No Relief, Embarrasing Moment

Nurses General Nursing

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This thread involves the subject of menstruation, somewhat descriptive, so if that's a disturbing subject to you, well, you know.

I was scheduled for a long back case today, and this was also the 2nd day of my period. Every once in awhile (once a year or so), my period is heavy, as in, soaking a tampon and 2 pads stuck together.

I'd asked for another room that gave me better odds of getting a bathroom break, but that didn't happen (i simply said that due to personal matters, i would need a morning break, which those don't always happen). Coordinator says "Schedule's made, and i ain't fixing it."

So i go to this room, case starts at 8, last bathroom visit was at 7:25. I asked for relief at 10, then 10:30 am after that wasn't answered. Kept asking, got told "no" over and over by the coordinator. I could already tell that there was a problem. Physically uncomfortable, yeah, being soaked, and not a thing i could do about it.

3:30 pm rolls around, case is finally finished, i strip my paper gown off, and look down to find the inner legs my light blue cotton pants dark red. Before i could grab a blanket to cover this up, the surgeon says loudly "Oh, GOD, are you OK???" Ah, thank you for calling this to everyone's attention, this way they were able to see what you were talking about before i got ahold of that blanket.:stone

Hurried up and went down the hall, but not before stopping off at the desk and saying "All i needed was 5 minutes, and there have been extra people here all day, so WHY couldn't SOMEONE have come in for JUST 5 minutes??" (she knew this, i mentioned what was going on that morning) Didn't stick around for an answer, i went to the locker room, grab the necessary supplies (including underwear) and a new pair of pants, and trotted off to the bathroom. Went straight to the manager's office. Who, which i appreciate, was furious, and said "hell if it was an issue with staff, I could have relieved you. No one should be denied to go to the bathroom."

I expressed that, while this isn't actually something TO be embarrassed about, i was anyway, simply because a private matter became physically public, and really could have been avoided.

It'll be nice when i start the new BC pills.

Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
This thread involves the subject of menstruation, somewhat descriptive, so if that's a disturbing subject to you, well, you know.

... Who, which i appreciate, was furious, and said "hell if it was an issue with staff, I could have relieved you. No one should be denied to go to the bathroom."

I expressed that, while this isn't actually something TO be embarrassed about, i was anyway, simply because a private matter became physically public, and really could have been avoided.

It'll be nice when i start the new BC pills.

Hello Marie,

You know what, you are right. You let them know many times throughout the day that you needed relief, (you should not have needed to give them a blow by blow breakdown either, needed RELIEF is basic).

Even though the doc pointed it out, I am sure it was not to make you embarassed or to feel bad. I would only imagine that they felt on YOUR side and in support of you.

Whoever denied allowing you relief may now have both your manager AND that doc all over them.

There are only rare days when my flow is heavy and it is such a burden. Its not like we are taking a coffee break or anything!

Thank you for posting this. I do not feel alone and you actually gave me soem confidence in case I run into this.

Gen

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

This has happened to me, too. It's the pits. I know OB is not OR, but we don't always get breaks when we need em,either. I have spent many hours helping women pushing for 2-3 hours , bladder bursting, and knowing my pants will be stained. Sigh.......it's the worst. You have my sympathy, marie.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
is this an isolated incident or is her attitude always like this towards her staff? May need to pull together and get her transferred.

Yes, she is a woman and SHOULD understand. Not to mention, it is her job as coordinator, to find replacements/breaks for her staff. 8-3:30 with no bathroom break is grounds for some sort of action i would hope...what was SHE doing all day??????

It's not really an isolated incident, luckily she's PRN, but it's just amazing how she can "forget" to give people breaks, yet no one else forgets to do this.

What was she doing lol? Reading a book at some point, or that's what she was doing when i walked past the desk.

Specializes in M/S, OB, Ortho, ICU, Diabetes, QA/PI.

so she's a chick, eh? not that behaviour like that is excusable in a guy but I think it's even less excusable in a woman.............

a pox on her and may she have the dreaded combo of stress and incontinence in her old age :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
so she's a chick, eh? not that behaviour like that is excusable in a guy but I think it's even less excusable in a woman.............

a pox on her and may she have the dreaded combo of stress and incontinence in her old age :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I'm a firm believer in karma

:rotfl:

a pox on her and may she have the dreaded combo of stress and incontinence in her old age :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

:yeahthat: AMEN!

Sorry about that Marie! What a rotten thing to have to deal with. :icon_hug:

don't have anything to add, but I wanted to say I'm sorry you had such a rotten day, Marie!! :kiss :flowersfo

Specializes in M/S, OB, Ortho, ICU, Diabetes, QA/PI.
This has happened to me, too. It's the pits. I know OB is not OR, but we don't always get breaks when we need em,either. I have spent many hours helping women pushing for 2-3 hours , bladder bursting, and knowing my pants will be stained. Sigh.......it's the worst. You have my sympathy, marie.

I'll tell you, pushing vicariously with labour patients prepared me for pushing when I had my own kids!! :rotfl: :rotfl:

That Was Just Plain Wrong Especially When A Request Had Been Made. Next Time I Would Tell Them You Will Be Taking 1 Or 2 Bathroom Breaks.

OMG Marie, I am so sorry. Same thing happened to me, 1st day of a new job, couldn't get away no matter how hard I tried. It was an MD office, wearing a dress.

Never went back, I was too embarrassed.

My point is that I DO know how you feel and I am soooo sorry for you. That should have never happened.

I don't think you should be embarressed at all. Too bad you didn't just march into her office, in you stained scrubs, sat in her chair, on her couch or whatever you could of hers, and informed her she now owed you a new pair of underware ( why do we say pair of pants, and pair of underware? it's a single item.) Congrats for handling it with style.

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