Moving on.
Last week I took Nika for her first draw for the slew of tests we need to have done. She did really good ... didn't cry at all ... until the tech couldn't find her vein and felt the need to go deeper ... and deeper ... and dig around a bit with the needle. Why ... someone please tell me why!
Today we were back in the lab to have blood drawn on both Payton and Nika. And each of them needed a lot of it drawn. Sigh. Nika went first ... no tears ... she did great!
Next ... Payton. Ugh. She screamed before she even sat down in the chair. That is why I wanted to have her blood drawn on a day that Kyle was with me, because I knew I couldn't restrain her myself. The child is so strong ... and she fights, big time. So Kyle sat down in the chair ... his job was to restrain her body. He tried, but there really is no restraining her. I had to restrain her arm while the tech drew the blood. Oh wait, there would be no immediate drawing of blood since the tech couldn't hit a vein! Ahhh ... Lord help me now.
First she tried Payton's right arm ... dug around a little ... nothing. Then she decided it would be a good idea to try her right hand. Really? Her hand? Woman, I wouldn't even hold my hand still long enough for you to draw blood from it, let alone my three year old! I ask about her left arm and the tech says no ... she feels nothing. So I give in to the hand.
Hahahaha ... yeah right. How do you hold a fighting, thrashing, crying three year old's little hand still enough to get like eight vials of blood? Right ... probably get there.
I'm not bitter. Nope, not at all.
While I was trying to get Payton to calm down a little bit, two fill-in techs arrived at the lab. They offered to try to get a stick on Payton and we said okay, only because I knew I wouldn't have the chance to have Kyle with me again. These two techs got a vein ... but it eventually cut off and started just dripping ... "because she won't stop moving". Seriously people. So we only filled about half of the vials, but they think it might be enough for all the tests. Then why did we have to fill all those vials to begin with?
I'm not bitter. Nope, not at all.
Thank God that is over. Oh wait, Nika needs one more draw. Thank God she is the easy one.
Next time require they bring in a pediatric specialist, or the manager of the lab. That's ridiculous. Poor little ones. Especially Payton.
ReplyDeleteHahaha Rebecca, that is funny. A pediatric specialist at LabCorp? Umm, they would look at me like I have 5 heads. This is the one area of my kids' medical care that I feel completely at their mercy. Ugh. And these were the managers of the lab. How is that for NICE?
ReplyDeleteUGH! That brought back LOTS of not so pleasant memories! Angela had to have blood draws every week until she was about a year old. It was horrible and sometimes they had to go for scalp veins! When she was about 6 months old, we were at the children's hospital and someone request one of the NICU nurses come up and do the draw. VIOLA! That's what we did from then on, and THAT nurse never once had a problem. She was used to tissue-paper thin veins with lots of squirming.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds horrible. Those poor girls.
ReplyDeleteOh, I HATE blood draw days. I have to say as Ruby gets older, it seems to be getting easier to find her veins - but she does not sit still either.
ReplyDeleteHow about another lab???? Or maybe the hospital lab??? I don't know. E always has clotting issues, so while they can usually get her blood it's no good before they can do anything with it. Just as frustrating to have to re-stick.
ReplyDeleteI actually have a good answer for you! Ask the lab to either allow you to go up to the nursery or to have a Peds nurse or a Nurse from the Nursey come down. They are VERY used to doing blood draws on infants, and newborns who have tiny veins. If your hospital has a NICU...get a NICU nurse or PNP to come! THEY are good! WE too have been through the ringer with this, as Koby's veins are TINY and he has had so many IV's go bad because his veins are tiny.It finally took the charge nurse from NICU to get his in for his open heart. I always thought it CAN'T really be THAT hard to draw blood, what is wrong with these lab people....and I learned how to do it in school..and guess what....it actually isn't that hard, moving toddlers are a challenge though! BUT from what I understand as nurses we were taught a lot more about the vascular system and how to run IV's and how to make sure we aren't sticking patients a hundred time...and these phlebotomists only go to school for like 6 months to a year,and that is for the education and training which just amazes me! They need way more time!Sorry for the bad trip!
ReplyDeleteps: I hate that "digging"...i swear it hurts less just to re-stick, and you wont' lose the vein as easily!
ohh I just read how you said it was Labcorp...just ask your ped to write the labs in a script for the hospital! You will be a much happier Momma! And your insurance will probably cover that before Labcorp!
