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Got my flu shot today.

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Posted 10/1/2014 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
My employer brought in a nurse this morning who was giving flu shots to anyone who needed one. I filled out my insurance paperwork and as I rolled up my sleeve she asked if I had problems with needles. I thought about telling her that after two years of trimix self-injections I was pretty much over any problems with needles I might once have had. I thought about saying that, but didn't. Then it was all over and she was trying to find the injection site for the band-aid. "Don't want to mess up your shirt," she said "but it's not bleeding and I can barely see your tiny little prick."

And I burst into tears.

(Every word of the above is true -- except the last five.)
Posted 10/1/2014 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hum, would have believed those last words.

I know I would have started crying if that was told to me.
:)
Posted 10/1/2014 6:19 AM (GMT 0)
Reminds me of a time in the ER years ago, when I was having one of several emergency catheter changes in the night, and they were having a difficult time because of my foreskin.

A group of 3 nurses thought they were out of my hearing range, when they discussed, "I don't know what to do, its so small, can't really grab hold of it to stretch it open".

Was already in pain and feeling humiliated with my feet up in stirrups and naked from the waist down. What a ego builder, lol.
Posted 10/1/2014 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
That made me smile. Funny you mentioned flu shot. My husband says he wants to get one, and I am worried, since he is going through chemo right now. Has anyone got the shot when doing chemo? Oncologist seemed to think it was okay.
Posted 10/1/2014 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
When I saw the VA PCP last week, he insisted that I get the flu shot before I left. I do so every year on my own, but he wanted it done right then and there. For the first time ever, it really hurt going in, and my arm was sore for 3-4 days.
Posted 10/1/2014 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
PeterD and Purgatory -

In my own experience along this strange PCa road, so far ALL of the nurses that I have ever had dealings with (from the TURP operation and recovery, to catheter removal, etc.) have been entirely pleasant, sympathetic and helpful people. Real "angels of mercy."

But if there have been a few that some of us have encountered along the way who came across as a bit negative, for whatever reason, I would think that in the vast majority of such cases it was because they had become a bit hardened by the nature of the kinds of things they have to do almost daily, and they didn't mean it personally. Nursing is such an extremely demanding job, and it often doesn't get the credit it deserves. It surely takes an emotional toll after a while, and this can slip out in a negative way sometimes.

David, you would have great insight on this, as we know your wife is a nurse, and I bet you have all kinds of stories about the life of a nurse that you could relate, having heard them from her.

We also know there are at least one or two experienced nurses here on the forum who could comment on this (kukukajoo comes to mind) and maybe one or two of them would like to share an insight about their own takes on this. (Maybe even an idea for a thread: "experiences with nurses, good and bad").
Posted 10/1/2014 4:40 PM (GMT 0)

PeterD, that's funny. Could have saved it for Friday humor, but every day is a good day for a laugh!

  

deannakay,

I just finished with my 8th cycle of chemo and I'm getting it every three weeks. I asked about getting the flu shot and they said that if I do, I should get it in the third week  after chemo.

I have not had much time on the computer lately, but think I read in another thread a question about Neulasta (pegfilgrastim); I was given this med to take home, to give myself the shot 24Hrs post-chemo.  I was given NEUPOGEN (filgrastim) two weeks ago in the hospital and I did have some significant back pain from it. I was told by more than one nurse that taking some Claritin, along with a pain reliever, prior to the shot might help minimize some of the pain. As always, I would check with your doc's first.

my best,

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