Comments on A tale of two phlebotomistsTypePad2008-01-20T12:08:59ZDavid Bognerhttps://www.treppenwitz.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://www.treppenwitz.com/2008/01/a-tale-of-two-p/comments/atom.xml/ilan commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503eec8188332008-02-03T09:57:14Z2008-02-14T04:54:39Zilanhttp://bitsofink.comPitch-perfect, David.<p>Pitch-perfect, David.</p>asher commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052776588342008-01-24T09:26:16Z2008-02-14T04:54:56Zasherimpertinent, impudent and imprudent, but which newspaper was she reading?<p>impertinent, impudent and imprudent, but which newspaper was she reading?</p>Annie D commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503eec0688332008-01-23T18:51:11Z2008-02-14T04:54:36ZAnnie DI remember a blood test for a screening for something (what, I don't remember) when I was in college. I...<p>I remember a blood test for a screening for something (what, I don't remember) when I was in college. I went with a friend of mine. There were two phlebotomists - a nice, sweet looking white lady in her 40s, and an African American man who looked like he'd played defensive lineman for a college football team, with dredlocks and multiple piercings. My friend got the lady, I got the football player. I was done in one stick with no pain, and my friend almost passed out. My rule is (if I have any choice in the matter) always pick the larger phlebotomist. Hasn't let me down yet. I also remember a time when it took three nurses, an anesthesiologist and a doctor to find a vein in my arm. </p>Gila commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550526f1788342008-01-22T21:27:52Z2008-02-14T04:53:18ZGilahttp://www.myshrapnel.blogspot.comAnd all this time, the matronly phlebotemist is having a lovely, relaxing day with her newspaper....<p>And all this time, the matronly phlebotemist is having a lovely, relaxing day with her newspaper....</p>Jaime commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5505271ea88342008-01-22T19:09:42Z2008-02-14T04:53:48ZJaimehttp://www.neshamashelanu.blogspot.comI have never donated blood, but just last week I went in to get my cholesteral check and after poking...<p>I have never donated blood, but just last week I went in to get my cholesteral check and after poking in one arm with a needle, she switched and started on the other arm, when she finally found a supply. I guess if you dig around long enough you will hit a vein. Needless to say, I still have two very ugly (and sore) bruises on both arms. So I feel you pain.</p>asher commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052723488342008-01-22T10:46:59Z2008-02-14T04:53:50Zasherhttp://www.themeatrix.comI feel for Noa, as I'm O negative (had to be negative, didn't I?), in other words universal donor and...<p>I feel for Noa, as I'm O negative (had to be negative, didn't I?), in other words universal donor and now if I want to give it's a problem being British. That being said, there are cases where you mark yor blood as "not for transfusion" and get credited as having given which gets you a year's insurance and a nifty sticker to put on your bicycle helmet.<br />
Remember there's no screening for mad cow so someone who's carrying it might live till 120 and not show any signs, but could pass a tainted transfusion to some poor sod with less resistance.<br />
By the way Pete Townshend had a number called "give blood" on his White City concept album.</p>Aharon commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503eec7388332008-01-22T00:37:30Z2008-02-14T04:54:39ZAharonhttp://www.alluregraphics.comKarl wrote: "But I haven't done anything to get HIV!" Reminds me of my first well visit after graduating YU....<p>Karl wrote: "But I haven't done anything to get HIV!" </p>
<p>Reminds me of my first well visit after graduating YU. The Nurse suggested that I get an HIV test just to be safe. I said that I didn't think that was necessary. She looks at me with a look of pity and says 'everyone could use one'. I said back - I've never had sex, never had a transfusion and I have never taken intravenous drugs. I REALLY don't think I need the test. Once she realized that I knew what I was talking about she relented and said - I guess you're right....<br />
</p>Wry Mouth commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503eec4d88332008-01-21T19:28:42Z2008-02-14T04:54:38ZWry Mouthhttp://wrymouth.comMy daughter (24) has had a life-long thing about needles... "fear," or "phobia" are too tame (when she was 5,...<p>My daughter (24) has had a life-long thing about needles... "fear," or "phobia" are too tame (when she was 5, or 2, or something (I forget; the missus does not) it took 3 or 4 strong techs to hold her down to get blood samples from her before she had her tonsillectomy.</p>
