Restrained in a real medical setting

I am a frequent donor of blood products, to date having given 120 units of platelets by automated apheresis. I go to the local Red Cross Center for the procedure, which requires 90 to 120 minutes laying in semi-supine position with a large bore IV needle in each forearm. Bloods flows out one arm into a machine, returns through the the other arm sans platelets. With a 16 gauge straight needles inserted into each antecubital space, it is essential that I not move. Unfortunately, I suffer both narcolepsy and ADHD, which makes me prone to nod off with zero warning, forget what I'm doing and try to move my arms involuntarily or even sit up. However, the wonderful staff are very familiar with me, have no issues with accommodating my special needs and have my complete trust.

My favorite apheresis technician knows to secure both my arms to the donor chair armrests, before she inserts the IV needle. She has yet to miss, one stick into each arm and we are in business. I am quite muscular and strong, so she uses plenty of 2 inch wide Kerlex to strap me in tightly by the wrists. I have great veins, so she is always delighted to see me... I believe she enjoys strapping me down as well. I have no problem admitting that I certainly enjoy it.

Reclining in the comfortable chair with both arms immobilized I can completely relax and just zone out, knowing I can't move my arms and risk losing an IV, while the staff is reassured knowing they won't have to re-stick me. I am by nature very hyperactive and restless, always looking for something that needs doing. This is one of those rare occasions where, in the middle of the day, I'm allowed to spend several hours immobile doing absolutely nothing... and having no guilty feelings about it!

I have appointment to go Monday morning, and am rather looking forward to it.

About a dozen years ago I injured my knee in a tennis accident. I went for an MRI in one of the high Tesla/high resolution tubes and I was a little fidgety when they were setting me up and positioning me. The technician kept telling me to lie still. Finally I told her to tape my legs to the bolsters they were using to position me. The tech said, "really, you're serious?" I said, "yes. I'm not claustrophobic and there are times I really settle into being restrained." She gave a quizzical smile, taped me up and started the MRI. It was very relaxing and I would have slept if it wasn't so noisy.

@maddoc63 that’s hard to believe. Giving blood takes 15 minutmax!

@gwhap said

@maddoc63 that’s hard to believe. Giving blood takes 15 minutmax!

.

He IS NOT giving blood.

He is giving platelets by apheresis and that takes a good hour, usually more.

@gwhap, I just donated blood for the first time last week and they made me read a bunch of stuff about donating, types of donations and a bunch of other stuff. Yes, I actually read most of it. I got emails from them too, regarding different types of donations. The one that @maddoc63 spoke of was listed in those types.

”Automated Donation, or Apheresis, is the process by which platelets and other blood components are collected from a donor using a cell separator. Blood is drawn from the donor, and Platelets, Plasma and/or Red Cells are collected by the cell separator. The remaining components are returned to the donor along with saline fluid. Each procedure takes one to two hours. Donor may watch movies, read, or simply relax during the donation. The word itself is derived from the Greek word “aphaeresis,” meaning “to take away.”

It was on a doner site. Hope this helps! 😃

@gwhap, donating platelets by apheresis is a whole different thing. Your entire blood volume runs several times through a machine containing a centrifuge that separates platelets from the red blood cells and other components which are returned to you. Flow rate is about 70cc/minute ( over 4 liters/hour!), but only about 150 cc of blood are out of your body at any given time. Sodium citrate is added to to the blood stream as it leaves your arm to prevent your blood from clotting in the machine. It's anticoagulant effect dissipates quickly once the blood returns to your body. Quite an amazing experience which I highly recommend if you are eligible. You can donate platelets as often as every 2 weeks, but I only do do it every 1 -2 months.

Not as an adult, although I would like to experience that,

as a 6yo boy I was restrained for circumcision,

and at 13 I was restrained during a psych assessment, that was a surreal experience, and quite comforting.

@maddoc63, I always give whole blood because I'm not so sure about the sitting for an hour plus, also being a bit wiggly.

I wonder if they could just use the flexible IV/peripheral venous catheter style. Guess it might not "stay open" enough for the flow rate.

@gwhap, donating platelets by apheresis is a whole different thing. Your entire blood volume runs several times through a machine containing a centrifuge that separates platelets from the red blood cells and other components which are returned to you.

