Oversharer

Today I had something happened to me that has NEVER happened to me before. Actually, I had several things happen:

1- I was accused of “oversharing”

2- By the nurse at my doctor’s office

3- Who I overheard talking about me to the doctor and another nurse

4- Right outside the door to the room I was waiting in

These are words that can describe my reaction to being talking about:

1- Livid (this is an understatement – noted by the 18 people I have called/talked to since 4:00 today)

2- Embarrassed/Mortified

4- Hurt

As many of you know, I am actually not a big “oversharer.” I hardly ever even share my personal life on this blog (mainly because it is extremely boring), but one would assume if when one goes to the doctor’s office for the THIRD time for the same problem, that one would want to share all of the details of said issue so that we get the prescription right this time and to confirm there are no other issues.  (Not to overshare, but it is not a big deal – just a common infection.) In her defense, I had googled possible issues that might be wrong with me and did tell her I had all of the symptoms of diabetes.

That being said, I wouldn’t expect to overhear the nurse talking about me RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR (I mean, I  am no saint, but I at least have the foresight to walk down the hall or whisper) saying that I “told my whole life story", (which for the record I didn’t and, frankly would have probably been remotely interesting,) was “oversharing the details,” and “even told [her] how many times I had to go to the restroom yesterday.” (Name that infection.)  Which was then met with catty talk from another nurse and no reprimand from the doctor.  (Can you tell I am still irritated???)

I am a little proud of myself because I am normally pretty passive. As soon as the doctor walked in the door, I did tell him that I wanted to apologize for “oversharing” and pointed to the door. He said he appreciated me being thorough with my description and that my test results looked fine, blah, blah.  He then went to get my prescription and came back and apologized for he and his staff being “unprofessional.”

Which was met with tears and me walking into the waiting room pretty much bawling. I can only imagine what those poor patients thought I was diagnosed with.  Not to mention the person taking my payment as I was doing the ugly cry while fishing my mastercard out of my wallet.

I did receive an apology “hug” from one of the nurses, which was not reciprocated, as she tried to tell me that “they were just laughing that the nurse got always gets all of the details and the doctor doesn’t even need to come in.”  Um, yeah, I wasn’t visiting for an earache.  I can in fact still hear.

I have also received a phone call from the offending nurse, however, my passive aggressive/hates confrontation side refuses to call back.

Tomorrow I will be sending a message to the doctor. It will be in the form of requesting that my files be sent to a new office.

Okay, world, I am moving on. (Tommy is thrilled, as I am pretty sure he has heard this story no less than 20 times now). Vent over.  Please tell me I am not the only one that this has ever happened to.

Comments

  1. Ummm that is total crap. I am impressed that you said something. I hope that nurse feels rancid. You did the right thing to tell them everything. I mean, isn't that part of their job? Ugh. This makes me angry for you! I hope everything works out and you feel better soon, and that nurse realizes what an idiot she is. xxoo

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  2. Omg Katie, I can't believe the nurse w the fake hug thought that was a valid excuse for the gossip!! Good for you for saying something! I'm not sure I could have so eloquently! I hope you're feeling better. That chick doesn't deserve a call back! Let her feel bad :)

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  3. Oh my gosh- that is horrible! I can't believe how unprofessional they were, and I'm proud of you for finding a new doctor. After 3 visits and still no answers, it sounds like they need all the details they can possibly get! Way to stand up for yourself! I wish I could give you a genuine hug right now...

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  4. Oh my gosh! I can't believe this all happened to you! I give you so much credit for saying something. That's incredibly unprofessional of them and good call on moving to a different doctor. Aren't we as patients SUPPOSED to voice our symptoms and concerns?? And btw, you are definitely not an oversharer. I hope your evening gets better (and that the infection clears up). :)

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  5. This post is enough to bring me out of lurking. :) You might mention in that note to the doctor that the nurse's behavior is not only offensive, but also a possible violation of your HIPPA rights. (That other nurse was not involved directly in your care and in my opinion had as much right as a stranger to know the details of your visit.) Not mention if you could hear them talking about you, there's a chance the other patients in rooms next door could hear them as well. Inappropriate all around!!! Ugh! Good for you for changing offices immediately.

