Two things, quick one first: how do you play music on your phone if you're scrubbed in? Like, can you touch your phone?

More important one:

That's so fucking awesome. Medical professionals like you really help the freaked-out among us.

Not the same level of thing, obviously, but I have a bad phobia around blood draws. I don't like shots, but I can deal pretty well. But blood draws just fully freak me out and I don't know why. Same reaction I'd have if you tried to have me a black widow spider. The worst part of it, for some reason, is the location. It hurts less in the crook of the elbow, but psychologically, that's the worst spot for me.

Had to get blood drawn today, and my PCP and all her nurses know how I am with this. I take it like a big boy, but I'm fully seething on the inside. I don't freak out or panic, but I sit there and just have to close my eyes and make myself breathe, because I will legit forget to breathe.

Today, two nurses came in, and one kept me talking the whole time. Random shit. Talked about tattoos and car trouble and bills. Complete distraction technique, and it helped so much. The pain isn't the issue, and other places have offered numbing spray. I mean, sure, that's nice. But that isn't the problem. The problem is that my fight or flight is kicking in. This doctor and the nurses get that, and they went the extra mile. It was amazing.

Sadly, I'm going to have to change doctors soon. I'll really miss them.