Sunday, January 6, 2008

November 19, 2007: Time for a Physical

Experience isn't always the best teacher. I went for my labs and was given a fellow named Tom. He was new to me and seemed about 30. He got his set up and I didn't bother to give him directions. He looked at both arms and said, "I'll try this one, okay?"

I agreed and he started slowly and methodically to put the band on my arm. I pumped my fist a couple times and he put on his gloves. He took the butterfly needle and laid it beside where I could see the vein and at a low angle. I was sure he wouldn't get blood that way.

He put a finger on the other side of the vein and slowly slid the needle into my arm. At the first flush of blood he stopped and put a vial in the tube. It slowly filled with blood. He popped it off and pushed in another vial. Slowly it filled. WOW!

I said, "You did that well. I usually get stuck three or four times."

Tom said, "That was only my second time."