Friday 25 February 2011

OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!!

Before moving on to another subject, I thought I'd share yesterday's blood draw experience.  I arrived to a nearly empty lab. I've finally figured out the least busy times to visit the lab. : ) I handed over my health card to the nurse behind the counter (which I don't like doing because of the fact that it is falling apart and I don't want to get a new one), plain and simple.

  A few minutes later, I  was directed into the chair of submission.  I pulled up my sleeves and examined my veins.  I was trying to determine which of my two elbow veins had less bruising.  Bruising...something not easily measured.

 The nurse decided to try a lesser vein, one not nearly as prominent as the bruised ones.  It didn't work.  Needle in, no blood.  So, the nurse decided to use the other arm.  This arm she 'disinfected' with an alcohol swab by rubbing the skin back and forth about 5 times...a no-no in venipuncture procedures.  The nurse then proceeded to dry my arm with the dirty cuff of her lab coat sleeve.  I could NOT believe it. 

 In my state of disbelief I managed to spit out the phrase, "Don't do that."  Nurse replied, "I wanted to dry it so it doesn't sting when I put the needle in."  WELL!  I'm no nurse BUT common sense tells me that the wipe of the cuff just undid the work of the alcohol. I have an IDEA.... let's save time and skip the alcohol part altogether! 

  Because I opened my mouth in objection, my arm received another scrubbing of alcohol and then, at my suggestion, was dried with a fresh cotton ball.  I wasn't trying to be in any way bossy or difficult, I just don't want to pick up an infection because of malpractice.  I know, I'm high maintenance.  What would YOU have done in this situation?  It's awkward telling a professional how they should be doing their job for the sake of your own health and well-being.  Especially when you have to see them again...like...the next day...and the next.

If you wish to inform yourself as to what correct venipuncture looks like, here is a video.  An informed patient is a protected patient.  : )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64g-BguhhE&feature=related

Thursday 24 February 2011

Butterfly PLEASE!

Due to the nature of the Nightmare, my hormone levels are off. You're probably thinking, what does this have to do with butterflies?!!? It's coming. Last year I began learning about NaProtechnology. NaProTECHNOLOGY (Natural Procreative Technology) is a new women's health science that monitors and maintains a woman's reproductive and gynecological health, (more specifically the Creighton Model) which involves monitoring one's own cycle closely which gives abundant information that is often undetectable via blood tests. Who says you have to go to university for an education?!?! ; ) This model is gaining a great reputation in the area of fertility care. It is a totally natural, non-invasive way to avoid or achieve pregnancy all the while promoting intimacy and supporting the body in its efforts to do what it was meant to do.
So, back to the butterflies....are you picturing a monarch, or one of the little yellow butterflies that speedily visits gardens in the summertime never staying long
on any one plant? Well, the butterflies I'm writing about are blue and have a needle and tubing attached. For the purpose of monitoring my hormones, my doctor has requisitioned daily blood work for the course of approximately 13 days. I'm not trying to make you jealous of the fun I'm having. It's only fun sadistically speaking which in my experience does not produce delight in either the giver or the receiver of the needles. Thanks to the plethora of blood tests I've had, I've had the opportunity to experience many different styles as far as nursing care is concerned. I've also come to realize that I much prefer butterfly needles over straight needles. The nurses prefer straight needles. If you ask them why they prefer the straight, you'll get a variety of explanations. Trust me, I've asked. It seems the most common reason is that it's faster and easier for them. However, when you're on the receiving end, it can be very uncomfortable which is why I've started asking for the butterfly and these are my reasons:
1) The butterfly needle is smaller, hopefully resulting in less scar tissue when the puncture wound heals.
2) If you have to have multiple vials of blood drawn, the tubing that is attached to the needle absorbs some of the impact and movement that comes from the changing of vacutainers on the hub, reducing incidence of pain. (Ideally the nurse would tape down the wings of the butterfly to secure it to the patient's arm.)
In case your inquiring mind wishes to see what I mean by a straight needle, and vacutainers being changed on the hub and the resulting movement, I've included a youtube video for your convenience.



If you'd like to know more about NaProTechnology, here's a link for you:
http://www.naprotechnology.com/index.html

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Boy Girl Excitement

I figured it would only be fitting to write about romantic relationships following the subject of V-Day. In my Valentine's Day posting, I mentioned my being romantic.  I think this comes from my maternal Grandmother.  We both have an appreciation for food, flowers, and romance.   Let me give you an example of Grandmother's affinity to romance.  A few years ago, we were preparing Christmas dinner with Grandmother as our sole guest.  As dinner was nearing, Grandmother asked one of my brothers, "Don't you have any single guy friends you could invite for dinner?"  "Why?" "Because sometimes Grandmas need boy-girl excitement."  Apparently she was experiencing a romance deficit.   Maybe I'll share some of Grandmother's stories of romance in another posting.

On Valentine's Day I had a conversation with a single man about the dating scene.  He shared with me a story of rejection.  He had approached a lady
and asked her to go out for a drink and she gave him an answer which was not, "No."  "I don't think so."  "No thanks."  "I'm not interested."
Her reply was one you might expect from a politician.  It was a well disguised and therefore almost indistinguishable  "No."   It was no more comfortable for the guy than a direct "No." 
And then women wonder why men are hesitant to ask.  "Why can't he just be a man and make a move?"  Probably because he's been emotionally injured or embarrassed by another woman.  To all the single women reading this:  Please, consider a man's heart.  Be gentle and direct,  and if you feel you need to reject his advances, please leave him emotionally intact so that he has the courage to try again.

