Great! The only available seat is next to someone coughing their lungs out!!

Now that's one thing I like about the children's pediatrician. They have areas for sick people, and another for well people. I think all doctor's offices should have something like that. The OB/Gyn also offers masks for people who are coughing.

Stay positive. That really does help towards our health and well being. Sometimes, I would rather stand than sit beside someone who is coughing or sneezing or has a cold. Or perhaps you could tell the nurse that you will wait outside in the hallway. Just drag a chair out there, perhaps the nurse will understand. :) Think HEALTHY thoughts and do what you can to stay healthy. Eat lots of oranges, drink tea with lemon, take your vitamins, get lots of sleep, etc. etc. Sometimes we can avoid getting sick if we get the rest we need, and just maintain a peaceful and positive outlook on life. Hope you have a Healthy Day!!!

I know how you feel. Once they wouldn't refill a prescription for me that I'd been on for years. They just wanted to see me just to "make sure". So I sit there and wait, the waiting room full of people, for about two hours. Finally, the doctor comes out and tells me he's really busy, so he'll just go ahead and refill the prescription and I can go home. Uh, what? You made me wait and then because you're busy you decide it's suddenly safe for me?

I see on the news they are finlly giving out masks to patients who are waiting...and I think that is a very good idea. This flu thing is very scary!

oh no, better to stand up I think. Or wait outside. Some people... Take care there....

I hate when this happens. I have a doctors appointment on Monday and I am dreading going cause I know the flue is going around right now and I have not been sick yet this year and I know I will end up catching something there. They should have a waiting room for sick people and one for healthy people to avoid the spread of germs.

The emergency room is even worse than the doctor's office. Not that I have had emergencies, but I tend to have to take other people there. I hope you went home and took a shower immediately and washed your hair, that is supposed to help.

I heard that coughing one last 2 week so sure hope ya dont get sick think possitively and ya wont! I do that My son in laws mother came over here sick coughing came and set in my rom talking and caoughing so when she left I spryed I can afford any more here as foot has had pains for amost 10 weeks now getting sick on top of that woul take the cake!

That's something I understand so well. So frustrating and annoying. Doctors should have masks available. I hope you were wrong and you were able to stay healthy.

yup, this time of year is tough to go to the doctors because everyone is coughing or whatever and spreading their germs, but of course, everyone is doing that almost everywhere this year because i heard that the flu is extra severe this year. hope you stay healthy. make sure to take your vitamins!

I was going to say maybe she had bronchitis, which is not infectious, but then saw you write that she had the flu! I hope you don't get sick with the flu. I've been around several coughing people recently and have escaped sickness so far so maybe you will, too, particularly if you have a strong immune system. I think that's ridiculous making you come in for the scripts. I can understand if they are narcotics, the Feds demand frequent visits for that. But if they are not, I don't see why an annual visit would not be appropriate. I think doctors are just so cautious because of possible litigation that we're all inconveniences and even endangered as evidenced by your exposure to the flu.

That sucks they should have that lady put a mask on if she is coughing that bad. Where I work we have mask on are desk and when people that come in with a cough we ask that they put the mask on so others are protected. I think all medical places should have that and we also have sanitizer next to the mask as well. I hope you don't end up getting sick though because of that lady.

Ugh I hate those appts. I think they should do away with them or do some webcam chat or a phone call just to make sure nothing has changed. ya know its all about them wanting money since they get to charge whoever for you saying hi and bye. I have some docs that refuse to give meds unless I see them every 3 months and others I never have to see unless there is a prob. My husband has the most annoying doc. Although he doesn't have to see him to get refills he will only call in one month supply of whatever.medication. so every month there is the delay for the pharmacy to get a hold of him

Hi schluzie. Well things like these happen very often. But you must know one thing. Whatever happens dont take your health lightly. Dont think that going to doctor every 6 months is just a waste of time. And about the coughing lady. If I were you I would have preferred to stand instead of sitting next to her. Anyways have a nice day and I hope you have not caught her your cough. ~=SuperShames=~

I understand exactly what you're saying! I had to see a dermatologist yesterday. The waiting room was packed, as they all usually are, especially this time of year. When I was taken back to the exam room, I noticed a sign on the wall that SHOULD have been in the waiting room. For the life of me, I cannot understand why this sign was put on the wall for people who've already been sitting in the waiting room... in my case for an entire HOUR! The sign said something to the effect that if you have flu-like symptoms, please reschedule your appointment to prevent spreading your germs. HUH?????? Why in the world was this sign NOT in the waiting room? Why was it not on the friggin' front door??? No, they let you (or others) with "flu-like symptoms" to come in, sit down, pick up and read magazines, touching all kinds of things while waiting an hour or so to see a doctor, then go back to the exam room, touching things in there and spreading MORE germs, before telling you to reschedule if you're sick. How dumb is that??? What is it with these doctors? Maybe they're all in cahoots with each other and get kickbacks for every patient they send to other doctors after they've caught something in their offices. I certainly hope you don't get sick after your encounter. It's a shame that most doctor's offices don't even try to protect their patients. I used to have a doctor who would hand out masks if you were coughing. At least they TRIED to keep some germs from spreading. I wish they all did. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you don't get whatever that woman had.

That's actually my reason why I hate in going to the hospital especially to a public hospital here in our country. I feel that I will be sick eventhough I am feeling well and that I am just asking my doctor on my allergies. lol.

Normally when this situation happens I just stand up and out of the way. But who knows, maybe your luck that you won't get sick. I hope not, because it would suck. Like someone mentioned above it would be nice if the doctors office would separate the sick from the healthy people.

It would certainly be welcoin to it down but not at the expenseof so mnygerms.Iouls rather stand somewhere more sanitary. Nothing against the person coughing. My heart would still go out to this person.

Hi, schulzie! If you don't mind me asking, what were your medicines for? And if you feel that there is nothing wrong with you, why has the doctor been prescribing you the same medicine for the last 11 years? Maybe you should try going to another doctor and have yourself checked if you really need to be taking all the medicines prescribed to you.

So have you tried another doctor. If your doctor has been giving you the same medication for 11 years yet you don't improve, then maybe you can ask for the opinion of another or two more doctors.