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Nurse Cold Hands Meets Her Match.

Feb 4th 2008Karen Hawkins
Karen HawkinsOn Writing!

I went to the doctor yesterday for my annual checkup and found myself facing A Dragon Nurse.

Now I know a lot about nurses. My grandmother and great grandmother were nurses, as is my Dh’s sister (Hi, Becky!) and so I am no Nurse Virgin. That said, I don’t pretend to have any sort of medical knowledge. I don’t and they do. That’s something I’m not likely to forget and I respect them and the work they do.

Still, I’m not a pushover softie, either. Here’s what happened as I sat shivering in a paper cape on a cold plastic table:

22846992.jpgNURSE (looking at my chart): You didn’t get your blood work.

ME: I had breakfast before I came so they couldn’t take the sample.

NURSE (frowning): You ATE before your appointment?

ME: No one told me not to.

NURSE (sniffs): Most people know that.

ME: My appointment was at 11:30 and it’s 12:30 now. You couldn’t expect me not to eat or drink anything until now.

NURSE (proudly): We’ve had people who’ve had appointments at 2 and didn’t eat or drink.

ME: Fascinating. Did they pass out in here, or in the waiting room?

Needless to say, the nurse snapped my folder closed, suggested in a chilly voice that PERHAPS the doctor would be with me shortly, and marched from the room.

I had to wait for the doctor, but not for long. He came in and immediately slipped the coldest stethoscope on the planet under the edge of my paper cape. I’m sure the Dragon Nurse put the blasted thing on ice before allowing the doctor in my examination room, but such are the chances one takes for being a smart alec with a nursing professional.

Have you ever met a Dragon Nurse or Doctor? Are you willing to be sassy in return, like me? Or do you fear the Dreaded Ice Stethoscope of Death too much to spout off? And aren’t you glad you don’t have to put up with sassy customers like me all day? Sheesh! What was I thinking? That thing was FREEZING!

65 Comments »

65 Responses to “Nurse Cold Hands Meets Her Match.”

  1. Sabrina Jeffries on 05 Feb 2008 at 12:14 am #

    I’ll put up with a LOT, but once in a while I just have to spout off when they’re really annoying me. BUT nearly every nurse I’ve ever had has been a doll. It’s not usually the nurses who bother me; it’s the doctors!!!

  2. evlqn on 05 Feb 2008 at 12:49 am #

    I had my youngest son at UCLA Medical Center and the doctor they brought in to me looked like he should still be playing Little League. So I asked if he was a real doctor or still a beginner, I guessed right -beginner! I too have all kinds of respect for the medical profession, but if someone is going to be messing around my nether regions I don’t want it to be thier first time on the field.
    But my most enraging medical incounter came when I was in the ER for a possible heart attack. A doctor passed through my cubical and asked,”How’s it going?” To which I replied, “Not bad.” He went on to the nurses station and wrote something on a chart. I discovered I was charged $400.00 for a consult. That was 12 years ago, I still have not paid that doctor.

  3. evlqn on 05 Feb 2008 at 2:51 am #

    Hey, has anyone ever found out why we can’t eat before having needle shoved in our arms? They can put men on the moon and under the sea but they can’t figure out what is going on in your body if you have had toast and tea?? Why not?
    I absolutely love my doctor and his nurse, Mike, is the best. Not bad to look at either.

  4. Ann in IL on 05 Feb 2008 at 5:25 am #

    Nurses are wonderful. I’ve only met one or two that needed to be straightened out. I go to a Nurse Practitioner - Dr’s are way too arrogant. My NP has been a friend for over thirty years. It’s NOT embarrassing to have her do my exam. We are chatting about everything and everyone so she’s finished before we know it. I take the day off and have everything done on one day. Mammogram is scheduled at 7 and physical is at 8 next Wed. If they want bloodwork, I’ll be ready. Also, I’ve NEVER waited in the waiting room or exam room. These girls are efficient. Can’t say that for the MD’s I’ve had to visit. After waiting for over two hours in an exam room - the nurse kept popping in to tell me that this guy was “the best in the world” - I dumped that fool.

    LESSON LEARNED - If a medical “professional” tells you that he/she can take apart and re-assemble offending body part with their eyes closed. And continually tell you how wonderful they are - GET OUT OF THERE.

    Zeus won’t let me say more

  5. Karen Hawkins on 05 Feb 2008 at 7:50 am #

    Sabrina, like you, most doctors and nurses I’ve met are awesome. It’s just a few who seem to be snippy and, because they know more than me, it’s taken me a while to be sassy back.

    ev, $400? For THAT? Sheesh!

    Ann, thank goodness for the good ones who join the profession and put up with the long hours, dealing with body parts, and people’s phobias and worries! Sounds like you’ve found some great ones!

