So today we went to get Bennett's blood tested for the third time now. If you remember, I had it tested way back in December for his 6 month routine check (routine for kids with DS), it came back a tad abnormal so his pediatrician wanted it checked again in few months because he was just getting over bronchiolitis and perhaps that was making it slightly off. We had no problems the first time- needle went in his arm, they got the blood and we were out of there.
The second time was in February and it was bad. They could not find a good vein and they had to call in Pat, the lady that is good with babies. Well Pat got it and we were good to go. Again, the blood work came back better than the first time but still a little off. So his ped wanted me to take him in at 10 months.
So he's almost 11 months but I've been busy to say the least. Anyways, we go in and I ask for Pat right off because I don't want a repeat of last time. They say they will get Pat but does Pat come back right off? Of course not, so they literally had the needle in his arm for 10 minutes wiggling it around to find his vein. Supposedly it was rolling all over. Bennett was actually okay with all of this. Well without success they call Pat in. I'm thinking finally, we can get this over and done with! So Pat tries...no luck. Then she tries the other arm...no luck and by this time Bennett is ticked off. So then the only option was to get a finger prick and slowly drip each drop of blood to fill up a vile. Seriously, this was awful. Bennett screamed his head off because he had already been tortured with both arms but now someone pricks his finger and then proceeds to push the blood out of his little, stubby, fat finger, blood is everywhere, it was a mess. Bennett NEVER cries so I was almost in tears to see him go through this.
Well, it doesn't end there. Oh no. The nurse calls the lab and tells them she is sending this vile down right away because she doesn't want it to clot. 5 minutes later as we're packing up, after an hour mind you (of course Harper is on her second lollipop and quickly becoming impatient) the lab calls and said IT'S CLOTTED! It won't work!!! Are you kidding me?????!!!!! So I ask, "now what?". The nurse asks if Bennett is walking- umm, no lady. She says we can prick his heel and again take the blood drip by drip into the vile. So as I'm pulling Bennett out of his car seat, his sharp bottom tooth stabs his tongue and he starts bleeding-OH.MY.GOODNESS! This poor baby!!!! So after I cleaned that up the nurse pricked his little heel and my Bennett screamed his little head off again.
So after all of this I'm really hoping and praying things are normal with his blood work. I had to call the ped during all of this just to fax in a script to get his thyroid checked because the script was only for a CBC- I can't take coming back in another month so if we can get it all done in one awful experience, then that's what we're doing. Really hope we don't have to do that for a while. Anyone else have this issue with your child's veins?? I have great veins, in fact she took my blood to check my thyroid and got it in 2 seconds. What's going to happen when he's bigger and stronger?
Well, I'll end on a happy note- here's some pics of my brave little guy- you wouldn't know he was tortured earlier this morning...
Bandages on both arms where NO blood was taken! And blood on his shirt from the messy finger prick!
His poor little heel.
Let's just say he's happy to be out of that hospital!!! And of course he's always mommy's little hero:)
When we did Max's thyroid & lead test a few months back, it was a similar story. Dig in both arms, then gave up and did the finger prick - ugh. At least his didn't clot!
ReplyDeleteIf someone had thought quickly you could have found a way to harness the bleeding tongue!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, I know how much this stinks. Lucy's almost three and it is still an awful ordeal trying to draw blood. She was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I hate the thought that we'll have do blood draws so frequently now! It's painful to watch.
Glad to see that Bennett is feeling so much better!
Yes! Sticking Jack is a nightmare as he has tiny veins too. When they had to do a platelet transfusion at 5 days old (after they'd been taking blood 2-3 times a day), the only place they had left to stick him was the vein in the middle of his forehead. Nice (sarcasm)! Thank goodness kids don't remember these things.
ReplyDeletePoor little guy...no break...praying all results come back just fine. HE IS SOOOO Adorable!
