Was in A&E last night / this morning for a horrible SVT run.
My veins are shot to pieces from years of bloods / cannulas / chemo so I know I'm hard to bleed.
Paramedics tried twice in the back of my hands but failed. (No blame there, I'm aware I'm hard to get a line into)
Got to hospital, and a nurse came along. I usually need the ultrasound to get a line in. I was happy for her to try a couple of times before asking for a machine. I did mention to her they usually need the US.
Anyway, after 5 goes in various different places (going over my already swollen sore hands from the paramedics) I started to get restless as it was hurting. I asked her if she could get an US machine as it was now hurting and I don't want to be prodded for the sake of it. She said no, she will keep trying.
6,7,8 goes, I was now bleeding out and my arms and hands were really painful blue. I was crying at this point as my chest was hurting and I was being poked and prodded from every direction. Going over repeatedly battered veins hurts. I said this to her, I apologised for being difficult to bleed but 9 times is too much. The nurse then said 'you've got to be brave, it's only a cannula, what do you want me to do?' And just shrugged.
This comment is what's pissed me off. I don't have a phobia of needles. I have had probably thousands at this point of those bastard things. I've had chemotherapy. I don't need to be brave. I don't need someone poking me 9 times. I need an US machine which could've saved so much time and pain.
I refused to have her try a 10th. A senior nurse came in quite disgruntled that I didn't let the previous nurse try again. He said to me 'well you've been through a lot but we need to get a cannula in.' Well yes, I agree. But not at the expense of battered and bruised arms. He tried for the 10th time, and managed to get the cannula in between my wrist and crook of my arm. Right in the middle of my arm. It fucking hurt, but it was in. I apologised again and thanked them, but they just seemed so annoyed with me.
This is NOT a nurse bashing thread. I have the utmost respect for them, but 10 attempts was horrible and I was made to feel like a wimp.
AIBU? Or is this standard practice?