    My grandmother was a Dragon Nurse, but if something was wrong, she was the one you wanted with you. She always told you the way things were. I had a badlt cut foot one time (45 stitches) and she was with me in the ER. The ER nurse said, “This is going to hurt a little” and my grandmother said, “This is going to hurt a lot. Hold my hand.” Then the ER nurse said, “This is going to hurt.” And my grandmother said, “This is going to hurt like hell. Hold my hand tighter and don’t you DARE move that foot.”

    She was a pillar of strength in a lot of ways and was a remarkable woman.

  6. Karen Hawkins on 05 Feb 2008 at 7:51 am #

    Btw, my DH’s sister, Becky has been lurking on here of and on for a while. I’m going to see if I can get her to say “Hey!” if she’s not working right now. She has some great nurse stories!

  7. Margaret Garland on 05 Feb 2008 at 8:15 am #

    I can’t recall ever having a Dragon Nurse. Nor an arrogant doctor. I had uterine cancer 7 years ago and the oncologist was fabulous. He didn’t use Dr. Speak. He talked to me in language I could understand and made sure I did. Also, he said that the surgeons who had done a hernia repair the year before had done a lousy job. His very words & I already knew that.

    1 1/2 years ago, I had double knee replacement. The nurses were wonderful. I did have an issue with an aide. Talked too much, too intimately and wore musk perfume. Hate that stuff. It was overwhelming enough that I complained to thedoctor. The champs were the people in physical/occupational therapy where I went twice a day. They never faltered in the face of all my whining. I’m not a silent sufferer. LOL

    Guess I’ve been very luciky, huh?

  8. Keri Ford on 05 Feb 2008 at 8:29 am #

    haha! I always stop and lean away from that stethescope and say, “Uh, you didn’t warm that.”

    Worst medical was the doctor who delivered my baby. OMG. HORROR, I tell you. The WORST PAIN OF MY LIFE came when he checked me, not the deliver itself. My ob was a petite female who wasn’t on call when I went into labor. The delivering doc could have been Santa Clause without any padding or fake beard. Are you following my drift??? when he checked me with what had to have been 2 inch in diameter fingers he shoved down on the top of laboring belly for leverage and I tell you, he must have been trying to make his hands meet in the middle or something.

    The 2nd time around (to confirm the nurses suspicion that it was time to push) I asked for a half a shot of demerol which the nurse gave. I had begged her not to call the doctor that I felt she was capable of doing the work, but she refused, at which time is when I was administered my demeroil.

  9. Keri Ford on 05 Feb 2008 at 8:30 am #

    You’re not supposed to eat before blood tests?? Since when? Nobody ever told me! I know if you chew gum that gag-you-strep-test doesn’t get done (heh, guess who always chews gum?).

  10. Freedom Writer on 05 Feb 2008 at 8:31 am #

    My mother is a nurse. At 73 she is still working. I’ve never had any problem standing up for myself in the doctor’s office because as a child we were allowed to hang out at the clinic all of the time. Now with all the privacy regulations I can barely say hi to her over a very tall wall when I am at the clinic.

    I have had both doctors and nurses, and clinic receptionists treat me as if I am an idiot, but I usually get them set straight. I love my current doctor. He talks to me as an one intelligent human being to another. His wonderful nurse, however, just left her job to be a stay home mom, and he has yet to find another nurse to replace her. He has interviewed a couple of applicants, but has found no one to his satisfaction.

  11. Karen Hawkins on 05 Feb 2008 at 8:44 am #

    Ah, you guys have found some great doctors! I moved last year and I’m sort of ‘interviewing’ them as I go. This doctor was awesome. Just the nurse was a bit snippy, but then hey, she’s used to doing her thing and I’m used to doing mine. At my old doctor, they never took lab samples without 1) Telling you first, and 2) Never at the doctor’s office, but at a lab across the street and it was a separate appt. So she’s coming from her Normal Procedure and I’m coming from mine.

    I’m glad all of you seem good about speaking up and Asking Questions. You HAVE to do that. It’s so important!

  12. SnikWhite on 05 Feb 2008 at 9:00 am #

    I will share two horror stories, neither time did I have a snappy comeback, once because of age, and once simply because I was stupified. As an important side note, keep in mind, I’ve always been overweight…you’ll see.

    1. I was 16 and had a polinidal cyst. For those that don’t know, this is essentially a giant goiter on your tailbone that when inflamed will make you desire death over the treatment. Anyway, the nurse brings me in lays me on the table and scootches my shorts down to see the cyst. She gasps. Literally gasps and says, “look at the size of this” leaves the room, goes and gets more of her nurse friends, leaving the door open when she goes. i am thankful that I do not know the identity of the young man who had the awful luck of passing by the room and seeing my posterior all exposed. He did however call for his mommy.

