If you're going to be a person who draws my blood...

NewMom23

Please know what you're doing. UGH. Went in today for the rest of the tests that were scheduled for the 24 hr urine collection, and the girl tried in both arms, very painfully, with no luck. While she was trying this was our conversation...

 So you're pregnant?

Yea.

How far along are you?

35 weeks.

How far along is that?

(thinking, seriously???) Almost 9 months.

So can you like feel him move around and stuff?

LOL.... I was beginning to wonder if she actually was supposed to be working there. After her failed attempts, she went and got a different lady, who was done in two seconds and didn't hurt a bit. 

Share your fun lab stories.

mrs.schmitty

I've had fairly good luck with having blood drawn this pregnancy which is I relief because I've been known to pass out/get sick when having blood taken. However, this did remind me of the first time I got the Depoprovera shot. Within a few days, I had a huge, nasty bruise where the nurse had injected me with the shot. I work in a health setting so I went into our medical director's office, literally dropped my pants and asked her what the hell was wrong and if I should be worried. Her response was "it looks like she nicked a vein, you'll be fine but I would recommend not letting that particular nurse near you with a needle again."

amatistajoy

lol. I have a lady I know by name who I *always* request. She's a pro at getting my blood out without sticking me more than once. I wish I could take her to the hospital with me for delivery.

chelsea_ems_fire

I have some of the best AC's you could ever find (the vein in the corner of your arm at the inside of your elbow) and last week the nurse missed in my left, dug around for awhile, then pulled it and proceeded to my right, where I am surprised she even got that. I was about 2 seconds from telling her to give me the needle so I can do it, or get someone else. Plus, my DH who was in the room is a phlebotomist, decided to grill the nurse on what labs they were drawing for because it was quite obvious she had no idea what she was doing. She came in the room and first thing she does is throw the tourniquet on and then proceeds to wash her hands and set everything up. FYI - max you are only supposed to leave it on for 60 seconds! I guess DH and I are pretty picky though, given our professions. 

LeahRW

I've got such bad luck with getting blood taken.  I've given up on having a nice experience with it.  I don't think anyone has ever gotten it on the first try.  Last time I got stuck in both arms (twice in the right) and they eventually gave up on that and did the back of my hand instead.  Hurray for crappy veins.  I'm jealous of my husband - he's got huge veins everywhere.  You could probably draw blood from him with a drinking straw.

tlxh7

That sucks!  I hate getting my blood drawn anyway, I would not have been happy.

I always tell the lady that draws my blood (I've had the same one every time), that I can't watch her put the needle in.  Her response every time is, "As long as one of us is looking it'll be fine."  I love her!

krispy127

That sounds like when I got my first confirmation ultra sound. We where walking to the room and the tech was asking how I was doing. I told her I just felt a little nauseous and she said "oh are you worried about the procedure?" I was like um no I'm pregnant and I have morning sickness why are you taking me to get my leg amputated instead or something? She was awful! She was silent the whole time and eventually before I was about to burst into tears my husband said "so um is there a baby in there and is it ok?" She said "oh yea I found the heart beat a while ago" Its like thanks for telling me I'm just sitting here thinking the baby's dead thanks lady. People are Idiots!

chelsea_ems_fire

krispy127:

That sounds like when I got my first confirmation ultra sound. We where walking to the room and the tech was asking how I was doing. I told her I just felt a little nauseous and she said "oh are you worried about the procedure?" I was like um no I'm pregnant and I have morning sickness why are you taking me to get my leg amputated instead or something? She was awful! She was silent the whole time and eventually before I was about to burst into tears my husband said "so um is there a baby in there and is it ok?" She said "oh yea I found the heart beat a while ago" Its like thanks for telling me I'm just sitting here thinking the baby's dead thanks lady. People are Idiots!

I had a very similar experience with my first u/s. I was so upset afterward, DH ended up calling the supervisor and complaining, who called me back and apologized, as did the tech that actually did the u/s. Then they had me come back later that day to pick up the sono pictures that were never printed out and given to me. They even offered for me to come back in for another one, I declined and found a new doctors office.

McAllie5

krispy127:

That sounds like when I got my first confirmation ultra sound. We where walking to the room and the tech was asking how I was doing. I told her I just felt a little nauseous and she said "oh are you worried about the procedure?" I was like um no I'm pregnant and I have morning sickness why are you taking me to get my leg amputated instead or something? She was awful! She was silent the whole time and eventually before I was about to burst into tears my husband said "so um is there a baby in there and is it ok?" She said "oh yea I found the heart beat a while ago" Its like thanks for telling me I'm just sitting here thinking the baby's dead thanks lady. People are Idiots!

That's terrible! My experience wasn't that bad, just frustrating. We had our confirm u/s with a wonderful tech who was all cheery and excited. The next one - the 20 week anatomy scan - was with someone who was NOT there for the patient at all. I was curious and asking questions (not too many, but it's cool to see your kid's bone structure for the first time) and she was monosyllabic and cold. I know she's not there to chit chat, but she's working at a place where people come in at the most exciting time in their lives. You'd think she'd understand and at least humor the patient by telling them "oh, yes, that is your child's liver."

(end rant.) 

ETA: now I request the cheery one for our u/s's 

Leggadine08

Ive never had anyone have trouble sticking me but Ive definitely had people be extremely rough while doing so.

I have a lab tech whom I *love* and I make sure shes working before I head to the lab for bloodwork. She did my first prenatal blood draws with a butterfly and I still didnt feel it! Shes the best and she knows I will only let her stick me! lol

JUSTBEYOURSELF

the first time at the lab in the building for my RE I had the nurse slam down the arm to the chair they have you sit in. I hate giving blood (I am better now) anyway she started to yell at me and give me a lecture of how I was this big baby and I would never be a mom if I could not handle giving blood. she had me in tears, my dh was fuming mad... well she stuck me and she yelleped and jumped away from me with a needle hanging out of my vein and another nurse kid you not jumped over the receptionist desk and ran and finished. I was so freaking upset and freaked out. I could hear another nurse yelling at her for 1. yelling at me and 2. for reacting the way she did... thank god that is not the lab that we normally use for RE but it was the one in the building that was open... never had a problem with giving blood after that in the other offices.

TheObviousChild

I am extremely paranoid about germs during sticks.  I have no idea why, the pain doesn't bother me at all, I suppose it's just the idea that they'll set a piece of gauze on the counter and then put it on my open vein like it's sterile makes me insane.  I don't know.  Anyway, I'll ask to put the gauze on myself, because this calms my paranoia and makes me happy.  They'll always give me a crazy look like the way they do it is the ONLY way to do it, but I figure, hey, otherwise I'm a pretty easy customer (just give me the damn gauze and I won't even complain about multiple passes) so they can deal with it.