Needles and Hospital Visits

Those who know me know that a couple of years ago, I had a serious needle phobia. The thought of needles used to make me feel faint, and I used to get so worked up before having a blood test that it made things worse than they were. I have gotten much better in the past year. Being on mercaptopurine means that I have to have blood tests every 2-4 weeks. I think I must have had nearly 100 blood tests in the past year alone.  Needles no longer phase me as much as they used to.  I still can't watch the nurses/phlebotomists/HCAs take my blood, but I can stand them now without feeling faint.

I was in the hospital on Saturday for my second colonoscopy in the past year.  The result of the colonoscopy is the difference between better medication and staying on the medication I'm on.  I had a cannula inserted into my arm and was fine until I looked at it.  The blue dots and faintness of my previous needle experiences returned.  I'm not sure if it was looking at the cannula or the blood that was under the bandage (the cap wasn't on properly).

Other than hardly remembering the procedure, it went quite well.  I just hope the results are what I need for new medication.

Medical Support

I've been with my gastroenterologist since I was diagnosed back in October. When I was first referred to him, he was brilliant. I had my colonoscopy quickly (unlike someone else I know who is currently on a waiting list, I had mine within a week of my first appointment). I had great faith in my doctor. The third time I saw him, back in December, things went a bit downhill. Most gastro docs don't like surgery; they see it as a last resort. Now, knowing that I have a mild case of crohn's disease and what I would call a manageable amount of pain, he was considering surgery. I'm still in my early twenties and only diagnosed two months beforehand. I didn't have the greatest faith in him after that visit. The last time I saw him was back in February (I see him every 6 weeks). Bearing in mind that I see him privately, have to catch a train from loughborough to Essex to see him and have a day off work, when he was over 30 minutes late and only saw me for 5 minutes telling me he couldn't do anything because he didn't have my latest blood test results (which is a lie because my healthcare assistant faxes them to his secretary) I lost all faith in him and I now feel like I am in this on my own. Don't get me wrong, I have my family to support me, but having someone who knows what they're doing and has knowledge in the area in which is causing you pain is a great gift and weight off your mind. I feel incredibly let down. Keeping in mind the fact that I see him privately, I'm meant to see him again next week, but he cancelled in the last minute and I can't see him now for another 3 weeks. So that's a train fare and day of work wasted.