    To be continued…

  13. SnikWhite on 05 Feb 2008 at 9:03 am #

    Part II

    2. I was 18. I had been in a car accident, the second time I’d been rear ended. I had whiplash and my back was jacked up. I was at my Nurse Practitioner for a follow-up visit and to get a script for some meds. She walks in, takes my vitals and informs me flat out that if i wasn’t overweight I wouldn’t have these back problems. Stupified.

    Of course hind sight is 20/20 and NOW i might say something like, “yeah, you’re right, if i was thin the truck that hit me at 55MPH wouldn’t hurt nearly as much.” Grrr

  14. KariE on 05 Feb 2008 at 9:26 am #

    I nomally go to a walk-in clinic when I’m ill. I’ve been going there for over 7 years now so I am pretty familier with the 3 main doctors there. On one occasion I had went in for gastroenteritius. I was given a Rx and was told to eat bland foods, if anything at all for a few days. I made a stupid comment about how it was going to suck, to which the doctor replied with, ” Well dear, it’s not as if you can’t stand to miss a meal.”
    How do you reply to that?
    I’m blessed with the whitty-replys-come-5-minutes-too-late gene.

  15. cail on 05 Feb 2008 at 9:35 am #

    ugh. drs and nurses have been ok… can’t think of any horror stories at the moment, however, i hate having to wait forever at the office. i do NOT want to waste an hour in the waiting room, then 20 min in the check up room for any reason.

  16. SnikWhite on 05 Feb 2008 at 9:44 am #

    I must say however that my current OB/GYN is probably the greatest doctor I have ever had. My pregnancy was high risk, I’ve always had “woman” problems as my dad so delicately puts it, so finding a good doctor has been tough. There is nothing fun about sitting in the “paper cape” with your legs in sturrups trying to discuss your medical history with someone. My current doctor, however, is a different caliber of doctor. My first appointment, the nurse took the vitals, took me to the room, told me to stay clothed. I met the doctor, he took me to his office. We discussed my medical history, he asked questions, he gave me a list of tests he wanted me to have run at the blood center, THEN took me back to the room, gave me my paper cape and the exam went on from there. Also, he warms all his tools (man that sounded dirty) AND has pictures of the caribbean islands on his ceiling…so you can find your happy place.

  17. Karen Hawkins on 05 Feb 2008 at 9:56 am #

    Snik, sorry you had to put up with that! A person’s weight is a very personal, private thing and it hurts when people are flippant about it especially when you’re that young! BUT I want YOUR ob/gyn! He warms his tools (heh!) — AND has Happy Pics on the ceiling? I love him already! And it was so considerate of him to talk to you FIRST and not during the exam.

    Kari, I’m usually a next-day-zinger gal myself. But this woman just got my goat, so I went for it. Don’t you wish you could replay time and go back and Say The Right Thing sometimes? Sigh. I’d really like that.

  18. KariE on 05 Feb 2008 at 10:11 am #

    I think the worst part about doctor visits is the part that you are supposed to know what to expect/do. Like you, Karen, where you were supposed to get blood work but were not told. My mother went in for an ultrasound a few months ago expecting the “normal” kind. Instead, she got the new and improved version of the ultrasound (for her problem). She was not happy and called me that night to tell me all about how upset she was. She said when she complained to the nurses about not being told prior their reply was something to the effect of, “well that is how it is done” and “we assumed you knew.” She said that if she had knows she would have cleaned house a little bit down there. She said the last time she had an ultrasound was in 1979.
    I giggled.

  19. SnikWhite on 05 Feb 2008 at 10:13 am #

    LOL thank you for the sympathy Karen! Truth be told, I learned how to laugh at myself and my considerable girth years ago, but I don’t give permission to strangers to do so…specially if I don’t get the joke.

  20. One Happy Giants Fan on 05 Feb 2008 at 10:57 am #

    I’ve been really lucky with my doctors and nurses. The only time I remember having an issue with someone was when I was in the hospital and the blood collector came in to take some blood. Now, unfortunately I have small veins and when they do find them, they tend to collapse. That being said, of course my vein collapsed just as he was starting to take blood. He yelled at me that I moved my arm (which I didn’t). After jabbing me several times again, I ended up throwing him out of the room and asking a nurse if they could send in one of those experts - the name starts with ph or f. The next day, my arm was black and blue from the elbow to my wrist.

  21. SuzyQ on 05 Feb 2008 at 10:59 am #

    I just realized I’m still celebrating the Giants victory and didn’t change my user name in the previous post.

  22. Karen Hawkins on 05 Feb 2008 at 11:05 am #

    Snik, you’re awesome and I don’t care what girth you have or don’t have. It’s all about the soul and yours sings loud and clear here on tgb.

    Suzy, BWHAHAHAHAHA! I was wondering who was signing themselves as a Happy G Fan and thought, “Man, they’re STILL celebrating!” Lol!

