5th Taxol/Herceptin; student vampires
7 to go. Today went well, and quickly.
Yesterday, the weekly blood test, not so well. Two weeks ago, I got a student. She had to poke me twice to get blood. The next week I got the same student. She was supposed to get someone else after two failures, and mentioned that before the second try, but then she said “do you want me to get someone else or try again”. I foolishly let her try a third time and then she got someone else who did get blood. The student gave me a bruise and a bump.
I vowed if I saw her again, I would just say no. So yesterday… I got a different person who said she was an intern. Sigh. I warned her and then I let her try. At least she was quick about her two tries and then got some guy who had no trouble (and I didn’t have to pay for parking — 30 minutes is free, an hour of letting someone use me for a pin cushion costs $3.)
Sooooo this time I really mean it… I’m gonna say “please give me someone with experience. I can wait a little while. Thanks so much.” I’m gonna try and be brave and just say it upon check in.
Each poke is not so bad, and I used to not mind the blood tests, but each failure is the prospect of a string of failures of unknown duration. Four pokes is TOO MANY. Three was better anyway. Gah. It was seriously starting to freak me out and I’m stupidly stoic. Which is, of course, how I got myself into that position.
Anyway now I’m high on anti side effects drugs again, whee. Don’t be surprised if I leave incoherent comments on your blogs 
Oh, my. Four is definitely too many pokes. Sheesh, you need the experts to do your blood tests!!
Yeah I agree… and this time I really mean it
When I got pregnant the second time I had the doctor write on the very front page, top of my chart, “PATIENT WANTS DRUGS DURING LABOR.” I want you to have them write this on your chart for you — copy this out and say it’s a note from your doctor — this is the sentence:
STUDENTS & INTERNS ARE NOT TO DRAW BLOOD FROM THIS PATIENT, DON’T EVEN ASK!
It’s too hard to say no when they’re smiling in your face.
My niece, the one who’s in jail, had 3 babies in quick succession, then no period for 5 months after a Depo shot. Her first period has now lasted 3 weeks & they had to take her to the ER — she only had 6.5 pints of blood in her body — you’re supposed to have at least 11 I think. They had to put the port in her neck because her veins were collapsing everywhere else. They didn’t even keep her in the hospital for 24 full hours, no diagnosis. Gave her two pints of blood & kept her overnight. Said they were surprised she could still walk.
Hope you’re feeling okay . . .xo
P.S. That was a cheery story, huh? SORRY:)
It’s okay… I just went outside and dug and raked for 15 minutes, to celebrate that none of that happened to me and I’m not in jail!
I feel great, now. I hope your niece gets better soon!
Just found out they moved her from jail to prison today — woohoo — here’s hoping the medical file follows.