I read a study somewhere that said that children in hospitals coped much better with painful procedures when they were distracted by a TV show for children. Perhaps you could bring an iPod loaded with a favorite show clip?

I’d also probably bring a lollipop. They’re pretty rare treats at our house and my daughter could enjoy it hands free if necessary.

I empathize, this is never easy. I noticed when V got her flu shot that it was the first time that she didn’t cry. I really think that it had to do with just one ‘stick’ instead of the 3-4 that she usually gets. I think when baby #2 comes along, we’ll be spreading out vaccines a bit.

I agree w/ Marketing Mommy about the TV show. I use mini marshmallows as a comfort/distraction after the actual shot, as well as books.

V is only 18 months, so I’m not sure how to go about restraining a four-year-old, but I’m willing to bet that if the office or lab you are going to is child-friendly, they will have people to help you. When V got her biggest grouping of shots, they had two nurses and me, and said they could get a 3rd if needed. I’m sure that they will be experienced about not sticking unless she’s holding still and getting her to stay that way.

Again, I’m not sure what Z knows or understands about doctor visits and shots, but you could try explaining that getting blood drawn is different than a vaccine, and that she won’t feel anything going in to her, and that it’s only one needle and you don’t really feel it once it’s in there. (Personally, the thought of extracting something from my veins is more faint-inducing than being injected with something, but that’s just me.) For that reason and the fainting factor associated with it, I’m one to say “I’m not going to look, just stick me when you’re ready and don’t tell me it’s coming.”

Good luck with it. I hope it’s easier than you anticipate.

My almost 4 year old daughter had blood drawn last week.  The anticipation was the worst part.  Once the catheter was in her arm getting the blood into the tubes, she was fine.  The technicians had me sit in the chair with her on my lap.  I crossed my legs around hers so she couldn’t wiggle and I held her extra arm so she wouldn’t grab them.  The technician got it right on the first attempt so as soon as the stick was over and the blood was flowing, the tears stopped and all was good.  I don’t know that you can attempt a blood draw on a child without physically holding them down.  It’s fairly quick didn’t leave her traumatized.

I did stop them from putting a bandaid on her and asked for them to use the sticky, stretchy stuff over a cotton ball instead so I wouldn’t have to hurt her by removing a band aid.  I know that her skin is sensitive and why use a band aid if you don’t have to?  Also, it’s fun to remove the sticky, stretchy stuff.

Good luck!

Both my boys have had to have multiple blood draws. We’ve been lucky and had nurses/specialists in drawing blood (can’t remember the name) that are trained for kids. My first suggestion is to ask for someone who is a good stick w/ kids. Children’s veins are so tiny to begin with you don’t want someone who isn’t experienced doing the draw. A good nurse can make all the difference between a good experience and a bad one.

I’ve always sat in the special chair with the child on my lap. Their arm goes on the padded arm rest. I hug their other one close to their body. I can’t even remember a time that they actually restrained the arm where they were getting the blood. I usually turn their head away from the sight. The last draw my oldest was about 3.5. He did fine for the actual stick, but a few seconds into it started getting anxious and wanting it to stop. We just talked through it and held on.

I don’t know if role playing before hand would help Z. My boys like playing doctor so we include blood draws as part of the play along with shots. But if that isn’t typical play I could see how it could create a bad situation.

Good luck!

1. Discuss it, including what they will do, why they do it and the various steps.

2. Use real vocabulary, explain things.

3. Figure out a way to make yourself not anxious.  Honestly, if you can get yourself to come to terms, she’ll be fine. 

4. Focus on positives to keep you in positive mood: i.e. not having to have long skin testing that involves lying still and getting hundreds of pricks.

5. Mention to the plebotomist that Z is just starting to really pay attention to things and can he or she please explain what he or she is doing to Z during the procedure.  This make’s Z understand more, gives her something to focus on and transfer the onus away from you a bit.

6. Recognize that it will be over and so freaking out just really shouldn’t be an option.

Bonus thought: I once read a study that showed anxiety levels are much lower when you use the word vaccination or immunization with a kid than if you use the word shot.  They concluded that the context in which kids have been exposed to shot is normally like with a gun, so avoiding this word is one easy way to help.  (I know you’re drawing blood this time, but thought it was worth noting).

Can you call the nurse at the doctor’s office and have her talk you through the procedure, how it is done, what they will do in contingencies that Z doesn’t cooperate, etc.?  Keep talking till you feel very sure of what they are doing and you feel like you really understand.  Then talk wtih Z.  Knowing she understands and you understand should help a punch.

