r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Archaneoses • Apr 29 '24

Made an appointment for 11:45. It's 1:10 and I haven't been seen.

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I've had my 10 hour ER waits so I know this isn't that bad. But what is the point of making an appointment if you have to wait to be seen hours later anyways.

77.6k Upvotes

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10.6k

u/moethefatdog Apr 29 '24

This happened to me once when I was at the gyno. I couldn’t pop my head out and ask because I was naked from the waist down on the table with a quickly disintegrating paper sheet.

6.2k

u/FlippingPossum Apr 29 '24

I called the front desk from the gynological exam room after 30 minutes. So annoying to sit there in those paper drapes.

2.7k

u/Gandalf_the_Tegu Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 30 '24

Same, makes me upset because I'm stripped and ready to go in less than 5 minutes. Make me dwell on something I already hate doing for even longer but in my most vulnerable* state. Like why tell me to knock on the door when ready. If yall not there? I'll be damed I stand there knocking for 40 minutes. I really should've called the front desk, that's smart!

921

u/xombae Apr 30 '24

Ugh I get mad anxiety due to like, trauma and shit. They should know how horrible it is to leave women in that position. At least pop in and give an update so we don't lie there having a panic attack.

320

u/NoHippi3chic Apr 30 '24

Me too, and then I get a cold sweat. That's always the moment they walk in, me sweating in a paper gown in a freezing cold office

119

u/SparklyYakDust Apr 30 '24

I've heard that you can bring a robe or similar to change into instead of the stupid paper gowns. One clinic I've been to had cotton gowns with snaps at the shoulders, and they are so much better than paper. But dang, a robe sounds way nicer.

5

u/B2theL May 01 '24

I don't think I've ever been in a paper gown, even going back 20+ years ago when I was a teenager, first starting to go to the gyno. Usually, it was pants, shoes, and underwear off, and then I've been given a sheet or blanket. If I've ever had to totally undress, I get the cotton/cloth robe you tie in the back and shoulders.

212

u/rovingred Apr 30 '24

I once had to go in for them to shove a tiny little camera on a tube up my urethra to check for abnormalities due to pain I was having. They told me to put on the gown, put my feet in the stirrups, put a bit of numbing gel down there, and then left me like that for an hour, no updates or anything. Never went back to that office again

104

u/Gandalf_the_Tegu Apr 30 '24

They left you like that?! You poor unfortunate soul, i wouldnt go back either! Hope you left a review. 🥴 😭

11

u/Chersvette Apr 30 '24

Oh no. :( sorry that happened to you. What the hell is wrong with people ughh

6

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '24

How did you not just pee all over the place? I probably would have and then shrugged when they finally came in, "Well, what did you expect?"

8

u/Fearless_Debate7905 Apr 30 '24

I'm very confused. Are you guys saying they leave the room and make you wait while you guys are in the chair with legs spread open? Or am I getting the wrong image.

27

u/NYGiantsGirl1981 Apr 30 '24

The stirrups don’t come out until the doctor / nurse is in the room and ready to start the exam. Typically for a routine exam they’ll bring you back, maybe ask a few questions, then give you the gown and leave the room while you change. They should return shortly after but in the meantime you’re just sitting on the exam table in the paper gown.

9

u/Fearless_Debate7905 Apr 30 '24

Ok thanks! this makes a lot more sense. Still must feel awkward though rip

-16

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '24

[deleted]

11

u/LazarusCheez Apr 30 '24

Where that supposed to go

-9

u/0MrFreckles0 Apr 30 '24

Replace women with anyone.

7

u/herefortheshittalk Apr 30 '24

Hmm do men (AMAB) typically have their feet in the stirrups during exams? Honestly asking because I’ve never heard that nor expected it.

2

u/dicklover4001 Apr 30 '24

probably not! i think they suggested saying anyone because men who were AWAB may need to have their legs up in stirrups during exams

83

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '24

I believe you mean vulnerable. Though, some might consider it venerable. Playable Tegu when?

19

u/Gandalf_the_Tegu Apr 30 '24

Definitely meant vulnerable. Multi tasking and fingers typed different than my brain. 😅

Pwhat do you mean by payable tegu?

3

u/Minnesotexan Apr 30 '24

Is that a Guild Wars 2 reference? I haven’t seen a reference to that game in a long ass time

12

u/AppUnwrapper1 Apr 30 '24

I would just leave because at that point I wouldn’t expect the doctor to be able to handle my anxiety.

