Ok, here's what's going on

[Lona.C. 16]

So sorry they put you trough this sh$# like the others said try to stay calm if there was something realy bad they wouldnt waite and would have probly kept you right there ,

( I hate doctors some realy get theyr proffesion confuessd with butchers :S )

try to hang in , our thoughts are with you ((((((((((( hugs ))))))))))))))

[KarenCee 3]

Your physician wasn't being a "jerk, a snob, rude; acting like a god or otherwise insensitive." She was doing exactly what she was supposed to be doing. Why do I say that? Because she told you everything you not only needed to know at the time, but everything she knew as well.

Look back at what she said (or rather, what you told us she said to you). According to your own statements, your doctor told you: "It appears there could be a little something there...."

Yes, this is what Len said. BUT as the patient Len has every right to know WHAT the dr is suspecting. If she suspects a lump...say "this is what I suspect...we'll do a test/ultrasound to rule this out" rather than allow Len to become frantic. THAT is the sign of a sensitive doctor.

She told you what she knew. She thought there might be "something" there. If she knew exactly what it might be, why would she order a test (i.e. the ultrasound) to check it out? She wouldn't need it.

This is why you tell the patient what you're doing the test for. As I said before, Len has every right to know what the test was being done for, what the suspicion is.

In addition, I believe she did not tell you what it "might be" because (aside from not knowing exactly what it is) any theory at this point in time would serve to do nothing but worry the patient unnecessarily.

Len IS worried. Precisely why the doctor SHOULD have explained all this to her. When I was pregnant with my twin sons, who were later stillborn, the exact condition of my pregnancy was hidden from me for this exact reason...to keep me from worrying and becoming frantic. The drs knew the boys would NOT live and yet they led me to believe my pregnancy was fine. Now, tell me that the doctors did the right thing? I can definately sympathise with the frantic worrying she is doing. IT IS WRONG TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION FROM THE PATIENT!!!!!

When it comes to medicine, many times symptoms of certain diseases or conditions can mimic one another, so it's practically impossible to tell what is what without the proper tests. Telling a patient one assumption after another is irresponsible -- it can cause undue worry, tension and stress on the part of the patient. It's far better to withhold diagnosis until the potential problem has been found or at least narrowed down.

So do please try and understand the situation here. Your physician wasn't attempting to irritate you or purposefully "keep you out of the loop" regarding your own body. She most likely felt that until she had a better idea of what she was dealing with, she couldn't reasonably and responsibly give you the answer you were looking for at that time.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Totally disagree with Deadpool! I'm a RN student, so see a fair bit of patient/DR relationships! Some doctors are great, but some are just plain jerks! And many of those jerks treat the staff badly as well!! The DR should be able to tell you what they suspect!! And a good Dr. can tell the patient and not have the patient worry that much!! How hard is it to say, "I feel a lump, and it is best to check on it, we have the technology, to see what it is, so why not use it, it is most likely nothing, but better to check on it now, than later down the road, but you appear to be in great health overall, do you have any questions? Simple as that. And as a health professional, at least us RN students, are taught to address people as Mr, Mrs, Sir, maam, with respect and not by "dear" Yes the lab tech cant really discuss the findings, but again ,they can politely state that.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I don't want to turn this into a debate thread, so I'll just say the following: I realize some of you may disagree with what I said. That's fine. You're all entitled to your opinion. However, please do note that I am not saying that what Len's physician said or did is necessarily right either, considering the context. Look at what I wrote more carefully and read between the lines.

You'll see that I wrote Len's physician was probably doing what she thought was best for the patient (in this case, Len) like most physicians are trained and have been trained to do. Does this necessarily "feel right" to many patients? Maybe not. I can't say for sure. But I can bet you that she wasn't purposefully trying to hurt, annoy or otherwise irritate Len, either.

I do think that there are times the patient shouldn't know everything (and yes, I have a very good reason to believe that which would take far too long to get into here), but I suppose that's neither here nor there for the purposes of this thread. If the patient desperately wants to know and is fine with merely a theory or assumption on the physician's part, the patient cannot be angry or upset with the physician if he or she was wrong and cause undue worry. The patient asked for it.

Edited February 24, 2008 by DeadPoolX

[Lona.C. 16]

Totally disagree with Deadpool! I'm a RN student, so see a fair bit of patient/DR relationships! Some doctors are great, but some are just plain jerks! And many of those jerks treat the staff badly as well!! The DR should be able to tell you what they suspect!! And a good Dr. can tell the patient and not have the patient worry that much!! How hard is it to say, "I feel a lump, and it is best to check on it, we have the technology, to see what it is, so why not use it, it is most likely nothing, but better to check on it now, than later down the road, but you appear to be in great health overall, do you have any questions? Simple as that. And as a health professional, at least us RN students, are taught to address people as Mr, Mrs, Sir, maam, with respect and not by "dear" Yes the lab tech cant really discuss the findings, but again ,they can politely state that.