My newly 3 year old daughter just got a booster last week.  I held her in a sort of bear hug the nurses showed me, so my body was blocking her view of the action, and distracted her with a crayon on the non-shot side; she didn’t get upset at all.  If this isn’t something you’re going to have to do often, you could even surprise her by whipping out a small but highly desirable toy to show her (on the non-shot side) at the crucial time and giving it to her during or after the blood draw.  If you’ll have to do this more than once, an exciting new video clip on your ipod as marketing mommy suggested sounds like a great idea.

I have no suggestions as I’m a brand new parent myself, but I’m glad the blood draw is an option now. I had the pinprick allergy test done when I was four, and I still remember it to this day. I screamed so long and loud that the doctor told me I was scaring the other children. “Good!” I thought.

I was also very sick that night. I don’t know if it was a result of the test itself or that I was so worked up emotionally by the pain.

As a Psychologist, I have to say that it is likely your own level of stress/calm is probably the most important thing.  This includes the language you use, the way you are able to calm your own body, and your interaction with the other adults around.

While this is often not easy for parents, espcially those with their own fear around needles and medical procedures, it is some thing that we can control.  If one finds that it is impossible to have calm and relaxed body, voice, and manner, perhaps another adult is a better person to hold the child.

According to my best friend who is a pediatrician, research has show that a sweet taste in the mouth can decrease the sensation of pain for needles.  Thus, sucking on or chewing something sweet in the moments before the stick could alleviate some of the pain.

I agree with the suggestion to ask for the phlebotomist who is most experienced with children.  Where I live there are small and large labs, some only have one staff person.  I would choose to go to the hospital where there is a large staff and they are more likely to have experience with kids.

Best of luck, I hope it goes smootly,

This is a hard one! You have gotten some great ideas and one of the best is to work with a pediatric phlebotomist. Not only do they know how to work with the tiny needles needed to get blood from tiny veins, they also know how to work with the needs of nervous children!
Also, being as centered and calm as you can be will help. Our little ones are so sensitive to our own fears and anxiety! Having a support person there for YOU can help! Take deep breaths and make sure you are aware of your feet. This will keep you grounded!

We just went through this with our 4 yo son. It was AWFUL. The worst part for him is that our doc insisted on doing the scratch tests first and then only doing the blood tests for the things he reacted to. DS had to be scratched, wait for a half hour while he ITCHED, then go down the road to the lab to be stuck...all in all just too much!  I am of the school to tell a child what is going to happen, since I’d hate to think that he believes I don’t know what’s going to happen, KWIM? I really believe that if I’d been able to tell him that he was going to get a needle stick just like a shot, but that it would take a little liquid OUT instead of putting some IN, he would have been much happier. In the end, our allergy results didn’t help us...we know he’s allergic to some things, but the things he reacted MOST to on the tests, he doesn’t react to in life and vice versa. Not sure what to think!

I will never, ever forget being held down by a nurse for a finger prick while my mom cried in the corner. It set me up for an everlasting needle phobia. I think the tips on being calm and making it as much as a “non event” as possible, while at the same time, acknowledging any fears is the way to go. I reacted so badly to being held down that I wonder if simply lying down for the blood draw and not looking/being distracted would be better.

Here is my advice, having been through lots of blood draws, though none as a child.  I hate needles though.

Make sure that they have an experienced tech do it.  If you can, have the procedure done at a pediatric hospital/location.  If you can’t, insist someone from Peds do it.

If she hates suprises, be honest but don’t make a big deal out of it.  I hate it when they say something won’t hurt and then it does.  Kids can see through lies.

I think distractions are a good idea, like TV or something.  If you go to a pediatric facility, they might already have that.

I took my 18 month old daughter to have blood drawn. The first place we went, the nurses were terrible and couldn’t get it even though they said she had “good veins”. Make sure to ask your doctor for a recommended, pediatric-specific drawing facility! When I got up the nerve to try again in a new place, they were great and she never even shed a tear. I don’t know about 4-year-olds, but the video clip sounds like it would be a great distraction. Whipping out an exciting toy right before or during the procedure might cause her to wiggle more than you’d like. Good luck!