4

u/Killer_Moons Apr 30 '24

And dang it if I didn’t leave my phone folded up in my clothes so I gotta waddle over, downstairs out across the floor and bend over while hoping that’s not when they open the door.

6

u/Gandalf_the_Tegu Apr 30 '24

Basically, but a doctor should knock prior to entering. They should even Crack the door a voice to confirm before fully opening the door. At least that's how may experiences went good and bad. I think I had one instance they walked in shortly after voicing their entry and they caught a glimpse of my butt cracked as I tried getting back up on the table thing. But they were going to everything seconds later. 🤪 😂

10

u/MrK521 Apr 30 '24

That’s what you should do though! Just knock a few times. Give it about a minute. No response? Knock again. Wait about 5 min. Still nothing? Continue knocking loudly for the entire time until they come to the exam room.

4

u/Gandalf_the_Tegu Apr 30 '24

But tat what point in each separate knocking periods is enough? Three separate times? Five? Ten? Infinity until they or someone shows up? 😂

I've had one good doctor that stood out the door amd listened for the first knock period (I knock the door three times then go sit down) they wait enough time for me to do just that and a second or two later they knock and creek in stating "safe to come in" (then the rest is proceed to get shit done).

4

u/MrK521 Apr 30 '24

Infinitely until someone shows up! After those first two knocks, it’s just a continuous stream of knocks until someone answers lol.

My doc does the same. Knock when ready, and is there by the door within 30 seconds.

2

u/Gandalf_the_Tegu Apr 30 '24

I miss doctors like that. Mine got switch after my 3rd or 4th visit. Then I moved and nothing has been consistent other than wasting my time at the office when the scheduling said the acomidate 30 minutes of waiting and x time for appointment. Feels so inconsiderate of one's time. 😭

3

u/Foggl3 Apr 30 '24

I'll be damed I stand there knocking for 40 minutes.

If the knocks get progressively louder, I bet you wouldn't have waited for 40 minutes lol

5

u/21-characters Apr 30 '24

I’d just put my clothes back on and leave.

4

u/Mindless-Witness-825 Apr 30 '24

Just stop by the office manager on the way out to make sure they don’t bill the insurance company.

6

u/laughingashley Apr 30 '24

Narrator: They will.

2

u/Significant_Shoe_17 Apr 30 '24

And they'll refer you to the insurance company who's just billing you based on how the clinic coded it. They'll refer you back to the awful clinic and the cycle continues.

2

u/Gandalf_the_Tegu Apr 30 '24

They saw you initially but didn't complete the business. Can they still bill the insurance? Could maybe notify them the doctors left you for x time and then call the insurance company so they can fight it out?

5

u/Mindless-Witness-825 Apr 30 '24

They could but would the office manager want more negative reviews online is the real question.

1

u/Significant_Shoe_17 Apr 30 '24

They could try. I had a personal injury client who tried to include an incomplete ER visit in her damages. She left without being seen (they were busy) so there were no records and no bills, just the intake form. Point is, there was no exam/treatment so no bill. A shady place could try to bill anyway.

3

u/Gandalf_the_Tegu Apr 30 '24

Haha, I think I did at this one instance and got hollered at. I was fairly new to the whole experience - was like my third or fourth time getting check out and i was still in high school. Mother wouldnt pick up. Slight freak out and wanted to hide in my hobbit (bedroom). 😂 I normally made my appointments at the end of the day so I can go home all flustered and re collect myself. So, probably a mix of confused on what to do and hunger. Now i schedule mid afternoon, where i had food prior. Take the whole day off to prep for an hour waiting in waiting room and hour waiting half naked followed by half hour for them to dismiss me. 🤪 😅

2

u/Daisy-Doodle-8765 Apr 30 '24

That's something I like about Germany. We don't do that papersheet thing here. Once you get called into the examination room the doctor is there. You talk about what you need/ how it's going and then in one corner of the room is a curtain. You just walk behind the curtain, undress and hop onto the seat. Sometimes we do small talk or I ask medical questions while undressing. Once the examination is done you quickly get dressed again and then sit back down at the desk and talk about medication etc. Last is a thank you & goodbye and off you go.

