physical exam preparations

[HazelGod]

Most doctors I've ever been to see have been women. Call me sexist, but IMO they tend to be more thorough and more likely to listen to the patient's experiences before jumping to any conclusions. I've had physicals done both ways (naked vs. paper gown), and frankly don't care much one way over the other. Then again, I'm completely comfortable with my body, and rarely wear a stitch unless I'm leaving the house.

Honestly, the paper gowns are just silly. The doctor needs to examine you, and I'd rather it be done in the full light of day than fumbling around with some stupid paper thing getting bunched up in the way.

My last visit was to a dermatologist...like an idiot, I went and got myself a wicked sunburn earlier this summer...and the nurse told me to take everything off and put on the gown. The doc came in and she told me that I could just drape the gown over my waist for modesty. I quipped back to her, "Whose? Mine or yours?" I tossed the gown. Seriously...I'm there to have my skin examined!

Although I did think it funny when she checked my crack...that was a new one on me.

 

[LeeEJ]

I've never been totally naked in front of a doctor. Parts and segments as needed, but never bare head-to-toe. If you've got a good friendship with yours, that's different, but for a new doctor to make you sit naked the whole time -- that's just weird. Find someone else if you can.

I've never been examined by a female doctor, though. I think that it would actually be a little more fun, even if not at all sexual.

 

[tcudavid]

When I was about 14, my doctor told me to get undressed for my sports physical. I didn't know if that meant to strip completely or just to my underwear. Being nervous anyway, I went ahead and stripped all the way and sat down on the table with the paper strip. When he walked back in, he didn't say anything and just went about his business and started the physical. Well at that age, a guy can't always control himself and I started to get an erection. I was humiliated and didn't know what to do. The doc was cool about it and told me it was fairly normal for boys to get erections during physicals. What made it even worse was the fact that I tend to have an awful lot of pre-cum when I get aroused. You don't know how much I wanted to die right then and there.

Anyway, I did survive, but to this day I still get incredibly nervous when I have to get a physical by a doctor. I try not to think about it too much, but I still get a little hard when it's time to drop the drawers. I can't explain it, but it happens every time. I don't expect this to be normal, but I'm wondering if it has happened to anyone else?

 

[SammyQ]

Thats never happened to me. I don't even wear the paper gowns. He just lets me wear underwear and an undershirt. When the testing comes along for him to see if i have a hernia er w.e he just pulls them down a bit without looking. Its actually a really awkward experience but hey, its once a year.

 

[Dave NoCal]

As best as I can recall, all of my physicals have been either in gown or underwear. One doctor I saw many years ago would always ask me to take off the gown and walk across the room so she could observe the way I move my back, etc.., with which I had no problem.
In fact, rather than feeling awkward being naked, I feel awkward in a gown. My blood pressure is affected by my emotions (worried, angry...) but not modesty. My current primary care doc only asks me to take off my shirt, which to me also feels kind of awkward and, somehow, less than thorough.
My personal preference would be for the physician to initiate a brief, open discussion about our preferences and reach an agreement.

 

[dags]

I have to say I have never had that happen to me. The gown only gets removed (if at all) at the end when the Doctor has to have you cough to check for hernia. At least thats how they do it everywhere I've been in the upper-midwest.

 

[witchway]

Mine are done this way...but my doctor and I have a mutual crush on each other. I think he just likes seeing me naked

Mine Too!!:redface:

 

[GWMRed]

SpandexGear, thank you. THe naked body is a beautiful sight, and in a health-care situation it is the center of attention. Having it naked makes a ton of sense. I never give clothing a thought in such situations: to me, the US citizenry has an unhealthy attitude toward nudity that can give rise to unhealthy responses - but I will not go there, could start a war here & I don't want that, being a newbie and all.
My husband and I see the same MD: he's the son of the MD I had in High School & the most uncomfortable time I have had with him was the day I came out to him and asked if he'd still see me. His response was overwhelmingly supportive...and when David and I were married and I knew MD wasn't taking any more clients, MD simply said David is part of the family and therefore automatically a client!
Martin
(sorry about all the compound sentences)

 

[vichairyass]

hi i want to say that when i had my penis and my testicles touched to be examened by the doctor with gloves of course,had the female nurse behind me starring and asked if he could remove the nurse before unwrapped my gown for him,i guess he brought a woman to see if my erection on my penis is ther e or if i needed to be prescribed viagra in which i did need to given since my erection s kinda stopped in the morning and are worring at 47 years of age ,guys it goes down at this age and the early mornoing woods gone almost at this age ,part of our getting old men anyway back to the gown ,i asked if he could send me a male nurse for my prostate exam and since i am extremely hairy in my butt i wanted a male nurse women dont appreciate our hairness like men do when they se my exam so instead i had a male nurse get a woodie looking at my hairy werewolf ass but never completely nude and even with the gown they just adjust or lift it like for my testicle exam to see if i had any lumps like women get in their breasts so it is important to see doc about testicles men.

