tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post447724989615747614..comments2024-03-22T13:46:31.211-04:00Comments on Getting Closer To Myself: Shit Tactless Idiots Say To Sick PeopleLesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13910940045470516414noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-89233406496069062582013-04-12T18:06:38.232-04:002013-04-12T18:06:38.232-04:00Oh, there are just so many thoughtless, ignorant, ...Oh, there are just so many thoughtless, ignorant, cruel comments I can think of. Of course there are the multiple "but you're so young!" comments from nurses and other medical staff. They should know better. Then there's the comment from a pediatric hand surgeon about how I shouldn't complain about the pain because the olympic gymnasts (this was during the summer olympics many years ago) were competing with even worse injuries. I should have pointed out that they did it by choice and I didn't! But I was 16 and intimidated by that jerk. Then there was the coworker who commented on how lucky I was to be able to park in handicapped parking spaces. I told her I'd rather have the ability to park elsewhere and walk and to not need the handicapped parking. That shut her up fast. Then there was the nosy neighbor who commented too many times on my weight. I kept brushing her off, telling her I was fine. Finally she asked if I was anorexic. I got really angry and told her that I was quite ill, that I worked hard to keep my weight up, and that her constantly commenting on it was not helping things. She never mentioned it again. Of course, those are just a few examples. After more than 20 years of symptoms, I have more examples than I care to remember.Ms. Rantshttp://www.chronicrants.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-35436851503583759432012-10-10T00:14:13.811-04:002012-10-10T00:14:13.811-04:00Oh yep, herd a few of those. I just love it when t...Oh yep, herd a few of those. I just love it when the doctor tells you "so, looks like you've gained a few pounds, eh". Well no flipping crap-you put me on stuff that makes me gain weight, and by the way doc it looks like you've been to a few all you can eat buffets so isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black!!?? I'm not eating more, I'm just taking pills and to flipping sick all the time to go take up marathon running! Such idiots!! And drawing the blood-I tell them up front my veins are hard to find then they act like super tech's "oh I can find it" and I tell them I'm allergic to needles, then they dig like they're trying to find China and I'm ready to puke and pass out and they tell ME I'm being difficult?? EXCUSE me but I warned you my veins were deep and I faint and your the one digging in my arm not me!! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01049649552306153888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-69992382969021932402012-10-04T07:29:30.241-04:002012-10-04T07:29:30.241-04:00Agreed. Yes. I intentionally made my veins really ...Agreed. Yes. I intentionally made my veins really small and hard to find so that I can enjoy the endless poking and prodding of lab techs like you.<br />My favorite response from a physician who neglected to look at my chart before he walked in the door so I had to resort to pulling out my own medical file: <i>A girl your age (mid-twenties) should never have a file this thick. Clearly something is wrong with you.</i> My hypothetical response: <i>Of course, you idiot. Why do you think I'm here?</i><br />Sometimes I don't say anything. I just give the doctor/nurse/technician/receptionist the look. Doctor: <i>Besides this breast pain, the overwhelming fatigue, and all your other documented symptoms, how are you doing?</i> Me: the look that means <i>How do you think I'm doing?</i> Doctor: Right. I bet your mood is going way down. Yeah. I guess that's understandable.<br />Another favorite: Receptionist: <i>Do you know how to order this pregnancy test? I can't figure it out.</i> Hypothetical response: <i>You guys won't believe me when I assure you that I'm not pregnant since I'm on my period and I'm extremely single, but you appeal to my "expertise" to know how to do your own job???</i><br />Sigh. Glad to know I'm not the only one.<br />AbigailAbigail Cashellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06250292620460654855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-78027449160447892122012-10-02T17:44:19.401-04:002012-10-02T17:44:19.401-04:00I don't care what anyone says, it still bugs m...I don't care what anyone says, it still bugs me when medical professionals say "I thought RA only affected old people. You are too young to have it." Adriennehttp://youdontlooksick-livingwithra.