You may not like my answer: Drug her.
I have a serious needle phobia, due in part because my mother used to lie to us when we went to get shots. She’d tell us we were going to get ice cream. Then we’d end up at the vax clinic. I remember being manhandled, told to calm down, teased for crying, held roughly, etc. It’s so bad, that when I got my blood drawn for college, I hit the technician who grabbed my arm to get blood. I almost clocked a dentist too, who never wanted to see me again.
Take her fear seriously. If she can articulate what she doesn’t like about needles, try to get her to do so. If distraction is enough for her, that’s great. For me, distraction doesn’t work at all.
If one dose of an anti-anxiety medication can calm her down enough to accept the needle, then it’s worth it, imo.

My son has been hospitalized numerous times and we have had some nightmare blood work experiences. We learned when he was in the NICU that sugar does help with the pain - so a lollipop is a good idea.

Being honest and telling her the truth about what is going to happen - as well as the people working with you telling the truth - will help. Kids feel betrayed when adults tell them it won’t hurt when it does hurt. We have had success explaining what kind of hurt it will be - and for how long.

On our last hospital stay we opted to use topical anesthetic cream to numb the skin. You need a prescription for this - and it has to be applied before the visit because it takes time to work.

My son also likes the person working with us to tell him exactly what they are going to be doing as they are doing it (I am going to clean your arm with an antiseptic wipe. It will feel cold. I am going to start now.) And we are in full agreement with the stretchy stuff put over cotton instead of a bandage - doesn’t hurt to take it off at all. I hope things go smoothly.

I can confirm the sugary stuff!  I work on policies and procedures for our nursing department at a hospital.  They give the babies undergoing procedures (circumcision included) 25% sucrose 75% water starting approx 15 minutes before the procedure and it is given in continual doses.  Also pacifiers (but Z probably has no interest in that at her age).  Supposedly it helps reduce the pain - not sure WHY exactly, but I know it is common practice in our hospital NICU, Newborn Nursery and Special Care Nursery.

my son is 7 and has had a lot of blood work done. there is no way around it, you just have to hold them down. some kids do better than others, mine is, well, dramatic. i sit in the chair and hold him down while one person holds his arm still and the other draws the blood.  he normally won’t use that arm the rest of the day but after it’s done, he says it was only a pinch (than why i am deaf in that ear, lol)

My son has undergone four surgeries in his short life. The child life specialists at the hospital use dolls to role play what will happen.  Do you have a syringe at home?  Play with Z’s favorite stuffed animal.  Draw blood from its arm, use a tourniquet, etc.  Then let Z do it. Familiarize her as much as possible. Be honest. Take that same toy to the doctor with you.  Ask the pediatric phlebotomist to draw blood from the toy first.

I work at a children’s hospital and we have a Web site for kids that explains blood draws. It says it’s for kids 5+, but it may still help?

http://www.lpch.org/kids/index.html

I don’t know if you have a problem with this, but we found that using the numbing agent on my son’s arm helped a LOT - if he was then distracted by the DVD player, he didn’t even notice.
The stuff doesn’t help with shots into the muscle, but it seems to do a pretty good job when it’s just up top.  we had to get a prescription - my doctor used a brand name for it, I can’t remember what, but the tube says lidocaine and prilocaine cream, 2.5%/2.5% on it, maybe your doctor would know what to write an Rx for to get it.  You have to put it on an hour ahead of time in a thick visible layer and cover it with a large clear bandage they call a tegaderm, you can get them at the pharmacy (that’s the easiest route, although if you dont’ want to buy tegaderm, you can get away with saran wrap wrapped around the arm and held on with masking tape - ask me how i know! ) That was the hardest part for me - my kids wanted to pull the wrapping off so I had to make sure they were wearing long sleeves and I kept them distracted until the appointment. It does feel a little funny for them as it goes numb, but that’s not too bad.
Seriously, though - if you can make it painless or at least less painful, maybe it won’t be something she fears, you know? :-/ And totally distract her with a portable DVD player - I don’t like to use TV and that’s one instance I had no hesitation in using it.

Adding - I just looked more closely at the numbing cream we have here - under the generic name of lidocaine and prilocaine, it says “substituted for EMLA” - that’s what my doctor calls it.  EMLA.  stands for something, but I’m not sure what.
We also of course talked him through the whole thing as it happened and told him what to expect so he wouldn’t be startled or scared by nurses doing something suddenly.  Well, we told them to talk too, and we kind of reiterated what they said.