ReplyDeleteBeen there done that, and get to do it again next week!! Kaia is due for her annual blood draws and it is so not a fun experience, for anyone! BUT, she is getting better and better at it as she gets older (she's 4). That being said, it's been a year since her last blood draw so I may be overly ambitious on the "getting easier" statement.
ReplyDeleteOne thought that I've heard from others, and have had done in the past is to have them place a little heat pack on her arm. Supposedly it brings the veins out? Or something to that effect. It worked for us the time they did it.
Arrhhhhh No poor baby girl.
ReplyDeleteWe just went through this I did a blog lol it was so bad. Our Doctor did it.
Try have them wrap her tight in a sheet next time, lay her on the bed. That way she feels a little more secure and you can use your body over her to keep her still at the same time she feels like she’s getting a big mummy cuddle ;)
I ended up, in a panic and told the Doctor to “get it out now” then “I cant stand this, please just STOP!” Aden’s blood kept slowing to a drip. I didn’t realise that, that is to do with our kids having small veins
They only got 2 tubes and in them was tiny amounts. Once she added some from another attempt they just had enough she thinks.
Love how they always have a comment on the kids being at fault for moving. When Sophie had her 6 month repeat echo, the tech couldn't get a decent picture. Honestly, she was not moving very much at all. The tech made sure to write it up that the patient was uncooperative and told me she had never had such problems in her many years. I doubt she worked with many babies. Sophie goes back in Feb. and I will not be quite so kind if we get the same tech with the same problems this time. uggh
ReplyDelete---Jen
Same thing with Kallie, Bethany. When she was younger we would take her to the hospital to have someone from the NICU come and draw her. They are used to small veins. Maybe try that? Poor girls! Nika's a champ!!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you wrote about this, because I have to take Aidan in for bloodwork one of these days, and I'm dreading it. Now there are some suggestions to try. Thanks!
ReplyDeletePoor baby girl! We have the same problem with Karli. Unless it's a rush type thing, I wait until we can go to the Children's hospital to have her blood drawn. It's not painless and it still takes both of us to hold her down, but it's way better than anywhere else. Hopefully she won't need any blood drawn for a LONG time!
ReplyDeleteYes, that is Erin as well. I DREAD blood draws! Now we go straight to NICU, but even those nurses and docs are only about 50% successful. Even the head NICU doc couldn't get it last time, after about three others tried first. The last few blood draws we have had to resort to getting it from a vein in her head, where they were visible. Now she has hair..so that will be tough too. I'm hoping her little veins will have grown as we're due again in March. I have much sympathy!! KRis
ReplyDeleteWe've got one coming up in the next month.
ReplyDeleteI remember when Aleena was a baby and in the hospital for tests, several people seemed to have a hard time drawing the blood. THEN, this BIG African American male nurse comes in. Now, my baby was tiny - about 4 months old - this man was BIG - his hands were as big as Aleena's HEAD! Know what? He did it LIKE A PRO!!!! So gentle, so efficient! He was the best blood drawer EVER!! LOL Aleena actually has always done really well, though, like Nika. I swear she has a VERY high tolerance for pain!
Some of these comments have great suggestions - I HOPE you can find a better way! :(
Awww ((hugs)) I have quite stingy veins myself and they normally switch an IV every 3 days or so because it can damage the vein, leave scars etc. but I am so stingy they left mine in the same one for 7days, 7 years later and I can still see the scar on my hand.
ReplyDeleteAsk your doctor for something called Emla cream.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very good topical anesthetic. You put some on her arm 1/2 before they draw blood. Cover it with a piece of syran wrap.
Let her know ahead of time this is special medicine so there will be no ouchies.
Oh we have been here with the blood sticks. I have literally been like "get off my child!" and had to leave. We have driven an hour to go to a children's hospital just for a blood draw before. We found one tech we like now (locally) and ask for him everytime. He always looks thrilled to see us. (or horrified, however you want to interpret it) lol
ReplyDeleteI hate blood draws! It break my heart that they have to get it done every year. We used to do it at a childrens hospital and it was torture. We switched doctors a few years ago and they have a lab in the office. They have always got the vein -first time. It is still torture but not with as much kicking!
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