CAN'T GET ANY WORSE?? OR CAN IT?

I went to the PCP today for bloodwork, EKG and pap. Well, cut to the short story. They couldnt do the pap because it was that time of month and she doesnt do it then so I was sorta glad Well she is sending me for a urine test and I get a small cup and Im on my way to the bathroom with it right? Well, I know everyone has different "belly" sizes but mine hangs BAD like the apron effect and COULD NOT get the cup where it needed to be.So I tryed and tryed and Im getting all upset because I KNEW they needed it TODAYNeedless to say, it went ON the floor and DOWN my leg and DRIPPLE in the cup... I could have died... So Im trying to get paper towel and wipe the floor, clean me and worry at the same time if it wasnt enough urine for the test. But they didnt use the cup deals that go under the toilet lid???? go figure, some offices do .. It just made my day. Needless to say.. She is NOT writing my letter until I get my blood pressure under control.. It was high.. WONDER WHY!! She gave me a prescription for toprol 50mg and wants me to come back next friday for another blood pressure check .She did give me appointments for the pulminary test and stress test. I didnt think she would give me even that today because of my high blood pressureSo I am so fed up with today till im going to and maybe tommorrow will be better. (At least I can PEE in my own toilet lol hugs to ya'll margaret

Ohh Margaret!! I am so sorry you went through all that.. I do understand your frustration with tryin to pee in those little cups.. I too have that nasty over-hanging belly that keeps me from being able to do that lovely task!! I can never get it either!! Ive been lucky enough that my doctor knows and understands so he sends the cup home with me so I can do it at my own time and then bring the cup back to his office.. I am lucky to have such a caring and understanding doc!! It will get better though!! Just relax and get that blood pressure under control!! Amber M

Margaret, I am right there with you. My first visit with my new pcp and they wanted a urine test too. The girl gave me the teenie weenie cup and pointed to the bathroom. I said to her 'you must be kidding?' She said 'no, why what's the problem?' Ummm, was she absent when they gave out eyes!? I knew that wasn't the case as her eyes (and most others) immediately dropped down to my belly when she first met me. I asked for one of the under the seat cup kind of things, and she looked at me like I had 3 heads. She asked another girl there and she said they didn't have that type. Oh yippee... Luckily the doctor understood and said I could take it home... thank goodness! Huggs, Ruth

Hey Ruth and everybody!! My visit to the OBGYN was today. I figured out why my blood-pressure was so high on the last visit. It was because they want you to step on that little 1/2 step and then "fling" your body backwards and back-up on that paper-sheet..that by this time is ripped to shreds. Then, imediately they want to take your blood pressure while you are still huffing and puffing from the previous ordeal!! This time I asked the nurse if she could give me a few minutes before she did my Blood pressure. She looked at me like.....what???I'm in a hurry here! She did my BP and it was sooooo much lower! I wonder why?? I still had to sit there with my 1/2 paper sheet for about 20 minutes before my dr. finally came in for the procedure. By that time my legs were so numb and my back was so sore from just sitting there, that the procedure (biopsy) was a total cake walk! Please excuse my spelling.....It doesn't count against me does it?? Virginia

I thought I was the only one this happened too!!!! The cup fell in the toilet...I also had to clean up the floor...I knew they were wondering what was taking so long...NONE of it made it in the cup! Next time I am going to ask for one of those under-the-lid cups or else bring a sample with me from home! You guys are great! Thanks for sharing as you do!

Margaret I'm really sorry you had such a hard day..I to can attest to the misery of trying to squat over a "medicine" cup to urinate! I'm always worried about who is beside me, if Anything is Touching the seat, if I"m getting enough in the darn cup...just total trauma! I get really nervous and flustered any time I have to go see the doc for ANY reason and they always end up taking my pressure twice. They want me to sit and just relax for a few minutes. Yea okay that's really gonna happen when I am mentally picturing the torture that is waiting for me behind the doors!! I guess I just expect everyone in my everyday life to be ignorant and make stupid comments and stare but when I walk into a doctors office I "should" feel comfortable. It's so sickening the way overweight/obese people get treated. I wish I had a quarter for every time my hubby has said "Jamie they are not laughing at you or Jamie they are not looking at you...its all in your mind..." What The HE@@??!! Has anyone else experienced that??

hi margaret: i'm so sorry you had a tough time at the dr's office. i've had issues with those stupid little cups, too. it's gotten so that i drink about a gallon of water ahead of time so it's niagara falls when i need it to be. that backfired on me once though, too. i ended up not needing a sample but my bladder was so full i don't remember the rest of the appt. all i could think about was having to GO. you did get a couple of your appts - so that's a good thing. i hope your blood pressure comes down soon - it probably will once you're away from the 'white coats'. take care, girl, i'll talk to you soon. hugs dorthe

Margaret, I'm so sorry you endured all that! I know it's small comfort for your embarrassment, but I've been there, done that too. Your doctor's office personnel sound like real clods. I worked in medical administration for years ... and these are things I know to be true ... you have the right to be accomodated in any way your physical being needs to be accomodated, and you have the right to complain to your physician (or higher ups) if those accomodations aren't met. Doctors' offices are bound by the ADA (obesity IS listed as a disability) and other federal authorities to properly care for their patients. Providing something as simple as a larger urine cup for an obese patient should be automatic. And, regarding this, doesn't your doctor treat handicapped, non-ambulatory and elderly patients? Surely so ... which means they would HAVE to have the under-the-toilet-seat urine collectors on hand for those patients. They were certainly standard supplies in our lab ... a no-brainer. You have the right to ask your nurse or your physician to have the larger urine collector on hand for your next visit. If you need a larger gown, it's your right to request that be waitng for you as well. If you will be needing assistance, ditto. It's a lot easier to make these sorts requests ahead of time by telephone, than to have to stand face to face with someone and feel embarrassed, and this advice goes toward hospitalizations as well. By definition, a visit to a doctor/hospital is stressing, no matter what the reason. For us, just the act of walking from the parking lot into the office can be physically draining and painful. This alone can raise our b/p. So, when you get to your exam room, tell your nurse you need a moment or two to become settled and collected before she takes your b/p. Any professional worth their mettle (key words there) will have no problem in giving you a few minutes before proceeding. I do this and the nurse usually leaves the room for 10 minutes or so. While she's gone, I use the time to settle myself down, relax and breathe deeply. Almost always, my blood/pressure is lower than it would have been. Keep your head up, girlfriend, and never forget YOU'RE the one to be served and taken care of, it's NOT the other way round (you serving them) even though they might sometimes make you feel that way. Sorry if I sound like I'm on a soapbox about this, but this sort of thing just gets WA-A-A-A-A-A-Y under my skin ... patients' rights issues always do. I'll hush now! Blessings and best wishes in your continued journey to wellness, Myra

"never forget YOU'RE the one to be served and taken care of, it's NOT the other way round (you serving them) even though they might sometimes make you feel that way. Sorry if I sound like I'm on a soapbox about this, but this sort of thing just gets WA-A-A-A-A-A-Y under my skin ... patients' rights issues always do. I'll hush now! " My feelings exactly, Myra! ~ Tina

I have the same problem with peeing in a cup . So now I just do it before I leave home in a cup ,put a top on it and then take it to the bathroom and pour it in their cup. Works everytime. Also tongs can help. At least we learn to be resourceful. I think I am now ready to enter Survivors....... Love Regina