Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Stuff Happening

Lesson learned: Going to bed at 10:30 PM causes one to wake up for the day at 4:30 AM.

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Tomorrow I have one of my regular appointments with my internist, so that meant a blood-letting. My doctor has recently moved to another practice, so I have had to get used to a whole bunch of new people. I HATE instructing these individuals on how to take care of me, but I'm old enough to know what I want and how it is to be.

I am having problems with one of the lab techs at this office. Yesterday was the second time I have had to have blood drawn by her and I was really hoping I would have had one of the guys instead. The last time she did the draw, I told her to use a butterfly, as every lab tech has done for the last 15-20 years for me. I also pointed out the vein that has been used for the same amount of time--it is the one that works every time a draw is done. (My veins are so bad that you'd think I took the 'sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll' anthem of my youth literally.) Reluctantly, she used a butterfly, but gave some convoluted excuse to hunt for another vein--which she used. Things went fine and I was okay with that. Yesterday, however, she refused to use a butterfly and gave the same half-assed excuse (something about the blood coming too slowly and the sample being unusable) that she did the last time. Instead, she 'wanted to try' with a needle. I was NOT a happy camper. She was lucky that the vein was hit the first time she tried AND that she didn't hurt me.

I don't understand what is with this woman. I'm wondering if it is an ego thing with her or if she just doesn't want to be told what to do by a non-professional. No one else has ever had a problem using a butterfly OR using the vein that is closest to the surface. I have never needed to go back and have a new sample taken because one was unusable. The first time a blood draw is botched will be the day everyone in that office finds out exactly who I am. And no one will ever forget me, that's for sure.

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A guy came to the door yesterday and said our street will be paved today. Finally. A job that was to take three weeks is now in its fourth month. But then they WERE right--the job HAS taken only three weeks, they just haven't been consecutive weeks.

6 comments:

  1. I absolutely LOATHE having my blood taken! I feel your pain!

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  2. It wasn't TOO bad when I knew what to expect, but this woman has changed all that! GRRRRR!!!!!!

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  3. Anonymous6:44 PM

    My doctor apparently was absent when they taught how to draw blood. She will move the needle around in there looking to hit a vein. I was sooo grateful when she let me go to a lab to get blood drawn-it was a breeze.

    My mom sometimes needs a butterfly needle, and the doctor made a mess of it last time-blood on the floor and on the doctor's pants. Good thing I don't faint, because otherwise I'd be on the floor every time my doctor draws blood.

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  4. Even though I have some issues with the tech in the new lab, I'm very grateful that I am able to have blood drawn at the dr's office lab--just as I was able to with his last office. I always had problems with the people who drew blood at the hospital labs. {shudder}

    I once had a tech go at me with a needle and miss veins three different times--twice in one arm and once in the other. She finally got someone else to do the draw. The things we have to put up with. :/

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  5. Anonymous9:51 AM

    makes me feel like a pincushion! I draw the line when they want to try finding a vein on my feet. NO!!

    ReplyDelete

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