I would be livid. Is there another clinic - perhaps a larger one that always has a phlebotomist on duty at all times. I'm fortunate that my labs are done the day I have infusions. I would be concerned as labs can change from day to day and should be done the day of infusions.

I have never had this happen to me. But I have all my labs done at Northwestern Hospital and never had an issue.

How frustrating to be waiting that long!

2-12-26 Thursday
Finally received new treatment and all seems to have gone well.
I was given baby aspirin 81 mg Benadryl injection, 2 each Tylenol 860 mgs , 5 each- 4 mgs dexamethasone and polymist pill 4mg and Elotuzumab 10 mg/kg intravenously weekly during cycles 1-2 (on days 1, 8, 15, and 22).
I did labs today so had to wait at memorial 7 hours and was totally exhausted.
Went in at 7:00 am to do labs waited in infusion until 12:00 to get results then started infusions drove home ate 2:00 pm utterly ridiculous!
I had shingles days before compounded lower back pain and horrible itchy rash on back and stomach.so could not drive to do labs day before and I think they purposely made me wait cause they kept saying you need to come a day earlier to get labs so you don’t have to wait.
How insensitive to a hurting person can you be?
I drove straight home ate and crashed for 3 hours.
Feel pretty good now that I rested ate fiber one cereal took Akkermansia probiotic and multivitamin. Now to watch for side effects and take more targeted vitamins and healthy foods to get my body built up again for next chemo on Thursday.
Taking baby aspirin Pomalyst acyclovir and Pantoprazole everyday as part of chemo treatment.

Cat, that sounds incredibly frustrating — especially after being with the same clinic for so many years. You did everything right by coming in as instructed, and it’s not fair to be left guessing about something as basic as having a phlebotomist available. Unfortunately, after hospital systems buy out private clinics, staffing gets centralized and pulled at short notice, and patients feel the impact. You’re not alone in experiencing this, and it’s okay to push back a little and ask for clearer instructions or a scheduled lab time so you don’t waste another trip. I hope they get it sorted quickly for you — this kind of stress is the last th🙏