If Z is anything like Roo, I wouldn’t give her a heads-up or she’ll be worrying about it until the moment blood is drawn and stressing herself and both of you out, too. I would explain the need for the procedure when you get out of the car and into the clinic, when she knows there’s something up. Try to be up front but reassure her that it’s not going to be forever and you will be proud of her. And then produce the lollipop…

My husband was told that it if you are well-hydrated it makes it easier for them to find vein. Since then, I’ve always given my kids an extra beverage beforehand if they’re having blood drawn.

When my daughter was about a year old, they were trying to draw blood. When they had trouble finding a vein, they put a warm compress over her arm for a while, which was supposed to make it easier. (Although by that time, she was totally freaked out and would scream if they came near her, so we didn’t do it that day).

I second all of the recommendations for asking for someone who is experienced with drawing blood on children. That can really make a big difference.

I agree that you must stay calm and not exhibit you are nervous. Kids pick up on this very well. Whenever I sit with my 2 year old to get a shot he is fine, but once I allowed my husband to do it and he was nervous and my son cried and squirmed. So be confident, have her sit on your lap gently but firmly hold her other arm and the best advice from the above is ask for a really good nurse (phlebologist?) who is experienced and good with kids. Good Luck.

My son has had numerous blood draws to check meds levels (for epilepsy) from age two to six.  We call getting one a “pinch” because that’s what the lab techs say, “OK, here’s a pinch”.

We prepare him morning of, so there’s no sleepless worrying.  We explain that it will hurt, but the hurt goes away fast.  That his arm is going to be held out, and he’ll be sitting on mom’s lap.

If you can, go to a children’s hospital lab for it.  There deal with kids all day long, and have more experience with the crying, wiggling, etc., and usually have big chairs made for mom to sit in and hold the child.  I usually end up wrapping one of my legs around/over his to cut down on the squirming—it’s a big cuddle!

Oh, and if she likes being sung to, sing during the draw.  It can have an amazing calming effect.

Then, aferwards, there’s the reward of a donut!

I’m 33, have no kids, and I still have mild anxiety attacks when having blood drawn or medical procedures described to me.  I’m better off not knowing what is coming.  Something else that helps is thinking about a “happy” time when I was in a hospital or medical setting.  I know that seems odd, but my dad is a pharmacist and worked in a hospital for most of my childhood.  Thinking about and visualizing going to visit him and seeing his office, jumping down the colored dots in the hallways etc. really helps me calm myself down.  I know most people don’t have happy experiences with doctors, but maybe there’s a tv show or movie she’s seen that could help.  Anything to distract her from what is really going on.

I will reiterate a common theme here - make sure you get a very good technician.  It makes all the difference in the world.  We live in the suburbs of Chicago and will drive into the city for my daughter’s regular blood draws to the Children’s Hospital because the technicans there are so used to dealing with kids, and they will have the toys and the right chairs for you to sit in so you can hold her properly.  It’s easier if both of you are there, so one can hold and the other can distract.  I also cover up the area very quickly and take her out in the hallway so she understands there’s no more.  She’s only 20 months so I can’t do any “explaination” or preparation, but you’ve got some good suggestions here.

When you check in, ask to have the lab tech that is the most comfortable / competent working with pediatric patients.  It’s a huge help if the technician isn’t nervous or uncomfortable with a squirming or crying child!  Better yet, it’s even more helpful if they have lots of experience working with little ones.

I also have been through this with my son.  I agree with the earlier comment to make sure that the technician is experienced with kids’ tiny veins.  I think it would also help her to be able to watch you do it first, if possible.  Do you need to have any blood work done - cholesterol, allergy tests, etc?  I think my son is so patient about it because he’s seen me have blood drawn and get shots many times.  You could also practice with doctor toys.  We have a toy syringe that squeaks, which my kids just love. Finally, don’t mention the word, “hurt,” as in “this will just hurt a little bit.” Instead just matter-of-factly explain that she is having blood drawn and why, and talk up a reward - something she really wants - for afterward (whether or not she behaves).  During the procedure, have her avert her eyes - distract her into looking elsewhere.

Good luck, kid!  It took two or three Navy corpsmen and me to hold you down when you needed any kind of procedure.  Sorry I traumatized you and didn’t do all the things suggested here.  Actually, I did try most of them, but the bottom line is that she may need to find out that sometimes something has to hurt in order to help you feel better.  Parents have to be the bad guys sometimes, and hope and pray that the kid doesn’t grow up and resent them :-) I think talking about the fact that it will hurt a little and helping her learn to cope and then holding her down if necessary is the best route.  OH, and sure, a little candy or other reward for possible bravery can’t hurt....

