Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
Jun
5
Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
“What Is Wrong With Her?”
“What is wrong with her?” Anesthesiologist to father to be, while referencing the terrified mother who just was told she would need a spinal for an unplanned cesarean. This mother had feared spinal anesthetic her entire life.
There are 12 comments to this post.
Its bad enough that the anesthesiologist is being insensitive, but the fact that they’re also talking over mom because she’s “irrational and incapable of understanding/making decisions” just ticks me off. Why is it unheard of that someone would be afraid of something?? And on top of that, talk to US and not our husbands. Believe it or not we are capable of rational thought and would rather you calmly reassure us than make a dumb comment about us in front of us to someone who should be our #1 supporter.
To the OP: I would freak out too! One of the many reasons I did not have an epidural is my fear of them so you are not alone. I hope everything turned out okay.
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Sarah Dorrance-Minch Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 8:21 am (Quote)
Talk to us directly? But that would imply that labouring females are equal and sane and fully adult, rather than crazy invalids with the mental capacity of children who need to be protected and cared for by trained professionals and by their custodial spouses!
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Sarah Dorrance-Minch had this to say,
Jun 5, 2010 @ 8:26 am (Quote)
Let’s see. I’m about to be wheeled in for unplanned major abdominal surgery, and before I undergo this, I have to be jabbed in the spine with a needle full of anaesthetic, and if the anaesthesiologist screws up (hey, there’s a first time for everything) I might be paralyzed for life.
Nah. Nothing to be worried about. My fear is totally irrational. I should just laugh it off. It’s just one of those pregnant mood things that won’t really matter in the long run. Silly me.
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Evelyn Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 9:35 am (Quote)
Quite right, you just be a good little girl and lie there quietly while we cut you open.
URGH!
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Cmat Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 3:57 pm (Quote)
That last part almost totally describes how the anesthesiologist treated me when I said that under no circumstances were they to give my son an epidural for his surgery. He was 1 year old and undergoing hypospadia/chordee repair and that was brought up as an “option” that wasn’t an option at all. I’m glad I was able to give the impression that heads would roll. He claimed “The side effects are minor and the more serious ones are rare” Oh really? I know 3 women who have various permanent issues that stem from epidurals during labor.
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I know I’m repeating others here, but I need to say it, too.
Please, if a mom is scared, there’s nothing WRONG with her. She’s scared. If she were just lying there, THAT would be a cause for concern, and perhaps a run for the crash cart.
Scared is a NORMAL response to the prospect of major abdominal surgery, big needles, and any other invasive procedure. It’s a natural instinct of self preservation. Don’t mock it.
Doc, just because you see needles and scalpels every day, doesn’t make them ordinary for everyone. We don’t, and would rather not, see them every day. And while you may see them every day, you never see them coming at YOU.
That’s kind of different, I think.
So until you’re on THIS side of the needle/scalpel/catheter/amnihook/scissors/forceps/vaccuum/whatever-else-they-like-to-jab-us-with, please keep your unhelpful comments to yourself, and behave with the professionalism that your job should demand.
And as for talking over mom’s head, DON’T.
It’s rude. And even more frightening, because it takes the last vestige of control out of the patient’s hands, and gives it to whomever else is there. Unless that’s what you’re trying to do?
OP, being scared of surgery and spinal needles is NORMAL. There are so many women out here who would have told you that, at that moment, had they been there. I know I would have. Doc was being rude and unprofessional, and had no business treating you like that. You were acting exactly the way any other rational mom in your situation would act.
There was definitely something wrong with someone in that room. But it wasn’t you.
I hope you heal from this. ((hugs))
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Mom of One had this to say,
Mar 26, 2011 @ 6:57 pm (Quote)
This is mine. (Sorry for the delay in posting)
This is just one example of the moronic, incompetent staff I had to deal with during an overall horrible experience.
I had asked for a general anesthesthetic because I had an extreme fear of needles in my back and was flat out refused. (I do understand why GA is not usually done but I was determined not to have a needle in my back!)
I had also just been given a catheter without anesthesthetic (by being forcibly held down by three nurses while I screamed for them not to)even though I requested that it be done after the spinal.
The actual spinal was done in the OR with my husband not allowed in the room!
The nine page long complaint letter I sent to the hospital explained exactly what was wrong with me!
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“Well, I’m not a medical professional, but I would guess she’s laboring, scared and in pain.”
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Cmat Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 5:37 am Cmat(Quote)
The only thing I think should be added to that is..
“and you’re being an insensitive b*stard.”
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Jane Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 6:10 am Jane(Quote)
I think half the time, if we state the obvious with a tone of genuine artlessness, that would be the implication.
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