Thursday 21 April 2016

Vampire victim or stone?

As I’m kind of confined to barracks with Dusty at the moment, I’m relying heavily on the internet for the special bits and pieces I normally like to shop for.

I don’t always buy Writing Magazine, but I do pick it up now and then as a treat if I go out of town and I particularly wanted May’s issue as I knew Deborah Carr had a piece in there. Delighted to find I could buy a single copy online – so I did. A quick flick through the pages and I see three friends in there, Lynne Hackles, Deborah Carr and Susan Jones – all lovely writing folk. I think I am going to enjoy reading this issue!



How many nurses/phlebotomists does it take to get a couple of phials of blood out of a Teresa? I’ll tell you – six and no it wasn’t five to hold me down while one got the blood.

Have to say it wasn’t six all at once – it happened over about 6 weeks what with having to make another appointment with three different nurses at the surgery each time. I’ve always had awkward veins. Just the mere mention of a needle and they bury themselves deep.

They’ve tried in my arms, my wrist, my hands…

I was awash with water each time, so not dehydrated and I made sure I was warm.

This week I went to the phlebotomy department at the walk in centre twenty miles away (leaving Dusty in safe hands at home) and three lovely ladies tried to get blood – the third succeeded. They were so nice and very kind - and I came away without as much as a bruise which is very unusual for me. I’ve taken a photo of the sweet spot on my arm where the third lady struck gold so if I ever need another one I can show exactly where they need to look.

Must admit I felt like crying when I saw those little tubes fill with blood – at last!

Not looking for sympathy here, just thinking it’s a good example of, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Not that it was my success, but I was on the verge of giving up.

So whatever you're doing, if you want it badly enough, never give up! You'll get there in the end.




26 comments:

  1. Blood tests apart ( and I used to be an expert on taking blood, having learnt on black babies!), I hope you're okay, Teresa? If not, I hope you recover quickly.

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    1. I remember you writing about the babies, Frances. It must be so difficult taking blood from babies. It's just routine tests after having a health check up, although what they're testing me for I don't know as the three nurses I saw each ticked different boxes on my form and crossed some of the others out! xx

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  2. That doesn't sound very pleasant at all Teresa. Hope you okay.

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    1. I don't really mind, Maggie. I've become used to it over the years. I feel sorry for the doctors and nurses when confronted with me :-) xx

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  3. Huge sympathy about your hidden veins. Mine are the same. When I was last in hospital I swear every doctor, nurse and cleaner had a go at trying to get blood out of me.
    Thanks for the mention. Hope you enjoy Writing Magazine.

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    1. In the US they use a special torch which apparently makes the veins show up - wish that had that here. Looking forward to seeing you in the magazine (always do) :-) xx

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  4. I find that some nurses just seem to have the knack while others... well the least said the better!

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    1. I don't blame the nurses at all, Wendy. When I had my MRI last year they eventually had to get a doctor to inject the contrast material into a vein and it took about an hour. I feel so bad for them - they keep apologising. I just wish I wasn't so awkward :-) xx

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  5. So glad they "got you" in the end, Teresa xxx

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    1. Thanks, Pat - I didn't think it was ever going to happen. If I ever need another blood test, I'll go straight to the walk in centre :-) xx

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  6. I really sympathise, Teresa, as my veins hide too. I always feel so sorry for the nurses because it takes up so much of their time and they keep apologising to me even though it isn't their fault. I gave blood once, but they could only squeeze out a quarter of a pint and that took an hour.

    I hope you're all right and that you enjoy reading Writing magazine. It was always one of my favourites and I must treat myself to a copy again. xxx

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    1. I know what you mean, I feel sorry for them too and I keep apologising for my lack of veins. I only ever had one nurse get stroppy with me though and that was last year.
      I am looking forward to a quiet sit down at some time over the weekend with the magazine :-) xx

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  7. Oh dear. Exhausting for you and so glad you managed to find somebody who 'managed you' in the end. And yes, never give up and you'll get there eventually. So lovely that the nurses were kind (except for the stroppy one last year - as if it was your fault, cheek). Would you think Writing Magazine is the most informative? :-) xx

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    1. Thanks, Sue :-) I wouldn't like to say - If I'm getting a writing magazine, I usually choose according to what's on the cover xx

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  8. I always seem to have difficulty giving blood samples too. I always hope for a good phlebotomist. Our local surgery used to have a really terrible one who ended up having to call the doc to help her. He got the blood first time, but i was black and blue!

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    1. That must have been horrible, Jenny. I think the hospital phlebotomists who are doing it all the time have a better chance with people like us xx

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  9. Glad they didn't bruise you and you're ok. Good idea to take a photo.:)xx

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  10. I do hope all those needles pay off in the end, Teresa!

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  11. Giving a blood sample shouldn't hurt, but sometimes it does. I once had a phial taken from the top of my elbow rather than the usual inside place (I wonder if there's a medical name for that bit). It REALLY hurt! I hope you don't feel to battered.

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    1. That sounds very painful, Julia - never heard of them taking it from there before. It's a very sensitive spot xx

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  12. I do sympathise, having reluctant veins myself, it's unpleasant when they can't get blood out and have to poke around. Glad they eventually got some.

    The online version of Writing Magazine is ideal, especially if you only want an issue occasionally- like the twice yearly competition special.

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    1. There are a lot of us, Carol. I'm glad I'm not alone, but sorry so many of you have problems too.
      I often buy the competition specials, then forget to enter any of the competitions (sigh). I'll have to give one of the digital issues a go :-) xx

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  13. Glad it's not only me then. I end up having lots, especially if they're young, (not to be ageist) nurses smacking the area to find a vein. Last time I went, they told me the right arm, in a certain spot is the best. Thanks for the mention, and hope you enjoy reading Writing Magazine. I subscribe and it's always exciting when it lands through the letterbox. And Lynne's slot is always my favourite read.

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    1. Smacking can make the veins hide even more (so I'm told). My right arm was the lucky one in the end too. Agree about Lynne - her articles are my favourite too :-) xx

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