    I have veins that ‘roll’ and they always leave me with bruises when I have to give blood. Usually they’ll come to do it, tie up my arm, poke and prod, and then say “Hold on a moment. i’m going to get so-and-so.” and the resident expert will show up and do the job. The worst times I’ve had with that was donating blood. Once I had a streak of blue from my inner elbow almost to my wrist. ouch!

  23. SuzyQ on 05 Feb 2008 at 11:12 am #

    Yes, Karen, we’re still celebrating. The big ticker tape parade is today in NY. My son so wanted to go today, but he has school and I have work.

  24. Claudia Dain on 05 Feb 2008 at 11:18 am #

    My mom was a nurse and so was my m-i-l. Surrounded! But it’s great because my mom taught me that you have to be your own health advocate and not put up with any garbage from anybody wearing a white jacket. Her quote: “Doctors do two things: cut you or drug you. Go to them if you want either of those things.”

  25. Emmiebee on 05 Feb 2008 at 11:19 am #

    I have a gem of a doctor- she performs my yearly physicals and ob/gyn testing. She is over an hour drive from home (I moved about 8 years ago), but I will gladly make the trek to see her whenever needed! She reviews my history (medical, emotional, family) with me for about 30 minutes every year, and we chat about her pets. She also has small, gentle hands, which I SO appreciate! Such a great woman, and a good doctor- she is always willing to listen and discuss medical alternatives. She also send me a copy of blood tests every year, as I’m a vet and love to see my own results!
    Oh, and a recent meal can cause an elevation of fat in the bloodstream (called “hyperlipemia”), which can falsely increase/decrease some of your blood test values. Then they have to call you back to the office for more blood after a fast- yuck! I hate calling patient owners to say, “oh yes, we need even more blood from your poor, scared pet. And by the way, don’t feed the little guy for 8-12 hours first.”

  26. Emmiebee on 05 Feb 2008 at 11:52 am #

    Actually, my last bloodscreen had to be repeated because of lipemic serum, and I HAD FASTED! Major bummer!

  27. Karen Hawkins on 05 Feb 2008 at 12:00 pm #

    Fasting = Bad. Lunch = good.

    Ok, I’m willing to fast so I don’t have a False Fat Reading in my blood. But ah . . . can you AT LEAST drink water? Or not even that? I need to call and find out because I’m scheduled for lab work Thursday. Not that they told me to fast at all, anyway! Sheesh. I’m thinking I need to keep shopping. This doctor’s front office is just not doing their job.

  28. RachelG on 05 Feb 2008 at 12:01 pm #

    There are certainly wonderful nurses, but like with all professions, there are bad ones. My father had a long battle with cancer and I ran up against a lot of bad nurses, and doctors too, for that matter. But the majority were wonderful. Especially the hospice nurses.

  29. Ronlyn on 05 Feb 2008 at 12:02 pm #

    I work for doctors, so I’m not about to let anyone push me around without pushing right back. The oddest time was when I was swapping recipies during my yearly exam. LOL.
    I’ve had a few medical professionals that I didn’t care for, but generally I don’t put up with it for long. My current OBGYN is a peach. She works one floor below my office, and wouldn’t you know that I only ever run into her when I’m supposed to be on bedrest with my pregnancies?? What are the odds?

  30. Karen Hawkins on 05 Feb 2008 at 12:24 pm #

    RachelG, the hospice nurses will have a special place in heaven. They deal with a lot of difficult situations with such grace.

    Ronlyn, the same thing happened to me! I was on bedrest and stayed right where I should have, but I had to get some milk — ok, it was ice cream, but it was IMPORTANT ice cream — and there he was. It’s almost like they know you, or something. What’s up with THAT?

  31. Lisa H on 05 Feb 2008 at 12:35 pm #

    I am with Sabrina - every nurse I have ever had has been awesome. They are a special breed who ooze kindness. Karen, I’m sorry you were subjected to Dragon Nurse. I have had two doctors though that I would like to castrate slowly and with dull knives. THey were both urologists, need I say more?

  32. MoabReader on 05 Feb 2008 at 1:51 pm #

    The ER in the small town where I live is guarded by the most evil dragon nurse ever spit from the fires of hell. One time she was doing a basic in-take with me, (blood pressure, etc.), and was her usual mean self. She asked if I worked around chemicals, I said yes, I worked in at the print shop. She asked condescendingly if I ran a press, and I condescendingly said to her: “No, I’m the assistant editor of the newspaper.” And after that she sweetened up quite a bit. As our publisher-emeritus is fond of saying, “Never pick a fight with some one who buys ink by the gallon.” Take that Dragon Nurse!

  33. colinfirthfan on 05 Feb 2008 at 1:58 pm #

    Don’t remember having nay dragon nurses. Though the nurse I initially got when I went in for my second pregnancy was a little cold at first. I had been having very long and very painful contractions all day. I was due to go int he next morning to get induced (after 3 months of bed rest) and my contractions were 7 minutes apart. She was looking at us with that “why are coming in so late in my shift” look and the I will be sending you home soon expression as well.
    Turns out I was 8 cm dialated and suddenly she was all sweet and nice.