ReplyDeleteWe had the same thing happen with August when we had to get his thyroid checked at the local hospital. They had three different people try in both arms, which I think was a little ridiculous considering they were all lab technicians. Then they said, "That's ok, we can just get it out of a finger prick." I couldn't figure out why they wouldn't have just done that in the first place. Poor August was screaming too and he NEVER cries. I am glad that Bennett has recovered - he's so adorable:)
ReplyDeleteOh this story has stirred up memories. When Emily was born, they kept testing her & testing her {jaundice, genetics, etc}.... her poor little heel was so tiny & they just couldn't get anymore.
ReplyDeleteThey were literally squeezing it SUPER hard {it was all purple and bruised} & nothing was coming out....so up I jump.....hey, STOP!
I told them if they can't get it that way to STOP...there has to be another place on her body they can get blood from, sheesh.
What a sad experience for such a happy little boy!!! Seriously, Bennett is just darling and that smile is infectious! Here's hoping all the tests come back great and he doesn't have to go through that again anytime soon!
ReplyDeleteOH poor Bennett! That's too much. And you too, it's even worse to watch your baby being hurt, albeit for a purpose but still it's difficult.
ReplyDeletewhat an AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL experience! unfortunately, we have the same problem trying to get blood out of whitney's arms/fingers/heel and its been that way since birth. we actually had a HORRIBLE experience in sept. and i was supposed to go have her blood drawn to re-check her thyroid at the end of jan/beginning of feb. because the thyroid levels came back a little off in sept but i haven't done it yet because of the awful experience we had + some major billing issues w/ the blood lab/hospital! agh!!! i totally feel for you. on a brighter note, the pictures of bennett are super adorable :)
ReplyDeleteI made the mistake of letting dad go in with her for the one year blood draws. He got mad that they were "hurting her" and we left without them getting what they needed. Oh well! Also from what we learned in the hospital finger and heel sticks tend to produce unreliable results or clot too quickly.
ReplyDeletePoor little Bennett, what a trooper. We haven't had this problem with Lucas except when he was first born. But everyone always has trouble finding my veins, I've passed out twice because they couldn't stick it fast enough.
ReplyDeleteLove the pics, what a cutie.
Poor baby. All that and still a huge grin at the end of the day.
ReplyDeletePoor little guy. It really is that much harder when you know they never cry or complain. Our doctor also does a lead level check at one year. Not sure if you had to do with the girls. That way you can just add it on with the thyroid test. Another thumb sucker! He looks just like Lindsey sucking away on his thumb.
ReplyDeleteoh, poor, poor little man. we do have the same trouble with max, and when he is sick it's that much worse:( i hope that as they get older their little veins will get bigger too! we will just have to wait and see.
ReplyDeleteoh - so sad for bennett! when your baby hardly cries, it's so painful when they actually do start to wail :( But cutest pictures! looks like he's smiling now!
ReplyDeleteRachel was the same way when she was smaller. Every cocky tech that walked in the room sure they could start an IV or draw blood walked away defeated. As she has gotten bigger it has gotten easier. I can now take her to a nearby lab and not have to drag her down to the hospital and ask for the one person in the whole county who could find a vein in my little girl. I hope it gets easier for Bennett.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all....LOVE that first picture of Bennett!! Secondly....YES!!! We had a terrible time getting blood from Ella. Mind you that we have had to do it at least monthly if not more since she was born. We used to go through multiple people each time until someone could finally get it. It was literally torture every time. But finally in the last few months using the same lab tech, we get it first try now. I am not sure if it is just because she is older now but they finally seem to have figured it out. Hang in there!!! Praying that everything looks good.
ReplyDelete4 months after william's heart surgery he went to the hospital for breathing issues...they wanted to do an IV...I wont tell you they tried 15 times in 2 days to get one and the I finally said dont touch him again...we even tried the PICU nurse with no luck...Drs said some times after heart surgery veins will "blow" and you can't get an IV for months...it sucked so I know it hurts to watch your little one go through that pain
ReplyDeletePoor Bennett! As I read this I relived our own terrible day like this a year ago at Alayna's ds clinic visit, after much digging around they brought in someone who supposedly could do a great job but ended up with the heel stick and squeezing.
