A Total Bust (Update on Renal Scan)

The renal scan was a total and utter bust yesterday afternoon. My son was poked and prodded for nothing! It was so irritating and frustrating to say the least. To make a very long story short, Ian's catheter went well and quick, but that would be about all that went well and quick. From missing paperwork to a lady found unresponsive in the restroom, yesterday was anything but easy and smooth.

I am hoping that the hospital was swamped because they only sent one nurse to start Ian's catheter and IV when they usually have 2 nurses and we were forced to be in a different room (not the prep room because they did not want Ian around some of the ailments in there). Anyways, the IV went in with first try, which was great but the following 10 minutes or so of trying to get it taped down correctly and secure was a whole other story. It took, Scot, me, the radiologist and I guess the nurse at the end, to hold down Ian. As many of you know, Ian is a big baby boy and well yesterday he showed everyone that he had strength to match his size! Anyways, the nurse had problems taping and holding the IV at the same time while holding Ian's arm still, so she recruited (if that is what you want to call it) the radiology guy (whom we like very much and has performed the renal scan the prior times) to tape. Well, when he wasn't doing the job well because...well that isn't exactly in his job description the nurse let everyone know that she was displeased with his attempts (as I wanted to reach over and slap her). Blood was everywhere btw. Finally the radiologist said, "How about I hold onto his hand and you tape." Well, that finally worked.

Unfortunately, by this time, Ian was one pissed off baby boy and I don't blame him. Well, we went to breastfeed him to settle him down for the 55 minute test, like we have done for the previous tests. Well by the time we got the first lasix flush to the IV, I could tell there was a problem. Between the struggling to tape down the IV and the time we got him to the table, the vein perforated. A little bit of the lasix got in, but by the time a nurse got to us to start 2nd IV for the 2nd lasix flush, it was just too late. As a nurse from the ER, whom I like much better than the other nurse, was about to go for a nice large juicy vein in Ian's foot and he told little man that he was sorry for pricking him again, the urologist haulted everything declaring there may not be a need to prick Ian, he saw "looping"--whatever that meant--and then he ran out of the room. He came back in with his boss, I assume, and then for some reason the other nurse showed up too and it was declared that the second lasix flush was going to be no good, the test was going to be inaccurate.

I didn't cry, but a huge lump in my throat developed and tears welled up in my eyes. I was frustrated. This week had been a bad week and I felt like it was just too much to ask to have this go well? Really? I am experiencing side effects from the meds for my sinus infection, still couldn't smell, my cat, Pippi, died the day prior and now this...

So the blame game started and I was not going to stand for it. After I stated that next time they should have at least two nurses to place Ian's IV, the nurse declared that it was the time from breastfeeding that caused the collapse. I jumped to my defense telling her that we have always done it that way before, for which she changed her tune because she knew I was pissed and she came to the realization that Scot and I are not dumb parents who have never done this before and we have been forced to know our way around hospitals a lot lately. She shut her mouth right quick. I think it was the combination of the troubles taping and timing to get Ian to the table that caused the vein to perforate.

So, all that to say, Ian's next scan is for Tuesday afternoon. Please pray for us, Ian and the hospital staff. Not looking forward to Tuesday especially when we have to get Skye to her very first gymnastics class by 5 PM as well. Rushing Skye to her first class isn't what I exactly had in mind but we will do what we have always done--we will do what we have to do.

The positives for the day, because I always have to find the silver lining in things now, is that thankfully Scot had a work conflict and was forced to move Ian's urologist appointment from today to Wednesday. Now we have one less phone call to make and something else to change.
We also enjoyed a family dinner out as we had no time and were too tired to make dinner. Ian enjoyed a much needed bath when he got home.

Sorry for any grammar errors, I don't have time to proofread as I have to get myself and my kids ready to head out of the door.