the worst thing a doc has said to you

[salizander]

hey everyone! I thought I would start a thread about some of the most insensitive comments a doctor has told us when we have asked them for legit help with our conditions. I'll start- a few years ago I went to a doc who said this, and I am exactly quoting here: "I don't think you are hurting as much as you say you are." WTF?!! My condition is quite visible to even a BLIND person and this jerk had the nerve to say this to me! I would love to hear if any of you have had this same type of experience from an insensitive doctor.

[crucibelle]

I can't think of anything a doc has said to me, but I do remember something awful an RN once said. I was having my baby & I was in 'back' labor. I was begging for an epidural or pain medicine, and the nurse said to me "you're having a baby, it's supposed to hurt!"

[salizander]

That RN sounds like a complete WITCH! That is totally unacceptable behavior from her and she is obviously in the wrong profession. There is no bedside manner anymore, no compassion.

[no name]

worst thing ive heard was "would you like to see a priest" the only reason I say this is bad is because I was given my last rites....
NN

[salizander]

@no name- oh my god! You were given your last rites? I'm so glad you are here with us today! If you don't mind me asking, what situation made them say this to you? Obviously if I am being too nosey, just ignore my question I'm happy you are here with us now.

[billyboy1965]

"your insurance won't cover it."

So much for the face lift.

[Lumo]

It's not bad in the sense that the statement itself is shocking, but in the context of the situation I think it was quite bad.

I had finally got myself to go to a doctor for problems that had been bothering me for years, maybe a decade, and after a brief Q and A session on my symptoms the doctor said "well you might just be under the weather with a seasonal bug, give it a week or two and see if it clears up". To me something that had been affecting me for YEARS seemed very unlikely to be a bug that would pass in a few weeks.

I'm not surprised self-medicated rates are so high.

[salizander]

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories! It's so nice to know I am never alone in my experiences because all of you are so supportive here.

[Kittsoan1989]

Mine would have to be "You're just going to have to get used to living like that" - This was after a massive car accident - Ended up having 3 of my discs fused - was in a wheelchair - My Physical Therapist was a great guy - real optimistic about the fact that I would walk normally again w/in 6 months (and he was right) - My pain doc (I switched right away and not because of anything to do w/ medicines) was an ASS - he had no problem scripting me anything - but to be told at age 17 you're going to have to get used to living in a wheel chair when you're PT has said you'll be walking on your own in 6 months - now that's my definition of an *******!

I didn't know we had self-editing forums - my last word just turned into stars on its own!

[chris100]

My doctor said I want you to take 3 10mg Oxy a day but I don't want to give you perks with them cause they are to additive. ???? What?? I was taking 2 oxy and 2 perks. Now he wants 3 oxy a day and no perks. Isn't Oxy addictive??? I thought perks were less addictive. Oh well, that's what he wants. He is the boss.

[Sephrina]

hey everyone! I thought I would start a thread about some of the most insensitive comments a doctor has told us when we have asked them for legit help with our conditions. I'll start- a few years ago I went to a doc who said this, and I am exactly quoting here: "I don't think you are hurting as much as you say you are." WTF?!! My condition is quite visible to even a BLIND person and this jerk had the nerve to say this to me! I would love to hear if any of you have had this same type of experience from an insensitive doctor.

This is sincerely strange. I was just thinking of starting this EXACt thread.


Girl - I think we are totally on the same wave length !

I went in for surgery for a ligation & appendectomy about 4 years ago. (figured since they were in there - they can do it a ll at once). I have not been sexually active- nor have I had a gyn exam. So I very shyly asked the surgeon if she could use small pediatric instruments. She laughed at me & said -

"Hey - If I tear you - I'll just put a stitch or two in it !"

I was thinking "What THE HELL" I went into a panic - the sx was right about to start!

Then when I insisted she use smaller instruments she got angry & said that they were on the pediatric floor - & she was unwilling to go get them. She was very angry. I quietly called a nurse & I was in complete tears by then. Explained it to the nurse. She was completely empathetic said she would personally get the instruments & MAKE SURE the doc used them. She promised she would not leave my side The doc came back & was furious - said "I knew u were trouble from the first time I met you !"

I could tell by what I overheard the nurse say to the doc & anesthesiologist - this was NOT the first time they had problems with this doctor.

I've a couple more stories I'll add later...

[Jeremy Fisher]

@chris100, percs are oxy. Google it.

[chris100]

Well i always thought Oxy 10 mg were stringer than
Percocet. 3/325. Well I never knew that. Thanks fireplaces.

[Sephrina]

I was in the ER one day about 8 years ago. Had polycystic ovarian disease - no prior gyn exam. A very cold "doctor" walked in the exam room. Didn't even look at my file or ask anything. She folded her arms across her chest and leaned back against the wall & said coldly & demanded "Drop your pants !"

She repeated this a few more times.

I don't remember my exact response - but I certainly did not comply - Other nurses came in after my repeated denials to drop my pants - like I'm some piece of meat - or street whore. Exam was not done. But had an external ultrasound & they found a few cysts on one ovary.

Where the heck do these people learn there bedside manner ????

I was particularly shocked a FEMALE doctor would act so cruelly & crass.