I Totaly agrea , thats one thing I still cant get used off ( after being with my babe for 4 years how people who dont even know you address you by the first name here in the states big differance then in canada where they have to adress you with Mrs or MR )

I also agrea on the responsibility on telling the patient step by step what is being done its frustrating enough knowing there could be something wrong, so its up to the DR to keep the patient calm and informed on the next step ,

not to get off the topic , but for example , we got a close relative in the hospital we went to visit her last week, a DR came in didnt interduced him self or nothing just got his tools and ready to shove a lil camera down the her troath,

our relative had no idea what the Doc was about to do or WHY ,

needlkess to say before the doc could do anything Tony jumped out of his skin to stop the jerk and askd what is goin on , who he was and what the hell he was about to do ?

the Doc said he cant give out that info if we are not immediate family , (wich is understandable )

tony told him well first improve your F@#$IN attitude second we are immediate family so if he doesnt want that camera up his A$$ or have a major law suit for malpractice on his hands he better to show some respect and explain who he is and what hes doing )

I thought the Doc was goin to S&$#T his pants ,

he then explaind the proceading and to why it was nessesary to do it , when he was done he aplogized for not being outfront ,

Tony told him this is a hospital not a butchers market unless he got a butchers degrea instead of a DR deagrea he better learn to respect the patient with a positive attitude or our laywer would have to get involved ) told him to have a nice day , and the doc left

I told this story just to say a lot of DR are pretty agressive if its seriouse S%#T , like its said before try to stay calm

[Reba 2]

Len, sorry to hear your doctor is a jerk (and I will go with jerk in this case...if a patient asks outright "why are we doing this" then a doctor should answer straight up IMO.)

I've had so many years of insensitive doctors and specialists and technicians ad nauseum that whenever I find a good one, I just want to hug them and cry! They are few and far between, and it seems especially so for some reason in the ob/gyn/fertility field. I once asked a gyn who had just removed my ovary and tube a questio, and he had the audacity to say "oh, there's no way to explain this to a lay person". I found a new doctor. I swear to you, I've seen nearly EVERY gyn/fertility specialist in the GTA, and almost all of them are annoying and condescending.

Hang in there! Once you get the results you can take them and run to find a new doctor!

[thermophile 0]

hey sister, be strong for a few more days. I'm with the rest of them that if it were really serious, she would have told you.

to jump in the as$hole/not as$hole thing, ob/gyns are sued more than any other type of doctor and are therefore many of the ones that I've met instinctively try to hold their cards close. I think that if you call and tell the person that answers the phone that you are really worried (and make it clear that you have a strong understanding of your anatomy), the dr. will call you back. Welcome, my friend, to insurance driven healthcare-the dr. is forced to see so many patients in a day that she can't spend time explaining all the possibilities to all her patients. I'm sorry you got caught in all that.

Edited February 24, 2008 by thermophile

[L_n_O 3]

I think the phone call will be a good idea Len.. Insist to the receptionist that the Dr take your call b/c you can't be expected to wait for 10 days to get the results of an ultrasound that's just sitting on her desk!

Love you Len

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Thank you to all my friends who understand and appreciate my 'need to know' about my own body.

To those who think I don't need to know or that doctors are in their GOD given right to be obnoxious and 'professionally detached': I'm just glad you are not my doctor - I asked for support, not for lectures. So save it.

Karen dahlink, I am so sorry to know about your babies my dear dear friend, I really am. I will phone the doc's office on Monday and will find out. Probably it's nothing, but probably it is. And you can all bet your cute buttts I WILL find out.

Again, thanks to all my friends. Gracias. I mean that. This is stressful enough, but with your support it seems more manageable.

[L_n_O 3]

we love you Lenina-deah

Go kick that office's phone's butt!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

we love you Lenina-deah

Go kick that office's phone's butt!

You can count on it sister.... if I kicked MTL's phone's butt, I can deal with this mofos.

[kimmbo 0]

Len, keeping you in my thoughts and hoping you will be able to get some answers on Monday!

[Carlawarla 1]

Oh Len, I'm so sorry to hear about all that you're going through. Big Hugs my dear!! Hope you hear something on Monday when you call the Dr. Please let us know. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

[Krikit 1,165]

I'm sorry to hear you are going through this, Len. I hope you will receive some good news as soon as possible, and that you will be at peace.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Len,

Waiting to make sure you are okay.

Please let us know...

Love you dearly!!!