Shuh-shunk. Click!
That one didn't feel right, but in case I'm wrong my left index finger is immediately embraced by my right thumb and the side of my right index finger. The tiny area of my fingertip where the lancing device had just been pressed is white, while the rest of my finger turns a bright pink as I work to get the familiar red drop to appear.
Squeeze, squeeze, massage, squeeze. As I suspected, nothing.
I'll try again on the opposite side of that same finger.
Shuh-shunk. Click!
Mother-father!, I think. That one really hurt. Guess I need to advance to the next lancet. Again grasping my finger, I squeeze harder than last time. Nothing.
Groan. Let's try a different finger. A different hand, even! I select my right ring finger as the next victim.
Cricket!
With a new lancet now ready to go, I aim again.
Shuh-shunk. Click!
Ah, now this! This one felt right. A solid-feeling twinge of pain lasting a half-second at best, before it begins rapidly fading. The heavens part for a millisecond; the lancing device gods smile down on me; rays of sunshine magically appear and then vanish. There's a very distinct difference in feeling between a successful poke and a failure, and this one is definitely a winner. The new lancet provides a sharper weapon that succeeds in its mission, and I know what the blood drop will look like before I even begin squeezing my finger.
With only a slight bit of pressure, I am greeted by that desired drop of blood. Bright red; glistening; perfectly round. I take a victorious moment to marvel at it before it's whisked away by a test strip.
* * * * *
The result of this particular test doesn't matter much in the context of this story, but something else does - I know what a "good" finger stick feels like, and it feels like victory. The sensation of a successful finger stick almost feels... good to me.
How messed up is that?!
Totally. #smallvictories
ReplyDeleteModerate-time lurker here to say, OMG, I *love* that Accu-chek lancing device!! And no, I'm not paid by them; I just want that lancing device to have a few positive votes. :) The pump trainer, my doctor, and all the nurses all said this lancing device was horrible and advised using an existing lancing device. But after I tried it, I fell in love, seriously! It pokes better, but not deeper or more ouch-y, somehow. It's super easy to refill. Yes, there's lancet drums to "worry" about, but IMO, they're MUCH easier to get in or out of the device than typical lancets.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not for everybody. But if some professional person (or entire group of them) tells you a product sucks, please don't be afraid to try it!
[end soapbox]
I will be using this lancing device until the end of time. I have soooo many drums left for it, and I love how it works!
DeleteI'm thinking I need to get a lancing device with drums. I never, ever, ever change my lancet. Bad me! :)
ReplyDeleteKim, this is so true. The difference between a new one and a "one day old one" is drastic! :)
ReplyDeleteNow I'm imagining my Poker in a rock n' roll band as a drummer. Back to work I go...
ReplyDeleteWhy do people have to be down on the Multiclix? I still have mine, and it's great. I did recently grab a One Touch Delica which is pretty nice, too. It's on hand when I need a smaller bag to carry.
ReplyDeleteAnd Kim, thank you for this post. I know exactly how you feel, as this happened to me the other night. Four clicks' worth of "nope, not working" until I got a good one.
Good thing you are using the world's best lancing device.
ReplyDelete(Fastclix is a close second)
Makes perfect sense to me. I have a tendency to lance my finger three or four times in a row nowadays, without even moving my finger from the tip of the device. (Click-Reset-Click-Reset-Click-etc). I figure that, like a jackhammer making repeated blows at a hunk of concrete, the multiple jabs will do a better job of making a hole to let the blood out.
ReplyDelete