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Why I am considering switching doctors' offices (long)

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  • Why I am considering switching doctors' offices (long)

    So I went to the doctor at 9AM yesterday, and apparently the nice, wonderful lady that did the blood draws no longer works there.
    Normally I wouldn't mind so much, though I am a notoriously difficult bleeder and she was pretty good at getting me to.. but oh well right?
    Not so much.

    When I got there, the new woman was pretty brusque with me. She looked at me and told me "I need a urine sample. The bathroom is (directions), there's sample cups and everything you need in there, leave the cup on the counter outside when you're done"
    I was very , because when she had called me on Friday to remind me of my appt and reminded me to fast for 12 hours and take my medicine like normal, there was no mention of urine sample needed..
    Due to the dehydrating nature of my medicine, I drink water/powerade all day, and still pee four times a day, MAX. Of course, when I rolled out of bed, I went to the bathroom like I'm sure most people do.. and there was no WAY I would have to go again until at least lunch time. I started telling the woman this, and I got to "Well I don't really have to GO right now..." and she interrupted like "Oh that's okay let's just do the blood draw for now"

    I sat in the chair and she looked at my veins, didn't poke them or move my arm, just looked, and declared she was pulling from the back of my hand. Okay.. I guess less pokes is better..
    Then she has me ball my hand in a fist, which is normal for me.. and then she has me press my second knuckles against the padded table, HARD, and it's quite uncomfortable, both painful for my knuckles and my arm for the awkward way I am holding it.. I try and rest my arm/hand on the table while she digs around in her little kit for the gauze, the sharp, the vials, put her gloves on.. and she snaps "Leave your hand like this!" moving my arm and hand back to its painful pressing position. I am forced to hold this pose the entire time she preps, sticks, and while she's filling all four vials.
    She grabs some gauze and presses it lightly on the spot the needle is and I flinch, because it feels like maybe the gauze caught on the little butterfly wings on the sharp and the needle wiggled or something, and it hurt. She looks at me like I didn't even DO ANYTHING yet! Gee!"
    I said "I know, but it hurt when"
    Her (interrupting) "Never in 25 years of practice has ANYONE said the GAUZE HURT!"
    I'm beyond irritated now, and I am holding my tongue, wanting to say "Never in my 12 years of regular blood draws while they try and figure out what's wrong with me have I had to hold this stupid painful STUPID pose!"
    So now I'm applying pressure to the stick spot with the gauze of pain. She asks if I want a band-aid, and I lift the gauze a bit and discover I'm not bleeding and say no thanks. She hands me one anyway so I just leave it on the table when I get up.
    She goes "Okay so just go in the waiting room and when you have to urinate, come in and use the sample cup k?" and wanders off with my chart and blood.
    I go up to the lovely receptionist lady and...

    You see when I'm upset, angry even, I tend to cry. I hate this about myself, but it succeeds in convincing the woman that I am not by any means staying here until I have to pee. The woman that drew my blood comes up in the middle of all of this and goes "WHY is she CRYING?" like she's annoyed. The receptionist sighs a bit, and says "Miss Setsu is going to go home, call us when she's on her way, and come in when she needs to go again to fill a sample." She then makes a gentle shooing motion at me and I walk out through the waiting room like all of these people aren't staring at the crying woman.

    I did fully intend to go back yesterday, but when I finally had to go again, when I called there was a message that they were out to lunch until 2:30.. and it was 1:10.. I was NOT capable of holding it that long.. so forget it. Cause by the time I would have to go again, they'd be closed.

    And yes, I really am considering making the switch because of this woman. I have these tests every 2 or 3 months, depending on how the doc feels about my last results, and I am NOT willing to deal with this woman so much.
    "If looks could really kill, my occupation would be staring" Brand New - I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light

  • #2
    Suggestion 1: Talk to your doctor about this. If it is difficult to get an appointment to talk to him, or if it is hard for you to discuss this kind of thing, write a letter. It would be interesting to know (though he probably won't tell you) whether you're the only person to complain. But make the doctor, who is this woman's employer, aware of the way you were treated.

    Suggestion 2: Try to find out where your nice blood-draw lady is working now. Consider whether that practice might meet your needs.