ReplyDeleteMy heart broke for her then and for Bennett. UGH!
But, the good news is that we went in just last week for her ds clinic 1 year check up and I told them what a fiasco the lab draw was and they told me to be upfront and tell the lab about the situation when I got there so I did and what do you know the gal that drew her blood tested both arms picked one and got the vein on the first attempt no problem.
I won't hesitate to insist on someone with experience drawing on kids with ds again. It was a total different experience for us!
Poor lil guy. Eian's the same way they cant hardly find a good vein. We have a 2 stick rule if you can't get in in 2 tries you dont get another try.
ReplyDeleteMy mommy heart it hearing that Bennett recovered faster than mom. Am I right? We, too, have gone through this exact thing every time blood is needed. NICU, PICU, heart surgery pre-op, basic lab tests. Honestly, I've just limited the doctor appts to the bare necessities. And when a doc recommends blood work I write in a little notebook what test they want and when they wanted it. Then I ask if we can wait until he needs a few different blood tests before we go in for the actual blood draw. The digging, the lab techs sweating and apologizing, recommending I leave so I don't have to hear the screaming, multiple pokes, clotting, wrong tubes, extra sticky bandaids leaving red marks on his tender skin.....the list could go on, but somehow we always make it through and I have confidence that we'll survive in the future when he's bigger and stronger. You and Bennett will make it, too. Have faith. By the way the squinty eye picture is adorable. Our Little J gives us that look every time I pull out the camera. Love it!
ReplyDeletePoor Bennett! I can't even begin to count the times I've heard Alexis referred to as a "hard stick." And we've had the exact thing happen, when they squeezed blood out of her, taken it to the lab, called us back, done it again. Miserable! She's had IV's in every extremity, even her head. Sometimes I refer to her as my little pincushion. (Love the picture of Bennett, by the way. Soooo cute!)
ReplyDeleteMy 19 month old son has Down syndrome and because of two disorders and hypothyroidism, has has had blood taken very often since birth. Luckily we live close to a children's hospital so we go there where the techs have some training for babies but even so some are much better than others. A few things we've learned:
ReplyDelete- it is not usually necessary to take blood from the arm (from a vein) - certainly not for a CBC and not to check they thyroid either. I don't let them try his arms anymore b/c as you say the veins are too small and it is very difficult to find one
- that leaves a heel poke or finger poke, which don't have to be traumatic. There are different sizes of prickers - use one that is too small and they will need to squeeze a lot harder to get blood out - use one that is too big and it will bleed forever
- if they prick him and the blood is not welling up on its own, it is sometime better to try pricking again than be forced to squeeze really hard
- you can request that rather than squeezing much they let the blood well up on its own to form a drop - it takes a bit longer but doesn't hurt the baby nearly as much.
Good luck in future!
I've worked as a phlebotomist and I've drawn kids too many times. It is really, really hard to stick babies. Their veins are usually tiny and yes, they do roll. Finger sticks are rough too, especially because you can't mix them to get the anticoagulant mixed properly while getting the blood. Plus, baby blood clots fast. So from the other side of the needle, we don't like drawing kids. I hate being the bad guy and a poor helpless kid screaming in my ear. Some parents (most do a great job) but some are just plain rude. We're not "hurting" your kid! We are trying to help them by getting samples for a diagnosis. I understand by instinct that you want to protect your child, that's great! But this is for the greater good. That's my little rant on drawing kids. I'm glad that I don't have to anymore, it broke my heart every time.
ReplyDeletePoor buddy! Good job mommy, I would have felt the same way. He's too cute, always love your photos.
ReplyDeletePoor Bennett. I'm glad he was a trooper with family in tow. love the pictures!
