Infusion #2

My second infusion was pretty much just as weird as my first one. We got everything out and ready for the nurse to come. Bob wanted to line everything up in order of use. That didn't really happen though. The nurse is really competent and confident, and she just grabs what she needs from the pile of stuff on the table. She kinda just dumps everything out and searches for what she needs. It is a pretty big pile of supplies. Needles of different sizes, gauze, tape, alcohol wipes, boxes of medicine, bag to hang on IV rack, tubing, syringes with saline, empty syringes, filters, gloves, and everything is all wrapped up in its own packages. We create quite a pile of trash.

The nurse was really aware that Bob was learning how to start an IV. She had him put on the tourniquet and feel my veins. That was pretty cool. My veins kinda popped up and you could definitely feel the difference. Bob did a lot of the preparation. Unbelievable how many alcohol wipes we go through. The nurse started the IV and while the medicine was going into my body she had Bob start a pretend IV. He jabbed that little needle right into my vein. He did a really good job first try. It didn't hurt too much. The needle has clear tubing attached to it. So he taped the needle and the tube onto my hand. Then he attached a syringe with saline solution to the tube. You have to pull back on the syringe to make sure you're in the vein. So when my blood comes out through the needle and into the clear tube hooked onto the needle you know you're in. Then you push the plunger of the syringe and my blood goes back into my vein along with a bit of saline. Pretty crazy.

The medicine dripped into my arm for about an hour. Ugh. Still not used to it. After Frank (father-in-law) and the nurse left, I cried again. Just kinda tears rolling down the cheek crying, not sobbing out loud or anything.

Yay, done for another week.

P.S. The nurse told me to be sure to be super nice to my husband since he will be jabbing needles into me from now on. :)