Friday, August 03, 2007

I forgot the best part!

I can't believe that in my retelling of my annoyances yesterday, I forgot the best part! I was talking to Marilyn the nurse on the telephone and told her I was concerned about waiting to do the 3 hour glucose tolerance test for a week, when I could be testing my blood sugars now. Do you know what she told me?

It is not urgent and I should try not to stress...think good thoughts...because stress isn't good for me or the baby!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the medical professional told me to think good thoughts.

And do you know what I did? (This certainly tells me how far I've come in the past two years as a person.)

I told her that stress wasn't the issue. I told her that I lost my previous two babies due to "freak things that shouldn't happen." I told her that Alex died from a bacterial infection and Travis died from a viral infection. I told her that stress is the least of my worries and I didn't appreciate the advice to just think good thoughts because good thoughts weren't going to cut it because, at this point, I figure if the plague is out there, I will contract it. I told her that, for that matter, the implication that bad thoughts hurt my past pregnancies is cruel and I didn't appreciate it. I was completely honest...without being rude. I hope she really heard me and never offers such a cliche to any other patient.

16 comments:

Julia said...

1) I can't believe she did that. Being a medical professional and all.

2) You rock! It's great that you were able to say all that without being rude and biting her head off, seeing as she wasn't using it anyway...

ms. G said...

Go Catherine! I am so glad you were honest with her. It is so easy for us to just smile, roll our eyes and hope never to speak to that person again. I am so glad you spoke up, maybe you helped make the experience better for another mother someday.

Beruriah said...

Good for your Catherine! I hope she'll think a bit more before offering what at best is the most useless advice in the world, and at worst is cruel in its thoughtlessness. Wow, and you weren't "rude" - I doubt you would be but I know I for sure would have gotten tearful and my heart would have been pounding at the very least.

Rosepetal said...

Good for you! Stupid nurse.

Unknown said...

Good for you, Catherine! I hope that makes her think twice about offering such nuggets of wisdom again...

niobe said...

What a dope that nurse is. Does she really think that being told "just relax" is ever helpful?

Good for you for speaking out and letting her know that what she said was cruel and thoughtless.

laura said...

Wow! I'm SOOOO proud of you! A hearty thank you on behalf of freaks everywhere.

Aurelia said...

Good for you! Thank you on behalf of those of us who hate being told to "relax"!!

Lori said...

Wow!! I could have never done that, but I would have spent the rest of the day thinking about all of the things I should have said (and none of them would have been as good as what you DID say). You are awesome!! And, I hope she thinks twice before ever saying something so un-helpful again.

marcia said...

Oh, good grief! As a nurse since the Dark Ages, I am embarrassed at her condescending attitude, although I am SURE I've stuck my foot in my mouth all too often over the years! I hope you e-mailed the doc today, as you said you were going to do. If not, you will, of course, just go ahead and check those sugars on your own and act accordingly...right? You know, if I had been Marilyn, I hope I would have appreciated your comments, and learned from them. One thing I have learned in 40-some years in the medical field...clients and their families are often a better source of good information and education than some of the required continuing ed things I have had to attend. Sounds like that might be similar in the legal field, as well, from your post earlier in the week. :) Keep on doing what you are doing! So much of good medicine is based on instinct and just a "sense" about something, because all the facts and knowledge in the world just aren't enough in many cases. You know yourself better than anyone else. I am so very glad your doctor recognizes and respects that, and seems like a genuinely concerned person who takes all of your comments and ideas very seriously. Thank you for having the courage and conviction to state what you need to say, to get the optimal care and respect that you deserve!

Mrs. Collins said...

You are my new hero! I've so often wanted to say things like that but just simmered inside. Good for you and for "us" because this woman will think twice before offering nonsense advice in the future.

delphi said...

Hoooo-ray! You are my hero!

wannabe mom said...

wooohooo! good for you. i hope it makes her think twice before ever saying those horrific words again.

Angel Mom said...

That is exaactly the type of thing I would want to say but never would. WTG!

Bon said...

well done, Catherine. very, very well done. :)

AJW5403 said...

Good for you for telling her how you felt. As for tracking your levels can't you just do that any way with out the 3 hour. I know I started tracking my levels right from the start with Gavin. I did not wait unitl they told me I had GD I just started doing it on my own. I was able to give them a log of all my levels since the begining of my PG once they told me I was GD again. I hope you can get the test done sooner. But I would just start checking them any way if I were you.

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