observations

I went to the doctor this morning, no big deal, but a couple of things bothered me enough that I wanted to blog about them.

I have been exhausted lately. Seriously, cannot-get-enough-rest exhausted. I have spent the last two weekends sleeping whenever I can, napping on the couch with the kids, etc. It has gotten to the point that I am having a hard time getting up and getting ready in the morning, even though I have stopped getting online and have tried to go to bed at a decent hour. It seems that no matter how much sleep I get, I am still lacking.

So, I had to see my Dr. today to get a refill on my lexapro, and I mentioned my tiredness and exhaustion and asked if he would check my iron levels. To my surprise, he was a bit more concerned than I was, and is running a gamut of tests. I am sure that it is nothing, and I seriously am not one bit worried, so don't think that I am wrenching my hands in despair.

What bothered me: first of all, has anyone else ever noticed that the wait in the doctor's office is proportional to the magazine selection??

I start out in the waiting room. Full of all the goodies - People's, Entertainment Weekly's, Cosmo's, Parenting, Parents, etc. But what really got me, was while I was trying to decide which one to look at, I stumbled upon the 2005 Bismarck High School yearbook. I was so excited, because I have not seen a yearbook from my Alma Mater since.... 1996??

I actually looked at about 4 pages before they called me back. I put the yearbook back on the shelf. They weighed me, and checked my BP and then sent me to an exam room. I kid you not when I tell you that there were three magazines in this room: Car and Driver, AARP Monthly, and Golf Digest. Of the three, I had to go with AARP. (I read that seniors are very upset over the commercial with the cutie old lady and all the men are sitting around discussing, "Are they real??"... it's a toothpaste commercial. They are talking about her teeth. I can see where it crosses a line... somewhat.)

I was in this room for 25 horrible minutes. I actually started eyeing Car and Driver. I asked myself why, why, why I couldn't remember to bring a book. (I left my purse on the counter at home, so I didn't even have that.)

Finally my doctor comes in and we go through all the talking and the crap, and he tells me that he wants me to have many vials of blood taken, and he sends me to the secondary waiting room. In here, the magazine selection is a tiny bit better. There are at least some Better Homes and Gardens, and some Southern Livings. Still not up to par with the main room, but better than the exam room. I read part of an article on Brightening your Deck, when I got called back to the blood room.

A bit of a detour in the story, and the cause for my second complaint.

I went to school to be a phlebotomist. I got my certification and everything, but never tried to get a job. I found out during my clinicals that people don't like the girl bearing the needle, especially when she is 5'3 and looks 14 years old.

It never used to bother me to have blood drawn, but in phlebotomy training, you practice on each other... I was stuck so many times by so many imbeciles that I have developed a bit of a phobia.

See, I have perfect, huge, monster veins. I am a nurse's dream. I have to request that they do not tie my arm in a tourniquet, because blood will spew. People will not listen and I have ruined lots of clothes because of it. All you have to do is stick the needle in. No tapping, no poking, no cutting off of my circulation with a rubbery strap that pinches.

When it was time for our final observed "stick" in class, I let 7 people stick me. I guess that was the breaking point. I have had psychological needle issues ever since that day.

I can't look when they stick the needle in. The minute I feel it, I feel light headed. I hate when they have to pop the tubes off the container and pop a new tube on... most people don't hold the needle steady and when they pull a tube off, the needle slides out a bit, and when they pop the new tube on, they push the needle in a bit. This needle-slideage makes me want to scream. But the worst of all is when they are done, and they take the cotton ball and they are supposed to pull the needle out first and THEN push the cotton ball over the hole... most people take the cotton ball and press down on the needle as they pull it out. I can't take it. I can't. It makes my stomach jump, and not in a good way.

But I hate to be that patient that I hated while doing my clinicals. "Don't tie that damn thing around my arm! Hold that needle STEADY! DO NOT DO NOT PUSH DOWN ON THAT COTTON BALL!! Do you want me to freaking do it myself???"

Then they sent me to a different exam room. There are more AARP's, and a few WebMD's. (Just a word of warning... Don't read medical magazines when you have an unexplained symptom. It is not a good thing. )

From now on, I am picking a few good magazines and hanging on to them throughout my medical journey. Or at least bringing something to entertain me.