I spent the morning getting multiple medical tests, just another day trying to figure out what illness ales me. I received an ultra sound (and no I'm not pregnant), blood and urine tests; performed at 2 different facilities and I was shocked at my encounters.
As I was called for my ultra sound the woman said hello and how are you, though she started walking down the hallway without waiting for the answer. Now this isn't a shock, people I know ask me about my day and don't really care about the answer so this wasn't out of the ordinary. I rushed to follow this woman down a series of hallways and she points me to a change room says strip to the waste and put this on open to the back, handing me a paper gown. I barely made out what she said since she said it so fast and I had to clarify what I had to do.
As I changed I thought, where do I leave my clothes and stick my head out to see and she just users me into another room, saying bring your clothes. So I go into the room and she gets me to lie down, she tucks a paper sheet into my underwear and pulls the gown up so it is just covering my breasts and starts the exam. What I'm thinking in my head goes a little like this "well it would be nice to know your name? or how the test is going to be performed? or what you are doing?" She continues to give me prompts asking me to breathe deep, hold my breath and so on, we have no other conversation. After she is done I mention that it hurt quite a bit during the test but since I knew she had to do it I didn't say anything. She brushes this off and gives me a weird unrelated explanation on why they get me to breathe so deep during the test then gives me some paper towel, says my test results will be given to my doctor in 2 days and leaves the room. So I clean myself off and go on my way.
Next test was the blood and urine tests, I was called by a woman who did not say my name correctly (but really who does?) but didn't even have the courtesy to say sorry did I get that right? As she took me into the room I started to say I grow faint when I get my blood taken, and as I say it I point to the sign on the wall telling me to tell them as a joke to lighten the mood. She cuts me off and walks out of the room saying okay we will lay you down. As I reach the room she tells me to get onto the bed and checks my veins (now I will admit that during this time she was very nice asking me if I was okay but I have a feeling its because she didn't want me to pass out or puke on her). After the blood test she said okay now we need a urine sample; hands me the cup and points to the bathroom. Then after I asked she explained where I put the sample when I am done.
So I go into the bathroom and there are very clear instructions on how to collect the sample on a sign on the wall, but what if I couldn't read? Or what if I had questions? The woman was gone so fast I didn't have an opportunity to ask anymore questions.
As I waited for my boyfriend to come pick me up all I could think about was the standard of health care in our country. Now some people would say that I am lucky that I am able to have those tests done without paying for it, and to a degree I agree with them. The problem is I am just a number to those people, none of the tests I had were explained to me, I don't know the names of the people who performed them, I wasn't even asked to confirm any personal information. The woman left the door open while I was getting my blood taken! I could see the waiting room!
I have had a lot of tests, I have had sedation put into my arm without my knowledge, I have had to ask to see a doctor before a test was performed (to ask questions the nurse couldn't answer), I have waited 3 months to see a specialist and when I had the appointment I actually didn't speak to the doctor! The technician did my test and I only saw the doctor through a curtain. I think when in a medical situation you have speak up for yourself, you have to ask the questions and you have to be assertive. Otherwise you go home with more questions then answers.
But the situation is truly sad, being a number is sad, feeling like you don't matter when you getting a test to find out what's wrong with you is sad. Something needs to change
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