Hemochromatosis Support Group

Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease characterized by improper processing by the body of dietary iron which causes iron to accumulate in a number of body tissues, eventually causing organ dysfunction. It is the main iron overload disorder. Hemochromatosis is notorious for having symptoms that are often initially misattributed to other diseases.

518 Members

2,097 Posts

0 Online

GidgetD 01/30/2009

I had a Phlebotomy today and everything went fine except they told me they were going to start training nurses in another department to start doing my Phlebotomies. This is very stressful for me. I have been doing this every three weeks for four years now with the same phlebotomist the whole time. I trust him and feel completely safe with him and he knows how I need to be phlebbed to make it go ok. I am sure the nurses are perfectly capable but I also know that they are overworked and Often have to do more than one thing at once. I have always been comfortable going to my phlebbs but now I am not. I know I will not get the same care that I am getting now. I do not want to be a burden on anyone but I also do not want to lose the great care that I have been getting so far, Its hard enough already. Well I just needed to vent.

deleted_user 01/30/2009

The first phlebotomy I had was done by someone they were training. First she did not stick the needled in all the way so the more experienced person had to shove it in further. Then when she took the needle out and was taking the tubing to the trash bin my blood leaked out from the tube all over the floor, her smock and her shoes. I was so glad that she was not there when I went for the following appointments. She seemed more concerned about her not getting her sweatshirt like the other staff did than doing the job correctly.

GidgetD 01/30/2009

I never worried about going to my phlebs but all that has changed now. I am going to turn in to a human ginnipig for all the new trainies. I have been doing this for four years now and you can imagine how scarred up my arms are. I can't afford them making a lot of mistakes on me, I'm only 42 I have many more years of phlebs every three weeks.

deleted_user 01/30/2009

I'm sorry about this Teekaboo. Seems like you can request NOT to have a trainee? You can say that because you need phlebotomies so often, you can't risk scarring your veins. Have you asked your trusted phlebotomist for advice? They would know how things work at this hospital. Talk to your doctor? I have mine done by nurses, but it is usually one of 3-4. I did have some new-ish do it once, but it went OK.
If you feel uneasy, you really should speak up, even though I know sometimes its hard.

deleted_user 01/30/2009

Interesting this comes up today. I just got back from my second one today, and it was the guys first time. It was a little stressful, but he was nice about it, and the lady stepped in and got it going finally. I'm easy going though, so it's okay. They all need to learn sometime. Though I was there for two hours, because the phleb ran slow, and the pre lab results took forever. They do all the phlebs for the entire area, and have alot people coming in, so he'll learn fast. This guys mistake was inserting the needle to shallow, so someone had to hold it the entire time.

I hope you guys don't suffer too much.

deleted_user 02/04/2009

I would speak with your doctor or current phlebotomist about your anxiety over a new person treating you. I am sure that they will completely understand and will want you to be as comfortable as possible during your plebs. If you don't tell them, they will just assume that you don't care and that will make your experience uncomfortable.

GidgetD 02/05/2009

I live in a small town and do not have a lot of options as to where I get Phlebbed, My Dr is not associated with the hospital I get phlebbed at and I am one of two people that are being phlebbed and the other person is just starting so they are not comfortable with anyone yet like I am. I am sure they new I was upset they could see it in my face, they kept trying to reassure me that it was going to be fine and it was so hectic with the training going on that I didn't have a chance to say anything. I go back for another phleb on the 20th of Feb. and I am going to try to express my concerns before the training starts. I do not think it will help because my phlebotomist is the only one who does them at this time and he wants other people to learn, unfortunately it will be nurses and not true phlebotomist which means they will be to busy to do the job right.

Join the Conversation