When I had my first appointment with Dr. Abrams, after months of dealing with chronic pain and inflammation among other issues, and seeing doctors who weren't able to help, I felt so hopeful that she was my light at the end of the tunnel. She seemed very knowledgable and suggested my issues could be related to things other doctors hadn't thought of. She ordered several tests, one of which was a blood draw with her nurse, Nina, at the office. I came in for the blood draw, explained to the nurse that I have difficult veins, and told her where phlebotomists have had success drawing blood in the past. I was a little put off by the fact that there was no real blood draw station, and instead she drew my blood sitting in a worn out armchair with my arm in my lap, and that she ripped the finger off her glove to feel for my vein with her bare finger and did not wipe my arm with an alcohol swab afterwards, but figuring she was the professional, I went with it. She successfully got the needle in after some painful wiggling of the needle, and blood was flowing. She filled almost an entire vial. So far, so good. Then her glove got stuck to the loose tape (which was not taped down to my arm for some reason), and the needle ripped out of my arm. She said, "Uh oh!" and put a piece of gauze over it. I was a little annoyed, but no big deal, mistakes happen. I knew I had one good vein on my other arm in a rather odd place that she could try. Then she started laughing and said, "This is my worst blood draw ever!" As if her mistake, when she knew I had some anxiety about my difficult veins, was somehow funny. I was quite bothered by her lack of professionalism at this point, but was willing to let her try again. Instead of trying my other arm, in the place I told her phlebotomists have had success before, she wanted to draw from my hand. I told her I wasn't comfortable with that, so she asked if she could try the side of my wrist instead (???). Still trusting she knew what she was doing, I let her try there. She put the needle in quite deep, which was extremely painful. No blood was flowing, so I asked her to stop. She did, and I told her I couldn't continue. I walked out of the room, annoyed, upset, and on the verge of tears at this point. I went to the front desk and told the receptionist I just needed to pay for the other part of the testing I had brought with me. Nina followed me out and explained she couldn't draw blood because I wiggling (completely untrue). I said that it wasn't my fault that she ripped the needle out of my arm. The receptionist was helpful and explained to my husband and myself that I could go to a different lab for them to try and that I would take the whole testing kit to them. I walked out while my husband got further instructions from the receptionist. I went to a proper lab, where they actually listened to me when I told them where I've had success before. They were able to draw my blood on the first try, no issues.
I thought a lot about it, and figured that Dr. Abrams was still a good doctor and that I wanted to continue to see her, but that if she ordered blood tests in the future, I would just request to go to a lab instead. I was annoyed, but ready to let it go. A few hours later, I received a call from her office. I assumed it was her or her nurse calling with an apology for what had happened. But WOW, was I wrong! She said she thought there had been a "misunderstanding" with the nurse. She told me Nina had told her that the blood had stopped flowing because I wiggled, so she took out the needle, and I stormed out. A complete and total, bold faced lie to cover her mistake. I was completely shocked and explained to Dr. Abrams what had actually happened. After all, what on earth would I have to gain from fabricating a story like this? I've had blood draws just not work out before because of my veins, and while it's frustrating, I would never be this upset about it. However, the nurse has a reputation and career to maintain, so of course she doesn't want it to look like she made mistakes. It was clear Dr. Abrams did not believe me and immediately sided with her nurse. She then went on to scold me like a school child for "creating a negative environment" in her waiting room because I was "cussing and yelling" (I was visibly upset and on the verge of tears, but there was absolutely no yelling. I didn't even talk very much, as I was just ready to get out of there. I said one curse word in a normal conversational voice.)
I am so saddened and hurt by the accusations from Dr. Abrams and her staff, and very bothered their lack of professionalism in handling the matter. It is also so heartbreaking to me to be ill for so many months, and to finally find a doctor who I hoped could help me, only to have to start back at square one. read more
