Medical morning

[cjsmith]

This morning's agenda kept me hopping:

- Blood draw for Lyme disease test
- Doctor appointment with my GP, which earned me...
- Blood draw for vitamin D levels and a very detailed cholesterol panel

And guess what I did? Am I doing better or WHAT?

I

WATCHED.

A half hour later my blood pressure was still a touch lower than expected, so yeah, there are effects, but overall I'm getting so much better about needles and suchlike. (I do, however, have a new bruise inside each elbow.)

Comments

[dafydd.livejournal.com]

Not that it matters at all, but I can stare at the needle in my arm, provided I don't actually watch it going in! Back when I could donate blood, I used to play cheerleader to the folks in the chairs next to me.

[jupiter29.livejournal.com]

I don't mind the needle in my arm, I don't get the least bit squeamish. But usually when I get blood drawn, it would take the nurse 2-4 sticks before she would hit a vein. So I was usually staring at it the whole time, just willing the blood to start flowing. :)

More importantly, though, good for you!

[layer.livejournal.com]

yay! i will probably never be able to look at it (and definitely never able to watch it go in). great progress.

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

I always tell them I don't look - but at least I don't faint. One time the person taking blood said they didn't look either and I laughed!

When do you get the results of all these tests?

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

I used to be hysterical when drawing blood (kid), then I had to get used to shots when my teeth problems kicked in, and then I finally got to the point where I could get blood drawn fairly calmly, without feeling faint even.

What really helped was getting this one old nurse at Camino Medical who had probably been drawing blood since they first developed needles, if not blood. She came in with a bored expression, did the wipe, cuff, I'm waiting for her to stick me with the needles and- "done, take this up front".

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

hurray!!!!! this is wonderful news!!!! what a major milestone for you!

[ericainohio.livejournal.com]

Boy, they just don't make a Hallmark card for this one, do they?

"Congratulations on watching your blood draw!"

Heh.

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

Congrats on getting better about needles and such!! Go you!

I hope the test results are good news.

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

Good for you! (I've been getting worse -- when I could donate I used to watch, now when they draw just a few vials I look away.) Hope they learn ... some thing useful.