Ignoring The Sticking Point
Hospital, Montana, USA | Healthy | December 27, 2017
(My husband has sliced his thumb open at work and after an hour of convincing him, I manage to get him into the ER. The doctor looks at it and determines it needs stitches, plus he needs a tetanus booster, and so the nurse gets the shot ready. This happens with me and [Nurse
#1 ] talking to him on his right, and [Nurse
#2 ] on his left prepping for the injection.)
Husband: “Okay, just… I don’t know… Let me get a deep breath before you inject me.”
Nurse
#1 : “Are you afraid of needles? It’ll be a quick pinch and done, way less than slicing your thumb open.”
Me: “Exactly. It’s so quick. Remember all of the times you donated plasma? The needle is smaller and you barely feel it.”
(In the meantime, [Nurse
#2 ] has prepped him and has uncapped the needle. She gives us a little nod and sticks him while we continue talking.)
Husband: “I know; it’s just irrational and my thumb hurts and it’s just overwhelming!”
Nurse
#1 : “You used to give plasma? That’s awesome! What do they use, like 15 gauge?”
(The other nurse is done now and cleaning up.)
Me: “No, 12. The needles are HUGE!”
Nurse
#1 : “Oh, geez. Well these are only 25 gauge, so super tiny compared to what you’re used to.”
Husband: “Yeah. I suppose. It wasn’t so bad, I just hated that cold feeling when they put the blood back into you.” *deep breath before turning to [Nurse
#2 ]* “Okay, I should be good now. Go ahead.”
Nurse
#2 : “Dude, I’ve been done for like a minute now. You did fine.”