I have had 2 of my children allergy tested.  Actually a couple of different times.  We started with the scratch test which was recommended by an FNP.  It was awful and it gave us more positive results than the blood test did.  I had to hold my 2 year old and then my 1 year old tightly while they screamed. 

When I talk with to the Pediatrician about the test he asked why we hadn’t just done a blood test?  Which we did that day on both of my children.  My oldest, T, Is all right with anything as long as he knows what to expect, but I still had to help hold him down while they got the needle in his arm--after which he actually watched the blood go through the tube.  He was tested again at age 3 and he talked about the experience for a long time afterwards and thought it was actually pretty cool.
My second son, D, had to be restrained the whole time the needle was in his arm, but he was only 12 months at the time.

Like I said earlier, we got several false positive results with the scratch test, so it was a relief to get more accurate results with the blood test.

Since this test is really necessary, it’s better to just get through it as fast as possible, and then treat her with something she loves afterwards.  All kids are scared of needles, and the pain only lasts a little while.

My daughter needed to have her blood drawn at 18months.  That young there was no being able to explain it to her ahead of time.

The tech who did the blood draw was very good and child friendly.  We told D what was happening as it was done.

I sat in the chair with her on my lap, and her arm was strapped down to imobilize it.  Unfortunately, she hates to be restrained and was so upset by that, I don’t think she even noticed the blood draw it self.

My advice is:
1. Children take their cues from us so do your best to remain calm. 

2. Be comfortable with the person performing the draw.

3. Bring a snuggle toy or distraction, Lollipops are always good too.

4. Explain ahead of time, but close to the event rather than let her worry over night.

You have had a ton of great suggestions, the best of which I think is staying calm yourself.  You know Z best.  Will she do better with an in-depth explanation ahead of time?  My kids definitely did.  I just took my 3-year-old twins for a blood draw last Saturday for a cholesterol screen (due to family history).  I didn’t tell them anything the night before, then when they got up in the morning we talked about the test.  We actually ended up turning it into a “science experiment” to see what color their blood would be and if it would be the same color as their brother’s.  Because it was a fasting test, they also got to choose to either go out to breakfast or stop for a doughnut afterward.  Good luck!  Please report back to let everyone know how it goes.

I agree with suggestions to use a numbing cream.  EMLA cream, or a generic brand (lidocaine/prilocaine cream) - you put it on the skin 1 hour before.  Or, there’s LMX cream that works in 20 minutes.  Prescriptions are needed. I’ve used EMLA on my now 21 month old son on a weekly (now every 3 weeks) basis for a year now, when accessing his central line to receive his chemotherapy.  My brave little man doesn’t even bat an eye… except to flirt with the nurses!

My 3 year old had the pin pricks done and the pediatric allergy doc was great. He did it so fast my daughter didn’t even move. Dad just kept talking to her thru it. Took about 10 seconds to test 15 things. I also find a calm parent helps. Kids have a way of channeling their parents fear. Good luck!

Hi,
My 20 month old has food allergies- Egg, Nuts, Peanuts. There was an article out recently in the NY Times about food allergies and testing for them. Check with your doctor, but, food challenge test are the most reliable, according to the article. They say the blood test is wrong about 50% of the time- in dectecting and not decting. That is huge percentage especially whenyou are considering what getting a blood draw from a child may be like. I thin I still have the link if you need it. Just see if there is another way maybe?

My experience with kids and needles is from being an Emergency Room nurse - and we are not very nice.  In general, we are only poking kids because they really, really need it, and consequently, it seems a lot of my experiences involve pinning a kid down. That said, I have a few suggestions …

First off, kids whose parents are calm do MUCH MUCH MUCH better.  Z will surely feed off your energy - if you are panic ridden, she will be; if you are matter-of-fact she will be much more capable of listening.

Don’t lie.  It’s going to hurt, don’t pretend it wont.

Anticipation is frequently the worst part of the ordeal.  Z MIGHT be old enough to understand what is going on and process the information, but most kids her age really aren’t ready yet. 7 year olds usually really want to know everything you are going to do in detail and can participate. For kids this age, I have found it is better to not talk about it until the last minute - and get the horrible thing over as quickly as possible (a huge exception here is for kids that need to regularly have medical procedures; studies have shown that, at any age, they will do much better with role playing, etc beforehand).  Really, you are going to be the best judge of your child about this - role play and discuss or give the barebones info at the last possible moment.

Don’t be shy about asking for a competent phlebotimist - if you aren’t comfortable with them, Z isn’t going to be either.