ReplyDeleteThat was painful to read, I can't imagine living it! He's just the sweetest little thing...very photogenic.
ReplyDeleteJessie takes thyroid meds and has her B12 checked regularly. It seems to be common with kids with DS to have the roly veins amongst the people I know. Sometimes, if you can get a good finger stick...that has been the better route for us a couple of times. Whether it's the pediatrician, gastro dr. or whatever specialist...I do always let them know it's an issue and sometimes they will automatically call someone who's the best with difficult kid veins. You can tell that it panics some of them a bit too. With the B12, you can't use a finger stick so that one always has to be drawn from the vein. It does seem to have gotten a bit better as she's gotten older OR I've gotten lucky with who I get...not sure which. Now that she's old enough to bribe/give her something to look forward to, I always promise her a McFlurry or something to look forward to as soon as we leave. Doesn't make it not hurt in the moment, but as soon as it is over gives her something else to think about. She loves McFlurries or going out to eat. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have been nominated for a Happy Award!
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I'm a nurse and I have to draw blood on babies all the time. Heat does wonders for veins. A little heat pack at the site really plumps them up. Ask them to look every place possibe (at the elbows, hand, wrist, even foot) to find the right spot before they go poking. Push fluids the day before as much as possible to make sure he is well hydrated. If there is a certain hand that works better than the other, tell them that before they poke him. That's my two cents. It's hard as a mom and as a nurse. Good luck
ReplyDeleteugh, same story here...when I went to get blood for thyroid and CBC they couldn;t get the vein. Finally did and then they saw the order was for CBC too. Of course they said, no problem, we have enough..guess what? Not enough...so different lab, tried again and it took three men to find the vein. I kept asking myself why the lab was deemed "pediatric" since they had no luck and it took 15 minutes to get it drawn. Parker screamed the whole time. Praying it all comes back fine for B, I am also praying it gets easier as they get older too. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteTommy has tiny veins too...he's 14 now, but I remember like it was yesterday, an event a little like your ordeal. You and Bennett are very brave!!
ReplyDeleteI used to be a phlebotomist as well, & worked in a lab where they ran the blood samples. If you're not already doing this, consider asking them up front if the blood test can be done with a finger or heel stick, and let them know that it tends to clot, so they can squeeze an extra sample.
Still love his little face & smile :)
To test Ainsley for her allergies, Adrian had to have 2 other people help hold her down while they dripped blood from a thumb stick. Ainsley was ticked!! Adrian got some strange looks when he walked back through the waiting room as if he was back there torturing her or something. A 30-lb girl can be pretty strong at times. Sorry Bennett had to go through so much pain. Poor little guy!! We'll be praying for you & for good results. :)
ReplyDeleteYup, same problems here when Payton was a baby. We had to find a pediatric phlebotomist and it was hell to say the least. We now have just ONE lady who can get a stick on Payton. The problem isn't Bennett, it is finding phlebs who know what the F they are doing! I mean our kids do have smaller veins, but if someone has enough experience, they should be able to hit it. It really is so frustrating.
ReplyDeleteYes, Charlie had a hard time getting his blood drawn, they ended up doing a heal prick and squeezing the blood into the vile. Well we got a call later to rush to the ER because they said his potassium levels where very high and it could cause a heart attack. Well after we spent three hours in the ER it turned out to be a false positive. I guess when they squeeze hard like that to get the blood it bursts the blood cells that then give off potassium, so we have learned that the heal prick isn’t the way to go. We now go after hours to our hospital lab to have his blood drawn because they send the NICU nurses who have experience with baby veins in to do it. Sorry to hear you had to go through this!
ReplyDeleteTeagan
I hate this. It is awful to get blood out of Claire too. When she was born her heel sticks would always clot. When she was in with RSV it took three tries to finally get what they needed, and this was with the good ped nurses! I'm not looking forward to them having to do blood work at 6 months.
ReplyDelete