Marie was fully dressed, and lying on her back, when she saw the nurse enter her exam room, holding a full syringe and an alcohol swab. She immediately recognized what was in the syringe. It was something she had feared. She had hoped the doctor was going to write a prescription for her UTI. Instead, she was afraid that she was about to trade one painful location for another.

The nurse, older than Marie by at least 20 years, put the syringe and swab on the counter and turned towards her as she sat up on the table.

“Hi Marie, I am Carole, your nurse for today. You are going to receive a dose of Rocephin that Dr. Carl has ordered. It will make your UTI go away much faster. Do you have any questions?”

“Is it going to hurt?”

“I can’t honestly say it won’t hurt, Marie. The medicine does burn somewhen it is injected. I’ve added some lidocaine and we’ll put this in your backside, to minimize any discomfort. Could you slide your pants and panties down for me?”

Still lying on her back, Marie made a sour face; then, she lifted her hips and grabbed the elastic band at the top. She slid her white pants down almost to the midpoint of her thighs. She then did the same with her tan pantyhose, tugging her coffee-colored panties along with them. She remembered the last shot she had been given in her behind. It was not pleasant.

The nurse uncapped the syringe and approached the exam table. “You can go ahead and turn over for me now, Marie. It’s thick serum and it needs a big muscle. Which side would you like us to use today?”

“Either. Can we please just get it over with?”

“Absolutely. Anything else I can do to make you more comfortable”

“Please don’t let it hurt.”

Marie, at 5’ 2” and only 109 pounds, rolled over onto her stomach, her small, pale, white buttocks were framed by the tan of her upper thighs and lower back. She felt the nurse rubbing her right buttock with the cold alcohol.

“I’m going to stick you now, Marie. Try and relax for a few seconds.” Marie felt the nurse pinch her cheek, followed by the sharp stick as the needle pierced her skin and was pushed deep into the muscle. She felt the burning sensation as soon as the nurse began to inject the Rocephin.

The nurse saw Marie tense as she began to inject the medicine. “I’m sorry, Marie. I have to give you this injection. I know that you didn’t expect it or want it. Try and relax as much as possible; it will make it easier for both of us.”

As the seconds passed, Marie’s discomfort increased, and she started to moan. “I know this hurts, Marie. I have to inject this slowly because it is so thick. Hang on and it will be over before you know it.” As the nurse continued to inject the viscous serum, tears began to form in Marie’s eyes. She began to struggle against the pain and the muscles in her right leg and buttock occasionally quivered.

To keep Marie’s spirits high, the nurse told her, “You’re doing well, Marie; we’re almost done,” although the syringe was only about half-emptied at the time. As the nurse continued to slowly inject the Rocephin, Marie tried to maintain her composure, but it felt as if her buttock was on fire. Her face and the tight grip she had on the sides of the exam table told the true story.

With a high-pitched, and pained, voice, Marie exclaimed, “Carole, it really hurts! How much longer?”

Carole replied, "Just a few more seconds,” as she pushed to get the last of the serum into Marie’s quivering buttock.

Ten seconds later, as the syringe finally was empty, the nurse told her, “We’re all done, Marie.”

Tears began to flow from Marie’s eyes, as the nurse withdrew the long needle from Marie’s buttock. That elicited a sharp “OW!” from Marie, who quietly sobbed as Carole began to massage the injection site.

“I am really sorry, Marie. I know that injection was very uncomfortable for you. You did very well. The pain will soon fade away, though you might be pretty sore back there for a while. Lie here until you feel ready to get up and I’ll be back in a few minutes to check on you.”

After placing a bandage on the injection site, Carole disposed of the syringe, and the swab and her gloves, and then she quietly left the examination room. Marie, now alone, gingerly rubbed her sore buttock and flexed her right leg several times. Her tears had dried up, but she continued to feel a sensation as though the needle was still buried in her rear end.

Two minutes later, Marie began to lift herself from the exam table. With her feet planted firmly on the ground, she began to carefully pull up her panties, followed by her pantyhose and slacks, both of which she made sure lift over the sore spot on her backside before gently letting them come to rest. The nurse reentered the room as Marie was fastening her slacks.

“I see you are up. How do you feel?”

“Sore.”

“I would expect that. No other symptoms?”

Marie shook her head. The nurse looked at Marie and observed that she was breathing normally, with no sign of a rash, or any other untoward symptoms.

“You can leave when you are ready. Your UTI should be much better in the morning.”

Marie nodded and followed the nurse out into the hallway and waiting room and headed home, her behind still throbbing as she walked with a slight limp out of the office.