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Hate waiting rooms

Robert124

I had an appointment at my GPs practice this morning to have my blood taken.

I arrived the textbook 10min early.  They eventually saw me 20min late.

So a 30min wait.  With all the people there.  Children making noises, people looking like they have the flu.

I was so stressed out.  I'm only now managing to recover.

Do other people feel like me?  Any coping hints?

  • in reply to Robert124

    Hi Robert all you say is common to me,but as I say less so than you,Only counted the seats? I will have counted everything as it is my stress reliever,stops me focusing on others.I then stress that if they just put my name up on one of the two screens I will miss it,there are adverts which I don't want to see but forced to in case. Not so bad if the tannoy is on but even that can be to low.Definately a stressful place,the other suggestions seem quite good,what about reading a book,and as for germs maybe act like you have a cold and keep a hanky near your mouth?

    you take care Robert as I said you got through it and are now talking about it,thus preparing and understanding how maybe to cope next time.sounds like a well thought out coping strategy.

  • in reply to Former Member

    I'm thankful for some useful suggestions.

    The GP waiting room has 48 seats(counted them to keep my mind busy).  And what really annoyed me was the uncertainty when I would be called and the people sweating as if they had the flu.

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Headphones. I always carry some for my phone and I listen to music. But you need to make sure you don't miss your call if that's the way they do it. Breathing is difficult because as you point out the GP surgery is a classic location for picking up a virus/flu/cold. I tend to stand and that way I can stand away from the seating area. It helps, but it's not perfect.

  • Hi Robert I do not feel it as strong as you but yes I do stress,Just going to our local chip shop is enough,usually I go quite late as no queues but last friday there were two men and as I stood waiting my heart rate got faster and louder! I calmed as they left.

    Apparently most don't even notice my anxiety so it must be mild for me,but it still effects me and the more people the worse it gets, I cannot even consider going into a pub!

    I also rush to get to my appointments and once there 45min waiting is nothing unusual,sometimes they have a stacking system,your name gets called to wait outside Dr ????'s room,three seats outside each room.

    I hope the blood test wasn't to stressful? I passed out after one blood test,it wasn't feinting? It doesn't bother the whole sight of blood thing.

    but just when all was completed ready to go and wallop I was no longer conscious? Had six staff around me when I came to.full alert response team,ended up in ambulance sirens and lites straight to hospital. Nothing found to be wrong?? Strange that,asked the nurse who took the blood and she said it definitely wasn't a feint as she deals with them often.I could not be roused at all. Zero response.

    Worst part of that for me was being pushed on a stretcher through the crowded waiting room.

    And ambulances are so uncomfortable,bumpy ride hurt my bad back.felt like it had solid wheels?

    take care and be proud you coped in your own way and that tomorrow is another day.

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