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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you were in a cafe having lunch...

337 replies

MargeSimpson00 · 07/01/2022 19:09

Would you mind someone at your table having an injection whilst sitting there?

  1. Person being injected is not in your party
  2. Not insulin or anything immediately life saving, a vaccination

YANBU- wouldn't mind
YABU- it's gross

OP posts:
heyitsthistle · 07/01/2022 21:40

I would be surprised, but wouldn't mind too much. I'd probably just text my friends ("you'll never guess what happened in the cafe today..!")

Lovelydovey · 07/01/2022 21:41

Read the whole thread, it’s inappropriate as your cafe is not a clinic. Complain to the healthcare clinic she works for.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 07/01/2022 21:42

If I'm with 'new' people I ask if they are ok with needles, but I still wouldn't go to the loo, I'd be even more discrete and assume they'd look away!

Even knowing you were going to inject would make me panic so I hope you wouldn't be offended if I left. I'd hate to upset anyone but I'd also hate to have a full blown panic attack at the table!

AliveAndSleeping · 07/01/2022 21:47

Yes, I think I would be ok with a dressing as well.

RoastedTurnip · 07/01/2022 21:48

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

Absolutely wouldn't be offended at all. It's a difficult balance.
If you were just in the same cafe as me, you'd literally have no idea (I do it under the table, you'd assume I was rifling through a makeup bag)
I tend to drop diabetes into the conversation about eating if I'm with new people because I know some needle phobia is severe (my husband has got over his phobia pretty well since my diagnosis!)

XenoBitch · 07/01/2022 21:49

@AliveAndSleeping

Yes, I think I would be ok with a dressing as well.
So you think an oozing and potentially infected wound is something that is appropriate to be exposed in a cafe? Where people are eating?
AliveAndSleeping · 07/01/2022 21:50

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

It wouldn't bother me and I don't understand why people would make a fuss about someone having a medical procedure..I'm sure nurses are very busy and possibly don't have time to reschedule a vaccination or move somewhere else just because some people are squeamish.

There's a huge difference between being squeamish and having a needle phobia! There is no way I would be able to sit there while someone had an injection in front of me and why should I? Epipen or insulin aside no one should be having an injection in a bloody cafe!

I'd react the same if it was insulin or an epipen but I do realise they can be medical emergencies, although if it was a planned insulin injection I'd hope the person would say first so I had a chance to get out.

Yes, that's true. I didn't realise that some people are phobic to needles (ie when needles are used on others). After reading some of the replies and hearing how terrible it would make some people feel I think I change my mind. If it can have such a strong effect on some people then it's probably not appropriate.
AliveAndSleeping · 07/01/2022 21:51

Your question was whether it would personally bother me and the answer is that it wouldn't. If it's hygienic or advisable is a different matter.

Jaxhog · 07/01/2022 21:55

I wouldn't have a problem with it, but would be concerned for the patient getting the jab!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 07/01/2022 21:58

Thank you @AliveAndSleeping and @RoastedTurnip. Unfortunately my phobia extends to needles on other people - I felt physically ill when DH had his covid jab. When I had to wait for 15 minutes after mine I was looking at my watch every few seconds to see if I could leave - I was on a bed behind a screen but I knew what was going on the other side! I also started to panic on first aid course when they talked about epipens. I'm no longer a first aider...

I know it sounds ridiculous, especially to people who have to inject regularly. I'd hate to offend anyone who does have to though.

Imamumgetmeoutofhere · 07/01/2022 22:04

If it was for medical reasons then not an issue.

I had to inject at fixed times drink my pregnancy and for a certain time after and almost certainly would have done this in a cafe as wouldn't have done it in a loo

starfishmummy · 07/01/2022 22:12

There were people who didn't like it and complained to the OP. The Nurse should have taken that into account and not been rude about ot.

ChicCroissant · 07/01/2022 22:12

@BungleandGeorge

Is it some type of sheltered accommodation type set up? Why was a random nurse there doing a vaccination? The patient was in a cage so not housebound so why would a nurse visit to do thh he e jab. It wouldn’t bother me
I was also thinking it was some kind of housing complex, although I think you've got a typo in cafe there (cage Grin )
elbea · 07/01/2022 22:19

Is it a cafe attached to a retired living/sheltered living complex?

Flu jabs take about 10 seconds, I couldn’t get worked up about somebody lifting their sleeve.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 07/01/2022 22:22

I’m needle phobic so I’d struggle with this.
But I’d try not to look and assume it was necessary. Obviously if it was drugs that’s different, and I’d probably leave.

Wiredforsound · 07/01/2022 22:23

Wouldn’t fizz me for a second. It’s a sharp scratch; not a bloodbath. It’s quick, easy, comfortable - there’s really no need to turn it into a big deal.

Pugroll · 07/01/2022 22:38

It's unlikely it was taking up someone's entire line of vision and rendered them unable to look away. Was it in a retirement village or the like?

Bouncer500 · 07/01/2022 22:39

I wouldn't be sitting in a cafe at the same table as someone who was not in my party so it wouldn't come up.

EatDrinkEatDrink · 07/01/2022 22:41

I have a couple of diabetic friends, I don't even notice, its very discreet and obviously necessary. Having a vaccination sat there is weird and I'd probably wonder why they were doing it in a cafe next to me.

tearinghairout · 07/01/2022 22:42

Well now you've explained, I think YANBU to ask her to use a side room. After all, lunch in a cafe is a bit of a treat and this seems a bit disrespectful to the other diners. Undoubtedly she was just trying to make it easy for the patient.

AhNowTed · 07/01/2022 22:44

Wouldn't bother me at all.

I have a diabetic friend and it's just normal.

OwMyToe · 07/01/2022 22:46

I'd think it was odd to do in a public place where people are eating. I'd also wonder if the person having the injection was happy to have others watching. It can be stressful for some people, and having people watching might make it worse.

Wheresmywoolyjumpers · 07/01/2022 22:48

Since it was a vaccination rather than insulin there was no need for it to happen. Think sometimes nurses are so used to these things that they forget what it will look like to non nurses. But it should not have happened and the nurse was out of line, 1. for doing it, and 2. for here reaction to OP. For all the diabetics who have jumped on - a vaccination is not the same as insulin injection is it? Its a lot more noticeable for a start. But if you are talking about rights, what about my right not to see that?

Illdoitinabit · 07/01/2022 22:49

This is really odd, I went for lunch today and a young lad sat behind me, in my DH view, took out a needle and vile and injected himself. We assumed it was insulin but we've never seen it like that (our BIL is diabetic, insulin dependant). Maybe we was in the same building??

Mamamia344 · 07/01/2022 22:50

It sounds like they're in some kind of facility and there was a healthcare professional there doing vaccinations in the canteen?
Can't quite work this one out.
Either way - I wouldn't care.

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