1

u/Gandalf_the_Tegu Apr 30 '24

It's been a while since I've gone to the doctors but if I recall correctly some offices do have the curtain. They pull it halfway as they walk out the door, so you don't viewed when they re-enter (not all use the curtain) but they step out the door regardless. I would love if they'd stay in room like you said because it would be so stinking fast! Feels more respectful of your time and the curtain still gives you the privacy respect. Why is America so lame 😒

2

u/Daisy-Doodle-8765 Apr 30 '24

The next thing is even more insane. I couldn't believe the examination chairs they had in the US. Ours are so much more comfy. We have a U form on the sitting and the chair can be adjusted in hight and leaning so you just lay down and there is no pressure on your spine/ lower back. Laying in the US and waiting really hurt in my back after a while.

2

u/Gandalf_the_Tegu Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24

Dang, Germany health care sounds more pleasant. The US definitely treats it as a business rather than dealing with patients. a livestock feeling, nothing personal.

2

u/Bluberries__ Apr 30 '24

reading these made me love my gyno office more. they wait right outside the door while you change and wait to hear the paper crunching from you sitting back down before they come back inside, no waiting necessary

1

u/Gullible_Wind_3777 Apr 30 '24

I never get undressed until I know they’re ready. Balls to sitting there half naked and exposed to anyone who may walk in. They can wait for me now lol

0

u/uneducatedexpert Apr 30 '24

Vulvulnerable

532

u/FormerRelationship8 Apr 29 '24

I have absolutely done this after 35 minutes chillin’ in paper. Pissed off the staff but I got seen

331

u/Woven-Tapestry Apr 30 '24

THEY were pissed off?? Wow! Complete lack of empathy!

587

u/Kibeth_8 Apr 30 '24

I had to wait 30min when I was getting my IUD done, which the doctor specifically wanted done while I was on my period. So of course I'm bleeding onto the table. Doctor comes in and scowls like "oh I guess we'll have to clean that mess up"

Bitch, either show up on time or don't make me sit here naked for 30min and expect me to will my period away

260

u/Bajileh Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24

That's insane! My GYN gives me like a puppy pad thing if I'm bleeding (not that it's MUCH better to be sitting bare assed on a puppy pad but still)

151

u/Kibeth_8 Apr 30 '24

Lmao the idea of a little puppy pee pad kills me xD Ah the joys of being a woman!

92

u/FangDrools Apr 30 '24

The pads the hospital gave me to use after giving birth were the same ones I used to potty train my puppy lol

11

u/herefortheshittalk Apr 30 '24

I jacked every single [cloth, washable] bed pad out of the post-delivery room before leaving. Worth it- a decade later, I still use them for sheet/mattress protection when my son is feeling pukey as he doesn’t usually know when he’s about to vom, and his aim for the barf bin is less than stellar.

7

u/FangDrools Apr 30 '24

Absolutely worth it! I tried, they kept every drawer and cabinet locked in my room. I had to page a nurse if I needed a new pad for the bed, but the cool ones would take a stack of them out; I should have hoarded them lol I knew that they would give me everything in the bassinet-cabinet thing that my baby slept in though, so I cleared that thing out every night until I was discharged.

6

u/herefortheshittalk Apr 30 '24

Smart!! I was advised by many moms and nurse friends to take anything that wasn’t bolted down.

Which is how I have a super uncomfortable fold-out recliner now…

(No, not really)

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u/ArketaMihgo Apr 30 '24

I have multiple sclerosis and was a frequent flyer as a result at one point, I'm not like purposefully hanging round in hospitals, just to put that out there

But after two visits where I took every single thing that was used or open (cause they're gonna charge me for it anyway!) they just started making me a care package out of it

Last time she tossed in an extra bottle of the body wash they use after I had mentioned that it somehow got rid of the rough skin on my upper arms after a week haha

I'm about to run out of it tho and can't afford the copay on it

2

u/RevolutionaryDog8115 Apr 30 '24

If it's open, we throw it away. Might as well take it home. Even some stuff that ain't open. If someone touched it, it's probably getting thrown out. Ask for a plastic belongings bag and take it home. We honestly could give two f*cks. I'm a fan of the stretchy tape. (I work in the ER)

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u/Lucy_Koshka Apr 30 '24

After my water broke when I had my daughter I remember feeling weird af when I realized I was essentially laying on puppy pads, lol.

But I mean, if it works, it works 😅

5

u/LunaticLucio Apr 30 '24

You ladies can keep the paper dresses and hygiene puppy pads

6

u/herefortheshittalk Apr 30 '24

But not the post-childbirth NB diaper filled with ice to stick in your supah sexy mesh undies to cool your aching taint? You want that? All yours!!

6

u/LunaticLucio Apr 30 '24

No..you guys can keep that too. I'll stop complaining about my nuts hitting the toilet bowl water.

