Just have to get this off my chest re: my sleep tech

[jrgood27]

The more I think about this, the more ticked off I get. I hope you don't mind me sharing...

My initial sleep study was tough. It was freezing, noisy, the room wasn't dark, and the bed made my hips ache like crazy. And the technician used an obscene amount of tape on my face. I felt like I was wearing a goalie mask. But I survived.

In the morning the tech, an older man, is there taking all the wires off me and making conversation and out of the blue he says, "You know, when I retire from this job I'm going to take pictures of naked woman. I don't want to paint them. That would take to too long."

Um, excuse me? I did not reply and simply pretended I did not hear him b/c I was stunned and just wanted to get out of there. I mean that's inappropriate right?

Oh well, harmless enough. But it made the idea of going back for a titration study kind of scary you know? Thankfully I don't have to do that at this time. Just makes me mad that someone would say something so strange when you are in such a vulnerable situation.

Thanks for "listening". Jenny

[Handgunner45]

Did you report him to the powers that be at the sleep lab? A comment like that is worse than inappropriate!!!!!!!!!!!!

[krousseau]

Report him and document it-totally inappropriate. That is sexual harassment. If he is still working for the lab in a month at the very least threaten to sue them.

[krousseau]

Report him-that is totally inappropriate. Not harmless-it's sexual harassment and he absolutely should not be working in a sleep lab where he is in contact with women-especially if they are sedated. If he is still working there in a couple weeks let the lab know you will be talking to an attorney. Or go to an attorney and let the atty handle it.

Oops thought I had lost that last one so sent another post

[jrgood27]

You know. I've been in denial about just how inappropriate it was i think. To be honest, I felt at the mercy of these people. I'm so desperate for some kind of help that i didn't want to 'cause any trouble'.

That's not like me. When I found out for sure today that I didn't have to go back there, then I started to get angry.

This happened over 2 months ago. I probably should have reported it right away.

Jenny

[littlebaddow]

You could put it down as inappropriate ignorance, but that won't stop him making someone else feel uncomfortable.
Report it in writing and find another sleep lab.

[brasshopper]

....then maybe he is trying to get his retirement accelerated. Oblige him. This bothers me - and I am aware of it - I'm a big guy and I don't want to get people who help me in the sleep labs nervous - this means no inappropriate comments or actions - especially if the techs are female and alone.

So, well, the opposite respect is due as well. They have no right to make anyone worry about what might happen to them at night. Even if this has taken a while, complain in writing and don't go back there unless they have replaced this nutcase.

[Guardian]

After having worked more than a few overnights in my time, I know you get sort of punchy when morning rolls around, but that is inexcusable.
As far as what goes on in the labs is concerned, I wonder if the powers that be even care. At the lab I took my sister to, I found hairs from the previous patient still clinging to the electrodes they were going to put on her. He assured me they were sterile. But I made them get some hair-free ones anyway. Point is, I reported it and never heard another thing, not even an apology from the doctor or nurse.

[gecko1977a]

TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE!!!

Now maybe if it was a guy sitting in the chair and it was saiid in jest it would be less inappropriate, but nevertheless still not apprpriate.

Saying that to a female would make me scared about what he actually did while you were asleep. i mean he had a camera with night vision capabilities at his disposal that night.

REPORT HIM!!!!


I had a female tech for my second study and she was just flat out rude. when she ran the leads to the leg monitors she pulled back my PJ bottoms herself, it would have been different if she had ASKED ME to do that.

[chdurie2]

yeah, but jenny, you gotta start standing up for yourself. you don't have to be mean or anything. if someone reached for my pj bottoms, and it was not clear what she was doing, i would at least ask what she was doing or put my hand on her arm to stop her or let her know that i could handle my pj bottoms without her help to get the work done.

and you could have put the male sleep tech in his place when he made the remark about nude photos and/or reported it to someone or the doctor.

i'm not trying to attack you, and maybe someone else here can express it better than i can. but do you see a pattern here?

caroline

[tomjax]

I was not there and I do not know the context of HOW he said it.

I remember one time seeing a sleep lab while going to a drs appt and going in to take a peek and say hello.

A cute young lady greeted me at the desk and asked" Hi, would you like to come spend the night with us?"

How would you have reacted at such a remark as this??
Was I wrong in laughing and remarking that it had been a long since I had such an invitation.

Should I have immediately reported her and called a lawyer and filed a suit????????.

CHEEEEEZ

GAFL

[Guest]

i agree with tomjax. sleep labs invite stupid jokes about people sleeping with each other.

jenny, this thing happened two months ago. take care of your discomfort at the time or check out whether the guy was pulling your leg. it's nothing to be getting yourself nuts about two months later. get over it. that's the kindest thing you can do for yourself.

take care,

caroline

[jrgood27]

the pajama bottoms thing wasn't me. so if those are the pieces you're sewing together to create a pattern they don't fit.

i cobbled together 3.5 hours of sleep that night and my head was splitting and i wanted to get out of there. and honestly i didn't know this man and i was alone with him - except an eldery patient in another room in a dark lab at 5:30 in the morning and my instinct was to not engage him at all. i think under the circumstances that's a logical choice. self preservation.

but i should have reported it. i still may. jenny

yeah, but jenny, you gotta start standing up for yourself. you don't have to be mean or anything. if someone reached for my pj bottoms, and it was not clear what she was doing, i would at least ask what she was doing or put my hand on her arm to stop her or let her know that i could handle my pj bottoms without her help to get the work done.

and you could have put the male sleep tech in his place when he made the remark about nude photos and/or reported it to someone or the doctor.

i'm not trying to attack you, and maybe someone else here can express it better than i can. but do you see a pattern here?

caroline

[krousseau]

Saying that to a female would make me scared about what he actually did while you were asleep. i mean he had a camera with night vision capabilities at his disposal that night.

Whether its a male in the chair & a female tech or VV my response is the same.It is not funny. In a sleep lab where you have to trust that noone is going to do anything inappropriate while you are asleep-employees have to be aware of the kind of jokes told/comments made. Makes me wonder if this guy is already taking photos-yes as Gecko pointed out in some cases he is-and how many copies does he make-and where does he store them etc etc. From the stories we are hearing about ambien-it is not unreasonable to assume that some people may remove clothing during sleep. Especially if at home they do not wear clothing to bed. Males may have erections during sleep-do you want them recorded? Don't answer that question I do not really want to know. The point is you want the folks who may be taking photos to be discrete and trustworthy. The guy is touching you while saying this. FIRE THE GUY at the very least.

[Guest]

jenny, sorry, i did sew two of the wrong things together.

caroline