Family doctor
I went to the family doctors yesterday for my headache. Oh yes, the same problem is still not cured! With my long history of trial-and-errors which solved one illness/symptom after another the headache still remained. Luckily this time the family doctor had something better than just “take paracetamol against the pain”. I take at least 2 paracetamol each month for my headache and I am kind of sick of getting headaches. She has signed me up for physiotherapy and for a blood test.
Hospital This morning, I went without breakfast (the so called “nuchter” in Dutch literally translated in English “sober”) to the hospital. I pulled a number off of a red ticket machine and waited at the registration desk of the policlinic, while I waited I started to become hungry. Also I saw a famous Dutch opera singer at the desk with his wife/sister/niece/friend (not sure who she was). He looked worried, but hey who would not be right?
So being all hungry and registered to the hospital I walked through the hospital straight to the lab department. Pressed a button labelled “Volwassen bloedafname” literally in English “Adult blood” and got my ticket number. I was still feeling hungry, but hey what can I do? I cannot eat something for this test, so I decided to stop thinking about food. Just when I thought that, a boy came out of a room eating a sandwich! Goody! I was more hungry than before now…
After handing in my blood test form (I received from my family doctor) at the desk of the lab department. I had to wait a few more minutes for the blood retrieval. From ticket number V037 I went to Cabine 17, good thing it is not 24 (teehee, Chinese pronunciation translates to “Easy Death”).
Attempt 1 I walked into the cabin and there was a student nurse/medical student and a pro blood retriever (no she is not a vampire, it just sounds spookier and more entertaining than just pro nurse). I took off my coat, hung it on a hook and sat down. The student checked my veins (between my upper- and lower arm, Epicondylus) and also which arm she prefers to stick the needle in. The decision was my left arm and she stuck the needle below my epicondylus. I guess that works too… One of the three tubes started to fill, but suddenly it stopped at like a quarter. The pro nurse took over moved the needle around a bit. I told her it was not comfortable at all. So she pulled the whole thing out and explained that the vein might have collapsed. She sticks a thick dentist like cylinder cotton on my mini-meter dot wound. I felt dizzy now, so they let me rest. I told her that I have not had breakfast. She checked the stickers, because she did not know that and explains that it is not stated on the stickers. I pointed at the family doctor form with the word “nuchter”. I guess the desk of the lab forgot to mention it somewhere.
Attempt 2 The pro nurse checked my other arm and showed the student where my vein was. The pro nurse had pulled the strap around my upper arm more tighter than the student so that my vein could be found much easier. After the student felt the vein, the pro nurse stuck the needle in the vein at my epicondylus and attached a tube on the needle. The tube filled very fast with my blood. Jeez, that is a relief! She picked up the tube with a quarter of my blood and tried that again. Another relief, one more to go… When she was done she stuck another cylinder cotton on my other mini-meter dot wound. I guess that is over… I felt a bit dizzy and more hungry than before. The pro nurse asked whether I wanted something to drink. I was so glad to receive the lemonade! It made me feel much better, I guess I just needed glucose ^^
At the moment I had two evergreen cookies on my way home, but the wound on my left arm still hurts at the moment. The wiggling with the needle was not pleasant at all. Other than that, I guess I feel ok. I am going to eat a bowl of cereal to get my strength back.
Hmm… I wonder when my test results will be revealed?
Sounds a bit scary how much blood they took from you XD
ReplyDeleteNot sure. I know there were two long tubes and 1 short one... So it could be two 5 ml and one 3 ml?
ReplyDelete