Here's an example of how NOT to do it:

There once was a girl in grade six who was well liked by one of her male classmates.  She liked him too but it seemed he liked her much more than anyone else on their baseball team. One day, after one of their baseball games, they finished cleaning up the equipment as it was their turn to do so. The two had just begun the walk back to school when he asked her where she lived.  Her house could be seen in the distance so she pointed it out to him.  Well,  a couple of weeks later, a friend of his showed up at her door.  He had come to ask her to date his friend.  Her  brothers answered the door and were curiously hanging about wanting to know what was going on.  The girl was taken aback and embarrassed to be asked such a question out of the blue IN FRONT OF HER BROTHERS!    She asked where her baseball friend was.  Apparently he was hiding behind a bush across the street.  My answer was, "Tell him to go away."    THE END.
I was direct, but not so gentle.

Monday 21 February 2011

Valentine's Day,

Prior to Valentine's Day, I'd had the urge to decorate a cake.  Why?  Because I derive pleasure from being productive and creative in my own small way.  A decorated cake is a transformed cake.  So, the day before Valentine's Day......being the romantic that I am (I come by it honestly)  I decorated a gluten-free chocolate brownie cake.  I don't have much experience with decorating cakes but it's fun to experiment.

I didn't consult a recipe before making the icing (lack of perfectionism) which resulted in icing that was a little too soft and therefore not entirely cooperative but successful nonetheless.  So tantalizingly successful, in fact, that the eaters of the cake happily consumed it while shamelessly adding to it sickeningly large dollops of leftover icing..and then when there was no more cake to add the icing to, they ate it by the fork or finger full. Along with the satisfaction of productivity, comes the enjoyment of observing others' appreciation of one's handiwork.  Here is a photo of the aforementioned cake:

I celebrated Valentine's Day, a day given many other names (some far less classy than the original), with family and friend by eating cake and playing games.
The morning of February 14th, I received a Valentine in my Facebook inbox.  It was a batman Valentine that said, "LOOKING OUT for you on Valentine's Day."  It made me smile.  A fun way to start that day!  It reminded me of my elementary school days of receiving Valentines, those little rectangular cards (sometimes sealed in translucent envelopes) on which boys would write my name, usually spelling it incorrectly, and often forgetting to sign their names.  Granted, the absence of a signature may have been an intentional omission, in some cases, when the giver wished to remain an anonymous secret admirer....until he found out where he stood with me.  He first would have needed to send me a hand scribbled note written on a torn piece of notebook paper that read, "Do you like me? YES NO (circle one)" which may have been written before VDay but had been intercepted by a teacher or was sitting crumpled in the depths of his jeans pocket, periodically manipulated with dirty, sweaty fingers, awaiting that safe moment to release it to the intended recipient's friend. Rarely would such a note ever be given DIRECTLY to the addressee.

My earliest memory of a 'significant' Valentine gift was in grade 4 when a boy who I had a crush on gave me more than just a two-dimensional card.  He gave me a little assortment of things - one of which was a little pin with a fuzzy baby chick on top.  I never did find out if there was any significance to the selection of these gifts but I valued them just the same.

It's amazing what kind of emotions Valentine's Day evokes in people.  They either love the day or hate it.  I've concluded that Valentine's Day is similar to Christmas in that it is an occasion that predictably arrives each year which is either eagerly anticipated or despised depending on one's social situation.  Both occasions are romantic to some degree.

Valentines Day, I've concluded, is hardest for those who have lost love or are experiencing unrequited love.

Whether you're in a romantic relationship or not, the next time VDay rolls around, use the day to let someone know that they matter to you...it will make a difference in that person's day!

Do you have a Valentine's Day story to share?  Please post it in a comment! : )

Sunday 20 February 2011

The Transparency

So, finally I begin to write.   A few months ago, a friend of mine encouraged me to write. In fact, she told me that I should write a book.    I find writing to be like romance or saying sorry.  For it to be done well, and come from the heart, it mustn't be on command.  In finding a way to put my thoughts into text, I've been reminded of a recent realization discovered by a combination of reading and introspection, that in strange way, I am a perfectionist.  Those who know me are likely not aware. You don't see my perfectionism in my hand made gifts, cooking, baking, hand writing or most other things I do.

More recently a second friend who is a well seasoned blogger, mentioned in her blog that she wished others would blog so that she could read about their lives so I started to consider it....then came more encouragement...something one can never do with too much of.  Especially when living a nightmare or embarking on a new challenge or adventure.

I asked myself, "Why do people blog?  What will I get out of it?  What will others get out of it?"  I came up with a few ideas and wondered what the purpose of THIS blog would be...I mean, does this world really need yet another blog?  Will it be.....to journal?.... to fill friends and family in on details of my life that are below the surface?... to educate?   Maybe all of the above.    The form and purpose of this blog may undergo a metamorphosis so stay tuned...and flexible.  I do hope, however, that this blog serves to challenge and to promote growth and relationship.  Let me know how you're impacted by what you read here...if at all.  I'll be happy to hear from you!

WELCOME : )  I'm glad you've come to visit!