Podiatrist not getting it
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| Fri, 06-22-2007 - 4:26pm |
My ds had an ingrown toenail earlier this year which he had removed. He was nervous about the shots in toe but did okay with some bribery. For the return visit when they applied the acid, they had to do more shots in toe, but he did even better than first time.
Now, the first toe needs to be re-done, and his other big toe also has an ingrown toenail which needs to be attended to. DS freaked out and screamed if the doctor even got near him to look at the toe since ds is afraid of getting another shot.
The doc indicated he could do general anesthesia which I thought was great at first. Now the doc is telling me that the anesthesia would be applied through an IV and that ds would have to be cleared medically through pediatrician, including having lab work done. What?! Aren't an IV and lab work done with NEEDLES?! I'm going to have to cancel his appointment now and see if I can find another podiatrist (on our insurance plan) who can figure out a better way to attend to ds. I just can't figure out how the doctor thought using more needles would solve the problem (actually, I'm sure this method solves the problem for the doc -- ds would be knocked out, so doctor wouldn't have to deal with a panicked ds, but it sure doesn't solve anything for ds).

I don't know if this will be the case for your son, but all of Lily's surgeries that were done with general anesthesia, the doctors knocked her out with gas first and then inserted the IV. Lily still cries about getting an IV even though she's never been awake for it. She's just seen it after her surgeries and always gets upset that it's there. But, that's better than having to hold her down while they put it in. Lily is pretty good with lab work since she has to have some done every 4 months due to her genetic syndrome. But, I have heard of a prescription cream called Emla (I think) that will numb a small area. I know of parents who use it every time their child has any immunizations and they swear by it. Maybe you could ask the doctor about it. I'm not sure if it can be used for blood work or only for shots, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. I hope that you're able to find a doctor who will work with you about the anesthesia. It's scary enough to have your child put under, but it's even worse when they are worried about getting an IV.
Amy~Natalie & Lily's mom
There really is no good answer for a kid like this. We found out last year to even have a sedative by mouth for a shot the child has to have an IV so incase they have a bad reaction then they can most effectively treat it.
When Mike has his surgery for his appendicitis we found all this out last year. On our first trip into the doc we were told a simple blood test could determine if it was an appendicitis. Mike CANNOT do SHOT EVER without a complete restraint. We asked for a sedative and my doc checked into it and told me the above. She is extremely understanding about Mike and our choices were to restrain him for the blood test or wait and see what happened. We choose to wait and the poor kid still got a million needle sticks that week. it was awful but we learned how to deal with them and morphine in an IV is a beautiful thing.
It sucks all around but basically you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. It is either the method with shots the way it was done before or it is an IV. I highly doubt you will be able to find an alternative that doesn't have a needle attached to it in some way.
The best thing you can do is to do social stories, etc to help him and figure out which way will be least stressful for him in the long run. IV's hurt like heck to get in but once in there is no other needle and they are a great thing. However, they are not fun to get in with a kid like this. (It took 5-6 of us with Mike and we had to do it 3 times because they had troubles with it. loads of fun getting out too) but it saved other needles and he was safe and well cared for.
Hugs to you and your son.
Renee
There are some ways
Darn. I was hoping there were better options. I guess I'll keep the appts and figure out how to get ds to be okay with it. Or at least we'll try.
I really hope they do the mask to put him to sleep before they do the IV. I don't think he'll mind that the IV is in, he'd just mind having to experience it going in. It has much less to do with actual pain/discomfort than it has to do with how much he THINKS it's going to hurt. Once it's done he usually confesses it wasn't so bad, but he can sure work himself into a lather thinking about it.
12yo AS dd had the mask for anesthesia for an MRI (no IV needed), and she's already explained the whole process to ds and reassured him that it was pretty cool.
Hey! Last October, ds had to have an EEG and they knocked him out for it. First they gave him a liquid by mouth that made him REALLY happy(it was so cute cuz he didn't care WHAT they did after that), then once he was good and "happy", they gave him the IV. This was wonderful because I didn't feel like he was uncomfortable at all. As far as lab work, I just ask the nurse to keep the needle out of sight as long as possible before the actual stick, so he doesnt have time to get really freaked out before it happens. This way it is over and done very quickly and he doesn't get nearly as worked up over it. Don't know if this helps ya, but I hope it does.
Jen
I just have to say I don't understand how my dentist can knock out my kid, with a face mask, and he doesn't have to have blood work or an iv in him.....
AND there was an anestesiologist (sp? again lol) who did it all, there partners)
See I know all of the precautions, but my son was fine at the dentist, and they didn't have to do any of all that. And he was out for over an hour to fix his teeth.
And its a VERY well known childrens dentist in town.
Okay, can you contact the anesthiesologist and talk with him? Everything you mention sounds like normal procedure, but maybe things could be a bit different for an ASD kid?
Ya know, perhaps my information is just local to here. I was told the same at children's when we went there. he had to have the IV regardless and it was first. It is possible it is local procedure due to some law suits or something.
Renee