What the h-double-hockey-sticks...

gramps · May 24, 2023

I have been a nurse for 52 years, you were not unreasonable. I would stop at two sticks, I then went and got an LPN who used to be our ER nurse, and she would get it on first stick. OTOH if she couldn't get one, she called me, and I would get it on my first stick. Patients have rights! Exercise them my friends.
gramps

tenx100s · May 25, 2023

noahmercy said:
is wrong with the medical establishment these days? Or is it just me?

I went in to get my annual blood draw today. Signed up online and checked the box that said "hard stick". For those unfamiliar with that term, it means it's difficult to get a needle into my veins. The last three times anyone tried, they ended up putting two holes in each arm, leaving me with painful sub-dermal hematomas for a week. Ended up going in the back of my hand (easily) and that is the way I've had draws ever since (about a dozen years now), including an 11 vial and 8 vial draw.

Got to the place, and a young lady who looks about 16 takes my info and starts getting ready to poke me. I remind her there's no way she'll have any luck with my arm and she needs to hit me in the back of a hand. She acts surprised (obviously nobody bothered to note the "hard stick" on my sheet), and says she can't do that and she'll send in a more experienced phlebotomist.

So in comes Ms. tatted-up metal face who looks all of 18. Gets the band on my arm and starts trying to get a vein up on my arm. I explain once again that I do not want to endure minutes of needles being wiggled around under my skin and end up with huge blood blisters under my skin. She insists she has found a "good vein" near the crook of my arm. I explain again that it may be "good" to look at or palpate, but it's tough as old shoe leather and will just squirm around while she lacerates it repeatedly with the tip of the needle. She de facto refuses to go in the back of my hand.

I pulled off the tourniquet and told her I wasn't playing this game and didn't feel like being a pin cushion.

So was I unreasonable?

NO there is nothing unreasonable wanting something done a specific way.

Years ago, I was in the ER with a broken back after a fall. I was brought in by ambulance after laying in the cold (December in Minnesota) for four hours. I was hypothermic and dehydrated so the veins were completely uncooperative. Three different people had to poke and fish for a vein on both hands for an IV. When they finally got one in on one hand, they went back to the other hand trying to get a second one in. I asked them what they were doing and why. The Dr wanted to have two lines in case I was bleeding internally. I reminded them that I fell nearly 6 hours before and that if I had any significant internal bleeding, I probably would already be dead. They had been monitoring my blood pressure for a drop and I figured that would have been a significant indication proving my point. One nurse looked at another and then looked at me, the voice of reason coming from the gurney and said, "That makes sense."

bookemdano · May 25, 2023

noahmercy said:
is wrong with the medical establishment these days? Or is it just me?

I went in to get my annual blood draw today. Signed up online and checked the box that said "hard stick". For those unfamiliar with that term, it means it's difficult to get a needle into my veins. The last three times anyone tried, they ended up putting two holes in each arm, leaving me with painful sub-dermal hematomas for a week. Ended up going in the back of my hand (easily) and that is the way I've had draws ever since (about a dozen years now), including an 11 vial and 8 vial draw.

Got to the place, and a young lady who looks about 16 takes my info and starts getting ready to poke me. I remind her there's no way she'll have any luck with my arm and she needs to hit me in the back of a hand. She acts surprised (obviously nobody bothered to note the "hard stick" on my sheet), and says she can't do that and she'll send in a more experienced phlebotomist.

So in comes Ms. tatted-up metal face who looks all of 18. Gets the band on my arm and starts trying to get a vein up on my arm. I explain once again that I do not want to endure minutes of needles being wiggled around under my skin and end up with huge blood blisters under my skin. She insists she has found a "good vein" near the crook of my arm. I explain again that it may be "good" to look at or palpate, but it's tough as old shoe leather and will just squirm around while she lacerates it repeatedly with the tip of the needle. She de facto refuses to go in the back of my hand.

I pulled off the tourniquet and told her I wasn't playing this game and didn't feel like being a pin cushion.

So was I unreasonable?

