Blood draws
Blood draws - April 22, 2018
For months I was a pin cushion, when I examined my arms closely I could, or I thought I could, see the teeny tiny pin holes up and down my emaciated arms from the daily regular blood tests and the random tests the doctor’s requested throughout the day.
I used to think that leaving the bandage or tape/gauze combo on would somehow get the nurse or lab tech to feel sorry for me and skip that particular test... no luck. (But then I learned the longer that shit stayed on the worse my skin hurt when they came off)
So one of the oddest things I’ve gotten used to during this experience is hearing that I have juicy veins... I mean it’s not sexual or offensive but it’s odd, right?
When ever I’d get a new nurse or lab tech they’d comment on my “juicy veins,” I always felt like telling them that was a weird observation and one they should probably keep to themselves but I’d remind myself that they controlled food, blood draws, and medicine so it was best not to rock the boat.
There was this one nurse student, I’m only assuming student cause she was the worst. So she comes in like at 4 am, bright lights door kind of with a thud, and says hi Mr. M (kind of like with a raise in tone at the end like she was asking if it was actually me) is it ok if I draw some blood; first I though bitch why must you ask that stupid question and secondly the lab techs come in at 5 can’t they do this shit? Her ass was probably busy doing things she shouldn’t have been doing and the test requested hours ago, but I digress. So I laid on my back and extended an arm for her to poke, mind you I know I have juicy veins, she basically sticks the needle in vertically and wiggles it around to boot. When I told her it hurt she apologized and said my veins must’ve been weak and was going to try again in another spot, I agreed so that she could hurry and turn the light off. She counts and says ok little pinch, and I hear the vile being changed so I think, ok it’s happening... two seconds later I heard “oh shit your vein blew,” to which I screamed “WHAT?!” Expecting blood everywhere and my arm in shreds and she was like oh your vein just went flaccid. Never having have that happen I was like am I ok, is this a bad thing; she looked nervous but like she was trying to stay calm and tried to calm me by saying things like that happened and that she’d have to try again, then I replied “no you’re done, get me someone else,” her supervisor got it on the first try and brought me a juice box, I was content.
This chick talking bout I must have weak veins... nah girl, you just don’t know what you’re doing cause I got juicy veins.
A tiny part of me felt kinda proud, like yeah, I got juicy veins. My ass and thighs may not be the (proportionately) thick and juicy specimens they once were but at least my veins still had it.
xoxo
Mr. M