It started with what they thought was the easy part-but I knew better-giving blood. Dr Mautner wanted to use 60cc to inject in several places. His assistant Ashley tried first. The problem started with the big needle. I have tiny veins that like to roll, and that require small needle.s The big needle is necessary though he said to keep the platelets whole.
She tried in 2 different areas of my left arm, and she was determined, so she moved the needles around and around…no luck, just a little painful
Then Dr Mautner came in to use the ultrasound to see the veins easier. Oh, he could see them, just couldn’t get them with the large needle. He too was determined. But, after one blew in my left arm we switched to my right. Again, more moving around and around, but no luck.
I asked if we had to use my arm. He said no, so next was my right ankle. There was a big fat vein, and he finally hit it, and all it would do was drip, drip, drip.
Finally, he sat on the floor and I hung my foot down…drip, drip. He said “I may only get 30cc”. I said “NO-dont’ give up”. He said he wouldn’t. He kept saying “I thought you would be easy because you’re small”. I said “easy is one thing I have never been called. I am walking Continung Education for doctors”.
We made it to 50cc, and he said that was fine. I told him this would make a good Blog Post. He wouldn’t let me take a photo of the carnage (gauze, needles, blood) on the table-he said people will think he doesn’t know what he is doing!
My blood was off to spin and I had a 20 min recovery from the trauma. Then he returned with platelets in a tube with a needle that looked about a foot long! He shot the hamstring first, letting the ultrasound guide him (much more successful than getting the blood!), and then the piriformis, quadratus femoris, and external rotator area. He said “I sprayed the whole area”.
He asked me several times if I wanted a prescription for pain meds. “I don’t need pain meds!” Not allowed to ice or take anti-inflamatories for 6 weeks-he said the inflamation will help healing. My only exercise for the next few days will be pulling only in the pool (I hope my arms recover from their needle wounds!), and then I can ease back on the bike….and then run I hope!!
By the time I got home the numbing medicine was wearing off. Yes, it is sore-I hope I don’t regret that pain med decision (there is always Tylenol), but maybe I can use the “I am really sore” to get waited on a little bit :)