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  6. I can't even believe this! I am so proud of you for saying something. I hope that doctore and his idiot nurses still feel like the jerks they are! I LOVE that you aren't returning her call and that you balked her hug - what nerve to even try that, almost laughable. And more than anything, I LOVE that you are leaving. I hope I would have the courage to do the same thing!

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  7. Oh gosh Katie! I'm so sorry this happened to you! Good for you standing up for yourself! I'm sure that was so hard to do. I would be livid as well! I once overheard nurses talking about someones diagnosis outside my door and if it would have been mine I would have been just as mad! Google the doctors name and post a review wherever you can so that doesn't happen to anyone else!

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  8. That is absolutely ridiculous!!! Good for you for letting the doctor know! That is incredibly rude and unprofessional...and I would have cried, too! Definitely find a better doctor/staff. I'm so sorry you had to deal with that lady! :(

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  9. OMG, several things that are sending my head swimming.

    1. JERK-STORES. Um, I am really sorry the gross nurse who smells of farts and unjustified judgement, was more awful than paper cuts on your tongue and lemon juice.

    2.Not to call you out when you have been all victimized, but if you don't tell me where this office is (and said employees) then how can I go and defend your honor/slash some tires??

    3. And fake hug?? I am sorry, what about you says "I am in sixth grade and being broken up with by the locker before 2nd period"? Nothing. So screw you and your fake hug lady! (and screw you boy from who I an pull this analogy from)

    Really though, you are NOT and oversharer and I am super impressed that you spoke up when you did. I am sure you had some sweaty palms, but you did the right thing!! Not to say that I wouldn't be nervously be replaying this in my mind for, um, until forever (and Tom-Tom can deal) but you did great, KK.

    Really, jerks. JERKS, I TELL YOU!!!!!!

    Mis you MO (1998, holla!)
    jane

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  10. Good for you for speaking up AND changing docs! Hope you're feeling better and making fewer trips to the restroom!

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  11. That really sucks! Good for you for saying something and also switching doctors. I think you should also consider doing a review on the websites for doctors like vitals.com. Just a thought.

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  12. I'm so proud of you Katie!!! Both for saying something and changing doctors. You deserve better service, not to mention respect. That is a horrible story! Wish I could give you a "real" hug.

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  13. OMG!!! That is horrible! What a bad experience at your doctor's office. I am so sorry! I certainly wouldn't think that sharing your symptoms with a medical professional would be oversharing! I'm so impressed that you said something...way to go!

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  14. Oh my goodness, that is ridiculous! I'm glad you stood up for yourself. I'm sure that must have been hard. I always end up crying in those types of situations and I hate that. You can vent all you want!

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  15. My jaw is on the ground right now! I mean I'm absolutely appalled. SO unprofessional and inappropriate. Good for you for saying something!!

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  16. Oh Katie!!! YUCK! That stupid nurse! How rude. Not to mention unprofessional! I'm so glad you said something to the doc and are switching to someone else!
    Tell Jane to call me when she goes to slash tires- I'm totally in! GRRRR.

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  17. I would have been just as pissed as you. And? Things like this are just something husbands don't understand. Mine would have been sick of hearing about it too, lol. Sorry you had to go through that, it's so annoying/frustrating to be annoyed/frustrated by dumb things like this that never had to happen!

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  18. Wow. That is unbelievable! It really makes me think twice about sharing anything more than a general symptom with a nurse or medical assistant, and just waiting to share the details of what is truely going on when the doctor comes in. I admire your bravery in speaking up. I'm not sure that I would have had the guts to do it. :)

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  19. I am booking my flight to Tulsa and I'm gonna open up a big can of "Whoop Ass" when I get there. That's if you mom hasn't already. Oh the heartless people in the world. Love you MO.

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  20. Oh and make sure when you send that email tomorrow you include your blogsite address so (1) they can read your blog and see just how wrong they were about you (2) show them just how painful that was to have to hear. Now you got me all worked up. Mean People!

