Phlebotomist fail!
My doctor made me get my thyroid bloodwork done (even though I’d rather not be in a medical area with everything going on). My appointment was at 7.15am today. We got there around 6.30am. I had the link on my phone to check in at 6.45am and you give your number so they can text you when it’s time to come in. They refer to it as something like “waiting comfortably where you want.” Either that or go into the office and check-in at the kiosk. A few minutes later I got a text saying the tech was ready for me and to come in. Had to go up to the 3rd floor. One woman was in the waiting room.
Mom and I went to the desk and the receptionist wasn’t there. Waited several minutes until I had to sit down cos my legs couldn’t handle it. We sat. She eventually came to the desk and called the other woman. She took about 5 minutes (at least) with her, then told her to come on back!! I got another text during that saying the tech was ready for me!
FINALLY, the receptionist calls me and my mom deals with it (just saying my papers were faxed over already). I was then called back. The tech comes in and says good morning, tells me to make a fist, says to have a nice day and that was it. I hate chit-chat, but I also hate being made to feel like I’m being a bother by just being there.
Now, I’m pretty good at bloodwork unless it’s a LOT (which I’ve been known to get woozy and once had to have ice put on me and the tech at that place was so nice and took care of me, holding the ice packs on me and joking with me, saying my face was so red and people will think she hit me). I only had to give one vial. This woman, though.... the needle hurt, as it usually does. But then it hurt DURING. And when she put the cotton ball on AFTER, I thought the needle was still in cos it STILL hurt! I knew I was gonna have a problem, but I wasn’t about to take up any more of her time. So I got up and went back into the waiting room. And then it happened.
We left the office and went into the lobby, I was about to pass out. I was about to be sick. I could barely talk so it was amazing that I managed to fill my mom in on “feel sick” and “need sit.” No seats. Nothing to barf in. Went back into the waiting room. Sat down fast, took off mask (guy in there was across the room at kiosk). Mom asked receptionist for a bag and she took her sweet time getting a trash bag with some paper towels in it. So I sat there holding my bag, heaving and sweating like crazy. Eventually it passed and we left and I was fine. But I can see why they have a lot of bad reviews there. On the bright side, I did not fall over and I did not have to barf into my hat.
Kudos to my mom for taking such good care of me. We went over a couple new gestures for “light-headed” and “gonna barf” if/when it happens the next time, lol!
