Thread Drift

[maillotpois]

Next week, Bubba advances to IM shots in my arm.

WHY?? Yuck!!

[SadieKate]

You really need to rotate injection sites. Since there are only 6 spots on my body eligible for an IM (which must be taken for the rest of my life) and Bubba can only use two, we must progress to spots other than my posterior (whether the contrasting stitching is flattering or not ). While we were in Oregon, Jenny did it in my arm and gave him a little training. I think it made him a little less worried to see how easy it is to find my deltoid (muscle-ly thing that I am).

We have an ER nurse across the street who is going to come over and give him coaching on the actual thing. Next up -- my hip (or more acurately the gigantic "muscle" on the upper side corner).

It was good to have him watch Jenny who is really fast with the needle. Sometimes he futzes too much in preparation and in trying to be careful. Meanwhile, my anxiety level goes up. The shot doesn't hurt. It's the waiting. Stab and go. That's my motto.

[maillotpois]

Yeah, I was quick with the stab, but slow with the pushing of the plunger. I found if that part was a little slower it didn't hurt as much (it is 80 cc's - well, I don't know if cc is right, but it was a big amount of liquid to go it). That and your great hand warming trick! Of course it was in fat ("No! You don't have any of that!!") so I don't imaging it hurt as much as IM.

I had a lovely little pallette of different colored bruises on my stomach, though.

Good that you have so many resources for instruction. That's a lot of pressure for someone who'd probably rater be rebuilding his derailleur, though.

Lately I have been getting my blood tests done by this big huge gorilla-y guy who uses pediatric gauge needles to draw the blood and ALWAYS asks me to tell him my date of birth so I am responding to him right as he is putting the needle in. Wow - I am not even aware that he's doing anything. I love this guy. And even though I am on the anti-coags, these tiny guage needles make no bruise at all!

[Veronica]

I had to have an IV while in NS. The nurse tried to put it in my hand. GOD! That hurt so BAD! I finally suggested that she try the big, honking vein in my left arm - you now the one you give blood from.

That worked much better.

V.

[SadieKate]

I had to have an IV while in NS. The nurse tried to put it in my hand.

Why the IV in the hand? I've seen that a lot. They did that to me when I had one of my many knee surgeries (fortunately, under anesthesia) and, of course, put it in the wrong spot to also use crutches. I can't remember where they moved it to but I refused to get out of bed until they moved it.

[Veronica]

It was part of the migraine therapy the doc suggested.

V.

[chickwhorips]

i had an iv attempted to be put in the back of my hand when i was very dehydrated. i think they hit a nerve because for a while the back of my hand would go numb randomly, and then later when i touched it. now i seem to be ok.

[SadieKate]

I mean, why the location in the hand? Is it because they can see the veins? I, too, have easily accessible veins. Sometimes, it is done in the feet when you need to rotate locations for longer term use. Yeow!

[SadieKate]

If you're ever in Bend, OR, at St. Mark's Hosp and need your blood drawn, ask for Alex. Ex-pro mtn bike racer, about 6'4 (at least), does an incredible Pee Wee Herman imitation among others, will have you on floor rolling. Don't ask him to show you how to ride some tricky piece of trail because he'll do something that will make you crack up so hard you'll fall off your bike.

I bet he pulls the same tricks when drawing blood. I've seen him do it with his children just to get them to behave. So far, Dad is still smarter than his children -- and your tech is smarter than you.

And, my shot is only 30 mcg.

[Nanci]

Mystery Men. Lise.

[Lise]

Mystery Men. Lise.

ummmm.....what?
.....................................
re: IVs in the hand: One word: Laziness. Yeah, the veins are more prominent there, therefore easier to insert an IV. There are also a lot of nerves, and the veins tend to roll more. So it hurts more to have an IV there, and it hurts for awhile after. But the person putting it in can usually hit a vein. The best place to put an IV is the back of the forearm, as Izaak the Wonder Poodle confirmed. Hurts a lot less. Can be harder to get in. I have veins like ropes, and if anybody ever goes for my hand, I know it's pure sloth.
.....................................
MP, surely you weren't injecting 80 cc (ml). That's almost 3 oz. Must be mcg. I've done sub-cutaneous injections (in the fat), and intramuscular, to myself. Theoretically, I could start an IV on myself, but I've never had to. I have a rep at work for being a very good shot giver. I keep talking, as if nothing were happening, and then zing! done.

If we have a TE/Team Danger (note that TD stands for Thread Drift and Team Danger...hmmm....) get-together, I can be the designated shot giver.

[Lise]

Just reading about that edge/drop off thing makes me queasy. I think fear of cows is not unreasonable. They are big, not bright animals. I'm afraid of tidal waves. Since I grew up in Illinois, upstate NY, and Minneapolis, and now live in Illinois, this doesn't make any sense at all. I also loathe fungus. But then, who doesn't?

[SadieKate]

I have a rep at work for being a very good shot giver. I keep talking, as if nothing were happening, and then zing! done.

Yeah! That's the way Jenny does it. Jabber and jab. Trying to get Bubba there but since he only has do it once a week it's hard to get the speed going without being afraid he'll do something to me.

[maillotpois]

MP, surely you weren't injecting 80 cc (ml). That's almost 3 oz. Must be mcg. I've done sub-cutaneous injections (in the fat), and intramuscular, to myself. Theoretically, I could start an IV on myself, but I've never had to. I have a rep at work for being a very good shot giver. I keep talking, as if nothing were happening, and then zing! done.

Yeah, SK corrected me - it was mcg's. What do I know?

[maillotpois]

If you're ever in Bend, OR, at St. Mark's Hosp and need your blood drawn, ask for Alex. Ex-pro mtn bike racer, about 6'4 (at least), does an incredible Pee Wee Herman imitation among others, will have you on floor rolling. Don't ask him to show you how to ride some tricky piece of trail because he'll do something that will make you crack up so hard you'll fall off your bike.

I bet he pulls the same tricks when drawing blood. I've seen him do it with his children just to get them to behave. So far, Dad is still smarter than his children -- and your tech is smarter than you.

And, my shot is only 30 mcg.

He sounds great!

I guess mcg is the unit. Mine's 80 - but hey, I'm bigger! I think my marg should be proportionately bigger next week, as well....

Still, none of it is great - but there are folks who endure a lot more then we do, and we can still ride our bikes (well, I can't, but I'm healthy enough to exercise vigorously - you get my point). My happy news of the day is one of my TNT leukemia patient honorees is now able to come out of his isolation, is feeling better (after MONTHS of not being able to do anything he can now walk outside) and we're having dinner with him next week!! I really was afraid we were going to lose him.