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Posted 9/16/2010 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

Sorry I haven't been posting much support.  I'm still sore and tired from my surgery on Tuesday...yes, two days ago!  I had a PM apt today that had been scheduled three months ago.  I had someone drive me to be safe and I had told them in advance about the surgery, had my PM do the actual anestesia and PM for the surgery and made arrangements for them to have everything that the spine specialist had done sent to the office with a release (it was just consultation because of screwy MRI/x-ray/CT readings).  So anyway, the PM nurse hands me a little cup (and I do mean little) and wants a UA.  Normally, no problem, but I kind of just looked at her and said "I had bladder surgery two days ago...I notified your office and my PM did the work with me.  I don't mind giving a sample, but it's kind of difficult and would not be accurate because of the meds given during surgery".  Can you say attitude????  She puts her hand on her hips and says that it's been a while and they need one.  I know I must have looked somewhat confused because anyone who has had bladder surgery knows that things don't exactly work well for a while after surgery and even going is hard to do.  No way around it though, so I take the tiny little cup (wish I could have just peed in a bucket), but tried to ring the thing with the dribble, dribble and kept getting it all over the cup, all over me, all over my hands, and in the commode (but very little in the cup).  I passed it through the little box and then finished washing up and came out.  Next thing I hear is her talking to the other nurses about how nervous I was about taking the test!!!  Ugh!!!  What an idiot!!!  Then she wanted to act like I hadn't really had the paperwork sent over from the spine specialist....finally I found a card and had her call them and sure enough, they were cc'd on the results already.

I did get the opportunity to talk to the PM and give him my information.  I reminded him that I had just seen him on Tuesday, but that he had not recognized me because I looked so different without makeup.  He remembered and then we discussed the UA, the meds I'm on, the fact that  I don't want an SCS (which he absolutely agreed with), when I could have more NA and why my
test results showed no nerve damage but the NA worked so well for a while.  According to him, the small nerve in the facet joints does not show well on the tests and it is obviously a problem or it wouldn't have responded so well to the NA.  He was really great, but I sometimes wonder what gets written down after you leave.

This nurse was insane and it's stupid for me to pay over $1000.00 (even if insurance does pay) for a UA that is useless.  I don't take meds I'm not supposed to, I don't use illegal drugs, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do anything else I'm not supposed to do.  Now I have to wonder what is going to show up in test that should never have been run.  Of course, it will show stupid things.  I was asleep!!!  I have no idea what all I was given or how to tell them what I was given!!

Posted 9/17/2010 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
RM-
Please don't worry too too much. I know at my PM's office when that happens they compare it with their med list AND the anesthesia and post-op pain management report from the hospital (though you shouldn't have ANYthing left in your system from surgery a few days later -- maybe if they gave you something postop orally, but none of the IV stuff). The nurses get to me too, though. They just assume that we know that IV meds don't stay in the system for more than 24 hours and then jump to conclusions that we must be nervous for some other reason. They're just meanies at times. But as my PM always reminds me, no one can kick me from the clinic except him. So regardless of what petty spiteful things the nurses and assistants loudly "whisper", the only thing you have to worry about is what you yourself have swallowed. It gets to me too & they should just keep their mouths shut when they don't have anything nice to say, but at the end of the day their powerless to do anything more than hurt our feelings.

Personally, I'd like to take that mean nurse you saw out back & kick her in the shins, but barring that ... I'll just wish you peace & encourage you not to stress about what you were given to put you under. And also, please talk to both your doctor and the UA testing company to ask them for a reduced payment due to hardship. Often they will cut you some slack -- though not always. Still, it happens a lot so it's worth a few phone calls/letters, especially if you have insurance that paid them something already. I wouldn't think you should have to pay more than a couple hundred if you protest. These UA test rates are highway robbery. I can't imagine how much they must make off of those tests. Seems like it must be 95% profit.

feel better & good luck with everything,
frances
Posted 9/17/2010 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
RM how did the surgery go? How frustrating to have to put up with such a nurse though? I remember once when I had an ectopic pregnancy being asked by a nurse in ER was I sure it wasn't just a painful period? I remember saying something like I'm 31 , I know what a painful period is at this stage of my life. But the cheek of the woman, as if i'd go to an ER with a period pain?
Sometimes they just love their little power trips don't they?
But I'm, sure everything would be good, best wishes, golitho
Posted 9/17/2010 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
You know I am reading more and more posts about these nurses in these drs office that obviously flunked charm school. Whats with them, they know they are going to be dealing with the public, if they don't want to be around people and be civil they need to get a new profession. They seem to forget we are their paychecks. If we are not walking thru those doors they don't open. I have a big mouth and I will not back down from a nurse or a dr and I do not mind putting either in their place. I have no trouble asking a snide nurse if she has a problem with me, lol. Matter of fact when they are acting out like a two year old, thats when I simply say " do you have a problem with me". Talk about a nurse wanting to shrink into the woodwork, they don't expect that from a patient and if I do that then I make sure I have told the dr what happened and why I said what I did. But thats tough I am their paycheck and I do deserve to be spoken to in a civil manner.

