Inside the Patient’s Waiting Room
“I feel guilty that I have to treat my own body.
That I have to deny what my body needs.”
It is Tiana’s 6-month follow-up appointment. She is sitting in the clinic room, looking around on the wall. Tiana notices research studies, the computer on the desk, and the medical equipment around her. As Tiana takes in the clinic, she begins to gather her thoughts about her health from the past six months to share with her doctor.
The resident doctor walks in and introduces themselves. Tiana does the same. They start looking over her chart and results – her blood work from the last 6 months, height, weight, and blood pressure. Everything looks good.
The resident proceeds to ask the basics: What do you do for a living? Who do you live with at home? How have you been managing your pain these last few months?
Then, questions about Sickle Cell Disease arise.
How many pain killers do you take in a month? Most times, Tiana can’t remember. She says “one, maybe two, a month.” The resident jots that down and continues to ask more questions.
Where do you feel most of your pain? Tiana says, “in my arms, back and mostly my legs.” Tiana fidgets with her fingers but tries to remain still and maintain eye contact.
After the questions, the resident asks to do a mini physical. The resident checks Tiana’s stomach and sees that she has had her spleen and gallbladder removed. He checks Tiana’s breathing with a stethoscope. He then tells Tiana that she can sit up and come off the examination table.
Everything looks good and the doctor will be in to see you shortly. Tiana is now sitting back in the chair. The room’s door is closed and waiting for the doctor to enter.
As she waits, Tiana pulls her phone out of her purse and notices a few messages. She does not answer any of the messages – she just looks at them and puts her phone away. By this time, Tiana has been in the room for about 20 minutes. She can’t wait to go home.
The doctor enters the room. Tiana looks up at him and says “hello.” He answers back but seems to be in a rush. Tiana reflected that rushed encounters often leave her feeling as a subject as opposed to a person. Tiana often has these interactions in healthcare. She wonders if workers want to get through appointments as quickly as possible.
The doctor has looked through the resident’s notes and sees that, overall, Tiana is doing well with her health. She exercises, eats well, and gets a good amount of sleep on most nights.
The doctor asks if Tiana needs a refill on Hydroxyurea or Tylenol 3 and Tiana says that she just needs a refill of Hydroxyurea. Tiana knows she has enough Tylenol 3 to last her for now, but she worries about calling the clinic for more in the future.
The doctor begins to close the appointment: I will need you to do blood work every month and I have written a prescription for you to get a refill of Hydroxyurea. Do you have any questions for me? Would you like to speak to the social worker before you leave? Tiana responds, “no, I do not have any questions at this time and I have the contact information for when I need to speak to the social worker.”
Tiana gets her paperwork from the doctor. She heads to reception to get her next appointment set up and exits the hospital.
***
This story illustrates what a patient with Sickle Cell Disease may go through at their appointment. The anxiety, fear, and stigma that one may face at their appointment can be a lot to take on mentally and physically. Patients with Sickle Cell Disease go through pain daily and the added pressure of life makes it difficult to cope. Sometimes, patients may require medication.
My biggest goal with this article, past, future and present, is to show that what people with Sickle Cell Disease go through is real and to paint a picture of what it looks like on the inside for a person with a chronic illness. Everyone’s story is different and you may have different experiences inside the waiting room – but this is mine.
About the Author
Hope lives with Sickle Cell Disease.
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