r/mildlyinfuriating • u/transfatpikachu • 1d ago

I just wanted a hot dog Doctor’s appointment scheduled at 9:00am, still waiting almost an hour later

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I have a lot of doctor’s appointments, and I know how busy and hard these people work. I’m not mad at them and I’d never be rude. I know it’s not on purpose. Nevertheless, it’s still a bit infuriating to make time for a scheduled appointment, arrive 15 minutes early (required), and then wait this long with not even an acknowledgment of the delay from anyone. Sigh. 9:55 now, still waiting.

Edit: I really appreciate all the comments! The doctor ended up coming in shortly after 10. This was a specialist ortho appointment for my shoulder. Still no acknowledgement of the delay, which would’ve been nice, but I’m more annoyed that my concerns were pretty much brushed off again during the whole 3ish minutes he spent with me. I know waits can get long, I wouldn’t care as much if the doctor had at least seemed somewhat concerned with my issue. Sigh… gotta love American healthcare!

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u/FireflyRave 1d ago

My worst one was for a woman's wellness and pap smear. I'm taken back for vitals and questions all in good time. Get told to change into the gown and someone will be back.

That's the part that took nearly an hour. Of waiting in any-minute-now limbo for THAT exam. I wanted to stick my head out to try to get a time update but kept hearing a kid through the door. And those gowns do absolutely nothing.

And it was a later afternoon appointment. I started having the worst case scenario "fantasy" of being left behind from everyone going home. By the time my exam did start, it was after clinic closing hour.

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u/shakeyshake1 1d ago

That happened to me once. I got dressed, walked out of the room, and told them to just give me a minute’s heads up before the doctor was coming so I could change back into the vest and paper drape because I wasn’t going to sit there nearly naked any longer than I had to.

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u/voice_in_the_woods 1d ago

This happened to me, except it was like an 8 am appointment and I could hear her chatting in the hallway the entire time. I ended up dropping her anyway after I discovered she was antivax and how she pushed exams every year or wouldn't give BC.

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u/NeedsItRough 1d ago

and how she pushed exams every year or wouldn't give BC.

Wait is this not standard? I thought all obgyns did this (but I've only been to one my whole life)

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u/voice_in_the_woods 1d ago

No, if you're healthy you don't need a pelvic exam every year. Now I just go in every 3-5 (can't remember the guidelines) years for a pap smear. Wish it hadn't taken me like 10 years to realize it.

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u/NeedsItRough 1d ago

Woooooow, that's wild. They quite literally held my BC hostage from when I was a teen until I got a tubal ligation at like, 27 💀

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u/FireflyRave 1d ago

Isn't that a newer standard though? "New" being in the last 5-10 years. I'm trying to remember when I first came across a provider who would prescribe my birth control without having an exam every single year. My results may be screwed because I was in the Army, and their healthcare, until 2017.

Not even sexually active so my chances of cervical cancer are that much lower. I just want to make my period fuck off as much as possible. If insurance would cover it, I would want them to remove all the baby maker material. Instead of needing to wait another ~10 years for actual menopause.

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u/Large_Independent198 1d ago

It’s standard. Insurance only requires it every 3 years, but you should absolutely be getting checked every year.

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u/Dry_Matter_3853 23h ago

Insurance doesn't require it at all. 

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u/Large_Independent198 22h ago

Yeah, requires is the wrong word. I meant recommends * it only 3 years, but ACOG says it should be every year

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u/Traditional-Bed9449 1d ago

As someone who’s HPV turned into precancerous cells quickly, I agree. I feel getting checked frequently saved me from developing cancer. I’d take the intrusive test than having to deal with cancer treatments.

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u/sonnenblumexx 19h ago

Agreed. I'm reading these and am kinda shocked at how many people are dismissing how important it is. Sometimes it's worth being uncomfortable so you don't die

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u/Casoscaria 1d ago

I was sitting ready for my pap for an hour once. However, the nurses kept sticking their head in the door to apologize and let me know something was going on, and even told me I could change back until he was ready.

When the doctor came in, he apologized profusely. Apparently another patient had come in shortly after I was roomed, and was having a early-stage miscarriage. He was making sure she was physically okay and consoling her until her partner could come get her since she was absolutely devistated.

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u/pagerunner-j 1d ago

That happened to me once and I didn't want to get dressed again and then have to disrobe a second time, so I called the front desk. Someone rushed in in a big apologetic hurry not long after.

We've all got phones with us now everywhere we go. Use 'em!

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u/FireflyRave 1d ago

My phone was in my stuff across the room. I think I was stuck in the loop of, if I get up to call, they're bound to walk through the door, just give it another couple minutes.

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u/MurielFinster 1d ago

My OB is always at least an hour and a half behind. Most I waited was 3 hours. They have no snacks and won’t let you leave. I have GD and need to eat every few hours. It’s such a joke that offices double and triple book.

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u/jaeke 1d ago

GYN can be particularly bad since on case can derail you as they attend a delivery, comfort someone with a miscarriage, or discuss a new cancer diagnosis. Their days get blown apart way too often and easy.

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u/Any_Cauliflower_539 1d ago

Me too but I had asked for a urine STD test, I told the nurse specifically before I went to pee in the cup. I promptly gave it back to her, she gave me a pregnancy test (I’m celibate?!) and tossed my urine. The GYN was upset on my behalf at least 😭

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u/Some_Weather_8570 1d ago

Omg that’s terrible, sitting naked waiting

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u/R3bussy 1d ago

One time I went in to get dental x-rays. They brought me into the room, sat me in the chair, put the apron thingy on me, and fucked off somewhere for an hour and six minutes. I actually fell asleep in the chair because the room was cold but I was made cozy by my sweater and the weight of the apron. I only woke up because I heard the clatter of someone dropping some dental instruments somewhere down the hall. They showed up a few minutes after that.

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u/StitchOni 1d ago

I've been in such a bad mood this week I'd probably storm out in the gown, not tied up properly cuz I'm shit at that apparently, and stand in the middle of the waiting room asking wtf is happening about my appointment