Okay, so I'm at the pharmacy last night asking for some calmoseptine. No big deal, right? WRONG!!! Well, because of it being cold and flu season there were 1000 people there and when it came to be my turn I told the tech what I needed. She asked what it was and I explained that it was a barrier cream. I was trying to be as discreet as possible with all of the people standing around and all. She then loudly asked if I had a baby. I told her no that it was for me and I said no more. Then the "bleepity bleeeping" pharmacy tech fought with me that I did not need the calmoseptine because it was diaper cream. SOOOO, basically she left me there to explain to her and everybody that was listening that I was VERY sure that was what I wanted and it was for me. HOW HUMILIATING!!!!!! This was one of those times that I wish I had something rude and witty to say.

Most definatley a HIPPA violation. I hope you complain to the manager.That was totally uncalled for and unproffesional at the very least. I'm sorry you had to experience that.
LoriP

Once I was at the MD office. It was absolutely packed with people. There was a new person working the desk. There was some confusion regarding my apt. and my insurance. She kept sliding back the little privacy window and in front of everyone kept saying so why are you here? I am normally a very private quiet person. Being in the medical field I really understand how important it is to maintain a persons privacy, dignity, and confidentiality.

I finally stood up in front of everyone and said: "Well my MD is a colon and rectal surgeon. He wants to check the warranty under the hood, for the work he has done". I actually turned to the people in the waiting room and announced that. I was smiling, I do have a sense of humor. Afterward privately I kindly said to the person that she had emabarrased me. I have done that at the pharmacy also.
If I didn't laugh sometimes I would cry. However, I won't leave upset and embarrassed anymore. I also would not humiliate the person that did that to me but I will always talk to that person after, respectfully. If they are not receptive I do not leave without talking to the office manager.
JA

I was at the drug store looking for that wheatgrass cream dermawheat. I couldnt find it so I went to the pharmacy to ask. The first thing they said was "Isnt wheatgass a food?" I told them no its a cream. They were very confused so she asked who it was for. I said it was "uhhh for a baby" they asked why U wanted the wheat grass cream. From there I just started making things up. I said the doc had recommended it. Then they said they would call the doctor to find out the exact name of the cream. I told them I didnt have the number and it just got worse from there. Its so embarrasing to have to tell people you use diaper cream. But i guess unless you have questions its a little less embarrasing knowing that they wont know its for you

I am lucky enough that one of the girls who works at the pharmacy I go to has IBD and knows I have a J pouch. So she is always very helpful and discreet when helping me.

Some people are just ignorant. What gives a pharmacy tech the right to decide what over the counter cream you need or don't need? I hope you had a chat with the owner or manager.

Becky

I may get busted for this post but it seems appropriate for this thread so I'll chance it.

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There's nothing worse than a doctor's receptionist who insists you tell her what is wrong in a room full of other patients.

I know most of us have experienced this, and I love the way this senior citizen handled it.

An 86 year old man walked into a crowded doctor's office. As he approached the desk, the receptionist said, "Yes sir, what are you seeing the doctor for today?"

There's something wrong with my dick," he replied. The receptionist became irritated and said, "You shouldn't come into a crowded office and say things like that."

"Why not? You asked me what was wrong and I told you," he said. The receptionist replied, "You've obviously caused some embarrassment in this roomful of people. You should have said there's something wrong with your ear or something and then discussed the problem further with the doctor in private."

The man replied, "You shouldn't ask people things in a room full of others, if the answer could embarrass anyone."

The man walked out, waited several minutes and then reentered. The receptionist smiled smugly and asked, "Yes?"

"There's something wrong with my ear," he stated. The receptionist nodded approvingly and smiled, knowing he had taken her advice. "And what is wrong with your ear, sir?"

"I can't piss out of it," the man replied.

The doctor's office erupted in laughter

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I suppose I should have posted this to "Just for Laughs" but it seemed to fit here with this discussion.

