Looking for a Vein… In Vain
How an exercise in futility helped me to gain mental strength and overcome one of my worst fears to a significant extent
The appointment had been fixed a week in advance. The doctor had asked me to come to the clinic early in the morning. It was meant to be the usual blood test. She understandably wanted to take the blood sample on an empty stomach, to get more accurate results.
I reached the clinic well before time. There were a couple of other patients, but I was ushered into a room and assured it would not take long. It was a matter of minutes before the doctor entered with her assistant. I looked out of the window even as my hand was strapped. I felt the pinch, and thought it was over.
I turned around to see a needle smeared with my blood. The doctor asked me not to get up. She had pushed the needle in alright, but had not been able to detect the vein beforehand. As such, she could not draw out the blood. Another attempt was made, and the result was the same. I felt a sensation and there was blood on the needle again, but the job was not done yet.
The doctor was no doubt struggling to detect a vein on my right hand, yet I had already become the proud owner of two small adhesive bandages. She suggested we go ahead with the left hand. The…
