Thursday, December 1, 2005

South Park and Yesterday at the Hospital

Thanks to Jody at DUST BUNNY CLUB OF NORTH AMERICA I now have the South Park version of me, PrincesssAurora, in my 'All About Me' section! 

Jody has just had her 40,000 hit on her journal, please go visit her to get the link to making your own South Park character and to read all about her and her wonderful family.

Her eldest son is serving in Iraq right now as well, another reason to support Jody and her family via her journal!

Yesterday I had my appointment at the hospital in NYC to be evaluated and pre-tested for the Orencia study.  A new drug for Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

I survived, all is well, and I was accepted into the study, as expected, but it was a loooooooong day.

We left the house at 9:30 am for the 11:30 am appt, hoping that we would be early enough to grab breakfast at the cafe there and still get to the appt a bit early.  We were parked by 10:30 am and done eating by 11 am.  I was taken in at 11:15 am, all in all, good so far.

The RN who runs the study and I did oodles of paperwork and reviewed my medical and surgical history then she examined me.  Then, the MD who runs the study also came in and examined me, they spoke and agreed, I am perfect for the study!  YAY!

Now, the blood work, as I may have mentioned before, my veins are very difficult, so I warned the RN, but I could tell, she hears it all the time and at first, didn't believe me.  Then, she put the tourniquet on my right arm, then my left, then back to the right and said, " You are right, your veins are shitty!!!  And, I usually say 'crappy' but you said 'shitty' first and you are right!"   Yes.  Yes I am. 

She then narrowed it down to a good spot and missed in drawing blood for the first time in about 4 years.  Then, she went and got one of the two rheumatology lab techs who spent about 20 minutes checking for where to stick, and convinced me to let her try my right hand and then, she also missed.  The study RN then told me that in over 10 years she has never seen this woman miss with blood draw, only IV. 

Yes, I am a special patient.  @@

Next, she tried the left wrist, and she did succeed.  However, by then, I was so over wrought that my blood pressure plummeted, I turned white as a sheet, and almost passed out.  I know, I am weird, most people have their blood pressure go up, no, not me.  So, then 15 minutes of lying down with my feet up.  And I had to get stuck for the TB test too.  ugh

Now, it is 1 pm and off to radiology we go.  To sit and wait.  Finally, around 2 pm I was given my 1-2-3 chest x-ray and we were ready to leave.  At 3 pm, we made it across Manhattan and I dropped Glenn at his office for a meeting he could not miss.  I then made 2 quick right turns into the Lincoln Tunnel and got home about 3:25 pm.

It was a lot longer than I expected considering I didn't even get the medicine infusion!  Yikes.  And I was starving.  lol

Anyhow, my first IV infusion is Tuesday, 12/6 and since I am a 'hard stick' my infusion room RN's that I went to with Remicade, will draw my blood and get my IV in and then the study RN will give the infusion of the new medicine.  It takes 1/2 hour via drip and then 1/2 hour of observation.  Second infusion will be Tues. 12/20 and third 1/3. 

The third will be in the infusion room (yay, I love them!), and then each month afterward, once a month IV infusions at the infusion room.

So, there you have it!  The exciting world of RA and bad veins...

Be well,
Dawn

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

How are you feeling today?

Hugs~

Anonymous said...

love your South Park person! It just fits you so well!

Thanks for the link to Jody's journal; I will head over there now to say hello.

Ouch, regarding the nurses/technicians attempts to get blood from you. I think I heard somewhere, and I could be totally wrong on this, but they recommend if you are giving blood to drink lots of water the morning of a blood draw because that's supposed to help make your veins more elastic or something like that.

Good luck with the infusions.

betty

Anonymous said...

Wow sounds like a buzy day. Sorry your veins are shitty lol i have that problem when they draw blood becauce of the many times i was in the hospital and they had to draw my blood 6 times a day yuck it got so badthey had to take it from my hand (all my veins had colapsed) so i feel for you :)

Deb

Anonymous said...