 

[LeeEJ]

...,guys it goes down at this age and the early mornoing woods gone almost at this age ,part of our getting old men ...

Reminds me of one of the three rules of geriatrics:

1. Never pass up an opportunity to pee.
2. Never trust a fart.
3. Never waste a hardon.

 

[D_Bob_Crotchitch]

I'd rather take a needle than be naked. Needles don't bug me. Now, being naked wouldn't bug me but the doc having a good time with my penis would upset me. I had that happen when I was 20 and it was a work physical. Old pervert would stretch it way out, let it spring back *boing* and did it at least 20 times. I hope he does it to the wrong peep and they urinate on him. haha

 

[B_big dirigible]

It could be worse.

My brother-in-law had some sort of problem and went to a doctor in England. The doctor pretty much ignored him, and had his wife (my sister) take off her shirt. She's pretty, well, big - whenever she goes shopping she gets mobbed with job offers, that sort of thing. So I'm not saying the doctor was dumb, and of course it being socialized medicine maybe one shouldn't expect too much. But they were both pretty peeved by the whole thing.

I hate taking 'em off in the office, mainly because I freeze my chitlins. And nobody looks good in that office lighting. The needles don't bother me, at least.

 

[baseball99]

It could be worse.

My brother-in-law had some sort of problem and went to a doctor in England. The doctor pretty much ignored him, and had his wife (my sister) take off her shirt. She's pretty, well, big - whenever she goes shopping she gets mobbed with job offers, that sort of thing. So I'm not saying the doctor was dumb, and of course it being socialized medicine maybe one shouldn't expect too much. But they were both pretty peeved by the whole thing.

I hate taking 'em off in the office, mainly because I freeze my chitlins. And nobody looks good in that office lighting. The needles don't bother me, at least.

wait your brother in law went to the doctor and the doctor was able to get his wife to take her shirt off



pimp, dude pimp

 

[ripsrips]

When my Dr. retired in 05" he refered a women physician ie: family practice
When I went for a physical I was told to undress but keep the gown on and when the time came to check my testicals and the old prostate exam she said to bend over the table and all I heard was a mumble "OMG" then she did something I thought was weird, she tolld me to drop the robe and face her and by then I was semi-hard and I barely heard her say "nice" then she blushed and left the room and returned and never looked me in the eyes.
Needless to say she been a good DR.

 

[rogue_mj]

He shouldnt have you do that. You should keep the gown on the entire time and expose only as much as is needed for that particular part of the physical exam. It is not the norm in the US or EUROPE (as mistakenly stated, but possibly experienced) to be completely nude for a physical exam. We are taught to keep the patient as comfortable as possible and to be honest, I dont make people change into gowns right away. I do the history with them in normal clothes, then have them change into a gown if necessary and continue to ask more questions during the physical. Every doctor will approach this differently but those that make you sit there completely nude are inappropriately doing so as there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for this.

I trained outside of North America. As a physician arriving on this continent, I was remarkably surprized at the conservativism in Canada and the US. I was used to asking patients to strip right down for examination, and it was such the norm that patients even did so before the doc entered the room. Usually women got a gown, and men got a sheet to cover.

In order to respect the gender difference, and to avoid sexual misconduct, women were always examined with a chaparone. Men on the other hand were left under the sheet while we questioned them, and then exposed totally during the exam. Double standards?? I don't know. I just recall our lecturers saying "You haven't examined a patient properly unless they are fully exposed".

When I got here, I found patients completely uncomfortable with their own nudity. I found them reluctant to part with their undies. Men would still be lying on the bed in their ball-caps and their shorts/undies, and I would have to drop them at the "appropriate" moment. Women would remain in their panties until the "gyne" exam at which time they would remove them just for the exam, while leaving their socks on "so they don't feel so naked" they would say!!.

I find North Americans quite prudish, and it amazes me.... such a liberal society in so many other terms.... yet so stuck up when it comes to nakedness. Quick to fuck anyone, have affairs, look at porn, sex at a young age, and yet "Oh My God... you want me to remove my clothes??"

Today, I have explained to my patients the manner in which I will examine them. I question them fully clothed, but then I give them a gown or a sheet (their preference) and I keep them covered as long as I can, and then I expose to the waist as I begin to examine, then cover the top, and then expose the bottom bits. Male or female the same. I use a chaparone always, and I leave the room while they undress and re-dress. I re-enter the room after they are dressed up to discuss findings and follow up.

Each to his own..... but I disagree that its not the norm elsewhere, as I have worked all over the world, Europe, Africa, NZ, Ozzie, Canada, and the US. Its only Canada and the US that are so NUDOPHOBIC.......

