[stylist] Colonoscopy Aborted!

Fri Feb 27 22:33:47 UTC 2009

dear Peter,
I do know the feeling, I am a hard one also for needlesticks and I.V.'s.
because I was getting medicine to treat my heart twice a week by I.V. 
early this decade, I had a port put in in my right chest.  it is 
entirely under the skin and does not show at all.  it is about the 
size of a nikel for diameter.  now whenever I am getting blood tests 
or go into the hospital, they happily use that port, called a 
portacath.  and I am so glad not to be stuck more than once.

I'm praying for you.  and most of all that God's protection will 
surround you regarding your colon.
jc

Jim Canaday M.A.
Lawrence, KS

At 01:01 PM 2/27/2009, you wrote:
>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
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Writers Division web site:
>http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
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