Your South Park pix looks cool! mine looked frighteningly exactly like me, in a weird way!
lol Everyone can make her's/his own at www.southpark.com, OK? Question Dawn, how
the heck did you SAVE it? ~Diane~

Anonymous said...

I have really good veins ! I use to donate blood all the time. I hope the rest of the study goes well. Have a good night.

Ellen
http://journals.aol.com/eml625/Onedayatatime

Anonymous said...

Oh I can really feel your pain. I've had the same problem everytime they try to draw blood. I finally had a nurse with some common sense and pity.  She used a vein in my hand, but first she numbed it and then she used a "child's" needle to draw the blood. Since they were filling several vials I was eternally grateful to her for her kindness.  I know some people just have no problem whatsoever, my hubby is like that....I hate it.  Glad that you made the study.....Sandi http://journals.aol.com/sdoscher458/LifeIsFullOfSurprises

Anonymous said...

haven't done the south park thingy yet, but i definitely will -- that show cracks me up.  (it's one of my guilty, albeit infrequent, pleasures.)  so happy to hear that you "passed" the study parameters!  hope this new med will be THE ONE.  as for your "shitty" veins, i totally understand where you're coming from.  why is it that, no matter how many times we tell a person that our veins are bad that they think they are THE ONE who can get us on the first stick?  have they not yet learned that we know our bodies better than they do?  we have chronic illnesses ... not the common cold!  :0)~  love ya,  tracey

Anonymous said...

Dawn,
My veins are shot too.   When I am in the hospital they usually have to call an anesthelogist down to get the IV in. I save the one good vein (hidden and only I know where it is.  LOL) for blood tests that require a whole bunch of tubes.  I  will be thinking about you on the 6th.  Let us know how it goes.
Be well, LuAnne

Anonymous said...

Aw Dawn, you make a real pretty South Park character, crown and all!  I bow to you my lady!  And thank you...from me and my family.  And a special thank you for all your support for Gabe and me while he is in Iraq.  It helps us more than words can tell.

Anonymous said...

Hope your next visit to the Dr. is better.  I'm a lousy patient and I always get the lousy stickers.  That makes for a bad combination every time.  Take care kid.

Anonymous said...

You are much prettier than that South Park character!

Krissy
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink

Anonymous said...

I'd have bad veins too if I was getting stuck all the time.  I have very pale skin and you can see my veins clearly.  Problem is that they are thin.  
I hope the study does some good for you.  Good Luck!
Dianne

Anonymous said...

Apparently I too have "bad veins" buried so deep that the nurse would practically have to dig them out!

Your South Park character is great!

Tilly x

Anonymous said...

Loving "the Princess". Yeah, it will help to drink water because it increases your circulating volume, so it makes your vein a little bigger temprarily. Even though I'm a nurse, I'm also a wimp. Only one stick, and to has to be in the bend of my arm. I hate to see a patient that has been stuck 10 and 11 times. Some nurses got no sense. Rhonda
http://journals.aol.com/rgwindland/Imgivingup/

Anonymous said...

I love South Park. My Nemesis' nick name is "Butters."

Check out the AOL Exodus Report I posted today:

http://gabreaelsbodymindandspirit.blogspot.com/

Gabreael

Anonymous said...

Hope that new drug works! I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed for you!!!!!
Hugs,
Dianna

Anonymous said...

ha ha I love the southpark thingy.  I have it on my favorites.

Chris
http://journals.aol.com/swibirun/Inanethoughtsandinsaneramblings
http://inanethoughtsandinsaneramblings.blogspot.com/
http://www.bigoven.com/~swibirun

Anonymous said...

OMG !     They killed Kenny!    Bastards!

Anonymous said...

Sorry your day ended up being so long but I am glad that you got into the study.  I will be keeping you in my prayers!  Lelly

Anonymous said...

What's most important is that we are getting started out on the right path, right, Dawn? :)
With peace and love,
Charley
http://journals.aol.com/CDittric77/Courage

Anonymous said...

ah, Jody! I used to read her all the time but she is private now.
Marti

Anonymous said...

ah, Jody! I used to read her all the time but she is private now.
Marti