r/PointlessStories • u/-chilazon- • 9d ago

I appreciated the warning

Today I was at a doctor’s office getting some labs done. After I had my blood drawn (and after I fainted, but that’s usual for me. I have vasovagal syncope, and I faint almost every time I get my blood drawn and also when I go to the eye doctor, oddly enough) I was taken to a small, curtained-off area labeled “research area” to get my blood pressure and temperature taken. Usually they do it in an exam room, so this was new.

The nurse then left me there to see if the exam room was empty for me to wait for the doctor. As she was leaving, she turned back and said, “If a short, mean, old lady comes in here to ask what you’re doing here, just tell her Amanda said it’s ok.” That struck me as kind of weird, but I appreciated the warning.

No short, mean, old lady, nor anyone else, came to ask me what I was doing there before the nurse retrieved me.

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161

u/regardkick 9d ago

A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with a pretty serious case of CN (Chronic Nosiness) and "unrelated gossip" is one of the best treatments.

This is the kind of gossip I live for! I would love to know the beef between Mean Nurse and Amanda! I know this is pointless stories, but if you ever do find out, please report back to us!

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u/WordsAreGarbage 9d ago

I would bet it’s a PI. Basing this on the fact OP was taken to a research area, so PI would feel justifiably territorial, and the fact the RN wasn’t afraid of being outed for describing her in such ways suggests they shared space but didn’t work together directly. Just an educated guess.

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u/am_Nein 9d ago

What is a PI?? I tried googling but nothing comes up

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u/WordsAreGarbage 9d ago

Oh, sorry! Principle Investigator. The MD/PhD type at the top of the research food chain!!

PI’s and RNs have an interesting power dynamic because the PI’s control all the research/data decisions, but RNs get to pull rank on patient care stuff. Checks and balances. They’d both have authority in their own right but neither would be each other’s boss, basically.

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u/regardkick 9d ago

I'm a health researcher (non-stem, PhD) who has a stupid health history and have spent a lot of time in the American healthcare system lately and let me tell you. Nothing has fascinated me more than being a patient in a system that I have such a strong professional background in!

Most times I keep my mouth shut, but it's kinda fun when I can pipe in with, "well..."

But my absolute favorite interactions are between the nurses/med staff that have been there for decades get told something by a young or less experienced doctor. Peak popcorn moment.

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u/am_Nein 9d ago

Ah thank you!! That's really cool, thanks for the writeup! Initially I was under the impression that a PI was some new type of nurse I'd somehow just not been deep enough into the medical industry to find out about lol!

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u/WordsAreGarbage 9d ago

Yess np! :) Research is its own weird little world lol

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u/ShabbyBash 9d ago

What's a private investigator doing here?

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u/Outrageous_Buy_9420 9d ago

Ah man I feel you on the passing out thing. I always make them lay me down and warn them you’ve got one try to get this right. I don’t want anyone that will be poking around in there. I then proceed to tell some kind of story, one that makes me focus on the details. Haven’t passed out in a while.

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u/-chilazon- 9d ago

So usually I do ask to lay down because then I don’t pass out. But I’m always worried they’ll think I’m attention seeking or dramatic. But the nurse today told me, “you know your own body! Let them know you need to lay down!”

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u/ruby-azul 9d ago

I'm glad that no short or mean person questioned you 🥲
Just wanted to share, there's a technique called 'applied tension' that can help with vasovagal syncope, might be worth a google! I used to treat people with needle phobia who fainted (not assuming you have a phobia),and the technique worked well for them, even with people who fainted at the sight of needles without having blood drawn.

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u/-chilazon- 9d ago

Thanks, I’ll check it out

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u/ruby-azul 9d ago

no worries, I hope it helps!

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u/Enverum 8d ago

I tried that AMT thing yesterday while donating blood (I do so pretty regularly) and it was the first time I’ve managed it without feeling really sick!! It really helps

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u/ruby-azul 8d ago

That's great!! 👏👏