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  21. That is horrible. A doctor's office is the last place I would expect to see that kind of behavior. Dealing with health and emotions. I don't blame you for changing doctors. It sounded like you handled it very nicely. I'm afraid I would have said a few words. And what's with the hug, crazy nurse lady?! Find a great new doc and don't look back. Tomorrow is Friday...yay!! Have a good weekend.

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  22. That is terrible. We had a bad experience with a peditrician once. Our first, with first baby at first appointment. As the wife of a doctor, I am shaking me head.

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  23. Wow, wow! This is awful! The NERVE of some people! I'm sorry you had to deal with this. The first time I went to the gyno the nurse did yell at the dr outside my door and said "be careful with this one, it's her first time and SHE'S A VIRGIN". True story. Hahah, it makes me laugh now.

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  24. That is ridiculous! I'm so passive and would have wanted to say something, but wouldn't...so GOOD FOR YOU!

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  25. Oh, katie. I'm so sorry that happened. That breaks my heart. That entire staff is so completely unprofessional and I'm glad you're taking your business elsewhere! You're such a sweetheart. That makes me so mad. I hate rude people. Good, don't return that call and move on! You deserve a better office that will listen to your every word and concern and one with people who sincerely care. Hugs!!!

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  26. Oh.my.word!!! I cannot believe this, people are horrible! Good for you for having class in this situation and for moving on to a better doctor. There are all around great offices out there, so you shouldn't have to settle for this! Maybe just email me his name so I know where NOT to go:).

    Great running into you today!

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  27. Oh, and FYI, I have been asked by our pediatrician's office, on more than one occasion, if I am in the medical profession due to my verbiage and over-explanation of symptoms and behavior over the phone. It just helps them do their job better and cuts to the chase:).

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  28. OMGEEE!! I would be BEYOND livid too!! I am pretty sure that there is no such thing as oversharing at the dr's office. (I could actually prob tell you a funny story regarding that :) ) I am SO SO glad that you said something, even if you didn't get the response you deserved from the doctor. That is really crappy. I'm glad you are switching doctors. Ugh.

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  29. P.S. I just read what Starr said about HIPPA practices, and you should DEFINITELY bring that up. That'll get them really antsy.

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  30. Katie, that is horrible!! I would have been in tears too! That is soooooo unprofessional, and I'm glad you a) spoke up, and b) are leaving that doctor's office. I would have been furious with the hug too! I would not call that nurse back either. She obviously doesn't deserve a call back at all. I hope your new doc can figure out what is wrong too.

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  31. Ugh! I'm so sorry ... this really sucks! I have never changed doctors because of the doctor ... but in the last few months I have changed dentist and dermatologist because of their rude ass backwards staff. Someday ... I'm having comment cards for all my patients in case I have arseholes for nurses.

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  32. Wow - that is awful! Yay for standing up for yourself and definitely bring up the HIPPA in your email. I hate confrontation too so I can't say I would have done the same although the older I get the better I have become about defending myself. High five to you!

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  33. Oh....Katie, that is simply horrible and YES a violation of your HIPPA rights and trust me that nurse knows that you would have every right to file a complaint about her to the Oklahoma State Board of Nursing. Good for you in speaking up and that Doctor should have been mortified and I am at least thankful that he apologized to you.
    And...yes, as you well know I am a nurse that has worked in a Dr.'s office setting for the past 14 years and not that I am without sin here but I do have a brain and the sense to know what type of patient behavior warrants commenting about. And trust me dear heart there was nothing wrong in what you shared. That gal definitely has a problem. The behavior that usually gets to me are the poor souls that have "delusions of paracytosis". Translation: they are convinced they have bugs under their skin and under their scalp and oh....the remedies they've tried and sadly...it's in their mind because they have psych issues not bugs. Take care and I'm glad you took action in changing Dr.'s. Hugs to you Katie!!! Ramona

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  34. i love this..im proud of you...and i don't even know you!! i would be TICKED!! you go girl!
    www.moddybee.blogspot.com

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