<p>I'm just sayin'.</p>
<p>Flash forward. Now studying medicine at a local university, she figures out a good way to earn significant cash, with flexible hours, is to become -- a phlebotomist. And they practice on each other, and she (unlike myself) has no arm veins to speak of. Mine look like city sewer mains, and I've been timed at 4 min per pint when I'm in the zone.</p>
<p>She could tell you tales of the type of persons who train to be phlebotomists, but I will leave that to her. Suffice to say, I admire her solution to her phobia. It would be like me getting a job building high-rises to overcome my intense phobia of heights.</p>
<p>I get anxious just thinking about that.</p>
<p>P.S. -- you would pick my daughter, no doubt, to phlebotomize you; luckily for you, she's one of the tops in her class. Until you see her, though, PICK THE MATRON.</p>
<p>Lovely (and as usual) insightful post. And thanks for the tip, as I am going to England for holiday soon. No steaks? Or no meats at all?</p>JDMDad commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503eed3788332008-01-21T16:32:20Z2008-02-14T04:54:45ZJDMDadhttp://JDMDad.blogspot.comI donate blood and platelets here in the states. I've been to the center many times and know most of...<p>I donate blood and platelets here in the states. I've been to the center many times and know most of the phlebotomists at the center where I donate. I know which one to pick when she's available. I hardly ever feel the needle with her. There is one guy there who I never donate with. If I ever get him for the "interview" my pulse is always over 100 (reject range). </p>noa commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5505271c888342008-01-21T16:21:05Z2008-02-14T04:53:46ZnoaWhat i don't understand about the "Mad Cow Disease" factor of not being able to be a blood donor, is...<p>What i don't understand about the "Mad Cow Disease" factor of not being able to be a blood donor, is how do the folk in the UK get blood for their bloodbanks? I am British, and can't give blood in New Zealand, even though I was a vegetarian when I lived in the UK in that period. Seems horribly random to me, and considering I have a rare blood group, a bit daft.</p>
<p>I nearly offered to give blood at the Jerusalem bus station two days ago, but realise after reading your post that I would have been rejected based on my "Mad Cow Disease" factor. Sigh!</p>a. commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee5e488332008-01-21T10:19:16Z2008-02-14T04:53:21Za.Jack... Is your goal really to make me the top Google search for glock chopped liver? :-) And Krokodil. ;)...<p><i>Jack... Is your goal really to make me the top Google search for glock chopped liver? :-)</p>
<p>And Krokodil. ;)</i></p>
<p><br />
Schnappi?? Where? Where??</p>psachya commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee81c88332008-01-21T08:33:41Z2008-02-14T04:53:45ZpsachyaHey, kol hakavod to all you blood donors! I can't do it. I've been known to pass out during routine...<p>Hey, kol hakavod to all you blood donors! I can't do it. I've been known to pass out during routine blood tests. My wife (a regular donor) considers me quite the wuss.</p>Lion of Zion commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052763988342008-01-21T07:48:07Z2008-02-14T04:54:42ZLion of Zionhttp://agmk.blogspot.comdonating blood in israel went pretty well. but i forgot to get my driver's license back (or as i saw...<p>donating blood in israel went pretty well. but i forgot to get my driver's license back (or as i saw it, they forgot to give it back to me) and by the time i realized i was back in america. they basically wanted me to fly back to israel to get it back.</p>Jack commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503eeba788332008-01-21T07:38:41Z2008-02-14T04:54:33ZJackhttp://wwwjackbenimble.blogspot.com/Jack... Is your goal really to make me the top Google search for glock chopped liver? :-) And Krokodil. ;)<p><i>Jack... Is your goal really to make me the top Google search for glock chopped liver? :-)</i></p>
<p>And Krokodil. ;)</p>asher commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503eeccb88332008-01-21T04:47:19Z2008-02-14T04:54:41ZasherI wanted to get to 50 donations by age 50, but when I told them (after 40+ donations) that I...<p>I wanted to get to 50 donations by age 50, but when I told them (after 40+ donations) that I had actually spent 7 consecutive months in Britain (Britain!!) in 1980-80, they stopped taking. Grossly unfair, and try talking to the management.</p>Channah commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052756588342008-01-20T20:21:26Z2008-02-14T04:54:35ZChannahHas she done anything to get her iron levels up? Like take Blackstrap molasses or something? (Not that I'm trying...<p>Has she done anything to get her iron levels up? Like take Blackstrap <br />
