Wheelchairs, Wait Times, and the Weaponized Fart: A Hospital Waiting Room Showdown
If you’ve ever sat in a hospital waiting room, you know it’s a strange land where time stands still, nerves fray, and personalities clash in ways you never thought possible. But one Redditor’s tale from r/PettyRevenge takes the hospital waiting game to a whole new level—complete with a diva in the wild, a dash of schadenfreude, and a fart so perfectly timed it deserves its own medical billing code.
Settle in for a story of medical mayhem, a not-so-charming antagonist, and the kind of sweet, silent justice that only the truly patient (and petty) can deliver.
The Cast: One Anxious Caregiver, One "Old Hag," and a Room Full of Witnesses
Our narrator, u/DurianDangerous88, found themselves in a hospital waiting room, supporting their wheelchair-using parent through a stressful round of emergency tests and looming surgery. The anxiety was high, the stakes were real, and the patience—well, that was running on fumes.
Enter the Old Hag (OH), who made her presence known with a masterclass in entitlement: finger-snapping at nurses, complaining about “that wheelchair person” getting in before her, and regaling anyone within earshot with tales of her distinguished career and a breakfast she didn’t get (yet somehow, this was everyone else’s fault).
As if the medical drama wasn’t enough, our protagonist now had front-row seats to the “OH Show”—a relentless rant about unfairness, payment, and past tragedies, all soundtracked by blaring Facebook videos at full volume. The only break in her tirade? When the staff offered her food, and her attitude flipped faster than a switch—suddenly, everyone was wonderful, if still not quick enough for her liking.
The Petty Revenge: Sometimes, Justice Is Silent...and Deadly
After the parent’s test wrapped up and it was time to pay, fate (and hospital architecture) placed our hero directly in front of OH in a narrow hallway. With the stealth and precision of a ninja (but one armed with beans), u/DurianDangerous88 let loose a “silent but deadly”—a fart so potent it sent OH into a coughing fit.
Was it childish? Maybe. Was it satisfying? According to the author, oh yes. The hospital may not always serve justice, but sometimes, nature does.
The drama didn’t end there. Later, in a game of “musical chairs” for the last seat upstairs, our protagonist laid down the ultimate mean mug, making sure OH knew exactly who she was dealing with. Sometimes, the best revenge is just being unbothered and, well, a little bit petty.
Hospital Waiting Rooms: Where Humanity (and Patience) Go to Be Tested
Let’s be real. Hospital waiting rooms are pressure cookers. Everyone’s running on stress, lack of sleep, and questionable vending machine snacks. But OH’s behavior is a reminder of how entitlement and impatience can make a tough situation unbearable for everyone.
Here’s the thing: Medical emergencies and chronic illnesses don’t always “look” a certain way. The author’s parent, though wheelchair-bound, appeared “fine” on the outside, leading to OH’s misplaced outrage over “fairness.” It’s a powerful reminder that you never know what someone else is going through—and why jumping the queue might just save a life.
If you’re tempted to be the “OH” in the room, maybe take a breath (or a snack) before launching into a tirade. Or, at the very least, keep your phone’s racist AI baby videos at a reasonable volume.
A Happy Ending (and the Return of Cold Toes)
The story wraps up on a high note. The author’s parent underwent emergency double angioplasty, walked out with two shiny new stents, and is now recovering at home—no more cold toes, and a surgery scar less dramatic than a mosquito bite.
Best of all? When they returned for follow-up, the staff remembered them (for all the right reasons), asked how things were, and even took note of OH’s antics. Turns out, OH is a regular—so much so that the hospitality manager already knew who she was just by description. Karma, it seems, works in mysterious ways…and sometimes, with a little help from the hospital grapevine.
Waiting Room Wisdom: Don’t Be an OH
So next time you’re stuck in a waiting room, remember: everyone’s fighting a battle you can’t see. Kindness, patience, and maybe an emergency granola bar go a lot further than finger-snapping and full-volume Facebook. And if you absolutely must seek revenge, let it be silent, let it be deadly, and let it be a story that brings the internet together for a much-needed laugh.
Have your own waiting room war story or a tale of perfectly petty revenge? Drop it in the comments—we could all use some entertainment (and maybe a reminder to pack Febreze).
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen in a hospital waiting room? Would you have let one rip in the name of justice? Share below!
Original Reddit Post: Old people at the hospital