Allergy Season - fiction, rt, injections

“Spring is my favorite season.”

This is the thought that Jean embraced as she opened the office that morning. Her mind wandered to all the wonderful things that spring brings every year: the new blooms on the flowers, the gentle breezes, everyone going out into the parks and of course… allergies. This last thought brought to mind a slightly evil smile as she thought of all the bottoms she would be piercing with allergy shots and the B-12 that the doctor recommended as a way for the body to work better with the medication.

She glanced over the patient list for the morning; several of her favorites would be visiting her again. Oh yes, it was going to be a good day. She hummed as she prepared her supplies for the day’s schedule. At 9:00 on the dot, people began to arrive for their appointments. At 9:15, Jean called the first one back: “Beth?”

A 19 year old girl got up and looked at her boyfriend who was busy on his iPhone scheduling meetings and exchanging emails. He squeezed her hand lightly. “I’ll be right here when you are done.” He smiled encouragingly at her. Beth tried to force a smile as she followed Nurse Jean back to the exam room.

“How are you today, Beth? You look like you have grown an inch or so since the last time I saw you.” Jean smiled at the young girl whose face was hidden by her long red hair as she stared at the ground.

She mumbled, “I’m OK.” Beth’s mind returned to the year before. She was so afraid of needles; it took 2 nurses to hold her down. This only became worse because her allergies were bad enough that she had to have the dreaded shots twice a week. She was hoping she would be able to handle herself better this year.

Jean also remembered the year before. She could think of no better way to start her season than with her favorite patient. She continued to make small talk as she measured the girl’s height and weight, checked her blood pressure and pulse. This small talk did nothing to alleviate the growing fear in Beth. Then came the moment Beth had been dreading.

Nurse Jean read the order from the doctor’s chart: “Dr. Jameson has ordered the same regimen for you as last year. Twice a week allergy shots with the B-12 each time.” Jean put her hand on Beth’s shoulder as she broke the news. Beth was almost in tears already. “However, since today is the beginning of the season, we are going to also add the usual gamma globulin shot to make sure your body adjusts more easily. We don’t want you getting the serum sickness you did last year.”

Beth could feel any resolution to be brave crumbling inside her. As much as the regular shots were frightening to her by themselves, she remembered the gamma globulin shots as their own world of hurt. She backed up a bit on the exam table as she couldn’t believe she was going to have to relive this entire process all over again for the next 3 to 4 months. She was so lost in her own thoughts she barely heard the nurse telling her to remove her bottoms for the first series. The nurse was an expert at hiding her anticipation as she left the exam room.

Beth got down slowly from the exam table and slid the zipper on her plaid skirt. In a zombie-like state she folded the skirt neatly and placed it over the chair against the wall. She next removed her panties as tears began to fill her eyes. The folded panties were placed gently on top of the skirt and Beth shivered slightly clad now in only her button up shirt, knee socks and shoes. She climbed back up on the exam table and sat at the end awaiting her fate.

The wait was not long, but seemed forever to the young girl lost in her own fears. Nurse Jean returned carrying a tray with 3 syringes. She set the tray next to the table where she was sure Beth would be able to see her fate to come.

Two of the syringes were not bad except for the long needles, but the 10 cc syringe filled over halfway with the thick gamma globulin serum was definitely going to get her attention. The 2-1/2 inch needle attached to the end of the syringe would not do much to alleviate the girl’s fears either. None of this was lost on Jean as she asked Beth to lie down on the table, face down to have her temperature taken first.

“Can’t you do that in my mouth?” Beth asked quietly.

“You know the doctor’s requirements. This won’t hurt and it will just take a few minutes.” Jean shook down the thermometer in preparation. She applied a bit of lubricant to the tip as Beth got into position.

The paper crinkled as Beth climbed onto the table and lay on her belly. She couldn’t help but look at the tray one more time before laying down with her face turned the other way.

Jean opened the young girl’s bottom and easily slid the thermometer into Beth’s tense rosebud. Tears were already forming in Beth’s eyes as she knew she was one step closer to the horrid needle torture that awaited her.

While waiting for the thermometer to register, Jean moved the shirt out of the way of Beth’s bottom, folding it neatly above her waist. She rubbed her lower back gently. “Don’t worry, it will all be over soon.” None of this did anything to relieve Beth’s anxiety.

Jean removed the thermometer. “No fever, that’s good. We can get started and get you on your way.”

Beth felt her bottom tense at this news. She then smelled alcohol as Nurse Jean opened the prep pad. Beth jumped as she felt the cool kiss of the alcohol scrub on her left hip. She buried her face in her arms as the nurse uncapped first the allergy shot.

“Just relax your bottom now.” The nurse instructed just before the quick jab.

Beth let out a little “OW”. The shot was quickly over, but Beth was softly crying, more from fear than from pain.

“Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Nurse Jean asked as she put the syringe into the sharps container. She picked up second the B-12 shot and uncapped the 1-1/2 inch needle and quickly darted it into her left hip, just above the site of the first shot. This one would be a bit more sore than the first and she injected a bit more slowly.

Beth could not stop herself from crying out, “Owwwie.” She sobbed softly.

“There, there… the regular shots are done for today.” Nurse Jean removed the needle and rubbed the site with the alcohol prep again. “We will switch sides every visit, like last year. Take a moment to collect yourself before the last shot today.” Jean disposed of the allergy syringe and gave Beth a moment to remember that today she would also get the “special shot”.

“Do I really have to have that? Maybe I won’t get sick this year.” Beth begged. She looked back at the nurse to plead her cause.

“The doctor doesn’t want to take any chances.” Jean held the syringe up as if to clear an air bubble.

Beth turned pale from the sight of the needle. This one looked twice as big as the other shots she had just gotten. “No, please no.” She began to cry.

“Just lay down. You know I have to give this to you.” The nurse’s voice became very strict.

Beth lay down, openly sobbing now. She knew there was no escape from this torture, but she was terrified.

Jean opened another alcohol prep and scrubbed the girl’s right hip. She could feel the muscle tensing as she cleaned the flesh. “If you don’t relax, this will hurt worse. Try to calm down.” Jean knew this was pointless, but made her seem more caring toward the girl’s plight.

The alcohol had just dried. The nurse pinched up a bit of flesh and pitched the needle in. Beth cried loudly into her arms. Jean aspirated the needle then began to slowly inject the serum.

The medicine began as a sting, then a burning sensation that built. Beth cried louder. She begged for the nurse to stop. Her pleas fell on deaf ears. The pain was so intense she did not even feel the needle being withdrawn. It was not until she felt the prep massaging the site that she realized the shot was over.

Beth was still sobbing.

“You can stay here a few more minutes to collect yourself, then dress and go when you are ready. I’ll see you on Thursday for your next set of allergy shots.” Jean pulled the girl’s shirt back down and smiled to herself.

Jean thought, “Spring IS my favorite season!”