molasses or something? (Not that I'm trying to make her donate blood, <br />
but I thing being anemic is bad for other reasons.)</p>treppenwitz commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503eee5688332008-01-20T20:02:04Z2008-02-14T04:54:56Ztreppenwitzhttp://www.treppenwitz.coma.... Yes, we deserve it. No argument from me on that. Karl Newman... I had a similar scare in the...<p>a.... Yes, we deserve it. No argument from me on that.</p>
<p>Karl Newman... I had a similar scare in the states in the early days of testing for Hep C (non A non B) I got a false positive on one of my donations and even though a follow up test proved conclusively that I was fine I was permanently banned from the US blood supply.</p>
<p>cruisin-mom... Well, I can't really say, but if you find the guidelines for the minimum weight to donate... and added about three pounds (including clothing, shoes and jewelry) you'd be close. :-)</p>
<p>Val... Yeah, we're fools alright, but it's nice to have a fool around when you have a flat on a dark rainy night, no?</p>
<p>Jack... Is your goal really to make me the top Google search for glock chopped liver? :-)</p>
<p>Ben... Look, we have socialized medicine here, but that doesn't mean everything is free. Blood transfusions is something that are always in short supply and no amount of government financial assistance can change that. So they charge for blood transfusions... just enough that it hurts a little when the bill comes. his is an incentive to give, thus providing you, your spouse, kids parents and in-laws with a year's worth of blood insurance. You can also earmark your blood for someone specific or a particular family at the time of your donation. Since you can technically give every three months, this means that even if you and your spouse were both unable to donate, a friend could give you coverage by designating you on his donation form. Not a bad system if you ask me.</p>
<p>QuietusLeo... No offense, but docs are some of the worst sticks I've ever had. OK, maybe you gas passers have a bit more practice... but I'll still take a nurse if I have a choice. :-)</p>
<p>Baila... Read my reply to Ben. and one of the mechanics behind me told the interviewer he was taking lipator and asked if he could still donate. She checked her list and said no problem. </p>
<p>Yael... Se my responses to Ben an Baila for details. Oh, and my wife was a vegetarian when we met and had even lower blood iron than she does now (if that is possible). She also, like you, tips the scale very close to the cut off for donations. I imagine if you eat a big bowl of spinach the day before and then put a can of diet coke in your pocket before stepping on the scale they might let you give. :-)</p>Yael commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052733988342008-01-20T19:34:43Z2008-02-14T04:53:58ZYaelhttp://gnblog.comOh my, this is hysterical. Since I just had blood siphoned away last week for a medical exam, I do...<p>Oh my, this is hysterical. Since I just had blood siphoned away last week for a medical exam, I do feel sympathy --and extreme relief that I had the easiest vampire I've ever gotten and not an experience like yours! What's all this about needing to give blood in order to get insurance? Hrmmm maybe all the hummus I've been eating and related weight gain has upped my weight enough so they won't shoo me out if I want to donate...</p>Baila commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052703788342008-01-20T18:34:52Z2008-02-14T04:53:29ZBailahttp://www.illcallbaila.blogspot.comoh, yeah and sometimes you men really make us women laugh very hard!!<p>oh, yeah and sometimes you men really make us women laugh very hard!!</p>Baila commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5505274f888342008-01-20T18:32:54Z2008-02-14T04:54:30ZBailahttp://www.illcallbaila.blogspot.comLast year when my daughter was in the hospital getting countless blood tests, a smiling intern came by to take...<p>Last year when my daughter was in the hospital getting countless blood tests, a smiling intern came by to take blood. His name was, I swear, "Osama". My then 13-year-old daughter smiled sweetly at him and told him in no uncertain terms that he was not touching her with any needle and that he should please call the nurse.</p>
<p>She was not necessarily prejudiced (although she thought his name to be rather unfortunate), but felt that only nurses knew how to get the stick on the first try.</p>
