It's a bloodbath - eventually!

The other day I  had to visit Bradford Royal Infirmary for my usual 3-weekly blood test.  We got off to a good start as the waiting room for the phlebotomy department was empty and I was able to go straight in.  As usual, I explained that my veins are very poor, needing paediatric needles to be used, and I have only one arm which can be used for the procedure.  After holding my hand under running hot water to make the veins stand out, the phlebotomist made two unsuccessful attempts. The needle went in ok, but my blood was reluctant to flow!  She said "I have been here 30 years and have never had to try 3 times"!!  She was going to have another attempt but then decided it might be better if I were to go up the Chemotherapy Day Unit for them to do it.  I was quite happy to do this, as no-one there has ever needed more than one attempt. 

 It was a longer wait as, understandably, I had to be fitted in between the chemo patients.  The sister who did the procedure was new to me, but she was lovely and brought me a bucket of hot soapy water to soak my hand in.  In the chemo department you also get to sit in a comfy arm chair with a pillow to rest your arm on, a cup of tea and a biscuit!  The needle went in without any problem, but again my blood didn't want to leave my nice warm hand!  She stroked the vein and sat and chatted to me while we waited for the syringe to fill - must have been about 5 minutes to get a couple of tablespoonsful.  Then she carefully took the needle out and my blood squirted all over my hand, her apron, the pillow and the floor.  We were frantically mopping up with tissues when hubby came through to wash up his empty cup.  He took one look at the blood and said "It's like Hammer House of Horrors in here!" and kept walking back to the waiting room.

It was my clinic appointment next day and I told the consultant what had happened with the blood test.  He said next time I should skip the phlebotomy department and go straight to the Day Unit.  With pleasure!  My next worry is that I have to go for an MRI scan next month and they always have a problem getting a needle in my arm for the dye needed for the scan.  Last time, 2 radiographers couldn't do it and they had to go and wake up an anaesthetist for the job.  Can't wait to see what happens next time (not!).

A Scarf for the Pooping Puppy!

We went to fetch our grand-daughter from school this afternoon as her parents were working, and brought her back to our house until her Mum could pick her up on her way home.  She spent about 3/4hr playing with her "pooping puppy".  This delightful little toy dog is worked by a remote clicker - 1 click to make it walk; 2 to make it sit and 3 to make it beg (I think it's that way round!).  To make it more exciting, you can put a plastic biscuit in its mouth and then a short time later it comes out of the other end!  She got a bit concerned at one point as the biscuit was not appearing when expected.  She said "he must be constipated", so I picked him up and shook him.  She was mortified!  Anyway, it worked and he is no longer constipated.   

She then decided she wanted me to teach her to knit.  This was fun!  She now knows the principles, but at 6 years old, her hands are too small to cope with the needles.  We sat in the chair while she tried to copy me, both chanting "in, wrap, push, pull".  If you knit, you will understand!  We are knitting a green scarf for the pooping puppy.

Went out for a lovely meal tonight with our friends M&D to a new Italian restaurant called Pippo's on Harrogate Road, at Greengates.  It was our first time there and we were not disappointed, the meal was lovely.  The evening's entertainment was provided by hubby (as usual). He went to pay for the meal on his debit card but had forgotten his pin number!  "No problem", says he, "I have saved it on my phone in code!"  Slight problem - he couldn't remember the code!  In the end, he had to pay on his credit card.  To make matters worse, one of the reasons we had gone to this particular restaurant was that hubby was hoping to do business with them!  Not a good way to impress them.  Still, it was well worth it as we had a lovely evening.

Bring back 2011!

2012 started off ok, or so I thought!  I have been having a bit of a problem for a few days with my little toe bleeding, and walking was getting a bit painful.  When I woke up this morning the toe was swollen, red and more painful.  To cut a long story short, hubby and I spend 3 hours in the waiting room of Ward 15, Bradford Royal Infirmary, to be told by a doctor that the toe is infected and the nail has disappeared!  There was so much blood on it the last few days that I hadn't been able to see it properly, so I don't know when it went, where or how!  They dressed it for me and gave me antibiotics for tonight, have to collect the rest tomorrow. I have to rest it a bit, which is no great hardship now that walking is so painful.  Not the greatest start to the year, but at least it can only get better - or can it?