 

[baseball99]

I trained outside of North America. As a physician arriving on this continent, I was remarkably surprized at the conservativism in Canada and the US. I was used to asking patients to strip right down for examination, and it was such the norm that patients even did so before the doc entered the room. Usually women got a gown, and men got a sheet to cover.

In order to respect the gender difference, and to avoid sexual misconduct, women were always examined with a chaparone. Men on the other hand were left under the sheet while we questioned them, and then exposed totally during the exam. Double standards?? I don't know. I just recall our lecturers saying "You haven't examined a patient properly unless they are fully exposed".

When I got here, I found patients completely uncomfortable with their own nudity. I found them reluctant to part with their undies. Men would still be lying on the bed in their ball-caps and their shorts/undies, and I would have to drop them at the "appropriate" moment. Women would remain in their panties until the "gyne" exam at which time they would remove them just for the exam, while leaving their socks on "so they don't feel so naked" they would say!!.

I find North Americans quite prudish, and it amazes me.... such a liberal society in so many other terms.... yet so stuck up when it comes to nakedness. Quick to fuck anyone, have affairs, look at porn, sex at a young age, and yet "Oh My God... you want me to remove my clothes??"

Today, I have explained to my patients the manner in which I will examine them. I question them fully clothed, but then I give them a gown or a sheet (their preference) and I keep them covered as long as I can, and then I expose to the waist as I begin to examine, then cover the top, and then expose the bottom bits. Male or female the same. I use a chaparone always, and I leave the room while they undress and re-dress. I re-enter the room after they are dressed up to discuss findings and follow up.

Each to his own..... but I disagree that its not the norm elsewhere, as I have worked all over the world, Europe, Africa, NZ, Ozzie, Canada, and the US. Its only Canada and the US that are so NUDOPHOBIC.......

im wondering if its more nudophobic or if americans and canadians are more likely to make it known to the doctor that they are uncomfortable. Anxiety can easily be correlated with BP and HR and I believe the studies were done in england but i havent read them for quite some time now.....it basically showed an increase in BP and HR when fully exposed, as well as, giving incomplete histories. Now, quite frankly, its your (our) job to keep patients as comfortable as possible to obtain the best history and do the best physical exam

i've done some mission-type work and so far everyone has expected the same modesty.....maybe you just get people to want to rip off their clothes?

 

[jordanj]

This seems as good a place as any to put this but as I mentioned elsewhere; I ended up in hospital because of my back.

Because of some of the problems I was experiencing, the doctors kept getting me to lie on my side then they'd insert a (gloved and lubed obviously) finger into my ass and ask me to squeeze on it. I had this done countless times and when I changed hospitals for the one where they were going to actually do the operation, the doctor there was a bit nervous about it. I just said "Yes, I know, you want to stick your finger inside me, they've all done it, don't worry, I'm getting very used to it now." He laughed bless him.

He then said it would be the last time it happened and I said "Yeah right, till the morning when they come and do rounds before sending me to theatre. I don't care any more doctor, I just want the pain to stop!"

 

[baseball99]

This seems as good a place as any to put this but as I mentioned elsewhere; I ended up in hospital because of my back.

Because of some of the problems I was experiencing, the doctors kept getting me to lie on my side then they'd insert a (gloved and lubed obviously) finger into my ass and ask me to squeeze on it. I had this done countless times and when I changed hospitals for the one where they were going to actually do the operation, the doctor there was a bit nervous about it. I just said "Yes, I know, you want to stick your finger inside me, they've all done it, don't worry, I'm getting very used to it now." He laughed bless him.

He then said it would be the last time it happened and I said "Yeah right, till the morning when they come and do rounds before sending me to theatre. I don't care any more doctor, I just want the pain to stop!"

..

 

[BigLittleMan]

I find North Americans quite prudish...

Its only Canada and the US that are so NUDOPHOBIC.......

i wonder if it's because we are the only country you've worked where we are the ones actually paying for the medical treatment we receive? in this case, the customer calls the shots.

also, in this country we are learning that a medical degree doesn't automatically grant magical powers...

 

[rogue_mj]

i wonder if it's because we are the only country you've worked where we are the ones actually paying for the medical treatment we receive? in this case, the customer calls the shots.

also, in this country we are learning that a medical degree doesn't automatically grant magical powers...

Actually, you'd be wrong there too! All the other countries I have worked in were Fee For Service, patients paying for their health care, except in the UK and here in Canada where health care is paid for by the government. So in-fact, your statement is not only incorrect, but the reverse!!

As for a "medical degree granting powers", thats an insult to many many dedicated doctors who give of their all to help others! I have never abused my position as a doc, nor have I thought I am any greater than the plumber who removes sh*t out of my clogged toilet! His job is just as important in the grand scheme of things as mine! Being a doc is just a job!


Even if I remove myself from all that is medical, and think back to the days when I was in environments with other men in other countries, there was a lot less prudishness, a lot more open nudity and comfort than in North America. Not judging here.... just an observation....