<p>And what's this about blood insurance?? My blood is totally tainted. Can my husband donate if he has high cholestorel? What do I do if I need blood? NBN never told us this!!!</p>QuietusLeo commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5505274f588342008-01-20T18:06:04Z2008-02-14T04:54:30ZQuietusLeohttp://quietusleo.blogspot.comOh you big baby! Ask Zehava what it's like to give birth and then bitch and moan. This reminds me...<p>Oh you big baby! Ask Zehava what it's like to give birth and then bitch and moan.<br />
This reminds me of my medical school days. During the rotation in internal medicine the students' job in the morning was to take bloods. One of my school mates, a minor genius with two left hands was particularly adept:<br />
We'd see him approach the patient's bed with all the vampire usual equipment and close the drapes around the bed to ensure the patient's privacy. Then we'd hear, ouch, ayyyyy, owwwwwww!. Our colleague would emerge with blood on his hands, on his shirt on his shoes, in fact blood everywhere except in the test tubes. Usually after that one of the other students would take the bloods with a patient who looks like a rabbit caught in the the strong beam of the headlights. After a few days of this repeat performance we suggested that he sit out the morning blood letting and let us do the work.</p>Ben commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e550526f4d88342008-01-20T17:12:54Z2008-02-14T04:53:20ZBenWait - you only get blood insurance if you are healthy enough to give blood? That doesn't seem quite right.<p>Wait - you only get blood insurance if you are healthy enough to give blood? That doesn't seem quite right.</p>Jack commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5505275da88342008-01-20T15:59:56Z2008-02-14T04:54:39ZJackhttp://wwwjackbenimble.blogspot.com/I love when you admit that men can be fools! :) Men and Fools- I have never heard a more...<p><i>I love when you admit that men can be fools! :)</i></p>
<p>Men and Fools- I have never heard a more shocking combination of words. The dissonant clinkety-clank is far too loud to take on this fine morning. And you, the Yankee fan, have you no shame...</p>
<p>Without men the world would be a far darker and dangerous place. It is men like <a href="http://bogieworks.blogs.com/treppenwitz/2004/12/photo_friday_vo_2.html" rel="nofollow">your brother</a> who ensure that we can safely eat chopped liver, without fear of the schmaltz monster.</p>
<p>Ok, ok...One of these days I will find new material. I promise, I just don't promise when. :)</p>Val commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee54988332008-01-20T15:25:29Z2008-02-14T04:53:14ZValhttp://bogieval.blogs.com/valcentric/I love when you admit that men can be fools! :) hehehe!<p>I love when you admit that men can be fools! :) hehehe!</p>cruisin-mom commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e55052719288342008-01-20T15:25:04Z2008-02-14T04:53:45Zcruisin-momhttp://cruisin-mom.blogspot.comForget all that...I want to know how much Zahava weighs ;)<p>Forget all that...I want to know how much Zahava weighs ;)</p>Karl Newman commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503eec2588332008-01-20T15:16:27Z2008-02-14T04:54:37ZKarl NewmanA few years ago, I gave blood during a radio station's blood drive. They were giving away free tee shirts...<p>A few years ago, I gave blood during a radio station's blood drive. They were giving away free tee shirts and it was for a good cause, so why not? </p>
<p>Why not.</p>
<p>About a week later, I received a phone call from the blood bank, wanting me to come in to talk to the doctor. "Er...why?" "We can't tell you over the phone." *gulp*</p>
<p>So I scurried on down there. The staff physician sat me down and explained that they used two tests for HIV in the blood. One was an antibody test that was reliable but only detected the virus once it had triggered (and apparently not yet destroyed) the immune system. That came back negative. The other was an antigen test that looked for the virus itself and was used to find the virus prior to the immune system taking notice. It was a new test and still needed to be tweaked a bit, colds and such would trigger a positive result....which is what I had, a positive result. For HIV.</p>
<p>"But I haven't done anything to <i>get</i> HIV!" No matter, they did the test and it was positive. They did it again, same result. Then they sent it out to a lab for a different test, which came back indeterminate. Come back and see us in eight weeks.</p>
<p>Eight weeks later, all the tests were negative. Despite that, I haven't given blood since. Scarred for life, I guess. As for the tee shirt, I finally threw it out a few weeks ago.</p>a. commented on 'A tale of two phlebotomists'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef00e5503ee71788332008-01-20T12:41:39Z2008-02-14T04:53:33Za.Men.... מגיע לכם! ;)<p>Men....</p>
<p>מגיע לכם!<br />
;)</p>