How long would you sit in an exam room before walking out?

[RainMaker]

So I had my first appointment with a surgeon scheduled yesterday for my gallbladder. I understand these doctors are busy but it was a bizarre experience.

They immediately tell me the doctor is running 30 minutes late. That's fine, not in a rush. A nurse takes me back to take my vitals and sends me back to the waiting room. That same nurse comes out 5 minutes later and calls my name. Seems really confused that I'm the same person they just took vitals from. Oh well.

Next I sit in an exam room. Waiting, waiting, waiting. I finally left after around an hour and 40 minutes. Poked my head out a couple times but didn't see any nurses around. Never had anyone come in and tell me the doctor would be in shortly. Just me and the room for an hour and 40 minutes.

What would your limit be? I guess I could have caused a fuss and gotten someone in to see me. But after an hour and 15 of nothing, I kind of realized this wasn't someone I wanted to have cut me open.

I don't know proper etiquette here so I'm not sure if I'm an idiot for leaving or if everyone else would have done the same thing.

Oh and when I left there was no one at the receptionist desk so I just walked out.

[Lathum]

I would have left. In complete agreement not someone I want cutting me open.

[thesloppy]

I feel you. I had a similarly poor example with a specialist doctor & his office before, and was so bewildered that I just kind of walked away too. I had looked him/them up online before going in, and he was remarkably horribly rated, but at the time I figured "how bad can it be?" (real bad!) and I'd have had to wait months to get an appointment anywhere else.


As you said, it's probably a good thing you didn't let those folks cut you open, if they can't even get the exam right.

[molson]

An hour with no contact or warning that it would be that length of time would be my absolute limit.

Though it might be shorter than that depending on the general vibe around the place.

1:40 though - I might be morbidly curious just to see how long it would take after that.....Though it's not like I could parlay it into free surgery or something.

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by molson

1:40 though - I might be morbidly curious just to see how long it would take after that.....Though it's not like I could parlay it into free surgery or something.

Yeah. I had several folks I should've complained and/or reported the doc I dealt with for malpractice or something, and I was like I went in the doctor to improve my lot, not to get extra homework.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by molson

1:40 though - I might be morbidly curious just to see how long it would take after that.....Though it's not like I could parlay it into free surgery or something.

I had thought about that but I had plans that evening and needed to be out.

Well at least I don't feel so bad walking out. Wasn't sure if that kind of wait is normal or what. I wouldn't have minded as much if someone was coming in and explaining to me the surgeon was running real late.

[Dodgerchick]

Yeah, good thing you left. Did you mention anything? I would have, maybe there was a mix-up.

When I was pregnant with my son, they had me waiting naked, in those gown thingies and I sat. Waiting... waiting... waiting. It must have been about an hour. I was in there so long, that tissue stuff started tearing and sticking to my skin. I put my clothes on, walked out and said, "Yeah.. I've been waiting for over an hour, I'm going home." They apologized profusely and as it turns out, one of the clerks forgot to put my chart up, so the OBGYN had no idea I was in there. They said they can put a rush and I'd be the next person on the list. I was 8 months pregnant, we lived in Phoenix, and it was hotter than a mother fucker. Nah, I'm good, I'll come back another day.

[Dodgerchick]

dola,

Is it possible there was mixup with you as well? I'm a sucker, I give people the benefit of the doubt.

[RendeR]

I've sat for a bit over an hour before but they did stop once to reassure me they were just backed up and were coming along.

[Logan]

As I read it, I expected you bailed at around the 30 minute mark so you gave some serious benefit there.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

dola,

Is it possible there was mixup with you as well? I'm a sucker, I give people the benefit of the doubt.

Probably a decent chance of this. But that doesn't leave me with a good first impression of the doctor who is supposed to be cutting me open.

At least it wasn't a gown situation. If that was the case, I'd have been really mad.

[Suicane75]

Not a minute before he takes his finger out.

[ISiddiqui]

I once waited at my dentist office for a root canal for like 2 hours. I almost walked out a few times, but realized that my tooth would only get increasingly uncomfortable if I left and tried to find someone else/some other time.