Labs, ABG

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

I had my appointment to get my labs done. I needed blood work (17 damn vials) and an EKG. Apparently I also needed an ABG which I quickly learned to be an arterial blood gas test. I was freaked out because it didn't sound painless. The tech doing my blood work and EKG said it was no biggie. Turns out. BIGGIE. I waited and waited and waited and they finally called me in to get the ABG. While I was waiting I made the mistake of googling what it was, the only results said it was extremely painful. 

I sat down in the chair and this little tiny Asian lady said to take off my Fitbit and relax. She played around with my wrist a little bit and then poked me a little. Then pushed. She was DIGGING and I mean DIGGING in my wrist for my artery. After a few minutes of the most pain I have ever felt, she said, "I've almost got it". I"m sorry, what? She hasn't even started yet. She had to try twice and was not able to find my artery to draw blood. So all that digging for nothing. She pulled the needle around one more time and this time I completely blacked out. I woke up and she said she has never not gotten it before. Fantastic. She said that if they really need it, I'll have to come back. HELL NO.