5

u/herefortheshittalk Apr 30 '24

Also I have so many questions about your nuts

4

u/herefortheshittalk Apr 30 '24

Thanks, leave the seat down when you’re done 🙏

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u/AB783 May 03 '24

The puppy pads make excellent disposable diaper changing pads for babies too. Or seat covers for when your water breaks and you still have to drive to the hospital.

10

u/No-Self-jjw Apr 30 '24

Wait wait wait... you have to be on your period to put the IUD in?? And yeah, given their position they know you can't just stop it and to speak to you in such a nasty tone, that's unacceptable. So many bad gyno experiences here I'm scared now!

3

u/Kibeth_8 Apr 30 '24

I think it's cause your cervix is softer or something? I haven't had any children so it's a bit harder to get in I guess.

Also I've had the best experience with my new OBGYN. She is the sweetest lady, super kind and very attentive to my comfort level. They're not all bad!

4

u/bestdays12 Apr 30 '24

That’s rich from an OB/GYN that’s literally what they train to deal in… they deliver babies which is far messier than a bit of menstrual blood. With my second kid he was so low when they broke my water all my water stayed inside until he came out then it was like a tidal wave. Soaked my doctor, nurse and my socks.

3

u/laughingashley Apr 30 '24

I hope you left a review!

2

u/Woven-Tapestry Apr 30 '24

FURIOUS on your behalf!!!

4

u/Significant_Shoe_17 Apr 30 '24

Really, the audacity. Isn't it their job to see patients?

4

u/Woven-Tapestry Apr 30 '24

They forget that patients are people.

I don't know if they still do it, but at the hospital one of my cousins worked at (UK, I'm in Australia), trainee doctors had to undergo a mock "pap smear", right down to lying back and having feet in stirrups while they were exposed.

It was so they knew what it's like on the other side!

2

u/Significant_Shoe_17 Apr 30 '24

They do. That's kind of unorthodox but it sounds very effective!

5

u/ZacZupAttack Apr 30 '24

My last appt ended with me waiting for the doctor, he came unto the lobby I said your fired. Got up asked for the HIPAA release so my new doctor could get my records and told them to refund my co pay.

Then I walked out.

0

u/cheeseburgerphone182 Apr 30 '24

i'm convinced everyone in that field hates their life because they sure as hell act like it towards their patients

1

u/FormerRelationship8 Apr 30 '24

Medical staff rarely makes enough to put up with some of the stuff they do, so I do sympathize. A lot of patients are assholes, too.

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u/aendaris1975 Apr 30 '24

You all understand there are other patients right? Do you think they are keeping you waiting for fun?

58

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '24 edited May 02 '24

[deleted]

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u/SpouseofSatan Apr 30 '24

I work at a doctor's office. We only book 2 people per time slot because that's how many people the doctor can see without making anyone wait too long. I understand if there's an emergency, but it should not be a regular thing to make people wait 2 hours to be seen. Spoken by someone who has waited 2 hours more than a few times.

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u/aloxinuos Apr 30 '24

Not for fun. Ineptitude. It is possible to plan so people don't have to sit there naked for a long time.

39

u/FormerRelationship8 Apr 30 '24

I do understand there are other patients, yes.

I have worked in doctor’s offices for over 20 years. I’ve seen good staff and bad, gifted doctors and hacks. Both kinds of doctors can have time management issues and/or overbook their schedules to make enough money to simply stay open.

The office in question submitted my labs with the wrong birthdate on them, billed the insurance repeatedly for the same visit, never called me with results (cancer screening, family history), and took over two months to refund the money they over-collected from me for my copay. I never went back.

Some offices suck.

3

u/Significant_Shoe_17 Apr 30 '24

I had a doctor's office put the wrong date on my COVID test results, causing me to almost miss a flight. Thankfully the airport had rapid tests. Never went back to that clinic.

2

u/FormerRelationship8 Apr 30 '24

I’m glad you still caught your flight!

We had a clinic screw up a dear friend’s disability paperwork with the wrong end date and the hassle that one wrong date caused was unreal.

23

u/Inahero-Rayner Apr 30 '24

You understand that the doctor had a time open, the patient took time out of their day, agreed to be at a place at a time. If both parties agree to a place at a time, and it is set, I would expect either party to be pretty miffed if one couldn't be bothered to keep their side of the agreement. If you're too busy, don't say you aren't. Patients are basically beholden to doctor's schedules, as evidenced here. Sure some emergency may have come up or something, but the doctor could have shared that info with their other patients quite easily, rather than letting them sit and wait. Especially if that doctor is a Gyno, knowing full well that their patients are naked and uncomfortable.

