I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: smartcookie on January 13, 2016, 07:28:48 PM

Title: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: smartcookie on January 13, 2016, 07:28:48 PM
I had to have my yearly blood draw at work yesterday, and I always think about my first work blood draw when I first started working in dialysis. I am a very hard stick, so I am always a little worried about giving blood. I approached the tech, and was told that blood draws are done standing up on the edge if the treatment floor in view of all my brand new patients and co-workers that I am trying so hard to impress. I let her stick me, and as the tube fills with blood, black dots begin to dance in front of my eyes. I tell her I am going down and another tech quickly grabs a chair and catches me. The patient next to me, who I have yet to meet, starts laughing till tears run down her face! My co-workers make sure I am ok (I was fine, just woosy), then begin chuckling to themselves. Afterward, I slink back to my office and put my head between my knees; so embarrassing!  :shy; I now drag a chair over for my annual blood draws... 
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Simon Dog on January 13, 2016, 08:41:20 PM
Just curious - why are you getting blood draws at work?   Is this some sort of clinic requirement for staff?
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Vt Big Rig on January 14, 2016, 04:42:55 AM
My wife works in a clinic also and gets the same blood draw .... I think it is to check for hepatitis.

smartcookie ...... don't be so hard on yourself. Next time .... just don't watch!!! :)
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Charlie B53 on January 14, 2016, 06:26:37 AM

I can't help myself.  I had to chuckle.

I too am a VERY hard 'stick'.  Used to be soo bad that just the SMELL of the alcohol wipe started making me 'woosy'. LOL  Even using the little 'butterfly' it is often difficult to get blood.  Many times it is the second, or third person, and a couple of 'sticks' each, before getting flow.  Starting an IV is even worse.

I haven't actually 'gone out' for many many years, but there is always that possibility.  Enough I don't think it wise for me to ever try standing during any draw, or even any injection.

Good thing you recognize it when it is happening in time to give a warning so you didn't fall and possibly cause injury.


Take Care,

Charlie B53

Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: smartcookie on February 03, 2017, 06:56:49 AM
Just got this years blood draw done!  A newer patient told me that watching me get stuck was more entertaining than TV! Haha!  The techs couldn't hit a vein so my Clinical Manager had to come in and stick me.  Fun times! 
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Riki on February 03, 2017, 10:39:23 AM
Why are they making you stand up for blood draws???  They are taking blood out of you, and even though it's only a small amount, it can be enough to drop blood pressure.. it sounds very dangerous, and if it were me, I would have insisted on a chair
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: smartcookie on February 03, 2017, 01:51:02 PM
I do now; I will never have blood drawn or a shot without sitting down.  I felt awful the rest of the day when I stood the first time.  I grabbed the ward clerk's chair.  The patients love to see employees stuck for once, though! 
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: PrimeTimer on March 13, 2018, 10:59:30 AM
 ??? Anyone hear from our resident social worker, smartcookie? She's missed.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: GA_DAWG on March 13, 2018, 01:45:35 PM
We had a really  good tech who left to take another job. Before they found a replacement, she changed her mind and tried to come back. Our less than pleasant director refused to rehire her. I tookk every chance to bring up the fact she was working at another clinic. She was the best tech with a needle, and every employee at the clinic always had her stick them for the blood draw. After months of not being able to get her rehired, I knew the draw would be coming up soon.  It is always right around our flu shot. One day I casually asked who would be doing their sticks for the blood draw. I saw several looking at each other. None of them had thought of that. The next week, she was rehired.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: MooseMom on March 13, 2018, 02:29:45 PM
Gosh, I had not realized that so much time has passed since she last posted!  Thanks for bumping this thread up, PT!  I hope someone can let us know how/what she's doing!
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Rerun on March 14, 2018, 07:48:59 PM
She was last Active on this site in January 2018.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: PrimeTimer on March 14, 2018, 09:35:37 PM
Hope smartcookie comes back soon. She helps to lift our spirits. Hopefully if it is she that is in need of a shoulder she knows our arms are wide open. I'll think happy thoughts for her.  :grouphug;
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Xplantdad on March 15, 2018, 01:30:16 PM
It shows she is online now :)
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: PrimeTimer on March 15, 2018, 09:35:46 PM
It shows she is online now :)

Thanks for letting us know, Xplantdad. Hopefully she will be posting again soon. We are lucky to have a social worker on here and I also enjoy her posts.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Riki on March 23, 2018, 11:53:09 AM
Perhaps someone should send her a PM and let her know that she's missed
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Paul on March 24, 2018, 03:59:26 AM
Perhaps someone should send her a PM and let her know that she's missed
I really hate posts like that. Basically you are saying: "This thing should be done. I could do it. But I'm too lazy to do so. So I'll post here and get someone else to do it for me."
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: GA_DAWG on March 24, 2018, 09:35:21 AM
Kind of harsh there dude.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Paul on March 24, 2018, 11:29:42 AM
Yes, but true.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: PrimeTimer on March 25, 2018, 10:57:33 PM
Perhaps someone should send her a PM and let her know that she's missed

I'm going to do that right now! Thanks for the idea, Riki!
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Charlie B53 on March 26, 2018, 02:41:16 PM

Done.  Days ago.  No response yet.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Riki on March 29, 2018, 02:11:09 PM
Perhaps someone should send her a PM and let her know that she's missed
I really hate posts like that. Basically you are saying: "This thing should be done. I could do it. But I'm too lazy to do so. So I'll post here and get someone else to do it for me."

My thought was that someone who talks to her and has more of a rapport with her than I do would be better to send a PM.  Not being lazy if I'm not the right person to do it
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: MooseMom on March 29, 2018, 02:29:13 PM
I'm sure she knows we're here.  She can read all of these posts if she chooses.  Perhaps we should respect her privacy.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Simon Dog on March 29, 2018, 02:32:56 PM
I hope her absence has nothing to do with her post replete with unflattering innuendo regarding care at her clinic, which was subsequently removed after several of us pointed out it could case involuntary decruitment if the clinic manager linked it to her.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: MooseMom on March 29, 2018, 02:37:00 PM
I hope her absence has nothing to do with her post replete with unflattering innuendo regarding care at her clinic, which was subsequently removed after several of us pointed out it could case involuntary decruitment if he clinic manager linked it to her.

I didn't know about this, SD.  I hope you're right.  That would be really unfortunate.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: Simon Dog on March 30, 2018, 10:36:28 AM
It could also be that a term of continued employment was absence from IHD.   Just speculating though.
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: LorinnPKD on April 02, 2018, 08:24:50 PM
If you're reading this, smartcookie, please know that you have helped so many people here.  We appreciate you!
Title: Re: Social Worker Down!!!
Post by: kristina on April 03, 2018, 05:34:12 AM
Dear smartcookie,
I always love to read your well-thought-out-answers
and have always appreciated your thoughts
and I very much look forward to hear from you again.
Best wishes from Kristina. :grouphug;