    These suggestions are not mutually exclusive.
    Women can do anything men can.
    But we don't because lots of it's disgusting.
    Maxine

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    • #3
      Which doctor is this? Give me a PM. I know of a great General Practitioner and a few specialists. I might be able to help you. If all else fails, see if your doctor will write up a script for a blood draw and go to Quest. I have very hard to find veins, and they are excellent about finding them. And don't forget: PM ME!

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      • #4
        I can also refer you to a great doctor in the Falls Church, VA, area. PM me if interested.
        "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

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        • #5
          I am still trying to figure out how she drew blood with you holding your hand in an awkward pose.

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          • #6
            My hand was held with my wrist held up off of the desk, my fingers held in a tight fist, and my middle knuckles pressed against the table at their peaks. the back of my hand with all the veins was pointed at her, and she slipped the needle almost parallel with the vein so it was pointing upward.
            "If looks could really kill, my occupation would be staring" Brand New - I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light

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            • #7
              Quoth Setsunaela View Post
              My hand was held with my wrist held up off of the desk, my fingers held in a tight fist, and my middle knuckles pressed against the table at their peaks. the back of my hand with all the veins was pointed at her, and she slipped the needle almost parallel with the vein so it was pointing upward.
              I have had more sticks in the back of my hand than you can shake a stick at and I can say I have never been asked to pose like that.
              EVE Online: 99% of the time you sit around waiting for something to happen, but that 1% of action is what hooks people like crack, you don't get interviewed by the BBC for a WoW raid.

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              • #8
                Patient Bill of Rights.
                First "amendment":
                YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE OUT OF PAIN.

                Hippocratic oath:
                "First, do no harm"

                Setsu's rights:
                You have the right to be seen by someone who does not make you uncomfortable.
                You have the right to say "stop."
                You have the right to say "no."
                You have the right to say "I want someone else to do it."
                You have the right to be TREATED WITH RESPECT.

                If she's the only one there who draws blood, then let your doctor know why you won't be seeing him again. I have a feeling you will see him again, but never again will you see Nurse Sadist. (Doctor's can't afford to lose patients because their nurses are bitches. But it takes a patient to let the doctor know about it.)
                I will not be pushed, stamped, filed, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered. My life is my own. --#6

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                • #9
                  When I go in to pay my remaining balance for hubbys last visit and pick up my blood results I will be informing the receptionist. I know this will reach the doctor because, well, she's married to him.
                  "If looks could really kill, my occupation would be staring" Brand New - I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light

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                  • #10
                    PLEASE talk to the doctor!! I'm a phlebotomist and there's no reason whatsoever that she should have been having you put your hand in an awkward and painful position! I'm surprised she never even palpated the veins in your arms too. I'm sorry she was such a bitch - you definitely deserve better treatment than that, and I think the Doctor there will WANT to know that his new phlebotomist needs to improve her "chairside" manner or find another job!
                    The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away.

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                    • #11
                      Quoth Setsunaela View Post
                      My hand was held with my wrist held up off of the desk, my fingers held in a tight fist, and my middle knuckles pressed against the table at their peaks. the back of my hand with all the veins was pointed at her, and she slipped the needle almost parallel with the vein so it was pointing upward.
                      I've seen that technique used. It tightens the tissues and helps the veins pop. I don't care for it because it is awkward and uncomfortable for the patient.

                      I'm so sorry this happened. Please speak to the doctor. That gal needs some remediation and sensitivity training. He'll probably work around you having to have blood drawn by that lady to keep you as a patient.

                      Quoth Captain Trips View Post
                      Patient Bill of Rights.
                      First "amendment":
                      YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE OUT OF PAIN.

                      Hippocratic oath:
                      "First, do no harm"

                      Setsu's rights:
                      You have the right to be seen by someone who does not make you uncomfortable.
                      You have the right to say "stop."
                      You have the right to say "no."
                      You have the right to say "I want someone else to do it."
                      You have the right to be TREATED WITH RESPECT.

                      If she's the only one there who draws blood, then let your doctor know why you won't be seeing him again. I have a feeling you will see him again, but never again will you see Nurse Sadist. (Doctor's can't afford to lose patients because their nurses are bitches. But it takes a patient to let the doctor know about it.)
                      The good Capn' is on the money with patient rights. Absolutely.

                      But I doubt that lady was a nurse. She was either a phlebotomist or a medical assistant.

                      Nurses don't work in doctor's office much these days
                      They say that God only gives us what we can handle. Apparently, God thinks I'm a bad ass.

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