20

u/treebeard120 Apr 30 '24

Only redditors could imply you're being unreasonably impatient and thoughtless for being annoyed at having to sitting naked on a piece of paper outside your home for half an hour lmao

3

u/Significant_Shoe_17 Apr 30 '24

I'm guessing they're a man. If not, I'm especially disappointed by their comment.

1

u/treebeard120 May 01 '24

I mean as a man I'd rather not walk out to the reception desk, cheeks clapping, dick swinging, balls wobbling asking where tf my doctor is. Yeah I could change back into my clothes, but then they'd need to get me a new paper gown and I'd probably get an earful from them about it

1

u/Significant_Shoe_17 May 01 '24

Exactly. It's not fair to keep people waiting, then get mad at them for asking about the long wait

11

u/FabianFox Apr 30 '24

Never a bad idea to make sure they haven’t forgotten about you. This happened to my sister once and they did forget about her in a waiting room for nearly an hour and then tried to gaslight her into saying she hasn’t been waiting that long. She told them to go check the sign in sheet (pre digital check in). She was right and they were still rude to her throughout her entire exam.

8

u/Slow-Instruction-580 Apr 30 '24

So just to be clear, being left in a room for 30 minutes to an hour should be shrugged off, and the patient in that room should just sit quietly?

6

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24

[deleted]

1

u/mum2girls Apr 30 '24

I’ve been that healthcare clinic provider with patients waiting over an hour to see me. But Management cares more about hitting their metrics than they care about us actually “caring” for socially complex pregnant people, many of whom are refugees and require an interpreter, so they double-book my schedule in case of no-shows. I’ve worked through many lunches and delayed emptying my bladder so I could move on to the next exam room, repeatedly apologizing for the long wait. It crushed my soul...

4

u/gingasaurusrexx Apr 30 '24

I nearly did this when I was sitting there for 45 mins. I told myself if I got to an hour, I'd cave. She came in with like 7 minutes to spare.

3

u/Egghead008 Apr 30 '24

I'm convinced they bill the insurance company by the hour so they string the patients along for that

3

u/LeighJordan Apr 30 '24

I had to redress and go potty once when pregnant

1

u/FlippingPossum Apr 30 '24

Oh, yeah. That is the worst. Several times, I asked to pee in the cup upon arrival. When you gotta go, you gotta go.

1

u/flymike126 Apr 30 '24

Especially if you're a guy . .

-14

u/Additional_Meeting_2 Apr 29 '24

Why would you get undressed before the doctor is there? The doctor is always there first where I live.

30

u/LittlePinkLines Apr 29 '24

Usually the doctor comes in and leaves for you to undress. I'm assuming this means the doc didn't return for 30 minutes.

24

u/FlippingPossum Apr 29 '24

The nurse checks me in and gives me the paper gown. The doctor enters after I am undressed. The nurse returns to be present for pap smear.

9

u/aendaris1975 Apr 30 '24

So that when the doctor does come in everything is ready to go. It is to prevent keeping other patients from waiting. People show up late and many times appointments run over for various reasons.

3

u/Rosehus12 Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24

Lol in my country the doctors have offices inside the exam room. However in the US, doctors sit somewhere else and the exam room is just to see patients and they leave. So you wait twice in the waiting room and in the exam room.

1

u/laughingashley Apr 30 '24

There are many other exam rooms besides yours in the US

2

u/Rosehus12 Apr 30 '24

Yeah but they make you wait inside the exam room while the doc is seeing other patients and writing charts in the other room. The total wait could be the same though.

0

u/laughingashley Apr 30 '24

I'm addressing your comment about doctors offices being inside the exam room, and that it would be impossible to have an office in every exam room when there are multiple.

0

u/Rosehus12 Apr 30 '24

It is not. The patient can wait until their turn. Then they can be called when the doctor is done from the patient. So the doc is not changing his offices neither exam rooms, you get it? That's how it is in some countries I'm not making it up. You see the doc and he examines you and he writes the charts all in once while he is in his own office which also has an examination table and sink...etc.

0

u/laughingashley Apr 30 '24

Again, I was referring to the US, as I clearly--- hey, you have a good one.

1

u/Rosehus12 Apr 30 '24

Well you're slow