Letters Page #715

Subject: Bladder Shyness is a Curse
From: Anonymous
Date: Jan. 09, 1999

I thought I would give my tale of getting into a new clinic in Omaha. It started last January 1997 when I was placed on a waiting list and told that it would be at least a month before they would take any new patients. I thought this was ridiclous but had little choice but to wait. And wait I did, until March 1997 when I was informed I was to meet with a counselor and have an intake interview. This I did, and it went well. I was told I would be called within two weeks for a physical and a meeting with the doctor. Needless to say the 2 weeks went by. It was not until June that I was given a physical and met with the clinic director to fill out the most paperwork I have ever seen. I was told that I would have to see the doctor and then the psychiatrist, and then my case would be presented to staff before I could dose. Since a counselor had just departed, I had to wait until a new one came on board as the others were overstaffed.

I was introduced to the new guidlines and they included a very closely monitored urine testing system. This was a room with 4 cameras showing all angles of the toilet, and the person who controlled the cameras was in the same room as the patient. I have always had bladder shyness and could never give a sample under these conditions, so I had to leave the clinic after over 7 months of waiting. I was appalled at the regulations and restrictions that were implemented at this clinic. They also have a guard on duty at dosing hours and if you have take-homes you have to have a lock box.

I have attended a different clinic in the past and it was a much better situation overall; at least I was able to dose. Since the new clinic is the only one in Omaha I am out of luck.