[Tece68]

About fifteen years ago I had been on thyroid medicine for about three years when our insurance changed for work and we had to find all new doctors. I started seeing the only doctor on the policy who worked with thyroid issues. After a few visits he kept lower my thyroid dosage and had me on Zoloft. He said he was weaning me off of snythroid as it was not needed. Finally he had me on 200mg of Zoloft and no thyroid medicine. I was damn near comatose! He actually said to me

"All that thyroid stuff is a bunch of crap and women need to stop looking for a pill to fix their emotional problems"! This while he had me on so much antidepressant I could barely function. So I quite the Zoloft and paid out of pocket to see an endocrinologist.

[UGAgal]

Back in June I had some back and hip injections that did nothing for my pain. I need back surgery but lost my job so I am without insurance. My doc said he was going to send me to "pain management" until I could get ins and the surgery. So I go to the new doc 3 days later. Fill out all my paperwork, nurse comes in ask questions about history, and then left. Doc comes flying into the room and says "what do you want me to do" I was like am I being punked? Wtf do you mean what do I want you to do? Treatment you a--hole.

He then told me that I was "scamming" the federal governement and that he was not going to give me any medications because I was a junkie. Keep in mind I was not taking anything at this point and you can clearly tell I am in severe pain. Never even asked him for anything. I jumped up and scream some profanitys at hims, demanded my $375 back and left. I filed a complaint against him and his treatment of a patient that never even asked the man for anything.

Now I take no meds and just suffer so bad 24 hours a day. Some days are very tough (like today). I have applied for the pre-existing insurance plan and I hope I get my answer this week. If all goes well I will be able to get surgery in January. Sometimes I just hate life.

Doctors are so cold and heartless these days. Georgia is now getting a ton of pill mills and so the doctors are scared. Why can't I find a pill mill? I really need one. Guess that is why luck brought me here to such wonderful boards to find a source one day. Slow and steady right?

And man @NONAME - glad you are still here. I can't believe you got your last rights.

[trish5959]

About fifteen years ago I had been on thyroid medicine for about three years when our insurance changed for work and we had to find all new doctors. I started seeing the only doctor on the policy who worked with thyroid issues. After a few visits he kept lower my thyroid dosage and had me on Zoloft. He said he was weaning me off of snythroid as it was not needed. Finally he had me on 200mg of Zoloft and no thyroid medicine. I was damn near comatose! He actually said to me

"All that thyroid stuff is a bunch of crap and women need to stop looking for a pill to fix their emotional problems"! This while he had me on so much antidepressant I could barely function. So I quite the Zoloft and paid out of pocket to see an endocrinologist.

That's just crazy. You either need thyroid treatment or you don't. I've been on oroxine for 30 odd years (had it removed) and while it can take a ridiculously long time for some doc's to recognise the problem, there are some basic blood tests to see what your thyroid is doing. No wonder you were almost comatose.

My best is paramedics giving my elderly late stage COPD mother Narcan. She was on low dose Oxycontin for shingle pain. I called an ambulance because she was suddenly breathless, they gave her the usual going over, she calmed down and I said I'd see her up at the hospital. I got there to find her completely off her head, raving and desperate. No one told me what they'd done (we found out days later from another nurse) but the docs and nurses at the time all kept saying how difficult she was and she was probably dying.

[no name]

@no name- oh my god! You were given your last rites? I'm so glad you are here with us today! If you don't mind me asking, what situation made them say this to you? Obviously if I am being too nosey, just ignore my question I'm happy you are here with us now.

@salizander
I had an aortic dissection,my aorta tore from the arch all the way past my kidneys my family got the call at 2am that i had a 50\50 chance was transfered thankfully to a team of surgeons with few equals,at a large west coast university, had open heart they replaced a large section with a graft but it was so extensive the lower portion couldn't be fixed but it healed it looks like when a radiator hose goes bad, i have regular scans and so far it has been stable,only had one complication,my right kidney the artery dissected and it lost circulation and failed,(removed) I had about 1 min and 30 seconds of fear when the my doctor saw me starting to get ansy he hit me with a shot in my shoulder and thats the last thing i remembered
I survived what John Ritter didnt (rip john voice of clifford the big red dog)
NN

[TheDeadlySidekick]

Well the worst thing a doctor ever told me while I was complaining of back and shoulder pain was, "You're getting older, your body breaks down and you will start to hurt. What do you want me to do about it?"
He said this to me when I was under 30! Before he even began to know why I was actually in pain! I was more pissed than shocked.
Even though I know he was a terrible doctor, I realize that my perception of aging has changed because of that a-hole!

Anyway, I know others have heard much worse. That just made me mad.

[teresita]

I dont know if this would qualify as insensitive or just mortifying on my part but about25 yrs ago, I had swollen glands in the groin area and went to my doctor that I had all my life, he even delivered me. Well he had to check "down there" and do a rectal exam. Just as he did the rectal thing, he popped up and said "Happy New Year". I was already uncomfortable enough but I about died when he said that. It was the first business day after the new year but completely inappropriate.

Then years later, a different doc, my ob/gyn, after I was done having a hysterectomy and free of cancer, he said "I think now we need to focus on getting you down to a healthy weight" I never thought I was overweight. Im
5' 5" and 140lbs and wear a size 10. I was holding back tears because I heard "You're fat".