Help! My autistic daughter is TERRIFIED of the doctor!?

Question

My daughter had to get stitches in her leg and now needs to get them out. The problem is she was so traumatized by getting the stitches that I don't know how I can have them removed without her totally freaking out.

The reason the whole experience was so traumatic to begin with is because the doctor didn't seem to give the anesthetic time to kick in before he started sewing her up. My husband and a nurse had to hold her down so the doctor could stitch her up. It seems like the numbing finally kicked in when the doctor was almost done. I would have stopped the doctor from stitching her up had I known that she wasn't just freaking out for seemingly no reason (which can happen with autistic children).

Anyway, the stitches have been in far too long--these are the kind that don't dissolve--and they need to come out NOW. I don't know what to do because I think things might be getting infected--I am not sure. Anytime my little girl hears about going to the doctors office she starts crying and saying that it's my turn to go. She is terrified of ALL doctors now. This was never the case until she had the stitches put in. In fact, I took her to have an eye looked at, because I thought she had pinkeye, and she wouldn't even stand on the scale. She SCREAMED the entire time and wouldn't even sit still.

My husband and I thought we would take the stitches out by ourselves when she was asleep but she wakes up the second we try to touch her leg, and this is with melatonin in her system. I am at my wits end.

WHAT CAN I DO? Has anyone else experienced this with their autistic child? What did you do?

Should I use iodine to clean the wound before trying to remove the stitches myself?

Answer 1

Tell her that the doctor isn't going to hurt her and it's going to be fine, and her leg will be all better when he's done. Wait for the numbing to kick in before letting the doctor start this time. Tell her you'll be there, and hold her hand. If she starts to freak out, you may have to hold her down, but it'll be worth it in the end. Also, try distracting her. Autistic children often have obsessions with certain things, so whatever she likes, talk to her about it the entire time.
If the doctor can, you may want him to put her to sleep while taking out the stitches so she won't feel anything and won't be scared.
Hope I helped!

Answer 2

I am going to preface this answer by saying that I don't believe a single, solitary, word of your story. Regardless, my answers, below, are for anyone who might lack common sense and consider doing what you propose, in an effort to stop them before trouble strikes.

First, under NO circumstance should you perform ANY kind of medical procedure, no matter what the situation is. Besides being considered "practicing medicine without a license" in virtually every State in the USA, if something goes wrong, you will wind-up calling an ambulance, and then, in this scenario, you might be arrested for child abuse (try explaining the blood pouring out of your child's leg as the act of concerned parents; good luck with that).

Second, a doctor who relies on the parents to hold the child down, rather than his own assistants, should be given a reprimand and kicked-out of the medical profession.

Third, why were the stitches in for "far too long"??? Why didn't you follow the doctor's orders, and return the child to remove them at the appointed time? Why didn't you call the doctor about it? If only bad parents could be kicked-out of parenting!

Fourth, you're not even medically qualified to know whether the stitches are infected or not, and yet you ask total strangers whether it's okay to put iodine on it, not to mention that you dosed your child with melatonin, whose benefits are dubious to begin with???

Fifth, yeah, why don't you and your husband stealthily remove the stitches on your own? Even a healthy child will be permanently traumatized by the sight of his/her parents slicing into him/her (ever try taking a splinter out of a COOPERATIVE child???). And, please, invite me to the proceedings, because I'd love to see one of you try to hold her down, while the other cuts the stitches! Fun, fun, fun!

I pray this was a work of fiction (I love the fact that you added the "pinkeye", as if to bolster the already unconvincing fabrication), because, if not, you are very near to being the worst parents I hope never to encounter, because, if I do, I will report you to social services.

P.S. SHAME on those who gave medical advice to a layman, whether you're allegedly in the medical industry or not, or just a troll hoping to cause a newsworthy incident (not to mention those of you who "bought" this absurd story).

Answer 3

You didn't mention how old she was. Depending on her age, I would suggest medicating her more before going to sleep so that you can take out the stitches yourself. Speak to your pediatrician about what type of medication would be safe in conjunction with the type she is currently using & to find out the proper dosage for age/weight.

After the removal of the stitches, make a "checkup" appt with your doctor and bring her with you. Tell your doctor beforehand that your trying to help your daughter cope with her fear and hopefully your doctor will be cool with letting your daughter 'help' examine you. Try to make it fun so her next dr. appt won't be so scary.
Good Luck!

Answer 4

Can you get a house call from a doctor. But don't tell your daughter that they are a dr? Just tell her that they are your friends. Either that or does she have a comfort thing or food that you could take with you. Maybe your doctor could sedate her while removing the stitches.

Answer 5

I'm sure this will get bad ratings...but how would you feel taking them out on your own? All you have to do is run alcohol over the stitches to make sure they are clean and the liquid will loosen them a little, then snip with scizzors, and pull them out.

Answer 6

I agree with the first answer, I would remove them myself, they are so easy to take out. I have done it. Make sure you clean it real good and put a ointment on it called Bicatracin.