Not one bit. I have shy veins to and have found the best place to hit on me is the bicep.
If they try to go anywhere else, I tell them NO. It's the bicep or nothing. My days of being
used as a pic cushion are over.
Dano

arky65 · May 25, 2023

Never heard the term Hard Stick, it describes me to a T. Last time I went in for colonoscopy the blood sucker had three bands on my arm down to my wrist. She is trying in my mind the last stick near my wrist bone. I'm sweating bullets by this time and damn near levitating, she inserts the needle, and it must have hit a nerve. I let her know with a few choice words she is done, and I am done, this ain't happening. As I dressed, heard one of the other nurses on the phone with my wife, he is a little upset, come get me. I walked out of clinic and met the wife at the corner. That is my last attempt at colonoscopy. Misery is optional at the point of life.

Had to have an MRI with contrast for a hernia a couple of weeks ago. I knew the stick was not good, but hey he got it with little pain the first go, so I let it ride. When they had me put my arms above my head, all heJJ broke loose. Vein blew and iodine is pumping into my arm. Felt like someone was shooting fire into my arm. A few choice words and they came out and removed the IV. My arm swelled up and burns like fire.
I ain't looking forward to the hernia surgery. I guess no one does.

Jeepnik · May 25, 2023

Some years back I went in for blood work. The trained technician made a mess of it, and I'm easy. After a couple of tries I said let me do it. A couple of seconds later the needle was in a flowing nicely.

My two cents. Find an old paramedic. It you can start an IV in the neck of an unconscious person while you are upside down, in a car down in a wash with gasoline leaking from the tank a clean, bright room is a no brainer.

wv.citybilly · May 25, 2023

Met my share of inept sons a bitches that you can only wish would get a job where they can't hurt anybody.

Shamus2022 · May 26, 2023

Double hell no. I am a double hard stick and acquired a port

1 1/2 years for chemo. When I go in for ANYTHING that requires labsor a procedure one of my "girls" comes over to the OR or wherever and accesses the port OR I go to Oncology and they draw blood there. I just flat out refuse anything else... don't even give them a try at an arm or hand or even let anyone else try to access the port.

bobsyouruncle · May 26, 2023

Had a similar experience, I think they are supposed to stop at three tries, I got six unsuccessful tries. At that point I told her to stop, the old guy sitting across the hall getting his blood drawn was having no issues and he gave me a look of disgust and mouthed" what a p**y" Finally another older nurse came in, bingo first try.

WV460hunter · Aug 4, 2023

That is and has been the basic problem with the majority of the medical community for years they think they know what's best for you. And the younger generation see the older as idiots. It goes back to not being taught to respect their elders.

harley08 · Apr 29, 2024

noahmercy said:
is wrong with the medical establishment these days? Or is it just me?

I went in to get my annual blood draw today. Signed up online and checked the box that said "hard stick". For those unfamiliar with that term, it means it's difficult to get a needle into my veins. The last three times anyone tried tapping my arms, they ended up putting two holes in each, leaving me with painful sub-dermal hematomas for a week. Ended up going in the back of my hand (easily) and that is the way I've had draws ever since (about a dozen years now), including an 11 vial and 8 vial draw.

Got to the place, and a young lady who looks about 16 takes my info and starts getting ready to poke me. I remind her there's no way she'll have any luck with my arm and she needs to hit me in the back of a hand. She acts surprised (obviously nobody bothered to note the "hard stick" on my sheet), and says she can't do that and she'll send in a more experienced phlebotomist.

So in comes Ms. tatted-up metal face who looks all of 18. Gets the band on my arm and starts trying to get a vein up on my arm. I explain once again that I do not want to endure minutes of needles being wiggled around under my skin and end up with huge blood blisters. She insists she has found a "good vein" near the crook of my arm. I explain again that it may be "good" to look at or palpate, but it's tough as old shoe leather and will just squirm around while she lacerates it repeatedly with the tip of the needle. She de facto refuses to go in the back of my hand.

I pulled off the tourniquet and told her I wasn't playing this game and didn't feel like being a pin cushion.

So was I unreasonable?

No way - It's you arm if they can't do it the way you want them to - Leave!