    My doctor is very nice but always late. After waiting for 30 mins I tell them to reschedule me as I can’t wait for so long. They see me quickly then.
    Why schedule you for an appt and then see you and hr later? Some of us have other things to do than sit around the docs office.

    Sorry had to rant a bit.

  34. colinfirthfan on 05 Feb 2008 at 1:59 pm #

    Ok that should be ANY dragon nurses.

  35. Karen Hawkins on 05 Feb 2008 at 2:07 pm #

    Lisa H — instead of a dull spoon, how about a spork? I’ve always thought those looked like evil instruments of torture!

    Moab, heh! That’s a great quote!

    CFFan, oh yes, I’ve seen that look, but usually at the post office. I’m always in the back of the 4 pm line, my arms stacked high with boxes, letters, packages and such. I should get there earlier, but it takes me that long to get things packed up, addressed, and to the car!

  36. Suzanne Enoch on 05 Feb 2008 at 2:08 pm #

    Oh, I had my yearly physical last week — I can totally sympathize, KarenH. No ice-cold instruments, but I HATE those stupid pics on the ceiling. Like I’m thinking of the Alps while THAT’s going on. Yeesh.

  37. Mia Rose on 05 Feb 2008 at 2:35 pm #

    Hmmm… only one major nurse incident came to mind when I was reading through this. Luckily I’ve been blessed w/ Mary Poppins type nurses, even if they were male, and even with my single scary experience my nurse was sweet. Props for holding your own against the Dragon though Karen H.
    Years back I had to get some blood drawn for tests and I sat down in the chair and watched the nurse prepare everything and I’ve never been so scared in my life. The nurse, sweet as can be, had a severe shaking disorder… and not small shakes, LARGE shakes in her hands (or entire arm, however you want to look at it). I clenched my eyes shut and hoped for the best, but she was so fantastic she controlled the shaking right before impact and managed to hit the tiny little vein no problem whatsoever.
    I admitted to her it scared 10 years off my life and she laughed.

  38. Kim on 05 Feb 2008 at 2:41 pm #

    I have to agree with others. Most of the time its the DRs who are rotten. Although I had one nurse that enjoyed giving me a B-12 shot every week way to much. Seriously, she acted like Norman Bates with that needle.

    Speaking of GYNs, I have the best. She’s really great. Did you know speculums come in different sizes? Yup, they do. She would use the smaller one for me so it didn’t hurt AND she’d warm it. She was great at making something horrible not so bad. She also let me decide when I was ready for my surgery. It took me 2 years to get there and she was wonderful about all of it.

    Now, the surgeon I had. He was straight from hell. He sat on my hospital bed the day after I had a hysterectomy and told me I needed to have weight loss surgery right now. Uh, excuse me? You just gutted me like a large mouth bass and you want to do it again? Give me a day or so won’t ya? pffft.

    KarenH–when you made that appt. they should have told you to fast. That’s not a given at all. Bad nurse!

  39. colinfirthfan on 05 Feb 2008 at 2:50 pm #

    My doc always warms the instruments as well. I like her.
    The only time I go to an OB is when I am preggers. :-) Just my luck for both deliveries my obs weren’t there. Luckily the second time the on-call was awesome - saved my baby - since I had to have an emergency c-section.

    I remember one nurse after the c-section was so nice. She really made comfortable on the bed. She was also the one to take my staples out. The others assumed that since this was my second baby I should already know everything there is to about c-section deliveries (the first baby was 6 weeks preemie and vaginal).

  40. Paula on 05 Feb 2008 at 3:05 pm #

    My doctor is really good and friendly. However I’ve come across a couple of jokers both when I was pregnant. The first was when I was pregnant with my first he was footling breech( feet first) not good and so the GYN decided that he would try to turn him, had a scan and yes baby was in the perfect position for turning, whilst waiting to go in and have baby turn the little *** decided to go bottom right down into my pelvis, the GYN wouldn’t listen. He had to have a try, his hands were ENORMOUS, he pushed his fingers into my pelvis as far as he could whilst saying “this might be a little uncomfortable!!!” there I was trying to stay lying on the bed. Within minutes of him saying it was no good and I’d have to be booked in for a C-section the baby (little darling!!) popped back out, the result of all the poking and prodding was that I ended up with obstetric choelstasis which can be fatal to the unborn baby!!
    To be continued…

  41. zambonigirl on 05 Feb 2008 at 3:09 pm #

    My last boob n’ lube appointment was a lot like yours in some respects. I had been feeling dizzy and yucky lately and had requested blood work to see if I was deficient in something or perhaps diabetic/hypoglycemic. I guess the person who took down the appointment didn’t understand that I wanted it on the same day as my GYN appointment and didn’t put it down. When I got there, the nurse argued with me for twenty minutes, even after I said, “Oh, if you can’t do it, it’s okay. I didn’t eat, though, so if you can fit it in, I’d be appreciative.” I did not argue with her. I figure that the less I’m stuck with needles, the better. Anyway, she continued to argue with herself (me, I guess) even after the GYN came in to do my other stuff. The GYN was concerned about how I was feeling and ordered blood work. I was fine, just a little potassium deficient.

