tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post8511397406066002623..comments2023-07-21T04:25:28.979-04:00Comments on Our Unexpected Journey: Blood Work Nightmare!!Adriennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12803241505573440439noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-57388131519396308412010-04-19T17:44:37.270-04:002010-04-19T17:44:37.270-04:00I hate this. It is awful to get blood out of Clai...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.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06474584473012742915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-41085472379585039292010-04-19T13:26:26.842-04:002010-04-19T13:26:26.842-04:00Yes, Charlie had a hard time getting his blood dra...Yes, 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!<br /><br />TeaganAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-42444460221108186722010-04-18T22:20:49.837-04:002010-04-18T22:20:49.837-04:00Yup, same problems here when Payton was a baby. We...Yup, 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.Bethanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09481397897364739480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-49536166927134876802010-04-18T22:02:57.060-04:002010-04-18T22:02:57.060-04:00To test Ainsley for her allergies, Adrian had to h...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. :)j*e*nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08822560904500954709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-40522276722073058672010-04-18T16:32:02.069-04:002010-04-18T16:32:02.069-04:00Tommy has tiny veins too...he's 14 now, but I ...Tommy 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!!<br /><br />I 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.<br /><br />Still love his little face & smile :)Mona Kay Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10693339860770759522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-22456232297847372342010-04-18T13:08:03.645-04:002010-04-18T13:08:03.645-04:00ugh, same story here...when I went to get blood fo...ugh, 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!mlfonthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13191239340070697033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-18464228009121515452010-04-17T23:27:22.954-04:002010-04-17T23:27:22.954-04:00I'm a nurse and I have to draw blood on babies...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 luckGabriel and Alyssahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09531553431946122385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-28394769302603435522010-04-17T22:48:07.088-04:002010-04-17T22:48:07.088-04:00You have been nominated for a Happy Award!
http://...You have been nominated for a Happy Award!<br />http://livinglifewithes.blogspot.com/2010/04/happy-happy-happy.htmlRunningmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15248750625897632738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-3160493382680563222010-04-17T22:44:44.541-04:002010-04-17T22:44:44.541-04:00Jessie takes thyroid meds and has her B12 checked ...Jessie 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. :)Josettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03686244697972716604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-79611103856218710562010-04-17T06:31:22.151-04:002010-04-17T06:31:22.151-04:00That was painful to read, I can't imagine livi...That was painful to read, I can't imagine living it! He's just the sweetest little thing...very photogenic.- Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10226283856483596136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-61838325461487808882010-04-16T22:49:06.001-04:002010-04-16T22:49:06.001-04:00Poor Bennett. I'm glad he was a trooper with f...Poor Bennett. I'm glad he was a trooper with family in tow. love the pictures!Christi Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09625311140466535277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-42957792876402014222010-04-16T20:18:32.174-04:002010-04-16T20:18:32.174-04:00Poor buddy! Good job mommy, I would have felt the ...Poor buddy! Good job mommy, I would have felt the same way. He's too cute, always love your photos.Angi Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16427012514393579441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-85955403567290216782010-04-16T19:32:18.070-04:002010-04-16T19:32:18.070-04:00I've worked as a phlebotomist and I've dra...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.Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01693737325807277190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-78574806634415979942010-04-16T19:21:58.423-04:002010-04-16T19:21:58.423-04:00My 19 month old son has Down syndrome and because ...My 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:<br />- 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<br />- 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<br />- 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<br />- 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.<br />Good luck in future!Mary Ellennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-36683511543511587682010-04-16T18:30:16.216-04:002010-04-16T18:30:16.216-04:00Poor Bennett! I can't even begin to count the...Poor 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!)Kendrahttp://www.littlesomethingextra.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-37292167060596619482010-04-16T17:11:41.839-04:002010-04-16T17:11:41.839-04:00My mommy heart it hearing that Bennett recovered f...My 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!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01988615707414674312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-32638597710782072732010-04-16T16:52:52.116-04:002010-04-16T16:52:52.116-04:00Poor lil guy. Eian's the same way they cant ha...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.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17718287996788385127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-34614461137338183202010-04-16T16:50:24.939-04:002010-04-16T16:50:24.939-04:00Poor Bennett! As I read this I relived our own te...Poor 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. <br />My heart broke for her then and for Bennett. UGH! <br />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. <br />I won't hesitate to insist on someone with experience drawing on kids with ds again. It was a total different experience for us!Rochellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11866781944242761406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-24099476869521602662010-04-16T16:44:50.917-04:002010-04-16T16:44:50.917-04:004 months after william's heart surgery he went...4 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 painmy familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00965034997906612228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-4243911104310460042010-04-16T16:41:39.531-04:002010-04-16T16:41:39.531-04:00First of all....LOVE that first picture of Bennett...First 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.Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00587160152394379314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-19160101137305019672010-04-16T16:14:39.984-04:002010-04-16T16:14:39.984-04:00oh - so sad for bennett! when your baby hardly cri...oh - 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!M.Hiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11241956439079629519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-45538178054204146222010-04-16T16:14:39.985-04:002010-04-16T16:14:39.985-04:00Rachel was the same way when she was smaller. Eve...Rachel 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.Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491503506276550427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-79934777991327941152010-04-16T16:10:24.605-04:002010-04-16T16:10:24.605-04:00oh, poor, poor little man. we do have the same tr...oh, 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.Sara Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16962051517297091923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-56584516441724476162010-04-16T16:03:27.143-04:002010-04-16T16:03:27.143-04:00Poor little guy. It really is that much harder wh...Poor 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.Kellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04962673866936134398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712724707041141717.post-60452473403817685662010-04-16T15:58:13.258-04:002010-04-16T15:58:13.258-04:00Poor little Bennett, what a trooper. We haven'...Poor 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.<br /><br />Love the pics, what a cutie.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09879135187722664722noreply@blogger.com