When patients get upset over a negative workup

It always baffles me when patients come in complaining of something, labs, CT imaging, everything looks great.

“So you’re telling me after all this everything is normal?!” Literally the patient burst into tears that her workup was benign. Tears! That she wasn’t having a horrible diagnosis!

Okay, let me get this straight. You’re upset that your bs abdominal pain that started 2 hours ago, which we got labs, CT, gave you fluids, meds, everything, ended up being benign?

I cannot begin to express how many patients who have horrific diagnoses, metastatic cancer, enterocutaneous fistulas that got infected, post op complications would KILL for a benign workup??

Only to be told “well that seems like a lot of money to be sitting here for JUST THREE HOURS.” Just 3 hours?! What do you want me to do? Add unnecessary workup and fall at your feet begging you to be admitted for nothing??

Just for once I’d like to tell them get off their entitled high horse and be grateful for what they have. And seriously just follow up with their PCP!