Vacation plans in recent weeks kept my mind fully occupied. Yesterday, I suddenly found myself in the here and now of Time. Four months ago, the Gastroenterology Clinic had prescribed a liver tonic and vitamin E to heal what they suspected was fatty liver. The blood results then were not conclusive but they went ahead with the treatment anyway. Today, more blood test will be done to see if the prescription had any effect on my elevated liver enzyme.
Had I been my usual self, the week and morning preceding the doctor's appointment would have been filled with trepidation and anxiety. So preoccupied was I with other plans that I had forgotten to address the butterflies in my tummy. Just as well.
At the hospital, I was quickly ushered to a small room where two nurses drew blood samples from the waiting patients. The smug look on the nurse's face was shaken when she tapped my hand and could not identify a suitable vein. Struggling to maintain her countenance, she made the first prick above my elbow. I realized, too late, that I had forgotten to pray for her. The needle went in. It missed the target. She apologized and targeted another vein about a cm away. The needle went in as I muttered a hasty prayer. It missed the target. She left the room to summon a senior nurse in her forties. A vein on my wrist was targeted. The needle went in and missed. Three needle pricks which missed. By this time, they were worried.
I discovered later that the blue needle was the one with the finest tip. I was asked to wait while they searched for this needle. Finally, an older nurse (in her fifties) appeared on the scene. Apparently, they could not locate any blue needles.
Had I been my usual self, the week and morning preceding the doctor's appointment would have been filled with trepidation and anxiety. So preoccupied was I with other plans that I had forgotten to address the butterflies in my tummy. Just as well.
At the hospital, I was quickly ushered to a small room where two nurses drew blood samples from the waiting patients. The smug look on the nurse's face was shaken when she tapped my hand and could not identify a suitable vein. Struggling to maintain her countenance, she made the first prick above my elbow. I realized, too late, that I had forgotten to pray for her. The needle went in. It missed the target. She apologized and targeted another vein about a cm away. The needle went in as I muttered a hasty prayer. It missed the target. She left the room to summon a senior nurse in her forties. A vein on my wrist was targeted. The needle went in and missed. Three needle pricks which missed. By this time, they were worried.
Chemotherapy shrinks your veins, making them difficult to locate."We need the blue needle," they muttered among themselves.
I discovered later that the blue needle was the one with the finest tip. I was asked to wait while they searched for this needle. Finally, an older nurse (in her fifties) appeared on the scene. Apparently, they could not locate any blue needles.
She reached for my left hand. I reminded her about the three "Don'ts" of a left mastectomy. i.e.
- No intravenous drip (IV)
- No taking of blood pressure
- No drawing of blood (for blood test)
I offered my leg at this point but was told that it was too risky to draw blood from the leg. She drew the blood from my left hand anyway. Later on, she explained to all of us assembled at the little room.
"It is okay to draw blood from the mastectomy side but it should be the last resort. However, the intravenous drip and taking of blood pressure should be avoided. When we draw blood, we are drawing fluid out, not putting them in."
When I finally saw the doctor, I was told that my liver enzymes had dropped significantly. It still exceeded the normal readings so I was asked to continue with the liver tonic and vitamin E . Now, they are pretty sure that the elevated liver enzyme was due to fatty liver.
The four needle pricks were worth the pain and trouble.
"It is okay to draw blood from the mastectomy side but it should be the last resort. However, the intravenous drip and taking of blood pressure should be avoided. When we draw blood, we are drawing fluid out, not putting them in."
Why intravenous drip should be avoided? Lymph nodes are removed in a typical mastectomy. They are part of our immunity system as well as the drainage system, draining fluid away from our body tissues. After their removal, fluid entering the mastectomy side of the arm causes the arm to swell. A needle is usually inserted into the swollen arm to draw out those fluid.What followed was a two hour wait for the laboratory to churn out a report.
When I finally saw the doctor, I was told that my liver enzymes had dropped significantly. It still exceeded the normal readings so I was asked to continue with the liver tonic and vitamin E . Now, they are pretty sure that the elevated liver enzyme was due to fatty liver.
The four needle pricks were worth the pain and trouble.
