--I have had the prostate examination done recently, by a female doctor, and I must say that while it is far from the most pleasant experience I've ever had, at least it was over quickly. The doctor was very professional--in fact, considering the situation, perhaps too much so (I like to make the doctor laugh, or at least smile--seems to break the tension)--but I talked a lot about neuropathy during the procedure, which I think may have relaxed her some, given the situation.

I also have a female dermatologist I strip down completely for every year to get a full body examination for possible skin cancers and the like. While that situation was a bit awkward at first, we now know each other well enough to joke about it, and to talk about other medical conditions; she seems interested in my knowledge of such things as insulin resistance and non-pharmaceutical means of handling impaired glucose tolerance.

(Not to sterotype, but I actually think the average female doctor listens better, though I am fortunate to have found some good male neurologists at Cornell Weill.)

I realize, Dahlek, you may have some areas of sensitivity in this area, but I didn't think anybody meant anything by it. I am actually encouraged, given all the pain and other debilitation that many here suffer, that most can actually still think along those ribald lines. (I'm sure many of us would still like to think of ourselves as sexual beings at least some of the time.)

Hey, my joke in this area is that given the current neuropathic situation with my right side radiculopathy and how it affects my right hand, I certainly appreciate a front closing (opening?) bra, and perhaps Melody has a potential business opportunity. (Melody's Not-So-Secret?)

We do appreciate the indignities everybody with a medical condition (especially those that affect THOSE body parts) has to go through. It's just that, given our cultural anxiety about those parts, the whole subject is just set-up for humor. But nobody would for a moment think any less seriously about the situation, even given the possibilites for humor.

Another area where this comes up--on the gluten board, since eliminative issues are so much a part of the condition, there's plenty of stool analysis, which also leads to humor. But the issue is still considered quite seriously.

In the end, a nerve may have been hit--and we've all got sensitive nerves --but I don't think anyone was deliberately aiming for one.

Dahlek I hear that your hurt and upset but I don't think either anyone here would do it on purpose. Everyone cares for your well being and understand the pain. Maybe not exactly on specific area but pain is pain and its physically and mentally bad. I think its good though to express how you feel so it doesn't eat at you. As for the doc issue I think some just have a more caring disposition that makes you feel more comfortable which helps. I often wonder what some of these docs social lives are as they have no interpersonal skills. There so book smart but common smart seems to lack often.
Melody for the bra issue I think you have a homeade business in the making.

ya know hon...i have always wondered why men's shorts don't come in sizes like bras.

what has there waist size got to do with the rest of the fit?

come on guys...wouldn't you like better fitting shorts? might take some brain storming to come up with the size charts.

i think i'll ask my hubby what he thinks.

ok - talking about being examined by a female doc - why is it so much more tramautic for men being examined by a women then visa versa? we go thru much more all the time, all my docs are men, and i could care less - what i care about is how good they are - thats it.... its their job - and if i worried about the fact they were men first - i'd never get any care!


definately a double standard here!

Glenn:

At my last dermotologist visit, I had a "thing" on my left hand. I didn't know what it was. Doctor took one look and said "do you go on the internet?" and I said "of course". He said (and he wrote it down), look up Granuloma Annulare. Of course, I had never heard of it. He did the freezing thing. Took all of two seconds. I made him look at a little mole on my chin and something on my arm and he said (I swear this is what he called it). keratosis. He said "it's absolutely nothing". I have had this little thing on my arm for 30 years.

So he freezes the Granuloma thing, turns to me and says "would you like to strip down naked and get a full body exam". I said "I beg your pardon"???. He burst out laughing and said "I can do a complete body exam and check every inch of your body and see if you have any growths or anything".

I wish I had a picture of my face when he said that. I believe my expression answered his question. I must have muttered something or mumbled something, turned red as a beet and ran the hell out of there.

By the way, he's a skin cancer specialist.

To say that I have never stripped down naked in front of a doctor so he can check every inch of my body IS PUTTING IT MILDLY.

I told Alan when I came home and after he stopped laughing his *** off, he said "now I don't have to ask if you did this, right? I think it took me all night to get over this.

Now aren't I ridiculous? I told my friend and she said "oh, Joe gets this done at the dermo all the time". I asked her if she did (she weighs over 300 lbs by the way). She screamed "are you insane"??

So I guess if we all had bodies like Halle Berry, there would be no problem.

No problem at all!!!!

