This was embarrassing

Well, the first doctor's appointment I had was quite the experience today!

I waltz into my doctor's appointment, thinking that it was going to be a quick visit to talk about finances and billing. ...That was not the case.

I asked for anti-nausea medication (bless) and the doctor tells me to go down to the laboratory to get a urine analysis and get some lab work complete.

'Scuse me? When I talked to to the secretary on the phone on what to expect for my first appointment, they didn't say ANYTHING about blood work. (Nor did they tell me to come with a full bladder thankyouverymuch!)

I grudgingly walk over to the laboratory and she tells me that there's a person in front of me and that I'll have to wait to get my blood drawn. Panic ensued.

I sit down and start taking deep breaths to mentally prepare myself to be pricked with a gosh dang awful needle. I keep telling myself that I'm doing this for the baby. People started coming in and out of the door and I watch in fear that I'll be next. I see the nurse coming out with paperwork with my name on it (okay not really but I knew it was for me). Deep breaths Emily!

I request my right arm to be used as I'm left-handed. I warned her that I didn't too well with needles, and she told me that it was fine. I say a little prayer that everything that will be okay and prepare for the pain.

It did not go well. The initial puncture was fine, but then the needle started to move. This is where I start to wince and clench my eyes shut while continuing my prayer. Probably after thirty seconds she told me that she popped the vein, which resulted in immediate bruising. (Update: the bruise is 1 1/2" x 1".) The nurse asked me if I was okay and I quietly said "Yeah" while slowly breathing. She had to take the needle out, and it went all downhill from there.

I started to take really deep breaths to try and calm myself down from the pain. But then my nausea started to kick in really bad, and I gasped, "I think I might throw up." She quickly moved the trash can toward me and got me a cold, damp paper towel to press against my forehead. Everything happened so quickly. My ears were clogged (and ringing?) so I couldn't hear her properly on what she was advising me to do. I was also feeling really dizzy. My eye sight began to go blurry and dark as I rested my head against the wall.

I think she told me to put my knees up and rest my head on them, so I did. (I still couldn't hear her.) She asked if I needed water, so I grabbed my water bottle from my purse and started to drink from it. The nurse told me I had passed out, and that she needed to call it in. I put my water bottle back into my purse as the second (and third) nurse came to our rescue.

We decided that it would be best for me to lay down during the second attempt to draw my blood. We discussed what I had eaten that day and suggested that the lack of food + being pregnant is what probably caused me to pass out. The nurses suggested that I buy a snack at the pharmacy to help me get feeling better. (Which I ignored since I'm cheap and I have snacks at home.)

I told them that I was fine to proceed without eating anything so we continued. They told me to drink more water so I grabbed my water bottle. Little did I know, I forgot to close my water bottle mid-pass out. This resulted in water going all over the floor, and partially in my purse with all of my new pregnancy papers. Not fun.

Once in the new room, the second nurse did a great job distracting me while the initial nurse drew blood on my left arm (as I didn't want to get pricked again where I was bruised. She had bandaged my right arm very tightly to the point that I couldn't bend my elbow.) While it still hurt, it did not hurt as bad as the first time. When she told me that it was done, I honestly thought that the needle was still in my arm!

I was relieved to be done, so I walked toward the pharmacy to get my prescription. By the time I had walked to the pharmacy, I had become dizzy and decided to buy an overpriced snack anyway. Once I got to the front desk, I had to sit on the floor as they processed my prescription. I admitted to the pharmacist that I had passed out earlier. The worker was nice enough to tell me that I should open my snack now. Unfortunately I was unable to open it with how I was feeling, so she did it for me. They were quick to ask if I needed water, and I said yes. My mind was feeling fuzzy as I mindlessly gave them all the cards they needed while I was still on the floor. Pretty sure people were staring at me as I ate and drank my water, but I didn't care. Bless another worker, who gave me Smarties-- one of my favorite candies!

I relayed this information to Spencer as I sat down in hopes of feeling not so lightheaded so I could drive home. I didn't improve much, so Spencer had to leave work early and rescue me. Bless Spencer. He's been so accommodating during these 8 weeks. I don't know what I would do without him!

Let's hope that the next appointment isn't so crazy.