I have to devote at least one entry to the ever dreaded glucose test. I've seen it done several ways, and let me tell you, some ways are better than others. I'm sitting here in the lab waiting. I checked in almost a half an hour ago and am still waiting for them to give me the sugar drink. After I take the drink I have to wait an hour before they draw my blood. So wouldn't it make sense for them to give me the drink as soon as I check in, since I'll be waiting an hour anyway? Hmmmm, seems logical to me.
I've tried three flavor variations of the sugar drink- the standard orange, lemon lime, and grape. They are all equally nasty. I have to fast before hand and they usually make me so sick it's hard not to throw up. Some labs refrigerate it and it's definitely better going down if it's cold. I wonder if these guys will.
So while I'm currently experiencing the least effective way to do this test (and the biggest waste of my time) I'll happily remember the coolest way. When I lived in San Diego my doctors were so in touch with the insurance and lab that on the doctors visit before I had the glucose test, my doctor sent me home with the sugar drink and instructions. I called the lab and made an appointment, then I drank the sugar drink on my own, one hour before my appointment. I then walked in a few minutes before my appointment, waited five minutes to be taken back, and had my blood drawn. How refreshing! It was wonderful! How nice to be able to just handle it on my own and not have to wait hours before I can get my blood drawn.
But no, I have to sit here in this office and wait 40 minutes before they even call me back to a second waiting room. After an additional 10 minutes I'm finally checked in and given my drink. I was given the choice between lemon lime and orange. I went with lemon lime, only to be told that the guy didn't realize they were out of lemon lime and I'd have to have orange. Lovely. You know, to this day I still can not drink orange soda because it reminds me of this dang test. At least it was cold.
I've tried three flavor variations of the sugar drink- the standard orange, lemon lime, and grape. They are all equally nasty. I have to fast before hand and they usually make me so sick it's hard not to throw up. Some labs refrigerate it and it's definitely better going down if it's cold. I wonder if these guys will.
So while I'm currently experiencing the least effective way to do this test (and the biggest waste of my time) I'll happily remember the coolest way. When I lived in San Diego my doctors were so in touch with the insurance and lab that on the doctors visit before I had the glucose test, my doctor sent me home with the sugar drink and instructions. I called the lab and made an appointment, then I drank the sugar drink on my own, one hour before my appointment. I then walked in a few minutes before my appointment, waited five minutes to be taken back, and had my blood drawn. How refreshing! It was wonderful! How nice to be able to just handle it on my own and not have to wait hours before I can get my blood drawn.
But no, I have to sit here in this office and wait 40 minutes before they even call me back to a second waiting room. After an additional 10 minutes I'm finally checked in and given my drink. I was given the choice between lemon lime and orange. I went with lemon lime, only to be told that the guy didn't realize they were out of lemon lime and I'd have to have orange. Lovely. You know, to this day I still can not drink orange soda because it reminds me of this dang test. At least it was cold.