With clozaril you have to get weekly blood tests for 6 months and then every other week for another 6 months, then monthly for the duration you're on it. Honestly I thought no big deal. I have easy veins and have done lots of blood draws in the past and never had issues. The biggest thing I dreaded was that I only have my local hospital to get the labs done at and they are incredibly slow, but with a standing order that's not been a problem.

However they keep wanting to do my right arm only and I know that's not good because of the risk of scarring over the 2 good veins. They've never even looked at the left but I've given blood from the left many times, have had IVs there, etc. OMG. They spent a good 5 minutes digging around in the left without hitting a vein. First one woman did it with a butterfly which at least didn't hurt much and then her supervisor did it with a big needle which did hurt a lot and left me bruised up. Finally I told them places that had worked before without results so I had them do the right. And they had to dig around in that one which is ridiculous because that vein is huge. I'm bruised there too.

So now I want to find somewhere else to get my blood drawn. YOu'd think the hospital would have the most experienced people but ouch no. I guess I need to make some calls to see if anywhere else here can draw it for me.

I have no desire to spend 22 more weeks as a pincushion.