    I hope I never see that nurse again.

  42. Paula on 05 Feb 2008 at 3:16 pm #

    The second was after the birth of my second son the Dr came in and said that they needed to have a look down there as I was heamorraging and they needed to determine whether I would need to go to theatre, he then produced the biggest torch imaginable and I was lying there wondering what on earth he was going to do with it. He looked up saw my face and apologised and said that they didn’t have any smaller torches!!!!
    Kari E I have the same gene as you it always is afterwards that I think of a suitable retort.

  43. Margaret Garland on 05 Feb 2008 at 3:30 pm #

    Karen, I hear you about the veins. My roll, shrink and go into the witness protection program. I was being prepped for surgery about 10 years ago. They couldn’t get the iv going. After 30 minutes or so, the surgeon came huffing in to see what the hold up was. He found people working on both ankles and both arms at the same time. They finallygot it somewhere in the vicinity of my collar bone and knocked me out. Good thing I deal well with needles. I always warm the needle people ahead of time.

    However, I was mighty glad when they could, finally, put me out. While I was, someone did a pic line . Just in case they needed it later. All those people working on me were sweating bullets and were very grateful that I wasn’t screaming and cussing. Each one came to my room later to apologize and to compliment me on “taking it”.

  44. Margaret Garland on 05 Feb 2008 at 3:31 pm #

    I meant warn the needle people, of course. They were already warm enough. LOL

  45. Nicole Jordan on 05 Feb 2008 at 3:56 pm #

    Sorry about your experience, Karen!

    My doc is wonderful and so are her two nurses, but I have to admit, if I have a choice, I always try to have one of the nurses draw my blood. The otherone has as hard time finding my vein and I’d rather not be poked so many times!

  46. ladydawgfan on 05 Feb 2008 at 4:25 pm #

    Sheesh, am I the only one with good veins?? I even have a freckle that they always aim for over my best vein!!

    As for nurses, I got stuck with Nurse Ratchet a few years ago at the doctor’s office. Cold instruments, colder attitude, and she couldn’t be any more condescending to me if she tried!!! She actually handed me a specimen cup and told me, and I quote, “I need you to go potty in this. The little girls room is across the hall!” Keep in mind that I was in my late 20’s at the time!

    Barely able to keep from slugging her, I returned to the room, where she took a blood sample, and then covered it with a Snoopy bandage!! I don’t know if she thought she was being funny or what, but frankly the whole time I was questioning her sanity!! I was almost at the end of my rope with that doctor anyway (she refused to listen to any medical concerns re my PCOS), so it was no big deal to dump the whole kit and kaboodle and find a new clinic.

  47. Judy F on 05 Feb 2008 at 4:37 pm #

    I really don’t have any horror stories with doctors or nurses that I can recall. One that sticks in my mind was the VET. I took my cat Dusty to the local vet cause she was drooling a lot and had some type of clicking noise when she walked. this idiot vet looks in her mouth and says “this cat has undergone some trauma…what did you do to her?” WTF I stammered nothing and he gave me some meds back the following week seeing a different Vet and this one tells me that dusty has a tumor under her tongue. This vet did the surgery and when I picked her up some tech didn’t know what to tell me as far as taking care of her. Now they give me pills to push down her throat.(hello she just had surgery on her throat) anyway that night I had to take her to the ER Vet (another practice)cause she was bleeding from her mouth. To make a long story shorter, I switched Dusty to this vet. She did have to be put to sleep cause it was an agressive form of cancer But I swore I would never go back to my old VET

  48. Keri Ford on 05 Feb 2008 at 5:09 pm #

    ladydawgfan I was thinking the same thing! I’ve got nice good veins thank the dear lord. He knew what he was up to cause I can’t stand needles!

    Margaret when I read your post I shook all over! Ankles!! needles in Ankles!! and then the collar bone!! AAAAGGRRRRRHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

  49. doglady on 05 Feb 2008 at 5:22 pm #

    My BFF is a retired RN. She is still one tough cookie! Our family MD of 35 years retired recently. My Mom was so upset. She told him he couldn’t retire until she died. (she’s 72) He said “Mrs. Bolton, I can’t work another 30 years!” He was also my MawMaw’s MD - women in our family live a long time! Fortunately the MD he recommended is a doll. He LISTENS to my Mom. She is half Cherokee and half Creek and Native Americans have allergic reactions to meds and problems that are a result of being Native American. This guy read all of her previous MD’s notes and he GETS it! He listens. Mom loves him.

