tests. Much love,JakBX

[coppertop]

That sounds like an awful experience for you all. I know people need to have lots of practice to get used to giving injections but did they really have to practise on a young child??

Sorry you all had such a bad time of it.

[Cod]

Message withdrawn

[Blossomhill]

thomcat It's so hard seeing your little ones going through things like that isn't it. I can remember how I felt when they had to hold my dd down to have anaesthetic for her glue ear operation. She looked so scared and I was hysterical (they even put it in the notes) even thinking about it now makes me want to cry so now how you feel hunxxx

Dd had a blood test a couple of years ago to test for anaemia. Did they put on the magic cream beforehand, as that really helped my dd.

[Jimjams]

awful if they did practice on her- our GP refuses to do them on ds1- as he is similaar to lottie. last time it took 3 people to hold him down and he still managed to kick the bed across the room. they were very quick though and experienced, don't hesitate to demand someone very experuenced next time.

[ThomCat]

Cheers girlies
Tbh, didn't bother with the so called magic cream, it did f.a. last time and the time before that and just stressed her out having the cream and the plasters on so no, didn't bother and it was no more horrific than the other 6 times so......oh and the black bruise where they tried to put the needle is no worse than last time either

If I'd realised that the nurse was actually a student... ohhhhh, bollocks to be being trained up and getting experience, I so would have had a word, well I would have insisited she get the hell of my daughter and practice on someone who at 3 years old hadn't already had at least 6 blood tests and was traumatised and screaming and choking and struggling to get her breath.

[ThomCat]

Jimjams, next time i will defo say experienced nurese only and i'll be telling them how we should be doing this, ie, don't tell me to restrain her until you're ready and don't use her to practice on.

[stupidgirl]

(((hugs))) to Thomcat and Lottie.

[ThomCat]

The next thing is the hearing test.

they want her awake when she arrives but asleep to do the test. I've been offered melatonin to help her sleep (that's a first, we've had a two a year since she was born and they've always been difficult).

She also discussed today giving her long term antibiotics to help with glue ear which I'm not up for. I'm desperate for glue ear to be banished from our lives but long term antibiotics, not happy about that.

[rivers]

Oh Thomcat,what a horrible morning. It is the worse thing ever having people who are students carrying out blood tests on your child. My DD used to have a monthly jab by a woman who hands shook really bad and my DD also had to be
held by the nurses and it was an awful time,sending hugs to you and Lottie.
Rivers.

[Jimjams]

tc have you tried cranial osteopathy. Can work wonders for glue ear (seems to be 50:50 whether it completely does the trick or whether it does absolutely nothing)

[ScummyMummy]

sounds like a horrid morning tc. Hope you recover soon and Lottie is none the worse.

[ThomCat]

I have jimjams yes but need to go more tbh. Should try and fit in some more appts and give it more of a go, she's only been 4 times so could do with some more regular appts, it's worth giving it a go.

[JaysMum]

Sending hugs to you both.
Poor you and poor little Lottie.

[pixiefish]

Poor little Lottie. Poor TC. I agree that you should tell them not to restrain her unless it becomes necessary- guarantee that upsets Lottie before you start. Also agree no students. There are enough adults for the trainees to practice on. I'm sure you'd rather let them have a go at your arm than practice on Lottie again and let a pro do her.

Don't feel bad about taking her to nursery- the other kiddies probably helped her forget. Big hugs to you both tonight

[eidsvold]

oh tc - that is horrible.... Hope Lottie is feeling better.... she was probably fine at nursery being surrounded by all the children and kept busy - no help to you though.

WHen dd1 was born - she never cried until she had to do bloods for her surgery - then like Lottie she screamed like she was possessed. I had never seen her like that... I was stroking her forehead etc to get her to calm down and she finally exhausted herself and went to sleep. The registrar had to take a bit of blood for a number of phials and as she had had regualr bloods taken whilst in SCBU the minute he put her foot in the position she screamed. Poor thing her veins were so damaged from SCBU and jaundice blood tests..... I can really appreciate how horrid it must have been for you.

As to glue ear - we do not seem to have lots of it lately but dd1 has to go back for a hearing check up at the end of the month and if her hearing has not improved she is to have grommets.... according to the ent specialist - only solution. I asked another mum about grommets and she said they went to the naturopath - will try and find the info for you - might be another option.

[heartinthecountry]

Awww TC - I know how you feel. dd has to have lots of blood tests. She's okay now but the first few times were really horrid. After the really worst time I mentioned it to our consultant so he came down to do it the next time (he is lovely!). I could tell it really pissed all the nurses off but I didn't care as long as dd didn't have to be put through such a horrid procedure. You are right to insist it is someone who knows what they are doing next time. Bet you are pissed off they didn't ask you this time.

Agree about the magic cream too - more trouble than its worth. Especially as with dd they always end up taking the blood from somewhere completely different anway.

[eidsvold]

the woman said they were cal carb drops - her little one had - from the homeopath not naturopath - purpose it to drain the fluid. Her little one has full hearing does not need grommets and apparently you give the drops for two to three weeks and they are tasteless.

[Chocol8]

Oh Thom, I gasped out loud when I read what your D heard the nurse say! How awful! I would definitely be very forceful in demanding an experienced nurse next time! Unbelievable!

I remember when ds was about a year old and had what looked like a spec of dirt under his foreskin and we ended up in the children's ward as it was weeping (too much info, sorry). He was, even then not keen on anyone looking at the bits that hurt and the elderly doctor wanting to look at it said to take off his nappy. I warned her that he wouldn't let her see and she just sneered at me and said "he's just a baby, don't be silly".

It took me and 3 nurses to hold him down for the bag just to take a look - I dread to think what he'd have done if she'd wanted to examine it! It was horrific and I can still see (and hear) it 6 years later, so my heart goes out to you Thom. Thinking of you both. x

[Blossomhill]

Just wanted to say Hi Chocol8 Haven't seen you around in ages xxx

[marthamoo]

Oh poor you TC, and poor D and most of all poor Lottie..what a nightmare

[Merlot]

Feel for you all . I hate ds2 having blood taken - tbh I found it worse than when he had his GA for the MRI Scan.

We, too, had two inexperienced doctors `having a go' before they admitted defeat and got a consultant. So glad they did give up, because they hadn't prepared the correct number of phials and if they had succeeded we would have been called back again because they wouldn't have done all the tests!

Its bad enough dealing with an upset child without having to keep an eye out on what the medics are doing! Bloody hell - for you!