Yes, it is standard for a complete dermo exam - that the doc examine ever inch of your body -literally - from between your toes to your scalp for any signs of cancer... of they dont they are being lazy... I've had skin cancer six times and its been caught so that simple surguires were the cure, before it matasized..... if these exams had not been done - mestsized melanoma is one of the toughest cancers to fight... (also, taking pictures of you to compare for future exams is sometimes done too) (I would expect however a paper gown for medesty sake)

so let them check!

Kmeb:

There are many things in life I will do, and many things in life I won't do.

And I guarantee you, there's isn't any amount of money, that will let me strip naked in front of a doctor and have him examine every inch of my body. I'm 60 years old this year. If I were going to do it, I'd have done it by now.

Believe me.

I never knew that doctors did this.

I go for the mammos, the breast exams, Cornell, Dr. Fred. the bone density test thing, and whatever else they want me to do.

But getting naked and having a guy look me over from head to toe.?????

I don't think so.

I give all of you supreme honors for being able to do this.

Oh, Alan, because he has light eyes and (when he did have hair), used to be blond and fair, well, because of his psoriasis, he's always getting checked. I check him myself. He is full of cherry angiomas. I have no idea why he has them. When we asked one of his dermos "look at these cherry marks", she explained cherry angiomas, then she showed us her arms and torso and she was full of them. Never saw such a thing in all my life. I don't have any of these.

Wonder why some people get them??

Melody

It may well have something to do with fair complexion and sun exposure--I am also fair and blue-eyed, though my hair was brown before it went gray.

I don't know if I have the answer to kmeb's question; I don't really care if I strip down for a male or female doctor. (Of course, I'm usually talking a mile a minute about some medical thing, and that may be a bigger distraction than my body. ) Perhaps it has something to do with body image; mine is far from perfect--it's got way too much of an abdominal fat deposit compared to my younger days, and I share the overall hairiness of my Mediterranean ancestry--but I don't fret about what I look like in public or in private; it's simply me.

There may be a gender component to this, especially in the developed world and especially in the US, where women are constantly barraged with messages about how imperfect their bodies are. (Men are starting to get more of those messages in the last few decades. Damned ad agencies.)

I also sometimes think it's more of an issue for certain doctors than for certain patients. (Probably those doctors shouldn't go into specialties like dermatology/urology/gynecology/proctology.)

Yes, the "standard" situation has generally been female patient undressing for male doctor, but I thought there was a protocol that a female nurse or aide was supposed to be present, unless the patient did not care(?). (There doesn't seem to be a reverse requirement for male patients/female physicians.)

Would you feel different, Mel, if it were a female dermatologist asking you if you'd like to get a full body exam? Or would that not matter--you simply don't want to be totally naked in a medical office?

The way I look at it, I'm in a professional office for a professional reason, and if that involves looking at an area that is usually covered up, no big deal. (Hey, Dr. Chin's seen my butt several times in the process of taking skin biopsies. All I care about is that he's able to get a proper sample.)

Dont worry - its their job! Metasized skin cancer is very bad (I only know one person that has survived it from more then a few disanosed with it once it spread) - unfortuantely its very tough responding to treatment... so when I'm having exams like that - I honsestly really dont even think about whats going on so much as "anything out of order?"... I'm very lucky - the last one I caught myself and it was just a tiny spot - they ended up taking a very large section of the side of my nose off and doing plastic surgery (they did a great job)... so I look a little like Mrs Frankenstein! At least I'm here!

You you know what would have to be the worst? A GI doctor... would you want to do what they do all day long? YUCK And overall I find them as a group the most uncaring, (thats a general statemenet, not to offend anyone)... I mentioned this to one of other docs and he laughed - he offered that after looking at what they do all they long its no wonder! (and for the patient its easy - we're uncocscious for the most part when the do their "thing" with us!)

Glenn - the only times I've seen protocol (and it doesnt seem to be prevelent any more) is during Gyno visits - a nurse would be in the room.... I actually had a doctor who my friends would literally drool over (extremely good looking) and ask how in the world I could ever see him.... again, he was a great doc (has now moved out of state)... and thats how I thought of him.... maybe I've just been exposed to so many different medical situtiations over the years I've become immune!

Ya do what ya gotta do!

to avoid my male GP, and have a female doctor do a breast exam. I like my GP, but I've never let him see me naked. I feel selfconscience too, about body image. Mostly becuase I am as white as a ghost. I am as white as a piece of writing paper,you can even see all my veins underneath my skin.

Yuck!!

Anyways, I have never tanned myself so I am not worried about skin cancer,but back to my breast exam... My nice female doctor called in her colleauge (male doctor), to take a feel of my breast, for his opinion. When he came in, she must of caught him at lunch because he was chewing Chinese food and doing a feel at the same time.

It was a dreadful experience,but I guess necessary.