I stand corrected - and enlightened!

Yes--at age 7 (1957) I accidently sliced my forefinger on a metal toy truck. At the ER it took 4 female nurses and 1 male orderly to hold me down while a Doctor sewed up my finger.At age 7 the only cuss words I knew were Damn and Dammit. I used both profusely at those holding me down and at the Doctor sewing up my finger.

Yes--at age 7 (1957) I accidently sliced my forefinger on a metal toy truck. At the ER it took 4 female nurses and 1 male orderly to hold me down while a Doctor sewed up my finger.At age 7 the only cuss words I knew were Damn and Dammit. I used both profusely at those holding me down and at the Doctor sewing up my finger.

I'm curious how much they talked you through it and explained what they were doing. As a kid in the '80s it seemed as though things just happened to you because doctors said so. I always try to make sure my kids know what and why, and there seems to be less of a "work up."

Of course I've also been working on being calm at the doctors as well. I'm sure they key in on parents' emotional state too.

I'm curious how much they talked you through it and explained what they were doing. As a kid in the '80s it seemed as though things just happened to you because doctors said so. I always try to make sure my kids know what and why, and there seems to be less of a "work up."

Of course I've also been working on being calm at the doctors as well. I'm sure they key in on parents' emotional state too.

I was a kid in the 40s and they just did it to you with no regard to the fact that you were also a human. I was in to get rid of my tonsils in 1950 which caused me to be afraid of doctors and hospitals. I was quite surprised in 1996 in the ER for a heart attack. They were attempting to get a line in me and with each unsuccessful stick of the needle they kept apologizing. Eventually an ambulance showed up at one of the bays so they grabbed an EMT to come in and do it. Even he apologized for the ones that didn't work. They were very nice about everything else they did to me which really surprised me. Since then I've not been scared to go even though I know they may do something I won't really like.

When I was a kid it seemed as though they didn't give a damn if they were hurting you but now they do all they can to not hurt you.

Those were pretty stupid doctors and nurses.

Anybody with half a brain would have used a little lidocaine and anesthetized the finger and the suturiing could have been done comfortably.

But didn't kids "not feel pain" back then?

Which doesn't do anything to counter your assertion that

Those were pretty stupid doctors and nurses.

I did a cycle of IVF recently - there are daily injections to stimulate eggs, and then a procedure under general anesthetic to harvest me.. but the implantation afterwards was done awake.

For implantation, I was with my partner - I had to take off my pants, and just wrap a gown around the lower half of my body. After awkwardly waddling into the procedure room, I got up on the table, and they strapped my feet into the stirrups, before putting a belt low across my body, to make sure I stayed still.

From there, I was given a vulval wipe down, then covered with a fenestrated drape, then had a speculum inserted and opened, then an outer catheter into the cervical opening, before a second one was placed through that one to implant the embryo.

Unfortunately, after all that, I miscarried, so I get to do it all again in a month or so.

Remember, to day and as far back as 1986, that I know, medicine is better than several nurses and a couple of male orderlies holding you down.

My daughter fell down, cut on and above the eyebrow, needed stitches, went to ER, she was 2 yrs old. Nurse pulled my wife at the time aside and told her to ask for a pediatric plastic surgeon. They did not want to anestesize her so they use a board with cloth velcro to wrap the child very tightly so they can not move and the nurses talked to her, mom was able to talk to her and the Dr. could do what needed to be done with out worring about the patient interfering with there hands and do it faster. And for many, many months my daughter would say "not the paposs" as she call the board that she was wrapped in if she had to go to a doctor. And today you cannot see the tiny scar under the eyebrows, doc did a great job.

And today if you are restrained in anyway there is a specific reason.

A couple times at the doctors office as a kid. I was continually struggling with constipation and that often led to barium X-rays and smaller scopes being coupled with my usual check ups to see if an obvious problem could be discovered. My mom had already introduced me to enemas at home where I was less than cooperative, so the first couple times at a doctor's office where it was now strangers in a unfamiliar place trying to stick things up my butt I found endless supplies of energy to squirm and struggle. It didn't take long for them to strap me down at the arms, chest, and waist. Then one nurse held my legs back to my chest while another went about lubing and fitting me with a retention nozzle. Once I had lost that battle I usually accepted my fate and settled down, but there were a couple times the restraints stayed just to be sure.

