Someone's Over Reacting

Hmmm........who could it be now? Who could it be?

Me. I'm the over reactor. Add it to the list.

I went to the doctor today. Routine, mostly. Though I haven't been feeling tip-top lately. I experience regular bouts of insomnia and I've had it pretty consistent for the past month. I've tried to be excited about it -- think how much I could get done with an extra four hours every night! But it's really annoying. I want to sleep when I'm supposed to be working, I'm a zombie on the train in the morning....it's just not a good time. I decided it would be best to go ahead and have everything ruled out, so blood work was on the agenda today. I also knew that I had to get a booster shot. Tetanus, Diphtheria and Whooping Cough.

Whooping Cough? Yeah.

Initially I was more freaked out about the booster than I was about the blood work. I don't like needles. I don't like the smell of rubbing alcohol. And I make sure to tell the nurse that when she walks thru the door. Today was no different. Except that it was.

Things got all out of order and I ended up sitting in that horribly designed paper napkin night gown ----which I don't understand why they bother saying "ties in the front" because it's not like it stays tied or conceals anything. I'd say just save the forty-two cents and have the patients sit naked as a jay bird ---so there I sit and the nurse comes in for the blood work, except that I'm expecting Dr. B so then when she knocks and comes in its like a big party. And I look like the guest that thought it was a clothing optional soiree. Party foul.

So I sit there trying to be nonchalant and casual in my barely there dress and stocking feet while the two ladies catch up on the gossip around the office. When they remember I'm there they get down to business and start to prep my arm for the taking of the blood.

Now, let me state that while I hate needles I'm lucky that my left arm's vein is like Old Faithful. It's accessible and cooperative. With the exception of today. As I sit there with my eyes averted I feel the pinch and the burn and then I hear her say, "hmmm, honey did you not drink any water this morning?"

Great.

So now I start getting a little panicky and I feel her start rooting around trying to latch in and strike a vein. She finally gets it and starts sucking out the four vials she'll need. I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. About the third one in I hear Dr. B say, "Honey are you feeli----" and then I was out. How fortunate that I was already seated on the table because it came in handy. Not only am I the party guest that shows up scantily clad, but now I have flashed the other guests. I'm never getting invited back.

I was only out for a matter a seconds but the nurse made the mistake of worrying about me and not the blood that was running down my arm from when I fell back. So when I come to and look at the mess the bees start buzzing and I feel like I'm headed back to the pass out palace. By the time the exam was thru and the booster came, I was as seasoned as a junkie. Bring it.

I deserved a gold star and a cookie. Instead, I got a non-latex band-aid and a co-pay. Life can be really unfair as an adult.