mrschainsaw

So far, it's gone pretty well. The first time, I was highly anxious but did the job just fine. One girl vomitted. I had plenty of warning and was kind of... halfway out of the room when she did. It just sounded like coughing, it was not terrible at all. It got me very anxious but I didn't have a panic attack.

The second time, another girl vomitted. I didn't have as much warning. I could tell she wasn't feeling well but I didn't expect her to. Luckily, the nurse got her a bag in time. I sort of stiffened up and I think my hands were shaking, but I was in the middle of taking another girl's blood pressure so I focused on the task. I did not feel nearly as anxious during or after that incident, because I had experienced it before and been just fine. I also think it helped that the day before work, I'd taken 1/4 of a Klonopin. I think I will do that again this week. 1/4 is enough to function just fine but still take the edge off of anxiety, I think.

...was that what you were wondering, or were you wondering about the work itself?

What happens is they do a vacuum-like procedure. They are given the option of taking Valium and/or conscious sedation. The nurse discourages CS because it means that we have to observe them for an hour after, as opposed to half an hour, and because they're more nauseous and likely to get sick.

They come into the room. Usually a nurse walks with them, holding their arm... once or twice they've come in in wheelchairs. They sit in a reclining vinyl armchair. One of us takes their blood pressure, and helps them put on a heating pad. I ask them how they feel. It's not necessary but I like to... also because it helps me get a feel for whether they might be sick or not. Then they are offered Tylenol, and a drink - ginger ale, water, apple juice, orange juice, or cranberry. We just kind of sit and chill, and take care of other patients. Half an hour later they get their blood pressure taken again, and if it's fine and they feel a little better, they get to go to the bathroom and make sure they are not bleeding too heavily. Then the nurse gives them a goody bag - it has antibiotics, condoms, info about the pills and about emergency contraception. Every woman leaves with a new plan for birth control and is encouraged to start it immediately or within a couple of weeks.