Phlebotomy schlebotomy
I got poked today. So the doctor could test my blood. I don’t fully understand the reason behind it, but I feel super accomplished. And maybe a little faint.
This was the first step towards getting vaccinated against those tropical diseases that we northerners find so troubling. Well, actually, the 3rd step. First, I called the travel hotline of my insurance carrier, where I was transferred to a chatty fellow who told me about driving down to Mexico in a van and partying on deserted beaches. After reminiscing about some girl and telling me what he’d do if he were my age, he took down my itinerary information. This took my whole lunch hour. About 45 minutes later, in my cubicle, I got a call from Anne the travel nurse, who again took my itinerary information and asked me several personal questions that you really don’t want to answer from a cubicle. It is a testament to my powers of obfuscation that I was able to conduct this entire conversation without alerting the office to my travel plans. (I have not yet given my notice, so this is a concern. Don’t tell.) She directed me to the lab, where I was poked. My blood will be tested for things like Hepatitis and Measles. Don’t ask me why. I just do what I’m told. Hopefully, on the 14th, I will receive my actual vaccinations, some antibiotics, anti-malarial drugs, and maybe a lollipop. There was no lollipop today.
Fun fact: the people who take your blood are called phlebotomists. Yes, phlebotomists. This is the funniest blood-related word I know.
-Megan
Tags: Health, hepatitis, Immunizations, Preparations, shots, Travel, vaccinations
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Kate recently had to have her blood taken so she could get a green card. They didn’t believe that she was immune to the measles because she’d HAD the measles (guess these days you’re only supposed to immune because of immunizations), and she had to go all over town getting poked again and again to prove she had had the measles. She had to drive back and forth across philadelphia with vials of her own measley blood, and ended up getting in a huge fight with one of her phlebotomists — turns out they are a tough breed. Guess they get you coming and going, those blood sucking vampires!
Hi Megan —
I’m thinking on phlebotomists. Do you suppose the root word is “phlem” or “botom” or “mist”?
I’m SO GLAD you girls are doing this. I almost feel like I, myself, have been poked.
Love you
Pat
I’m sure glad you all are here. Your comment, Bethany, made me realize why they were testing my blood, which is actually important. Though I definitely told them I’d been vaccinated against measles.
And I don’t know much about etimology, but I would sure love to know as much as I can about the word phlebotomy. So here’s to dictionary.com: phlebotomy is also known as venesection. That word gives my a creepy crawly feeling. Ew.
-Megan
Here’s a happy thought: from Gk. phlebotomia “blood-letting.”
The root of Phlebotomist is obviously “Botom” since that is where you are poked (ie vaccinated).
DAD