Distractions and bribery are highly underrated.  TV, DVDs, lollipop, toys - whatever you’ve got.

A couple notes on previous comments:

Drugs - kids can react dramatically different to anti-anxiety meds than adults, so if she hasn’t taken them before, I wouldn’t try it now.

Topical numbing creams (EMLA): while these do help to decrease the pain they have a couple drawbacks.  One is that they decrease blood flow, so they make the veins smaller (and harder to find). The other drawback is that you need to put them on about 30 minutes before the blood draw - which means giving Z a very tangible reminder that she is about to undergo something painful.

Being well hydrated definitely helps - just watch out you don’t overdue it and she needs to pee a dozen times while in the clinic :)

Warm compresses can also help, this time of year it’s a good idea to make sure her arms are warm (helps bring the blood to the surface).

Hope some of that might be helpful and that things go really well on Monday.  Good luck, can’t wait to hear all about it.

Our 4-year-old son just had his 4-year checkup which included 4 immunizations in one visit.  Obviously, his last shot was just a flu shot, a distant memory (and it didn’t hurt). 

Our pediatrician told us to let him sit in our lap, and to gently but firmly hold him still.  My husband brought his iPhone and let him watch favorite cartoons before and during.  I also used a tactic I have to use myself when I get shots or have blood drawn (I’m a big fainter)—DON’T look at the needle or what the nurse is doing, as that makes it worse, in my opinion.  We gave him something to focus on on the opposite side of where the nurse was so he wouldn’t shrink back when he saw the needle coming at him. 

It is not easy—never has been, never will be—but it’s soon all over, and a treat afterward never hurts, either.  :)

Best of luck to you.

I definitely second anyone who said get an experienced tech!!  Someone who is comfortable with children.  I just took my 8 mo. old for the same blood work (we were concerned about a food allergy).  They actually had to do it in 2 parts 2 days apart because she’s a baby.  I was a wreck, but they had 2 techs help (one to do the stick and one to hold her arm still) while I held her and I could tell by A’s cry that the only really painful part was the initial stick.  When I went back for the last half, however, it was a nightmare.  The tech doing the draw kept adjusting the needle once it was in and his helper blamed it on the baby moving!  When they were done he realized he didn’t get enough blood and we had to do it all over!  Awful!  So get someone experienced with children!!! On a good note, she was pretty much over it by the time we got to the car! :) Pic post blood work:
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/bucketphoto79/100_2431-2-1-1.jpg
Good luck and ehugs for Z!!!

It looks like you’ve gotten lots of good advice (sorry that I don’t have time to read it all). I recently did blood work with my 4yo daughter and have some things that did and didn’t work with her.
We told her in advance (the morning of) that she was going to get blood drawn. She was horrified, and asked if it would hurt; I said that it would probably hurt a little, and then offered her a small toy that she had been eyeing at the local store, asking if it might help. She agreed that it would, but also talked about being afraid. I also needed blood drawn that day, so she sat with me while I had mine done, and we talked frankly about it for a while. When it was her turn, she was super brave… until she wasn’t. We stopped once, and I tried to talk to her, but she had gotten a bit upset and wasn’t likely to calm back down. So I held her in my lap, and restrained her with one arm while one nurse held her arm still and the other nurse drew her blood. She cried quite loudly (breaking my heart) the whole time she had the needle in, but calmed down almost immediately afterward. It didn’t take that long, but to tell her it won’t hurt is or can be a lie, especially when some less experienced techs do it a little sloppily (they had some trouble finding her vein at first, which didn’t help). Bring your own bandaids, brace yourself that she may cry, and know that restraining her might be the kindest thing you can do for your Z.  good luck!

You can tell her quite truthfully that it hurts WAY less than a shot, and that it’s really more UNCOMFORTABLE rather than painful.

It feels a bit like a pinch, so she can practice pinching a Teddybear, you, and her finger. Tell her she only needs to count to 10, and the uncomfortable part will be over.  Practice counting to 10!

It’s also SAFER for her than vaccines, so you can worry less, too, and she’ll pick up on that.

Best of luck, and I hope you are able to find answers.  I also hope they run the correct tests!  If they are looking for gluten intolerance/celiac disease, they need to run a celiac panel (IgA, IgG, TtG, EmA, and one other, I can’t remember which), not a wheat allergy test.  If you are seeing an allergist, it is likely that he will NOT know this, as celiac/gluten intolerance is not an allergy.