No Relief, Embarrasing Moment

Published

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.

Why didn't anyone think "Oh, Marie, ya know I bet she'd like to pee", especially during such a looonng case. I'm assuming the dr. is a male and has a bladder the size of the Grand Canyon?

Good for you for speaking up. Maybe next time this won't happen.

I had the same problem with my periods. Heavy, heavy bleeding with severe cramps every month. Going through a tampon every 30mins to 1 hr. I started my BC pills and it has helped sooo much. Keep your head up and know that next month it won't be so bad.:)

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I can go 8 hours w/o a pee break. Definately don't do it that often.

That surgeon wasn't the kind that got annoyed if assistants swap out. But i wasn't about to share my personal problem with him, either.

I can go 8 hours w/o a pee break. Definately don't do it that often.

That surgeon wasn't the kind that got annoyed if assistants swap out. But i wasn't about to share my personal problem with him, either.

I've claimed I had to go hurl before. I'd do it again.

You know, if this happens to you again and you request a break and they decline, can you demand that your nurse manager come down and explain why you can't take a pee break?

Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

And once again I am grateful I now longer have to deal w/those issues!!! Here's a suggestion: Next time, back up your usual protection w/a baby diaper. It will work, and, and hopefully, you won't have blood running down your legs! Shame on your coordinator!

So from 7:25 to 15:30 and along with repeated requests, this coordinator could not relieve you for breaks. It sounds like this person was just toooo lazy to bother to schedule/send anyone to relieve you. Sounds mean-spirited to boot. Probably didn't like that you requested another room for "personal matters" and needed a break for that reason (like a woman wouldn't know what that means). I hope your manager gives her royal whatfor in this instance.

Irregardless of whether you had called for a pee break or for personal matters, keeping you waiting for 5 hours after you initial request is just plain VINDICTIVE MEANNESS on her part.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

So, your're telling me it's a regular thing to go 8 hours with out a break to pee in OR? I guess that would be true especially since some surgeries take hours and hours, but I don't see how you can do that. I have to pee like every 2-3 hours and I don't even drink enough water. It would have been even more embarressing for me, I'd have peed on the floor! Do the surgeons perform, for example, a 12 hour surgery and NOT take a break to pee or eat? Geez, we are human. I see why nurses have a high rate of UTI. You almost need a catheter in to participate in surgery. I'm sorry that happened Marie.:o

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Next time, back up your usual protection w/a baby diaper.

Shouldn't have to do that, though.

If it ever resorted to that, i'd be back in the supervisor's office again.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
So, your're telling me it's a regular thing to go 8 hours with out a break to pee in OR?

Well, not for us anyway, it happens occaisionally on the big cases.

And i usualy don't mind, except for instances like this.

that's horrible, reminds me of high school. An incident or some other typ of report needs to be filled out about that. 8 hours straight with no pee break, stinks. i don't think i could handle it (especially after having had a child). I could drink any coffee or water that's for sure. I hope that manager gets in major trouble.

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.

Bless your heart.

So sorry you had to go through that, Marie. I hope your supervisor gets her head handed to her.

Like others have said, I'm sorry that happened.

I would hate to have to get anyone's permission just to use the restroom, period. :angryfire No pun intended.

Could you have just gone to use the bathroom anyway? Or would that have been insubordination?

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