RC44Mag · Apr 29, 2024

Reminds me of something that happened in my family. Back in 2003 my mom was at St Vincent's hospital in Manhattan, she was dying of cancer. Me and another family member were visiting her and someone came in to take blood. She too was a youngish girl with a more experienced person with her to show her the ropes. My relative and I stepped out of the room so they could do what they needed to do. Within 5 minutes I hear my mom was not pleased getting stuck several times and not hitting a vein cause the kid didn't know what the xxxx she was doing. I tried to be understanding with a new person but this reached the point of torture. I had enough and blew up on them and threw them out. A experienced person came in a bit later and did it 1,2,3 with very little pain. Later I spoke to a patient advocate for the hospital and told her we only want experienced staff drawing blood in mom's room from here on out. For the record, I've had a new newbies stick me with lots of swings and misses but I get it, they have to learn but not on a woman Who's been through hell and dying and knows it.
Still have some guilt over this trying to let a young in learn but a terminal patient doesn't need that when it can be avoided. Sorry mom.

WV460hunter · Apr 29, 2024

noahmercy said:
is wrong with the medical establishment these days? Or is it just me?

I went in to get my annual blood draw today. Signed up online and checked the box that said "hard stick". For those unfamiliar with that term, it means it's difficult to get a needle into my veins. The last three times anyone tried tapping my arms, they ended up putting two holes in each, leaving me with painful sub-dermal hematomas for a week. Ended up going in the back of my hand (easily) and that is the way I've had draws ever since (about a dozen years now), including an 11 vial and 8 vial draw.

Got to the place, and a young lady who looks about 16 takes my info and starts getting ready to poke me. I remind her there's no way she'll have any luck with my arm and she needs to hit me in the back of a hand. She acts surprised (obviously nobody bothered to note the "hard stick" on my sheet), and says she can't do that and she'll send in a more experienced phlebotomist.

So in comes Ms. tatted-up metal face who looks all of 18. Gets the band on my arm and starts trying to get a vein up on my arm. I explain once again that I do not want to endure minutes of needles being wiggled around under my skin and end up with huge blood blisters. She insists she has found a "good vein" near the crook of my arm. I explain again that it may be "good" to look at or palpate, but it's tough as old shoe leather and will just squirm around while she lacerates it repeatedly with the tip of the needle. She de facto refuses to go in the back of my hand.

I pulled off the tourniquet and told her I wasn't playing this game and didn't feel like being a pin cushion.

So was I unreasonable?

Absolutely

% Not unreasonable. I had the same thing happen with an Xray that ended with the door being slammed as the doctor left. Listen as we all know more and more of the medical field these days view themselves as elitist above the rest of us underlings. I no longer go to the doctor haven't been for 3 yrs. If I ever hear of one that will treat people with respect again and listen to me as an equal and not a guinea pig I might go again.

Fox Mike · Apr 29, 2024

Many years ago during my annual flight physical the medic came in to draw blood. Two stabs in the right arm and nothing so he went to the left arm and again two stabs. I put a halt to it at that point. Told him to get someone that knew what he/she was during. At that point the Flight Surgeon happened to walk by and asked what the problem was. I explained. He told the medic to "watch". One poke, that I didn't really feel, and blood was drawn.

Jeepnik · Apr 29, 2024

Like any other learned skill, some seem to have a natural ability, others should be prevented from future attempts. The problem is once a person is "qualified" for a certain position they are just turned loose even when they shouldn't be.

I'm one of the ones who can get a vein even under some really bad conditions, like half way upside down through the passenger side window of a VW Bug crashed into a Joshua Tree. When that patient got to the ER the on duty doc, pretty much just out of med school ask why I went into the neck. Another doc was there and he jumped in and said because it was probably the only accessible.

Johnnu2 · Apr 29, 2024

When they start 'jabbing around missing', I just pass out on them.
When an old man my age goes down for the count, he gets LOTS of attention. Now, every year when my turn comes for 'bloods' they must have a note on my file because I ALWAYS get an experienced person. One and done on old Mr. Code Blue

J.

Jack Ryan · Apr 30, 2024

It made ME cry to watch them try to stick my father. Many times they would give up and go down to ask the paramedics to come up to his hospital room to start one.

What the h-double-hockey-sticks...

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