All Needles are Not Created Equal
The scene: A lab
The players: Me, Phlebotomist (herein referred to as “Moron”), and a Supervisor
The Time: 9:14am
As part of my recent fertility consultation, I was instructed to have a blood test to determine if I carried the gene for Cystic Fibrosis. Since I am due for my regular A1c draw, I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone (I hate that expression – who actually kills a bird with a stone?).
I walked into the lab, signed in, and sat down. I always dread having blood drawn because I know that the inevitable battle will begin.
<digression> Since my very first blood draw (that I can remember), I’d pass out. Faint. Hit-the-deck. A few years ago, I had a very nice phlebotomist tell me that I have extremely small veins and that when having my blood drawn, I should always request a butterfly. From that moment on, I never passed out again (as long as a butterfly is used). I know some of you will think that this is a psychological problem, but I can prove that it’s not.
Once, I requested a butterfly, and the phlebotomist agreed to use it. Since I never watch the actual blood draw, I assumed that the prick I felt was the agreed-upon butterfly. After a few seconds, I started to get that feeling. The one where you see little black dots, begin sweating, and feeling very, very tired. The next thing I knew, I was waking up on the floor. She helped me back into the chair. I apologized for fainting and said how strange it was because I NEVER faint when a butterfly is used. She shrugged and turned away.
That’s when I saw it. She didn’t use a butterfly. When I asked her about it, she claimed to have “forgotten” that I requested one. Bitch. </digression>
Anyway, back to today.
After 15 minutes, my name was finally called. I handed moron the lab slips and my insurance card. She instructed me to have a seat in Room 2 across the hall. I did. She came into the room and began entering all of the required information into her computer. I waited. Finally, she spoke:
Moron: Oh, I see it was your birthday. Happy belated birthday.
Me: Thanks! (thinking this draw is going to be cake! She’s actually nice)
Me: As you can see, I’ve got two different lab slips from two different doctors. Is it possible to send the results of my A1c to both doctors?
Moron: (grabbing a clipboard with a release form) Sure. You just have to sign this release, and we can send it to anyone.
Me: Great, thanks. I also have one more request. When you draw my blood, can you please use a butterfly? Otherwise, I’ll pass out.
Moron: (looking at me like *I’m* a moron) I’ll need to look at your arm first because we don’t use butterflies on everyone. What’s the big deal, anyway? A needle is a needle.
Me: Look, I’m not afraid of needles. I’m a type 1 diabetic, so I’m pretty used to needles. My issue is that my veins are really small, and with the bigger needle, the blood comes out too fast and causes my blood pressure to drop until I pass out. Every time I’ve had my blood drawn here, they’ve used a butterfly.
Moron: Well, I’ll have to look at your arms first. (indicating that she wasn’t going to use a butterfly unless hell froze over first)
Me: (really pissed off) Fine, but don’t be surprised when I pass out.
Moron spent the next 35 minutes trying to get the paperwork straightened out. I repeated my original instructions that Dr. T. also gets a copy of my A1c. Moron set up the paperwork to give Dr. S. the results of the CF screen. Hence, the moniker, moron.
Finally, she wraps the rubber band around my arm and tells me to make a fist. She pokes my veins to find her target. Knowing what’s coming, I look away. I felt the needle prick, and, at first, I felt ok. I thought that maybe she’d listened to me and used a butterfly. But, I started to feel that all-too-familiar sensation. The last thing I heard was her clicking off the first vial and grabbing another.
I came to on the floor. Moron had called for backup. They helped me back into the chair, gave me some juice, and waited. After 10 minutes, Moron came back into the room with Supervisor.
Supervisor: (taking one look at my arm) Her veins are tiny. You should have used a butterfly on her.
Me: I asked for a butterfly, but she refused.
Supervisor: I’ll take it from here. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to get both vials before you passed out, so I’m going to have to prick you again.
Me: You can prick me all day as long as you use a butterfly. I wasn’t being a baby – this is just how it is.
Supervisor: (after the blood draw was done) You’re all set. You can wait here for a few minutes if you need to.
Me: (having already spent over an hour in the lab) I’m fine. I really need to get to work. I would appreciate it if you’d have a talk with moron about listening to patients. This entire scenario could have been avoided if she’d just listened to me.
Supervisor: I intend to. We don’t like it when you faint any more than you do.
Me: Thanks.
Themocracy
Why do some folks in the medical biz think that we know nothing? (and it is a business, they are there to make money) They have a really hard time finding my veins and getting a good stick. I always warn them before, but they always make a face while trying to stick me. That always follows with the advice to drink more water before I come in…duh, don’t you think I know that? Ask and listen, don’t just talk and demand. Patients are people, not inanimate objects.
Some advice, next time call for the supervisor if they refuse to do as you request. I think I’d watch them stick, just to make sure they are doing as you request.
OMG!!!! Moron is actualy being nice. Wow, I am sorry you had to deal with that.
What is WRONG with people??? I had a similar discussion with my “moron” not too long ago. Thankfully I didn’t pass out, but easily could’ve had it been a bad day. I’ve been told so many different things about my “bad veins” that I’m not entirely sure what to believe…whether they’re too deep, too small, or I just need to drink more water in the morning if I’m fasting. Duh…as if the gallon I consume isn’t enough??
I would write to the corporate customer support. It might do nothing, it might, but you should bring it to the notice of a moron above the local level.
I am a needle-phobe andf have bad veins..even if when they use a butterfly sometimes I am toast–thankfully I have found a very good tech–I follow her to whatever office her lab has her working at…
First of all, I’m sorry this happened recently and in the past. And that so many people are, in fact, morons who deserve to be called as such. But this made me laugh, likely because of how familiar I am with morons. Not the needle issue, though. That does suck. I didn’t even know that could be an issue. Why is that we must supervisors anytime we deal with anybody – from insurance companies to labs. Craziness. Morons.
I also have small veins, and do much better with a butterfly or a pediatric needle. Although I don’t hit the deck, the larger needles simply cause my vein to collapse … which really pisses ‘em off! Have you considered asking the supervisor to write you an instruction to show any future moron, or perhaps the requesting doc would consider adding that to the lab order?
Hope you don’t mind the suggestions, you are an obviously intelligent woman who is more than capable. I just prefer that you not pass out if there’s anything at all that can be done to prevent it, and my guess is that we agree!
I’ve sent a message to their corporate offices. I don’t know if anything will come of it, especially since it’s not the first time I’ve complained about their behavior.
Fortunately, the fertility doc has a lab on-site, so I’ll be able to get most of my blood draws there.
I don’t understand why using a butterfly is such an issue for these phlebotomists. In all the times I had to have my blood drawn from my arm (which didn’t last long because my veins there SUCK) and subsequently from my wrist, I have INSISTED that they use a butterfly because I have horrible veins. Not once has anyone ever questioned me. I don’t pass out either, but a large needle will blow my vein…immediately. (Thank God for this power port)!!!
It’s b/s and not something that you should have to deal with. Do these techs think we’re stupid? I swear, I think they LIKE ot torture people. LOL.