RM I hope you start feeling better in the next couple days, usually the first couple days after surgery are always the roughest and don't take no grief off these people.
Susie
Posted 9/17/2010 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
RM,

Wow, what an idiot. I'm sorry that you had to go through that. I mean, really, come on! Two days out from bladder surgery?! What do they expect you to catheterize yourself to provide a sample? Geez. This really floors me.

I hope you're feeling better tonight!

Skeye
Posted 9/17/2010 9:11 AM (GMT 0)
Susie... I can be really shy, actually, and do not like confrontation for the most part.... that being said, I've learned to be the same way when dealing w/ these types of things (rude/disrespectful health care workers, etc). After the initial shock wears off that someone actually has spoken up for themselves... they usually do a bit of stuttering, followed by the "Oh, I'm really sorry... I didn't mean it that way, etc" and try to back-track like crazy. What I hope happens is that it will cause them to take a moment next time and think about what they are actually saying to a patient or how they are treating them.... Probably naive on my part that it helps anything.... who knows.

Retired Mom - so sorry you had to deal w/ this stuff, especially after just having your surgery. That's terrible, and the last thing you need. Try to just forget about it for now and focus on healing and taking care of yourself - the most important thing. I sure hope you feel better...will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, my friend!

--Tina
Posted 9/17/2010 2:35 PM (GMT 0)

   Dear Retired,

      Of course it is always good to hear from you *hugg*. I am ever so glad your surgery is done and all you have to do is focus on healing.... but the craziness at your pain management doctors office is.. Bleh, I am a total loss for words. It seems to me that the nurses manner is casting a bad overall image of the office. What is more surprising is they they would waste such valuable time and resources testing and analyzing your surgical medicines. What on earth is the point of that?

     It is hard to fathom that so many nurses and doctors manage their offices like this. It really boggles my mind when it comes to nurses over stepping their boundaries. I have run into quite a few myself. I have to say something to my doctors when it happens. I have no choice. Even my primary care, who is more like family, hired a nurse who was very rude and disrespectful at one point. I met her when I went in about my X rays. A different assistant had shown me back to the room. She knows me well. The new nurse came in after and took my vitals. She didn't have my chart, just a few sheets of paper. The other assistant had my full chart, but I guess had given it to my doctor instead of the new nurse. She didn't know me and had no idea what my medical problems were. When she asked if I was in any pain, I told her yes, of course I am. She began snickering and saying that SHE knew if someone was in REAL pain... Blah bla (how could she miss the funny way my hipp diggs into my side?). She asked me how tall I was, I said I didn't know. She told me very aggressively to look at my drivers license. No kidding. (I've lost 4 inches from my height in last 8 months or so)You can tell where this is going...She left me no choice but to speak about her behavior. She even walked in while we were having the conversation about her actions and had to wait until we were done talking about her before she tell my doctor that she cannot find my most recent X Rays (my doctor already had my file the whole time). It was uncomfortable speaking about her actions in front of her...but perhaps it was for the best. The next time I went in a few weeks later there was a new, much older nurse. She is a blessing and really goes above and beyond to help and co-care for patients.

      ...I guess I just am mostly curious as to "what" happened in their careers to make them so unprofessional. Or if they have always been that disrespectful? It sure would be funny if I asked the next one that I run into  smilewinkgrin

     I sure do hope you are getting plenty of rest. Between doctors appointment and everything else you have had on your plate... You must be exhausted. Please take care and rest as much as you can. You are in our hearts and prayers here in my home.

*warm hugg*
     dani

Posted 9/17/2010 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Straydog, I'm exactly like you. I never have a problem with my family doctor, or even at the Pain Centre, but most specialists offices I've been in is where I've run into the problem. I overheard one nurse talking about me to another nurse, and what she was saying was completely untrue. I couldn't see them, but I spoke up loudly and said "excuse me, I can hear your conversation, so if you wish to discuss me, I suggest you come in here and do it to my face".

* Silence*

" a whisper of "Oh, darn"

Footsteps walking away quickly.
Posted 9/17/2010 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Ms. Bunky that is priceless, but you know we are adults and some of these nurses in these offices need to learn to act as one. To me when they start the attitude or talk loudly for others to hear thats when I say enough, act your age not like some snide petty 15 year old. They choose these professions but act as unprofessional as a alley cat. Sorry RM not trying to hijack your thread but some of these nurses are the pits.

Susie
Posted 9/18/2010 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
MS and Susie
Your exactly right!!!! I have seen it from both sides, and Some nurses think that because they are nurses that they are above and better than their patients that they are susposed to be serving! They are suppose to be their patients advocate! How quickly they forget, or more probably they never new or were taught that in the first place! It is a shame, the way some of these health professionals act! I honestly think that Nursing schools should have a course in manners! Because obviously there are allot of them that don't have them! It is really Sad isn't it!!

White Beard
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