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-27842850984394142872012-10-02T06:19:43.520-04:002012-10-02T06:19:43.520-04:00We patients are the job. Without us, there wouldn...We patients are the job. Without us, there wouldn't be any work, any pay, any of the other "problems" we create.Iris Cardenhttp://sometimesitislupus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-77696063725148089262012-10-02T05:49:09.803-04:002012-10-02T05:49:09.803-04:00Oh, the bullshit comments by healthcare providers ...Oh, the bullshit comments by healthcare providers I have fielded. <br /><br />Chart size/too long to read,"You're too young to be this sick", "C'mon can't you move (or) bend that wider?", "It's not that bad","You don't need pain meds, you have tattoos. You're a strong girl",etc.<br /><br />All of it makes me cringe so hard I could start to shake just thinking about the rude and downright cruel comments I've been subjected to. So, mostly i don't. <br />I'm a trained counselor so when I have a bit of extra energy I opt for confronting them directly as I might if they were in therapy "Who's needs does that comment you just made serve?"/"That comment could be considered very offensives, what made you say it?" etc. I try my best to remain calm.<br /><br /> Usually a simple question is enough to prompt the realization that their comment was out of bounds. On days when I am exhausted and don't have enough energy to create teachable moments I just mock their rudeness in my head. It doesn't do much for solving the problem but it sure as hell does amuse me. Sophianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-8536561647012244472012-10-01T23:17:41.173-04:002012-10-01T23:17:41.173-04:00Thank you for this post! It helps to hear someone ...Thank you for this post! It helps to hear someone speak up about these things (even if only hypothetically). I am sure I could add multiple examples... Maybe when I'm in the mood to let off some steam I will come back and share some. Sometimes it's too tiring to even think about this stuff after it has happened and there's nothing that can be done! But I do agree that it is important to let out our frustrations!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-76909953709077521532012-10-01T22:58:25.363-04:002012-10-01T22:58:25.363-04:00I was feeling awful, for several days very dizzy i...I was feeling awful, for several days very dizzy it was bad enough I went to my Rheumatologist thinking it had something to do with my RA. He sent me home with pills (because we all know a pill is always the answer). Turns out RA patients have a 30 percent greater chance of having strokes and a 40 percent greater chance of heart attacks. Well you guessed it I had a stroke a few days later. The one Doctor that should know the symptoms and the risk RA patients are at, didn't care his comment was "you worry too much".I could have died, later I let him have it maybe he'll think <br />twice next time.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12196905144232506072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-65933540360190638312012-10-01T15:59:14.154-04:002012-10-01T15:59:14.154-04:00"I wish I could lose (x) pounds" -- said..."I wish I could lose (x) pounds" -- said by many a nurse who knows full well that I have Crohn's disease and am well below a normal healthy weight. Duncan Crosshttp://duncancross.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-59878798115172733682012-10-01T15:21:25.009-04:002012-10-01T15:21:25.009-04:00The worst thing ever said to me was by the chief m...The worst thing ever said to me was by the chief md in the emergency department of a major teaching hospital. After intense treatment for SLE with nephritis, my nephrologist and I discussed timing for pregnancy. He indicated that NOW could be the best time given the response to med, improved kidney function and my age. He referred me to the chief of ob/gyne at the time and I had a visit with a specialist in high risk pregnancy. Despite this, I suffered a miscarriage at 20 weeks. Cut to the emergency room, where the ED MD is reading my chart, and then asks me, 'Why did your doctor LET you get pregnant with what you have?' The whole encounter was a nightmare, but his question made me absolutely furious, ignorant as it was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532388825298713035.post-90751300641051028302012-10-01T11:17:31.829-04:002012-10-01T11:17:31.829-04:00People can be really thoughtless/clueless, but I h...People can be really thoughtless/clueless, but I have to say, reaming them out is sometimes exactly the reminder they need to get their heads out of their butts. You're certainly not the only patient they direct this attitude toward (even if it feels that way sometimes), and reminding them what it's like to be on the other end of the needle or phone call might help not only you, but those other patients, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com