They say that laughter is one of the best medicines known to man/woman and this is definately still on topic!

Thanks for putting a smile on my face. Perhaps we can use this pensioner's response to our own advantage if this sort of thing happens to any of us again?

Shell

JP, wonderfully appropriate in my mind! Thank you so much for the chuckle this morning! I will remember this, if a situation such as this happens to me again!!

Jp that was awesome

Alexandra, I had the same problem at my pharmacy. There were tons of people behind me, and I was trying to get calmoseptine. I had to explain what it was, and I knew I would embarass everyone around me more than I could ever embarass myself, so I just loudly stated that it is a cream for fecal incontinence. The pharmacist turned beat red, starting at a 17 year old girl needing fecal incontinence barrier cream, and didn't ask another question. I'm sure he felt like a moron after that. Because really, they don't need to know what it is. You give the name and they see if they have it. It's that simple. But for the pharmacist to challenge me on it? Oh god, I would have been livid. I think if worst comes to worst and you can't think of anything else to say, a swift
"go f--- yourself" will do in these kinds of situations. But, maybe you not saying anything was for the best, because I have a loud mouth and it hasn't really gotten me anywhere

But you should DEFINITELY talk to the manager. The pharmacist had NO right to decide what you need and didn't need.

Chelsea- I like your style.
LoriP

Similar situation happened with me. This was before the surgery, so I was about 14.

I was picking up my refills in the pharmacy with my mom and she asked for Calmoseptine. My mom is an RN at this hospital, and the pharmacist knew her. The pharmacist said something to the effect of it being for and elderly patient. My mom chuckled and said no, it was for her daughter. Then the pharmacist assumed she needed it for a baby and told her what she really wanted was some other cream.

My mom assured her she knew what she wanted, the pharmacist argued with her and they went back and forth for a few minutes. My mom wouldn't give details about why her daughter need it, trying to save me the embarassment.

I was standing next to my mom and finally I interupted and said very loudly, "I am her daughter, and I need the Calmoseptine because I have Ulcerative Colitis. You know, it is a chronic disease where you have frequent and urgent bloody diarrhea. I need the Calmoseptine because my but gets raw from pooping and wiping so much. I am pretty sure that my mom knows what I need."

The pharmacist apologized to me and my mom, and I got my cream, along with a few sympathetic looks from others in the waiting area.

My other favorite is while turning in the scrip for nitroglycerin, and they question me about what it is for, in front of everyone. When I get the blank look after telling them its for fissures and they ask what that is, I tell them I have tears in my anus. That shuts them up.

I figure that I would rather be blunt than let myself get embarassed. I would rather embarass them for asking unnecassary questions.

I like JP's story, I laughed so hard I had tears!!!

Chelsea, you sound just like me ten years ago when I was 17!!!

I cannot believe how many people have been put in ackward/embarassing situations! You'd think that people would be much more discreet and considerate. It's not like we're purchasing a product which we could be 'abusing' or using in a manner which could be bad for our health. Just let us buy our barrier creams in peace! Lol.

Thought I was the only one that had to seal with morons ! I had to Tell mine it was for my a$$ Bleep and tell her the color of the container it was in now I can see where they put it and I say that stuff!! gimmie! and they shut up and give it to me.


Sounds like pharmacy's need to train there people more because not all that stuff is for babies Geez and if it was none of there buisness what we are buying its not illegal grrrr.

I agree that by answering truthfully about why we need these items embarrasses the pharmasist and the people around us more. I figure that when I'm blunt with them and embarrass them they will learn a lesson and won't question someone else like that again.

I argued with a server in a restaurant one time for asking them to leave off the lettuce and tomato on a hamburger. She kept asking whey I couldn't eat it and and I said I had a medical condition that prevented me from eating it (I can eat them now thankfully) and she actually said AGAIN, "Well why can't you eat it?"
I said, "Well I suppose I could eat it...IF I HAD A COLON!!!!"
That stopped a few converstations around us but she finally left me alone.