Annual Blood Draws- my secret weapon

Traditionally, lab work consists of multiple sticks, a few tears, and more than one incompetent phlebotomist (or a trainee). It's a miserable doctor's trip that I dread every winter. But this year was different....

Today was my annual lab work and x-rays. As usual, I've been nervous all day! But, this time I had a secret weapon... my RN. Last time I visited the doctor, I commented on how nervous I was about having my lab work done before the next visit. My RN casually mentioned how good she was at drawing blood and how she would be glad to do it for me.

I have no idea if she was serious, but I took it to heart.

So I called her yesterday asking if she was still up for doing my lab work and if she would be available as soon as the following day. Within an hour, she had gotten everything scheduled for me!

So today, I drove to the Children's Sub-Specialty clinic and meet my RN there. She signed me in, takes me back to a room, and prepares the 7 vials, 2 with foil and one with ice. Before she left to meet me, my other RN warned her how difficult (me and) my veins can be. Luckily, she was up for the challenge.

She prepares my arm as all past nurses have: alcohol wipes to clean it off, rubber tourniquet, and slaps the crook of my arm a few times. She finds a vein (amazingly!!), opens the needle, and slides it in. It was as painless as it could be. She pulls 7 vials of blood in record time, removes the needle, and presses the gauze down. Done.

It was record time and record painlessness. I have NEVER had lab work done so well before. Rarely in one stick and never without difficulty. Until today. I asked my RN if she could possibly do it for me every year! She has a gift.

Finding someone who can pull blood from me without difficult and with little pain is finding a needle in a haystack... and I found her. :]

X-Rays were easy of course as was the sputum culture. Actually, it was all easy today. So unusual! Official doctor's appointment on Tuesday at 9am. As usual, a full report after that.

-Andrea

Reason #581 I'm not going to Med School

So I've got the PICC line in and they have to change the dressing (bandages) on it every week. Today was the day. Did I mention the tape is *extremely* painful to take off? And it makes me really nervous when the nurse peels it back because it's so close to the LINE GOING INTO MY ARTERY? I thought I was going to be sick today when she changed it. Pain + fear = revisiting lunch. This nurse is fantastic, don't get me wrong, but my stomach has been less than iron these past few days. Luckily, lunch kept it's natural route south and I was ok. The same thing happened sophomore year when having my annual blo.od work done. They pull an INSANE amount of blo.od from my arm. Plus it hurts and I'm anxious... and I remember that there were 3 prisoners in the room because one of them was pregnant... that didn't help my situation.

Anyway. Med school. Not for me. Noooo siree. If I could even make it through med school, the only field I would have any desire to work in, I can't. So no thanks!

However, I do have VERY preliminary, yet nevertheless exciting news. I'm in contact with the director of fundraising in the East Texas/NW LA for the CF foundation and I'm coordinating a meet with her to talk about what the Magnet soccer teams can do to raise money for research! I'm *BEYOND* excited. I had always wanted to do something but always found options out of my reach. Then dearest Alissa told me that she wants to help out and we're going to get the soccer team, and school clubs, to organize and work a walk/run or something. I can't wait to see what this team can do, on and off the field!!! :]

That's the brief update for today.

-Andrea

The Adventures of Room 521

Day 1:

I had to wait until 2:40 to get my PICC line put in, but it's in. And I did it without any mind-altering to calm me down. I'm *really* proud of myself. I just took my iPod with me to the radiology room and listened to the guys jokes while putting it in. It went well.

I had quite a number of visitors today. That always makes me happy. And I got 2 of the IV treatments in yesterday. My arm was pretty sore but that was expected. I took some ibuprofen and went on with my day.

Overall, everything was fine. My day was a little stressful and nerve-racking, but we're ok now! :]
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Day 2:
How is ANYONE suppose to get better in a hospital if they can't get any sleep?? lol I mean really. People in all through the night checking oxygen levels and temperatures. Really people, I'm fine. I promise. I came into the hospital feeling fine and I'll leave that way too.

Chris has a fever so he won't be back today. :[ I appreciate his efforts on not getting me sick, but I'll still miss him.

The word is that I'll be out Wednesday afternoon. YAY! That means back to school on Thursday and Friday.

Today has been pretty mellow. Oh! But my arm doesn't really hurt anymore. It did when I used it a lot to pull my hair back and when I dried it after my shower, but in general, it doesn't hurt at all. That's more good news. :]

Lunch is here. The food here isn't bad. Yay Sutton's!

-Andrea

:]