"The Jerk Store Called..." / Blessing for the rude lady
Posted by Shanna Remke on Friday, July 29, 2011
Let me cover the blessings part first:
We went in for another ultrasound this morning to check the partial placenta previa that came up on our last ultrasound at 20 weeks. By the way, I have since learned that a diagnosis of partial or complete placenta previa at around 20 weeks is really not all that uncommon and in 95% of cases, will correct itself. Therefore I've decided that for the next baby, we're not going to bother with a 20 week ultrasound; we'll just go in at 32 or so weeks and make sure all is well. But I digress... Anyway, I am very happy and blessed to say that the partial placenta previa has corrected itself. Whew!! Praise God!! Weight off my shoulders. Had it not corrected, all plans for a homebirth would have been 86-ed and we would have been looking at a c-section.
Additionally, the baby, though they were not really focusing on it, appears to still be in perfect health. However, instead of hanging out in the traditional fetal position with knees bent and legs curled, our little one is head down with it's legs stretched straight out and it's feet by it's head. Does that make sense? It's basically folded in half in a pike position with it's butt in the air and it's head and feet pointing down preparing to "dive" into the world. Odd, yes. But we're just happy it's healthy.
Okay, now for the jerk part:
Our appointment was at 7:30am, the first appointment time of the day as Dan and I were both trying to make it to work on time afterwards. We were told to arrive at 7:15am, and we did so. There was a form to fill out and photocopies of license and insurance (even though they did this the last time), and this was all completed before 7:30am. 7:30am came and went. We waited for 20 minutes before they FINALLY called us back. I was so angry!! No apology, no explanation. They completely disrespected my time and the time of the other lady who had a 7:30am appointment and was there with her 3 year old son trying to keep him occupied and entertained while she, too, waited. What were we waiting on?!? They couldn't have been running behind from other appointments as we were the first of the day. And the office only does ultrasounds. It's not like you're seeing a doctor or surgeon who may be called away unexpectedly to handle some emergency case. I was FUMING at their lack of consideration and respect for their patients. Not to mention that they charged over $1000 for the last ultrasound. Ahhh!
And I didn't think I should have to just sit there and take it, so I let them know that I was very irritated with having had to wait 20 minutes and made a bit of a scene about it. The ultrasound technician received the bulk of my anger, which wasn't right, as it wasn't her fault (or at least that's what she implied). Dan informed me that I was being a jerk, and to not take it all out on this poor lady. When she came back into our exam room, I did apologize to her for my attitude and told her I was just angry that I had been waiting for 20 minutes with no explanation. Afterwards, I still felt really badly as I know I could have handled the situation better. I'm not sure how exactly, as I still feel that not saying anything was not right as it would have been allowing myself to be treated unfairly and because I really feel that the people in that office need to know that not sticking to people's appointments is not okay. There's a reason why people schedule appointments! But, I know there was a better, maybe more diplomatic way I could have addressed everyone, voicing my complaints and airing my grievances while still being respectful and mature. I've even considered sending the Tech some flowers, but Dan told me to let it go.
My only consolation is in telling myself that I will try and do better the next time.
We went in for another ultrasound this morning to check the partial placenta previa that came up on our last ultrasound at 20 weeks. By the way, I have since learned that a diagnosis of partial or complete placenta previa at around 20 weeks is really not all that uncommon and in 95% of cases, will correct itself. Therefore I've decided that for the next baby, we're not going to bother with a 20 week ultrasound; we'll just go in at 32 or so weeks and make sure all is well. But I digress... Anyway, I am very happy and blessed to say that the partial placenta previa has corrected itself. Whew!! Praise God!! Weight off my shoulders. Had it not corrected, all plans for a homebirth would have been 86-ed and we would have been looking at a c-section.
Additionally, the baby, though they were not really focusing on it, appears to still be in perfect health. However, instead of hanging out in the traditional fetal position with knees bent and legs curled, our little one is head down with it's legs stretched straight out and it's feet by it's head. Does that make sense? It's basically folded in half in a pike position with it's butt in the air and it's head and feet pointing down preparing to "dive" into the world. Odd, yes. But we're just happy it's healthy.
Okay, now for the jerk part:
Our appointment was at 7:30am, the first appointment time of the day as Dan and I were both trying to make it to work on time afterwards. We were told to arrive at 7:15am, and we did so. There was a form to fill out and photocopies of license and insurance (even though they did this the last time), and this was all completed before 7:30am. 7:30am came and went. We waited for 20 minutes before they FINALLY called us back. I was so angry!! No apology, no explanation. They completely disrespected my time and the time of the other lady who had a 7:30am appointment and was there with her 3 year old son trying to keep him occupied and entertained while she, too, waited. What were we waiting on?!? They couldn't have been running behind from other appointments as we were the first of the day. And the office only does ultrasounds. It's not like you're seeing a doctor or surgeon who may be called away unexpectedly to handle some emergency case. I was FUMING at their lack of consideration and respect for their patients. Not to mention that they charged over $1000 for the last ultrasound. Ahhh!
And I didn't think I should have to just sit there and take it, so I let them know that I was very irritated with having had to wait 20 minutes and made a bit of a scene about it. The ultrasound technician received the bulk of my anger, which wasn't right, as it wasn't her fault (or at least that's what she implied). Dan informed me that I was being a jerk, and to not take it all out on this poor lady. When she came back into our exam room, I did apologize to her for my attitude and told her I was just angry that I had been waiting for 20 minutes with no explanation. Afterwards, I still felt really badly as I know I could have handled the situation better. I'm not sure how exactly, as I still feel that not saying anything was not right as it would have been allowing myself to be treated unfairly and because I really feel that the people in that office need to know that not sticking to people's appointments is not okay. There's a reason why people schedule appointments! But, I know there was a better, maybe more diplomatic way I could have addressed everyone, voicing my complaints and airing my grievances while still being respectful and mature. I've even considered sending the Tech some flowers, but Dan told me to let it go.
My only consolation is in telling myself that I will try and do better the next time.