    On the flip side, when my Dad had his last heart attack and five bypasses he was in the hospital for 6 weeks before he died. His cardiologist was an arrogant asshole. Dad was fully conscious all the time but they could not get him off the ventilator without him going into arrest. My Mom and my Dad’s sister wanted to talk to the cardiologist about WHY this was happening. He never would come (con

  50. doglady on 05 Feb 2008 at 5:27 pm #

    (con) to them in the ICU waiting room. They waited for him in Dad’s room one AM with my rather large younger brother, James. They asked questions. This man was condescending, rude and talked over their heads. Then he said “I have to go.” My brother stood up in front of the door and said “You’re not going anywhere until you explain what is going on so that my Mom can understand.” The guy got all huffy and threatened to call security. My brother said “Go ahead. I’m calling the head of the hospital AFTER I kick your ass. Now answer my Mom’s questions.” My aunt said she was afraid James would kill the guy. The nurses told me later that they were cracking up at the nurses’ station. They were listening in on the intercom. Needless to say he answered my Mom’s questions and from then until Dad died he made sure my Mom KNEW what was going on. The thing we all need to remember is THEY WORK FOR US!!!

  51. Lisa H on 05 Feb 2008 at 6:09 pm #

    I am having a hysterectomy tomorrow. This is bad timing for this blog!

    I’m really okay with it. I have a wonderful doctor and am looking forward to getting many problems resolved. I feel so bad that many of you have had such horrible experiences. It sounds like many of these Doctors have egos the size of the state of Texas…yikes!

  52. Kim on 05 Feb 2008 at 6:21 pm #

    (((Lisa))) I had a hysterectomy at a young age, 32, and I haven’t regretted it once. It can take some getting used to but with a good dr and listening to your own body its not so bad. You have my email if you want to talk. I’m an open book and will talk about all that groody stuff *g*

  53. Kay on 05 Feb 2008 at 7:01 pm #

    I had a bad experience at my son’s pediatrician’s office. My son and I have asthma & allergies, and my son was there for a follow-up visit. We were placed in the “asthma” exam room. Nurse from H***, reeking of cigarette & perfume (to mask cigarette smell) came in to do “why are you here” & vitals. I had to ask her to leave the room. The smell lingered & I had to ask for another room. YUCK. I’d take a cold stethoscope any day over that SMELL. I complained to the doctor, then the office administrator.

  54. Kay on 05 Feb 2008 at 7:07 pm #

    I had my gallbladder removed the week before Christmas. After I was admitted to the hospital, a doctor from my regular doctor’s group had to do my preop physical. He was wonderful. He listened. He made sure all of my questions were answered. He assured me I wasn’t being a wimp.

    The day after surgery, my regular doctor came in to do my discharge orders. She of no bedside manner was in the room 2 minutes, & told me to lose weight. Never asked how I was feeling or if I had any questions. Her discharge orders said in capital letters, “Needs to lose weight. Lowfat diet.”

    I WAS DISCHARGED WITH A DRAIN STILL IN! Guess who I’ll be seeing for my next appointment?

    BTW, I take a lightweight cotton bathrobe with me for my doctor visits. I REFUSE to sit around in paper and be cold.

  55. Lisa H on 05 Feb 2008 at 7:25 pm #

    Kim - you are a sweetheart!!! Thank you so much. I am actually looking forward to this surgery, I have had many problems for the last five years and this should resolve them once and for all. I might email in two days to complain about not being able to vacuum or lift grocery bags! *g*

    Thank you Kim!

  56. Cookiedough on 05 Feb 2008 at 8:06 pm #

    my mom was a nurse, so I grew up fascinated with her medical books.
    I’ve nannied for doctors and my best friend is a doc. I pick her brain all the time.
    I have no problem telling off a snippy nurse or doc.

    When I was pregnant with my twins, I spent 35 days in the hospital before they were born because their growth rate had slowed. I then got treated to daily cervical checks as my due date approached. My dr- sweetheart of a man, I was his last patient before retiring- had to go away and left an evil doc in his place. She was so rough in checking me that finally I had enough and sat up in bed when she and her resident came in. I held the blankets over me, crossed my legs and told her to get he hell away from me. I told her she was too rough and I’d stay closed to her until my dr came back. Her resident snickered behind her.He then came to visit me every day to chat until I left the hospital.
    con’td

  57. Cookiedough on 05 Feb 2008 at 8:14 pm #

    Unfortunately, my doctor came back the day after I deliverd so evil doc had to do it.
    She had to use both hands to turn Mike’s head and he’d move to the right position, then once she let go he’d turn himself back in this squishy shuffle that I SO felt. three or four times this went on, and then ahhh! C section.