As I had mentioned in my last post, I donated 3 more units of platelets by apheresis early in the morning of Memorial Day, at the Red Cross Donation Center near where I live. The apheresis specialist who took care of me was new, a very friendly woman named Kelly from Huntsville, where she normally works. She was filling in for staff on leave that day. About my age, she is slender, attractive and very engaging, quick to establish rapport as she went through the pre-donation questions, blood pressure, and fingerstick hematocrit. I was sent to go void before the 2 hour procedure while she finished setting up. Returning to the donation area she directed me to my chair, equipment all set to go. I always remove my shoes before getting into the chair and my outer shirt under which I was wearing a sleeveless running shirt. That way I am more comfortable and my arms more easily accessible. I climb in, lay back and feel the cool leather upholstery against my skin. I stretch my bare arms out on the armrests so she can see my veins. Perhaps she saw it noted in my chart, but I did not have to mention restraints. Kelly deftly had both arms strapped tight by the wrists and below the elbows, I didn't even have to ask! Next came skin prep, blood pressure cuff on each bicep pumped enough to make my veins bulge. I tensed up a little as she took up the 16 gauge needle, and was suprized by almost painless venipunctures. Usually it stings right smart. Kelly told me she'd done this for 20 years and loved it. I loved how she strapped me down, and believe she enjoyed as well. I hope she comes to work here again! I was on the machine 2 hours, enjoying the rare treat of laying supine in restraints doing absolutely nothing, guilt-free. She got a triple out of me that day, 3 units of the finest platelets. 2 units went to Emory Medical Center, 1 to the hospital in Douglasville. That makes over 130 units I've given so far.

I did a cycle of IVF recently - there are daily injections to stimulate eggs, and then a procedure under general anesthetic to harvest me.. but the implantation afterwards was done awake.

For implantation, I was with my partner - I had to take off my pants, and just wrap a gown around the lower half of my body. After awkwardly waddling into the procedure room, I got up on the table, and they strapped my feet into the stirrups, before putting a belt low across my body, to make sure I stayed still.

From there, I was given a vulval wipe down, then covered with a fenestrated drape, then had a speculum inserted and opened, then an outer catheter into the cervical opening, before a second one was placed through that one to implant the embryo.

Unfortunately, after all that, I miscarried, so I get to do it all again in a month or so.

Sorry to hear you miscarried after all this @clairesnips . IVF cycles can be a rollercoaster ride. thank you for sharing your experience, and the details. I wish you and your partner all the best on your journey.

Thanks @gynojames - hope so! 😃

I was restrained on the operating table during anesthesia induction with a mask as a kid, by several nurses, quite a strong memory

Never in real drs setting but in play. no exciting to be restrained while the examination goes on. even better with a blindfold.and a stern dr that keeps warning me to stay still smacking me on my butt when i squirm

I have been restrained, both for surgery, and also at my first gynecologist appointment. I was told it was "to keep me safe."

Patients who are high fall risks can be somewhat restrained in bed so they can't get up without calling for assistance - to prevent falls. They also use weight sensors that will alert the nursing station if someone gets off of it - but by the time they get someone in to the patient it may be too late to prevent a fall. I saw one rehab hospital that had something akin to a "tent" that covered the bed to prevent patients from getting out.

Rchlktln, what were the circumstances of your first exam? I’ve never heard of a patient being restrained for a conscious gynecological exam before.

I’ve been restrained in a dental chair and to an operating table, both for surgeries. As for why, they didn’t really say. It just seemed “normal” to me.

I've never been restrained, but I'm curious to know the reason someone would be restrained for a routine exam

Yes, i have been. I attempted suicide at 19. I was taken the er and after surgery, I was saved. I was heavily restrained for 6 weeks. Terrible time.

^Six weeks? There'd be a lawsuit going on if that happened to me.

Yes, i have been. I attempted suicide at 19. I was taken the er and after surgery, I was saved. I was heavily restrained for 6 weeks. Terrible time.

NOBODY has the right to prevent or stop a person from taking their own life.