EMLA cream

[francine]

Jennifer - what will you be using it for?

Because if you are using it for vaccinations and such, you can have your pediatrician prescribe it so that you can put it on in advance and get there with the arm/leg numb already. (You just need to call the docs office to ask them exactly where to put the EMLA)

If you want it for TCH for surgery - well you can't bring your own there. Your doc has to prescribe it and the nurses have to administer it.

If you get it at home please read the insert very carefully. It is very potent and there are risks and you must follow the instructions.

-francine

[francine]

Then call radiology and talk to them about it in advance so that they get you there in enough time to put the EMLA cream on - it takes an hour for it to get fully numb and they have to put it on in a few places in case they can't get the IV in the first time or first site. EMLA causes some swelling so it may make it harder to insert the IV (for some nurses)- you may want to ask for the "pediatric IV team" to do the IV.

Hope things go well!
-francine