    On another note, we have the option here to get our blood work done by house call.
    It only costs 20$, as opposed to waiting for a few hrs at the hospital for free.
    A couple of times I chose this way, so the children I looked after could see that it isn’t scary to get a needle. yeah, i turn everything into a learning experience. It’s the teacher in me!
    lol

  58. ladydawgfan on 05 Feb 2008 at 9:48 pm #

    The quickest way for ANY medical professional to get on my [poop] list is to tell me that I need to lose weight! It’s not like I don’t already know that! I live with it every day!

    I went through a series of doctors in the same clinic looking for one who would actually listen to me. So many of them told me to go to Weight Watchers that I was beginning to wonder if they were paid recruiters!! No tests as to why I couldn’t lose weight. No thyroid check, no referrals to nutritionists or endocrinologists. Just “you need to go to Weight Watchers!”

    When I found my current doctor, I made it very clear that if I heard the words “Weight Watchers” come out of her mouth, I was outta there. I had PCOS and she needed to deal with my weight from THAT POV and no other!!! She agreed and we get along great as a result!!

  59. Karen Hawkins on 05 Feb 2008 at 10:13 pm #

    Good news! Got home today and there was a message on my answering machine reminding me of my appointment and NOT TO EAT OR DRINK BEFORE I COME IN. Awesome! Now I know FOR SURE what to do!

    Bless a good receptionist! They make life soooo much easier for all of us!

  60. evlqn on 05 Feb 2008 at 10:39 pm #

    I only have one good tapping vein, in my left arm. No others work, and I have the bruises to prove it.

  61. ilovetoread on 07 Feb 2008 at 8:07 pm #

    Unfortunately, I have a vein that has been nicknamed “Thumper” for the obvious reason — you get near it with a needle and the stupid thing literally bounces up and down in excitement! Make many lab techs deliriously happy!

    I don’t recall ever having a bad nurse experience, but I have had a recent bad Dr. experience. Situation: my blood pressure was averaging 165/115 with a pulse rate of 115-120 for approximately 6 days. After many calls to dr.’s office to see if I can increase BP meds and frequent talks with the nurse, I get REALLY anxious when the lightheadedness starts. Make an appointment to go to the Dr. to have it checked out and after he goes through the list of “problems and concerns”, he calmly looks up at me and says, “I don’t see any reason to suspect any heart problems. Considering your family history, I would assume to suspect that it is a flare-up of pre-menopausal symptoms.” I quickly reminded him that I have had 3 grandparents to die of massive …

  62. ilovetoread on 07 Feb 2008 at 8:13 pm #

    heart attacks and/or strokes with one grandparent living after having 1 major and 2 minor strokes. Both parents have high blood pressure and the naturally occuring high cholesterol (they are both treated by his colleague), as do I. I also have a blood disorder in regards to clotting and have to take baby aspirin for that daily in addition to my other meds. He reitterated that it was probably a pre-menopausal condition.

    Needless to say, I just about went into a “pre-menopausal/postal” condition on him but then I remembered that I was having a “good BP day” and decided to not ruin it! I walked out of there with my head held high and informed each person that I work with what he had said and advised them to change doctors if they went to him!

  63. ilovetoread on 07 Feb 2008 at 8:14 pm #

    I just about forgot the funniest part of the story! The doc suggested that I take random bp’s for approximately 6 weeks and then bring him a chart of what they were running. I informed him that if I was alive in 6 weeks, the chart would go to someone else!!

  64. bnickle on 07 Feb 2008 at 10:14 pm #

    Overall, have to say that the nurses were what I remembered from my Dad’s illness, my mom’s various problems, and my three stays at the hospital which resulted in children following me home. With one exception, the nurses I encountered throughout the years were kind, compassionate, and dedicated. One nurse, named, and I’m not making this up, Nurse Bunnie, woke me up at 3 in the morning the day after I had a C-Section to tell me to not close my door all the way, as the hinges squeaked, and in opening the door to check on me, she would end up waking me up. Think about it a moment. I refused to let her take blood or do anything beyond taking my BP as I had concerns about her critical thinking skills.

    Having said that, nurses have my total respect and undying admiration for what they do. My dad especially, throughout a long and difficult illness, found the nurses at the hospital, and through Hospice, to be near saints.

  65. Pesky on 10 Feb 2008 at 1:49 am #

    ROFLMAO. I have an ongoing back issue so have to see a dr every three months. He and I are always going at it. He left me in the little office too long so I made art out of his tongue depressors and cotton balls. We talk about all sorts of things and when his nurses are sassy to me, he gives them what for.

    The nurse came in last time and said “Your blood pressure is up.” very accusingly, like I had done it just to annoy her. I said “I’m in a lot of pain today.” she hrumphed and left the room. I heard her tell the dr. very loudly “Her blood pressure is up today!” his reply “Then she must be in pain. Did she tell you she was in pain?” He’s the best!