Flu madness

[Ellain]

It being flu season, my pharmacy has had a steady stream of people wanting to be vaccinated. Most of the time, they are patient and courteous. This person was an exception.

Having just clocked in for the day, I put on my bright, shiny smile and greet the first customer of the day. First words out of his mouth?

"I want to make a complaint! This just isn't right. I demand recompense or I'm going to my lawyer!"

I backed away slooowly from the rabid beast and called over my manager. After some prodding, she was able to ascertain the source of his anger. He had gotten a flu shot a month ago, and still had a bruise where the pharmacist had "jabbed" him.

Now, in this particular situation, there is nothing we can do to satisfy him immediately. We must:

1. Contact his primary care physician.

2. Send a report to the CDC, detailing the problem.

3. Send a report to our central office, who will investigate then decide whether or not to compensate him.

My boss explained this to him. He put up a huge fuss.

"Don't call my doctor! I don't want to talk to them, they don't need to know about this!" Etc, etc.

"Why do you have to contact the CDC? just forget about it and give me my money!"

"I don't want to talk to no person in an office, you fix this here and now!"

Eventually the store manager had to come down to explain all this to him again. Finally, they sit him down and have him answer some questions for the CDC report. He couldn't say when he noticed the bruise. Rather, he answered about 4 contadictory ways. There were other questions he had trouble with as well, but I forget what they were.

After nearly an hour, he shuffled off.

What made us laugh? He was 70 years old, and the "bruise" was an age spot.

[Kristev]

Oh my word.

[shadowpanda]

*Head desk*
People who are like this make my head hurt. Them, and the collision of wood and my noggin!

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Quick note here: we are not here to discuss the merits of vaccinations or the controversy surrounding them. We are here to discuss the OP's story.

I think there might be a website kicking around here somewhere where it's allowed...nay, encouraged...to call people on either side of the debate idiots and whatnot.

We now return you to your regular programming.

[Frantic Freddie]

If you clench your muscles when you get the shot it'll bruise.

I'm 54,I hope I don't turn into an asshole when I'm 70.

[MoonCat]

Next time they should give him the shot in the ass. Then he won't be able to see any bruises, er, age spots...

[teh_blumchenkinder]

See, I'd complain if what happened to my Dad happened to me.
What happened to Dad:
Back in 2003, Dad was still in the U.S. Air Force (paralegal/JAG office type). At the time, anthrax was a big thing. (Yeah remember that?) So, everyone got shots for it.
The injection site swelled up like he was a weightlifter-- and it was green. So, for about a spread-hand's worth of his upper right bicep, he looked like the Hulk.

It went away after a few weeks, but people were keeping an eye on it!
But yeah, OP's old guy... I think he was desperate for cash.

[chainedbarista]

desparate for cash and another reason to complain. yay for elderly people who have no life.

[Nashida]

I'd like to know how he got a bruise and an age spot mixed up. Otherwise I'm gonna jump on the desperate for cash bandwagon.

[Soulstealer]

He should see the bruises my family gets when we get a needle for any reason. We seem to have inherited my grandmother's veins. It takes me about a week for my bruising to go away and this includes the one who was a phlebotomist and they can barely find a vein in one arm. My poor grandmother sometimes gets stuck several times because they have trouble finding hers.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

He should see the bruises my family gets when we get a needle for any reason. We seem to have inherited my grandmother's veins. It takes me about a week for my bruising to go away and this includes the one who was a phlebotomist and they can barely find a vein in one arm. My poor grandmother sometimes gets stuck several times because they have trouble finding hers.

I bruise easily myself and the last time I had a flu shot, I had a small bruise for a few days, but no other side effects.

Come to think of it, I wasn't even sore as I've heard some people say can happen after a shot.

Methinks the guy in the OP protests too much.

And MoonCat, he'd have to have an ass in order to get a shot there - if it's not already eroded away from all those years of scratching.

[alowlypotato]

I actually kinda feel bad for the guy. :-/ I mean...it totally sucks that he was ornery, but he probably is that way because his brain's no longer working the way it's supposed to, so life has gotten pretty confusing.

[Ironclad Alibi]

I don't get bruises from needles putting stuff into my body, it's the ones sucking it out that leave a bruise (well, technically a blood blister).

I think there might be a website kicking around here somewhere where it's allowed...nay, encouraged...to call people on either side of the debate idiots and whatnot.

I think I've heard of that web site. Does it start with an "F"?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Why, yes indeedy it does.

[auntiem]

I actually kinda feel bad for the guy. :-/ I mean...it totally sucks that he was ornery, but he probably is that way because his brain's no longer working the way it's supposed to, so life has gotten pretty confusing.

I have to remind myself of this daily (sometimes hourly) - I work CS for an insurance company.

OP - Do you have to report to the CDC because it was a report of an injury or because it was flu-shot related?

(oh, and for those who bruise esp. for blood draws - I do too, but the nurse that takes my blood now uses the butterfly needles for use on children and the bruise is barely noticable)