Last week I needed a blood draw and an IV infusion for a lab test. I was greeted by a friendly, masked lab technician to draw my blood and insert the needle to set up the IV. As soon as I sat down I told him, “Use my left arm, they always have trouble getting blood out of my right arm.” Then he proceeded to stick the needle in my right arm. I looked at him quizzically while he poked around. Three times before mumbling something which I assume was that he couldn’t find a good vein. Duh.
Same thing then happened as he twice tried sticking a needle in my left arm. Finally, he left the room and brought in the nurse who immediately got the needle in. The photo above shows the bruise from one of the lab technician’s attempt. What strikes me beyond the tech’s incompetence and unwillingness to ask for help sooner, is my own lack of insistence that he try my left arm first and that he get someone else after his first failed attempt. I know I have small or recessed veins and this is often difficult.
Of course there’s the assumption that he’s the expert. That I want to be kind and rally him on thinking, ‘go ahead, stick me again, you’ll get it.” Meanwhile I’m scanning my head on alert for fainting, which I have done before going through this process. The only good news I can take away is I will not let this happen again. Advocating for one’s self isn’t just contained to making sure you get a necessary procedure. Is stating what you know about your own body with as much confidence as we give others to poke and prod it. I encourage you to do the same.
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I try not to mention I’m a hard draw because it intimidates the lab people. But, after the first poke, I finally told her where and what was usually used. She did great and I was impressed.
I also told him to use my left arm because it’s easier, but he ignored me and i still didn’t fight him. I realized how much authority we give HCPs and it is sometimes better if we don’t.
I’ve finally, hopefully, decided this for the ENT I see. EVERY time I visit, he uses this nasal endoscopy thing and it is flipping expensive! I realize it is a grand help in seeing what might be wrong, but it tastes terrible and our insurance only pays about 130 of it. Which leaves several hundred left out of pocket. He never looks in the ears or throat, just one nostril. He’s very nice, but I’d rather just visit the drop in office (not urgent care, they don’t have that in my clinic anymore).
I so get it. So tell him what you think and feel. It’s on us to be part of the partnership.