Thursday, September 9, 2021

Venipuncture and Vaccine

After my yearly physical was finished in 2020, I left the doctor's office carrying paperwork from the front desk and a written request for the 2021 blood tests. The hard copy was just a reminder to me to get the work done before my late-September physical appointment; the office also sent an official request to the lab.

That hard copy was waiting for me when I opened my September file. I had to fast overnight. I don't fast well, so I wanted to get the test done first thing in the morning. After looking at my calendar I designated today for the work.  

The hospital website had a list of all the available labs. Every lab had slightly different hours. I could go to one on the hospital campus as early as 6:00 am, and as late as 5:00 pm, but I was pleasantly surprised to see they had just opened an urgent care center in a strip mall less than a mile from my house (and on one of my regular walking routes with Hubby Tony). I called them and asked if I could have blood work done there. The answer was yes.

Last night I put a huge note in the bathroom reminding me not to eat breakfast this morning. This morning when I rolled out of bed I decided I would combine some exercise with my lab visit and walk to the urgent care. Tony decided to come with me, even though I told him I had no idea how long the visit would take.

Even though I've walked past the strip mall dozens of times I've never timed how long it takes to get there. I ended up arriving five minutes before the doors opened. There was one person ahead of me in line. I thought about chatting with him, but decided he might be visiting the urgent care because he was sick and kept my distance.

After the paperwork was completed it only took a couple of minutes before I was called to the back. The phlebotomist asked which arm I wanted the blood drawn from. I requested my right (non-dominant) one. She did an excellent job of finding the vein on the first try, and I was in and out of the building in 20 minutes.

I sent Tony a text telling him to meet me at the grocery store that's behind the strip mall. I was starving, and even though a big slice of cake was calling my name he steered me towards a healthier bagel. I could eat while walking, and we decided to finish off our normal walking loop route.

There's a Walgreens pharmacy right where we would turn to head towards our subdivision. Instead of passing it by Tony and I decided to go in and get our flu shots (another thing that's been on my list of things to do). When the technician asked which arm I wanted the injection in I told her the right one.  Now I have two (invisible) holes in that arm-one that took a tiny bit of liquid out of my body and another that put a tiny bit back in.

Five years ago: Under My Umbrella

15 comments:

  1. Flu shot. I have to get that. And the two shot shingles shots. I've had the single dose. And then... the BOOSTER! Then it will be time for next years combo flu shot/booster shot.

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  2. Cathy and I had flu shots this week, and that over the severe objections of her across the street neighbor. "Well, my doctor says.....and blablabla". We could barely get out of her drive, over the advice! I slept for a day and now I'm immunized!

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    1. I think health decisions are between you and your doctor only.

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  3. I guess it is time for flu shots now. Hope the bloodwork is fine.

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    1. I feel like they keep pushing up the dates for flu shots. We used to get them in October.

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  4. The second made up for the first!
    Our flu jabs were booked for 18 sept but, thanks to Brexit, there is a problem with lorries so they're delayed.

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    1. Oy! I hope they'll administer the shots to the backlog of people in the order they were booked.

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  5. Wow two stick ups. At least you know you are protected. And good for you, walking to the medical building and denying yourself that piece of cake. I would have been rewarding myself. LOL

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    1. The cake would have tasted great, but then in a couple of hours I would have had a sugar crash. Not worth it.

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  6. This joke will appear next Saturday on Saturday jokes. But it goes well with your post.
    My husband gave me an ultimatum: it’s either him or my addiction to sweets. The decision was a piece of cake.

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  7. Oh goodness! We got my mother her flu shot, but haven't gotten ours yet. That's next on my list.

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