That awkward moment when...

I've had no problem going into a lingerie store with my partner but when I had experienced severe constipation and aneurized a hemeroid as a result, it was a bit strange to ask her to go buy me some 'granny pants' for after the surgery. I couldn't even walk to the car without excruciating pain much less 'shop' for them myself! She came back with every type they carried in my size! Now, we laugh about such things!

I've had to have help in the shower as well as toileting. Needless to say, I am no longer 'body shy'.

I've also lost all modesty when it comes to hospitals. I, too, had a heart cath. I was surprised at how small a washcloth can feel.

One time I was transferred by ambulance to the ER with a close friend. Clothes were removed very quickly and then a gown was just draped across me. My friend was there the whole time. At first I was embarrassed, but got over it.

It's amazing how quickly the unusual becomes the usual.

Hey rocckyd.That washcloth gets awful small when it's all you got.

BunnyGirl,I think I was a little nervous for my 1st Colonoscopy.

After going through that,nothing should phase anyone.

Take care.

Rick

My first ibs/crohn's "accident" was in the car with my wife, my first born was less than a year old, and my in-laws. Outstanding. Second time I gave my wife my pants to wash while I was finishing the job. Realized when I was fishing my wallet out of the washer that my phone was also in my pants. Oops. $200 "accident" Now when I am in a meeting I just get up and walk out when the moment calls. I can't wait around to explain.

Okay so most of you are going to laugh at this and be like "pfft thats nothing! BUT

I recently got facet joint injections in my back. I had all three levels, both sides of my back done at the same time, so six injections total. I'd never had anything like that done before so I was pretty freaked out in general.

So when they told me I could keep my underwear on under the gown I was overjoyed that at least there would be modesty for my lower half....

But then...

Once I was wheeled into the operating room and had assumed that really awkward position they make you lay in on your stomach, the last thing they did right after they gave me the medicine to put me to sleep but BEFORE i was actually knocked out was pull down my underwear and expose my butt.

The nurse said "pulling down your underwear so they don't get ruined sorry hon" I had time to think "noooo pull them back up!!! I dont want to do this!!!!" and then I was waking up in recovery.

When I had the follow up appt with the PM all I could think was "omg he saw my butt while I was unconcious!!!"

Well I had six kids prior to the CP journey so there wasn't a lot of modesty left since three were in a teaching hospital due to the high risk and something about laying around with your legs spread in unnatural positions while nine heads are fighting for the best view makes everything else seem trivial.

From the other side of the coin I can assure you that after 25+ years on the nurses side of the bed we don't become shocked about anything when it comes to the human body, well most of the time.

There's occasionally at least one embarrassing moment in all of our careers if you work long enough and mine came in while I was still a student in med/surg rotation. My first vasectomy patient just so happened to be a boy I had a horrible crush on in middle school and packing his jewels in ice was not my most brilliant moment..

Here I am going to share a laugh with you. I was working in the University hospital in KY and the majority of patients came from the rural mountain towns where the language and slang are a real barrier as well as many are just illiterate so everything has to be explained and simple in that manner. This was early in my career and I had not yet begun to have patients repeat instructions back to me so I knew they understood clearly.

Man had hemorrhoid surgery and at the time the sitz baths were a post op protocol and I know that the moms here will know what I am talking about. Anyway took him the set up explained how to fill the bag with warm water and how it works. The next day when I return he's in horrible pain and I ask if he is using the bath every 4 hours and he says yes but my God I don't get how taking a enema that often helping anything!! I'm like what? No!! Your not supposed to use the water like that it goes in the pan!!! I admit I didn't say that in explaining and the bag looks like a enema bag but good grief the man had spent 24 hrs post hemorrhoid surgery giving himself enemas every 4 hours...

I will leave you with one more. Elderly couple come in and he's having some kind of procedure or test, can't even remember now what but needed a U/A, took the cup in explaining what it was an came back later to get it and he had been taken to X-ray and I asked his little adorable wife sitting there if that was urine and she said no honey its hissen?? Oh OK I see... Lol

You also have to be very explicit when needing specimens because if you are not you could get some really strange things in those cups.

I was so stunned that he misinterpreted how to use it I must have looked dumbfounded but afterwards in report and post having to call the surgeons I got the laughing and everytime we passed his name in report during his stay someone burst out laughing and got us all started again!

Well as we would say when I was in nursing ( parts are parts!!) LOL! As for the patients side of it, for along time I was getting a full colonoscopy every year (now they have changed it to every two years) I have ulcerative colitis along with a long family history of colon cancer so I am relatively high risk for getting it! Anyway after awhile I think you just get use to it!

BunnyGirl, if your on pain meds they are notorious for causing bowel problems, allot of doctors prescribe taking MiraLax or some other similar medication on a regular basis to help with bowel regularity. Don't be embarrassed and if you haven't already, please talk with your doctor about this, after all it is an importantly bodily function!

White Beard

What a fun thread. Here's my contribution. I had to have an anorectal manometry test done, and at the end a water balloon was inserted in my rectum and I had to pass it....with spectators....while I was being timed. There went my last shred of dignity.