The Great IV Therapy Adventure
In 2023, I was thrilled to start offering IV therapy to my patients. It felt like a big step in being able to support them with quick, effective hydration, vitamin boosts, and detoxification. But like all new things, there was a learning curve — and of course, some funny moments along the way.
One day, I was setting up for my first solo IV session with a patient. I’d practiced on mannequins, and I was feeling confident (maybe a little too confident). I had everything prepped: the needles, the fluids, the cozy blankets, the calming music. I was ready to go.
I made my first attempt at inserting the needle… and missed. Completely. No big deal, right? Happens to the best of us. I adjusted, tried again, and this time I hit the vein! Success!
Or so I thought. About five minutes into the treatment, I noticed something… my patient was looking a little too relaxed. It turns out, I had set the IV bag a little too high, and instead of a gentle drip, the fluids were racing into their arm at lightning speed.
For a second, I thought I might need to call in backup, but with a little adjustment and some quick thinking, everything calmed down — and my patient was perfectly fine, albeit a little surprised by the speed of their hydration.
We both laughed, and I was relieved to know that while IV therapy may come with its learning moments, it was still a great addition to my practice.
Lesson learned: in medicine, as in life, sometimes it’s about adjusting, staying calm, and making sure your fluid bags are not at race-car level.
