Crohn’s Disease- humiliated by receptionist at doctors

[KnittingMania]

I’m at doc surgery rn waiting for my appt. I have Crohn’s Disease and have to access toilet unexpectedly up to 12 times a day or more. So Sod’s Law it happened while waiting here. Immediately after I exited the toilet, having tried my best to mitigate odours by cleaning etc, the receptionist bustled out and went straight into toilet, huffed loudly, went elsewhere with lots of door banging and came back with air freshener. She then sprayed it not just in toilet but throughout the reception kind of passageway that is in clear view of the waiting area.

I cannot help being ill. I avoid so many things bc of this miserable and embarrassing illness. I thought I could feel safe at doc’s. They could provide air freshener in the toilet. But my point is wider- no one should be shamed by their illness in a doc surgery.

I would like to complain. Should I? It’s kind of embarrassing doing this. But I feel she should learn and raise her levels of understanding.

It never fails to amaze me how many people think their sh1t doesn’t stink. It’s a normal bodily function and nothing to be ashamed of. We all do it and I don’t know anyone whose poo comes out smelling daintily of Diorissimo. Not even my dainty daughter and elegant mama.

Poo stinks: dog, cat, horse, goat,fox, pig, cow, and HUMAN.

An open window and a good flush help. Synthetic scented chemicals mask and prolong it imo.

The receptionist was bang out of order. Treated you like shit imo. Complain.

No it's not 'normal'. It's rude, ignorant behaviour and she should know better. FYI VIPoo is pretty much useless when dealing with urgent diarrhoea.

OP, I'm so sorry you had to experience that. You should definitely complain. I've had crohns for 30 years and no ones ever embarrassed me like that. Shame on her.

Thank you @EvenlyDetermined and all of you who have made kind and supportive comments - your kindness has brought me to tears. Thank you. I hate this disease.

Thank you so much and I hope you’re doing as well as possible with your Crohn’s.

Never fails to amaze me how people are surprised that the room you poo in might smell like poo.

I made a similar complaint years ago when the receptionists were spraying air freshener and sniggering at a man who smelled pretty bad. For all the signs plastered everywhere about treating staff with respect, they need to do the same to the patients.

I’d definitely make the practice manager aware. It seems like they need a bit of a sensitivity refresher.
The idea of using VIPoo or similar isn’t necessarily realistic - it’s expensive, it’s yet another thing to carry around (at my worst, I’d already be carrying spare underwear, wipes, a plastic bag, etc), and given the general urgency, just getting the door locked and drawers down is an Olympic sport! Nobody wants to be the person who does everything based on proximity to toilets, or to be the person leaving a smell, but that’s life sometimes.

Good for you. I’d rather smell air freshener then shit!

That’s extremely cruel. She went out of her way to make a show of it. Write an email to the practice manager, detail it exactly. Copy in the partner GPs.

I’d rather someone with a horrible and chronic disease wasn't shamed and embarrassed in the process though.

What a stupid woman, she has no place working in a GP's if that's her attitude.

If I was in the surgery at the time I'd be complaining too, asthmatics don't need air fresheners spraying around liberally like that either.

I'm sorry this happened to you. Yes, I think some awareness raising is needed. Ok, even if it was a bit niffy she definitely sounded OTT with the spraying. I also think a few people on here could be a bit kinder with their words to.

This is irrelevant. You don't have to know that a person has an illness or disability to be kind and understanding or indeed to behave in a professional manner in your workplace. The receptionist was unprofessional. She needs retraining.

Also VIP is ghastly - a mate used some at ours and the whole house stank of synthetic rose AND shit. It seemed to make the smell worse. I imagine they don't leave air freshener in the loo in case people nick it. Receptionist was way out of order.

I’d be tempted to email her a link to this book and suggest some remedial reading

Poos amzn.eu/d/7fNYdlh Everybody Poos

Guessing you don't have asthma or another breathing issue.

My mum only has one working lung - she isn't allowed to use anything that sprays. It could make her seriously ill.

Honestly grow up- everyone poos, yours doesn't smell better than anyone else's and you're damn lucky not to have a bowel disorder!

What is the relevance of this? The woman works in a GPs’ practice. It is clear the OP is unwell.

A window would be a much better solution because my asthma is made so much worse by aerosol sprays, that’s another thing she’s failed on in a medical environment. I would put a complaint in, there is a way to act professionally.

Please try forget about this woman and move on with your day, she isn’t worth the upset.

Even with VIPoo, someone with Crohns or any other sort of IBD just doesn't always have the time to remove a bottle lid and put three sprays in to the toilet bowl before you use it. It's more often than not a "oh shit, can I even get my pants off in time" moment.

The receptionist was being very insensitive, especially considering she works in a place full of sick people.

I'd definitely say something.

As someone with horrible, daily IBS I only have a fraction of what you experience but your post has made me so very angry.
I am so sorry you were made to feel that way.

Please complain, not just for yourself but for others who may find themselves in a similar situation. The receptionist could have done all of that without any fuss or bringing it to anyone else’s attention. I can’t believe anyone in a healthcare situation could be so thoughtless.

And can people stop suggesting air fresheners etc to op. It’s really condescending and she wasn’t asking advice on her illness management.

YANBU! As someone who also has Crohn's, though less severely, I certainly think a medical employee should have been more sensitive. I suppose it's possible that she thought you might have a potentially infectious 'tummy bug' and that she had to spray to prevent infection. But, even if she did, it wouldn't excuse the public performative huffing and fussing.

I would complain OP. Its insensitive. You didn't ask to have Chrons.

Crohns even

YANBU, absolutely complain.

It's a toilet, you used it for its intended purpose. No, it doesn't smell nice, but no one's poo smells good. She should have more compassion in a role like that.

Besides, I'm sure most of us have had the experience of having to run to the loo for one reason or another (bug, food poisoning, period etc), it shouldn't take a huge amount of empathy to understand.

I would definitely complain. I have Crohn's too. A midwife was a complete bitch to me when I had my baby. Complaining about the smell. She soon got a piece of my mind.

Thank you again to the vast majority of kind replies. It’s made me feel better. For the poo-phobics- walk in my shoes for a day and you’ll see that I don’t plan to revolt others- I desperately don’t want to in fact! But this disease is a nightmare you have no control over. I had sepsis and nearly died bc of this rotten condition. It really isn’t fun being so ill AND knowing you’re making some people disgusted with you. It’s horrible I promise. You don’t need to make me feel bad - I already do.