Holey Guacamole... what a nightmare...

I went to get my final procedure this morning... the pulmonary tests... and after all the preliminary stuff the nurse told me she had to draw blood from an artery instead of a vein... uhh... ok, go ahead. I should have known I was in trouble when she cleaned the area, then started probing around with her hand... the same hand that had just covered her mouth when she sneezed, held the door knob, and who knows what else when I wasn't looking She poked, and prodded, and twisted, and pulled the needle out and pushed it in, out, in, over and over and over.... until I was really in quite a bit of pain. I said "have you ever done this before?".... she says yes, I do this every day.... I'm thinking "uh huh....".... so she says "my mistake was using the small needle, let me go try again with a larger needle" Oh yeah... looking forward to this! So she gets a different nurse.... same thing happens, except this time it hurts twice as bad. I grit my teeth and tell her to take the d#@m thing out of my arm immediately. She puts a bandaid on it and I snatch my keys off the desk and stomp out out there.... *sigh* Great... now what??? I asked Dr. Harts office if they can do without the test, and they said they will let me know on Monday..... This was my last test!!! GGrrrrrr!!! So I am sitting here with a swollen arm and hoping this isn't a major roadblock on my road to the surgery.... ..... is it??

Hi Marc! They had to stick me twice for the ABG, too. It hurt a LOT!! On the second time, they managed to get get the right spot-and I was sure thankful for it. I was sore for two days from all the digging they did, though. I don't know if it's a roadblock--but I can tell you that at my pre-op yesterday (Hart patient, too) the lady looking over all my stuff said "Did you have an ABG drawn? I can't find the results?" I made her go back and double check (as panic began to rise in me!)---and she found it. It obviously has some importance--because she specifically went hunting those results. I hope they will let you slip by, however.... good luck! Michelle

Hi Marc & Michelle.... As a Respiratory Therapist, I can tell you about Arterial Blodd Gases (ABG's) as we are normally the ones who draw them in a hospital setting. When drawing ABG's, it isn't as simple as venous blood for other 'normal' blood work. The raidal arteries are rather deep, and on those of us (myself included) who are seeking WLS, our artreies are even deeper due to excess weight. When drawing one, the person who is drawing the ABG must feel for a pulse in the wrist, or bend of the elbow, etc... Once we find that pulse, and clean the area with either alcohol, or betadine wipes (per the facility protocol) you must feel again to locate that pulse again, as that tells us where the artery is. It is not unusual at all to have to probe for the artery. Sometimes when attempting to draw an ABG the artery will roll, or move on you. It is just the anatomy of the body that does that. The therapist or nurse that is drawing is not necessarily inept, this just happens. And until they see the 'flash' of blood in the syringe, the probing is the only way to find that artery. I have had my share also of having trouble, and have been told that I am pretty good at drawing them. I will usually only stick a patient twice before getting someone else to attempt the stick. The test itself can be very telling to a Dr. about how well you are oxygenating, and can let them know of any problems prior to doing this surgery, which puts us all at an increase risk for low oxygenation both during surgery and post-operatively when we are hurting and not wanting to deep breathe and move much. My surgeon didn't require me to have an ABG this time, but I have had to have several in the past. They do hurt like the dickens, and I always try to forewarn my patients of that without scaring them too much. It isn't very pleasant for the patient, but it is a pretty important test. I'm sorry that you had a bad experience with it, and maybe your doc will let you by without having to have another one.... Good Luck with your surgery!!! Susan Lap RNY 12-1-04 285-205-155 (-80)

Good Grief my typing sux... sorry for the typo's...

I wish I had known all this! I would have stayed cool as a cucumber and let 'em poke all day! They gave every indication of being totally incompetent!... even saying "oops"!! Oh man, I hope this don't cause another delay! Thanks for the information... I wish I had known about the procedure in advance... I would have had no problem gutting it out.... I thought they were just yahoo's who didn't know what they were doing at all... *sigh*

Okay... now I'm scared...lmao! I hate needles and if they have to prod me like that... I'm gonna go insane and like go postal on the nurse! XD

Marc OH lord I know what you mean when I had pneumina ( soory for the spelling) they stuck me six times to get itand still didn't when my dr came in she knew how bad i was but she did it with 1 stick . Then procedded to tell me sorry and then went out behind the curtain a yelled at the tech or nurse who tried to do it before hand . I wasn't sure if me not breathing and the pain from the sickness was even has bad that test. My hand was swollen and brusied for days. Buttta anyway glad to hear this was your last test and hope surgery is next. Keep letting us know of anymore updates.......Beth

Amanda talked to Dr. Hart and he said as long as the PFT's were good I would not have to have the needles-from-hell again.... YEA!! So I called the hospital and explained why I freaked out... told them it would REALLY be a good idea for the doctor or them or SOMEBODY to remember that the patient has no clue what these tests are like and to clue them in before attacking with needles, and would they please let me come back in if I promise not to be a P.I.T.A.? So.... Monday I can get the PFT's and if they are OK I don't need to have the needles again. Whew.... OK... moving on!

Im so sorry about your experience, I hope my surgion doesnt require that one. I dont know how to say this and I dont mean it in a cruel way but they way you wrote that was so funny, I could almost imagine being there myself. Could you call the surgions office on monday to find our if they will make you do it again. God Bless and I will be praying for you and I pray all goes great if you do have to go thru that again.