[stylist] Colonoscopy Aborted!

[Judith Bron]

Peter, During one of my hospitalizations when I received a lot of medication 
via IV, the nurse couldn't access any veins in my hand or arm.  She was able 
to access a vein in my thigh.  Preparation for collonoscopy is a real pain. 
If the patient has gone through so much to get ready for a test, don't you 
think the staff could at least be more efficient at carrying out the 
procedure?  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
To: <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Mary Donahue" <braille at sbcglobal.net>; "NFB of Missouri Mailing List" 
<nfbmo at nfbnet.org>; "Julie J." <jlcrane at alltel.net>; 
<ccgarcia2005 at yahoo.com>; <nfb-web at nfbnet.org>; "NFBnet Writer's Division 
Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 2:01 PM
Subject: [stylist] Colonoscopy Aborted!


> Good morning everyone,
>
>    Looks like we've had our glitch for today. This morning I was scheduled
> for a colonoscopy upon the recommendation of our primary care physician. 
> We
> went for the procedure this morning with hopes that it would be successful
> and that nothing bad would be found. All went well until it was time for 
> the
> nurse to start the I.V. That's when the bottom fell out of everything.
>    Some of you know about some previous occasions I described when I was
> stuck multiple times for bloodwork or begin I.VS. Today wasn't going to be
> one of them! After examining my arms and hands the nurse attempted to 
> start
> the I.V., but without success. He decided to have his co-worker start the
> I.V. all the while boasting about, "How good the G.I. Lab's Staff are at
> finding patients veins and that they would get it next time!" That fellow
> will leave work with his tail tucked between his legs today. I've had
> medical personnel do the same on numerous occasions. Every time they
> over-estimated their confidence and I left their facility with painful 
> arms
> and on edge.
>
> The nurse also went on and on about how he had to prepare four patients 
> for
> various procedures in a hour and was one of only two nurses in the place. 
> I
> decided to make his job easier, called it a day, and Mary and I enjoyed a
> wonderful breakfast in the hospital cafeteria. None of these individuals
> treated me last year when I had my ulcer surgery at that same hospital. My
> prep nurse for that procedure, a lady named Gloria was able to find a vein
> in my left arm without any trouble and successfully started the I.V. 
> without
> any boasting or fanfare. It's too bad she wasn't there this morning.
>
>    I've been saying for a while with the need to find veins quickly and
> with such technology as infrared, ultrasound, and Doppler available it's 
> too
> bad  that someone hasn't developed a device to help medical personnel and
> patients guide needles to the precise location of veins making blood work
> and I.V. establishment a far more pleasant and safer procedure. It would
> ensure that procedures requiring the use of medications given I.V. can 
> occur
> reducing instances of undiagnosed cancer and other conditions. If such a
> needle guidance system included audio feedback it could possibly create 
> new
> employment opportunities for the blind as phlebotomists for example. It
> could also benefit patients with deep veins who must inject medication 
> I.V.
> themselves. I was in no mood to talk tech with this crew after that.
>
>    I'm home nursing a somewhat sore right arm. Taking a suggestion from a
> member of the NFB Writers' Division if they want me to undergo a 
> colonoscopy
> they'll have to do it via the pill, (Video Colonoscopy)), or put me in an
> MRI Scanner, (Virtual Colonoscopy.)  This was a waste of my time and that 
> of
> my doctor and the hospital. Sorry to be long-winded. I'll be in better
> spirits after a good night's sleep. I'll refrain from saying any more 
> about
> this on list. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers and thoughts. Talk to
> you all soon.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
>
> "Given a chance to dream it can be done.
> The promise of tomorrow is real.
> Children of Spaceship Earth the future belongs to us all."
> Flying for Me,
> John Denver
>
>
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