The nurses and doctor were nice at least. But no matter how nice they are I still hate IVs . I was sitting there, half conscious with the allergic reaction, barely able to talk and suddenly I hear "Hold still a sec, I'm putting an IV in". I totally lock up. Not beacuse she asked me too but because of how much I hate IVs. My eyes grew big (or at least as big as my swollen face allowed, which meant only half as big as when my eyes are open to normal size).

*shudder*

I don't mind shots. I just hate having a needle that's constaly in your skin. Not to mention she put it in the crook of my arm...I refused to bend my elbow the whole time after that, which made the 4 hours rather uncomfortable...well...ok, the last 2 hours since those were the hours I was particularly concsious. Benadryll and steriods tend to put you to sleep

So now I get to carry around a handy dandy Epi Pen in case it happens again. Wee!

Apparently I also caused a bruhaha amongst family and friends. I called the rents before I left to ask mom, who is a nurse, what she thought I should do. She told me to just go to wallgreens and get some benadryl. On my way though I decided (wisely as it happens) that my symptoms were too severe and went to the hospital. This led to mom coming over, not finding me, driving to walgreens, a nearby medcenter and st vincent hospital. I was at st vincent, but for some reason she looked for my car instead of just going in and asking. She didn't find it so drove home and proceeded to call my roomate every hour. Poor guy had only been asleep for like 3 hours by the first call. I should also add, he knew nothing of what was happening because I didn't have the heart to wake him and ask him to drive me anywhere.

After 2 hours of being in the hospital I called work to let them know I wouldn't be coming in. I couldn't get a hold of my boss so I left a message with the secretary person. My message was "This is (my name). Just let (my boss) know I won't be coming into work today because I'm in the hospital>" Apparently I should have added that I was ok, because this led my boss to call my friend (who helped me get the job and everyone knew we were friends) and let him know I was in the hospital.

My friend then called my roomate asking about me. Then both my roomate and my friend tried to call my mother, but got busy signals (she had left the phone off the hook by accident). My mother was also trying to call my job to see if they had found out anything.

So I have this small network of people worried about me calling everyone but the hospital. I suppose I should have called my mother and told her that I had gone to the hospital instead of Walgreens...But I assumed she knew since she suggested I go there if the benadryl didn't work for me.

So, I don't have any medical insurance, I went to the ER for 4 hours and have no idea what the bill will be (they wouldn't even give me an estimate), worried my family and friends and had an IV sticking out of my arm near the entire time...all for a handful (yes, only one handful) of nuts that I don't think even tasted all that good anyway.

But it's all over and I survived! Go me.

I had the exact same reaction when I got my IV put in the first time... I'd say the 2 most annoying things about having to have an IV in you all the time is it's hard to take baths(showers are pretty much out, since it can't get wet) and if you bend your arm to far to where it blocks the tube it starts beeping at you with this obnouxious high pitched tone...

Good to hear you're alright though

nnioR~

quote:

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Varagon had this to say about the Spice Girls:
I I almost enjoy IVs, there is kind of a sureal sensation when you see a metallic object being inserted into your skin. I don't really like the pain, of course, but I find the process interesting.

nnioR~

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Dude, I donated blood on Friday, and my arm still hurts, I think they used a friggin drinking straw instead of the needle. And because it takes me ages to bleed the nurse has to put pressure on it. The things I do to keep my mother happy.