It's weird. I can watch medical shows, no problem. I help out with injured people at roadside accidents. I'm the one you call when you need something gross done. Nothing like that bothers me.

Jason and Amy stabbing Eddie for blood on True Blood? Watch from down the block, much less from the hall. Can't do it.

I like watching medical stuff. It's kind of cool. I particularly liked the doctor who diagnosed my mitral valve prolapse -- when he did the ultrasound of my heart, he turned the monitor so that I could see it and explained to me what he was looking at from each angle. Including the view of my atria, which he looked at and commented, "Well, you don't have Marfan's." To which I responded, "Isn't that kind of obvious?" Clearest symptom of Marfan's is a tall, lanky build, that sort of frame that looks like you've sort of been stretched out. I'm 4'10" and roundish. But being able to see inside my heart was neat.

I had given almost 6 gallons of blood and was a platelet donor before I had to stop, so I clearly have no needle issues. I do have issues with incompetent stickers. They can only use my left arm now, and the good vein is deep. I know I'm in trouble when someone starts randomly feeling around my arm for a vein. The vein where there are already 50 needle marks, moron. Then they go for the hand, where the veins are tiny and roll. Like Hil's, they need the smallest possible needle, and sometimes when I tell them that, they either won't believe me or get pissy about it.

kitchen floor done 4 days

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I once saw the inside of my bladder when it was being scoped. That was SO COOL. I could see the openings where the ureters connected. And we saw no lesions (which was the fear) so it was also fun. It's nice to have a medical test and get the "looks good!" right away.

The only bad thing about it was trying to pee afterwards. I REALLY had to go (because I drank a lot for the test) but everything was a little spazzy so I couldn't. People kept knocking on the door to see if I was ok. OH THE PRESSURE!

I've got no problem with gross medical stuff. When my mom had bypass surgery when I was six, there were a few times that she asked me to change the bandages on her leg, and I had no problem with that. Thought it was kind of neat, actually. (She didn't ask me to do it too often, just a few times when the bandage accidentally came off when my dad was at work. She couldn't bend over enough to reach it when she also had the incisions in her chest healing, and my sister was way too grossed out.)

The vein where there are already 50 needle marks, moron

See, I'm the opposite. Once you get a spot on me, the square inch is verboten for weeks.

Thanks Frank. I'm holed up half-conscious today with continuous headache, so your sentiment is much appreciated. My last ER visit was Thursday, so no relief for me for a while. And I really should have filled my Flexeril script yesterday when I was feeling better.

I don't mind most medical stuff at all. Watch all kinds of real surgery shows and such. Needles - major phobia. I had both the kids natural because there was no way in the world I would agree to have a needle. They took my blood weekly during both pregnancies and it was pure horror. Never got used to it.

I'm OK with needles EXCEPT in my hands for IVs. I have to get those on my arms or side of the wrist or whatever. Cannot deal with the thought of needles in my hands. Ack.

One nurse had to spend a good deal of time digging around for a vein one time, and, I mean, once the needles in, it's not really that painful, so I wasn't bothered... I thought the guy who also happened to be in the room was going to pass out watching that - why did he keep watching then??

Happy Birthday, Sumi! I hope it was a delight filled day.