If you would have listened to me

[Zaiida]

Never had a problem with getting blood drawn though it is funny when they look at my arms and say they may have to try a few times because my veins look difficult. They are always surprised when they get it in the first go.

One thing I don't get is their insistance that I get blood drawn from my non dominant arm - I don't have one. Well I write with my right hand but my left arm does everything else and they still insist on drawing on my left. It's such a bother when I go to use my arm for a few days, I'm bruised and in pain (my body does not like intruisions it can overreact to it). I don't do anything with my right arm other than write so why don't they use that?.

Last time I had blood drawn it made me double take when it came out a very dark, dark brown. First time that has happened. I knew I had coffee running through my veins and now I have proof.

[wagegoth]

I've had good luck with former medics. They seem to be the only ones who can get the veins in my arm.

[Mishi]

I have had a nurse try to start an IV in my wrist, miss and end up in the tendon, and have the nerve to argue with me that it didn't hurt.....

Me too! It was my inner elbow, not my wrist though and she got quite annoyed with me. The only place that is good for tests is my left inner elbow, the vein tries to hide and if you want more than one vial, it has to be done with a 23g + a butterfly. As for IVs, my left wrist and hand have the only good veins.

The last blood test I had, the phlebotomist was polite until she saw what it was for, then she was extremely bitchy with me right up until I wished her a good weekend as I was leaving. She was lucky that she only needed one vial because she blew the vein and the bruising is finally almost gone after two weeks. Oh noes, a young lady is having a quantitive HCG...she must be a slut and thus is worth of derision.

[PepperElf]

had to have an IV in for a while to combat dehydration. they tried my hands and couldn't get anything.

finally they said, we will try one more vein and if we can't get it we'll have to go to your elbow and you'll be immobilized.

thankfully that last being was a good one - one in my right forearm.

[Shalom]

Those of you who have read my previous posts on the subject know that I am a total needle-phobic, to the extent that I freak out just thinking about needles and elbows.

So I just had a blood draw last Friday. The details are a bit hazy after seven Valiums (does that pluralize as Valia? I wonder) but even under that much sedation, I wouldn't let them use my elbows. Told the guy I had really nice veins in my right (dominant) hand, why not try there? He said, fine by me. I looked in the other direction, and he stuck me with this tiny needle. Barely felt it. Didn't even freak out. Two days later and you couldn't even see where he got me without a magnifying glass. Thank God for benzodiazepines...

(Of course then I had to have them call me a cab to get me and my bicycle home. I'd taken the Valium on the way, figuring on the usual time to onset being about as long as it would take me to get there, and I timed it just about right, the effect beginning a half block away from the place (which had the amusing effect of me calling three times to remind me of the address, which I kept forgetting as soon as I hung up), but it made for an interesting conversation when I staggered in with the bike.

"You can't bring that bike in here."

"Evidently I can, because I just did. Now if you mean I'm not allowed, that's another question..." Yeah, I get literal sometimes. I put the bike out in the hallway and nothing happened to it. The cab company had to send a minivan so I could fit the bike in the back. I don't remember the ride home at all, but apparently I did get there.)