Hate waiting rooms

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?

Parents
  • 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.

  • 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.

Reply Children
  • 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.