How many sisters have had THIS question asked of them...?

Just got back from the castle today (I'd rather go to a sewage treatment plant ! to have CAT scan with contrast ordered this Wed by onc/gyn (who did tah/bso on 12/22) after doing some fistula tests. So I go to work & don't eat or drink like a good girl, drive BACK to the hospital in tears, sign in, and as the guy in radiology is putting in my i.v. he asks..."Is there any chance you might be pregnant?" !!!!!

The orders say what operation I had, the check-in papers say why they need this test in BIG BOLD LETTERS,... and I don't necessarily look like I've just come off the beach at Maui!

Now, this is a good hospital, great dr, & this guy was very professional, which made me wonder even more...How can it be made known to the medical community that part of "bed side manners" (any bed) is to avoid asking this question on patients such as us? Just a simple glance at the paper would suffice...that is, if they've passed high school sex ed.

I know of one other sister who posted to this site with a similar experience and I'm wondering how prevelant it is.

I'm 39 with no kids and just broke up with my boyfriend (or the other way around to make recovery even more fun). I didn't know whether I would cry or slug him (the radiology guy not the DB). If the needle hadn't been in my arm, I think it would have been the latter (again, the radiology guy !!

I'm grossing but also wondering just how many have had to suffer through painful, dumb questions that could easlily have been avoided?

Post your vents, please.

Try this one, I had the nurse at my pediatricians office ask me when I had the baby after I told her I had a hysterectomy 5 days ago. I shreaked when I replied. She didn't even apologize.
Toni

I had a CNA in the castle when I had my surgery ask me if could be pregnant because I was throwing up!

Unbelievable. I am so sorry you went through that. That is unforgivable. I bet you were too stunned to say anything to the office staff. If you did, were your comments noted?

(((((HUGS)))) !! to you.

LJT

Oh Sharron!

I am so sorry. I ended up throwing up too because they gave me spiced fried chicken, mashed poatoes and carrot cake with cremed cheese frosting. My friends were feeding it to me thinking, well the hospital has the orders...

The orders said, "total hyst. no spicy or fried foods".

Do these people not read?

Yup...even had the ob/gyn office ask me that after THEY TIED my tubes!! (uterus so messed-up I could only miscarry)

So, I know say...

Gee, I don't think there is a new star in the east, no wise men are looking me, and my boyfriend's name is XXX not Joseph. Hum, don't think so, and if so, I'm keeping the movie rights!

Trust me, by the time they figure it out...they feel pretty stupid.
LOL

I've had the same thing happen...

but, you have to keep in mind these people see thousands of patients and they don't always know each procedure or surgery and what it's for (especially the guys). They also HAVE to ask the pregnancy question for legal reasons. They aren't told to think about what to ask and what not to ask...the hospital is only concerned with the legalities...so they have to ask you if you may be pregnant. It seems stupid, but it's understandable.

My disability insurance carrier just sent me a letter acknowledging that I will be having surgery the 29th, and will be out of work for up to six weeks, explained the benefits etc. The last paragraph said "to guarentee coverage for the NEWBORN please call employee services". Hello...hysterectomy....newborn, one or the other isn't going to happen. Had to call and correct that, and the women laughed when I told her that I am not pregnant but having a hysterectomy. Imagine that...she laughed, being a women. Well I didn't.

those questions are mandatory and required by law..the medical personnel asking these questions are so used to asking that its 2nd nature to them....try to understand their job..i'm sure if they had more time they would read more carefully the notes in the patients charts..however theyre only interested in the procedure that theyre going to perform, and proceed with the necessary questions......stay well......di

Dear Peg;

I got the same letter. You think we should call them up to see what coverage they are willing to offer?...
((((Hugs))))


I understand a busy schedule, the law, and so many patients day in and day out. I am not one to yell, I end up joking with the staff to make THEM feel more comfortable. However, this and so many other things have been brought to my attention and it is so prevalent, as it appears to be, (I've gotten private messages not posted to this site that are just painful, and could have been avoided) then there are others out there having to go through the same.

This was not a busy day and the paperwork was straight in front of him. Is there really a law that says you have to ask someone without a uterus if they are pregnant?...And if so, who wrote it??

Many people (in the non-medical field) work very hard in their profession to make sure that the t's are crossed, the i's dotted, and even in a rush, with too much to do, they make sure that the person or people they are dealing with are dealt with acceptably. (Without malpractice lawsuits being a concern to them.)It can be done, and should be done. Especially with a sensitive subject as this. If they must be prompted by a law that says "Look at the chart and make sure you don't ask stupid questions", then so be it.

I'm just saying additional pain can be prevented for those going through enough already.