Posted on: Aug 24, 2007 08:56AM

leaf wrote:

(I hate endometrial biopsies too, but that's another story.)

I just had a pelvic ultrasound this morning (I'm on tamoxifen, I know its very unlikely there's anything actually wrong), appt time 09:30am. For those who haven't had this joy, you're supposed to drink 2 quarts (about 2 liters) of fluid an hour before your exam, and *not* urinate so that your bladder is expanded, and then have your ultrasound. About 15 minutes through your ultrasound, they let you go to the bathroom.

Well, I got there in plenty of time, went to the bathroom at 08:15. I drink my 2 quarts at 08:30, 1 hr before my exam. The patient before me arrived at 08:45, and -ooops - says she forgot to drink her water. Nooo, they didn't make her postpone. I had already drunk my water 15 minutes earlier, and my exam was AFTER hers.

They call the sonographer at 09:30 and tell her the next ultrasound patient is ready. Good, I think. No long waits. But no one comes.

So at 09:40, 10 minutes after when I thought my exam was supposed to start, I go up to the desk and ask when my exam is supposed to start as I really have to pee. I'm informed that I was supposed to arrive for my appointment at 09:30 and the exam was at 09:45 (throwing back her hair.) Then go back to discuss the latest whatever. They reply if its really bad I can go to the bathroom a little bit. Then they go back to discussing the latest whatever (not work related.)

At 09:40 I knew I wouldn't last. I didn't enjoy all 5 of them chatting about the lastest whatever. The receptionist acts like I'm a pain in the rear end, and gives me the key to the bathroom. I try to urinate as little as possible.

No one says in the front apologizes or says they are sorry or that there is a delay.

I'm sitting there hyperventilating and curled up at 09:45. Another lady (not the receptionist) calls and says it will be another 5 minutes. By 09:50, I was rocking back and forth, bent over, and curled up, hyperventilating. Then a guy (who does like Xray) notices that I'm not exactly acting normally, comes over and asks if I'm OK. Like, I'm going to have the control to explain to them in front of everyone in the waiting room that I'm having a pelvic ultrasound and I have to pee? All I could do was to throw my plastic glass on the floor and curl up and rock back and forth. Obviously, I don't mind waiting, I just mind waiting if my bladder is completely full and I'm not supposed to urinate.

I finally got in there at about 10:00. I know this is only 30 minutes after I thought I was supposed to have my exam. But I have a weak bladder.

The sonographer apologized and said she couldn't get the previous patient out of the room.

I was shaking through the exam until they let me empty my bladder.

I know that the office don't have control over when patients arrive and if they drink the required water.

The receptionist should learn the magic words "I'm sorry this happened to you', and maybe find out how much longer it will actually be. It would feel much nicer than hearing the latest whatever discussed. <end of rant>.

I know its not the end of the world, and it doesn't compare with what a lot of women here go through. I feel better now. Thanks for listening. Log in to post a reply