Just for fun

[barelybob]

I was almost dared to post this, so it isn't my fault if it falls on it's face.

I am going to the VA hospital in Seattle next week for surgery. They recommend that we do not bring valuables with us since they cannot guarantee security.

I went to my preop breifing last week. A nurse told me that I really only needed to bring my VA identification. I have been telling all my friends that I should only show up with the card (sans everything else).

Some agree and some not.

What do you think?

Maybe this should be a poll! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[barelybob]

I was almost dared to post this, so it isn't my fault if it falls on it's face.

I am going to the VA hospital in Seattle next week for surgery. They recommend that we do not bring valuables with us since they cannot guarantee security.

I went to my preop breifing last week. A nurse told me that I really only needed to bring my VA identification. I have been telling all my friends that I should only show up with the card (sans everything else).

Some agree and some not.

What do you think?

Maybe this should be a poll! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Nude in the North]

Thanks for the Chuckle!

It would be funny, but be prepared to have a visit to the Psych ward.
I'm afraid they just wouldn't understand.

Steve

[fns]

Geez, with the gown they give you to put on, what's the difference from being nude? I don't think nurses and doctors have the same phobia about nudity that many others in society have, they'd probably get a laugh out of it.

Well, she did say that all you need is your VA ID. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[MikeyBear1964]

I've hospitalized a few times and I am always amazed at how uptight some of the staff is about nudity. Example: a doctor is proforming a procedure that makes you feel like his arm is inside your butt. And you are wearing a hospital gown! You would think a clinical environment is the one place where nudity would be commonplace. I say bring two things-- Your ID and a SMILE. Then watch everyone elses' nervous reactions!

[Suntied]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ben_m:
I was in the hospital, one of the (female) nurses gave me incredibly detailed instructions for how she wanted me to "uncover myself" (using the blankets, surgical gown, etc.) so that she could probe my stomach. If I hadn't been in rather intense pain at the time, I'm sure I would have laughed when she said "So I don't have to see your....." - (and she just pointed, she couldn't even say the word)).... Pathetic, it really is.[/QB] <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I had a nurse turn red and leave the (so-called) room when she asked me to get on the gurnie and I was un-familiar with the short gown as I swung a leg up revealing my self to her un-knowingly. I wasn't concearned about it, why was she? I thought she would be used to anything like that. My then wife thought I did it on purpose... I guess she would, since she is now my ex-wife. Didn't that nurse have to go through some sort of training with dead bodies or complete examinations in school?

It's an UPTIGHT world! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

I have always heard that nurses and doctors were used to seeing nude or partially nude bodies and didn't give it a second thought. They have to examine all parts of the human body. Why would they even be fazed by whatever they see? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[barelybob]

I just noticed that I started this 35 years to the day from when I went into the Air Force. Yes Jon-marc, I am an Air Force vet also.

In a few hours I will be headed to the big city to let the docs slice in me. I appreciate all of your comments, and will be clothed. We are having typical Pacific Northwest weather today (wet and chilly), and the walk from even the disabled parking to the main door is not all that short.

As to the posts concerning medical personnel. I have known a number of them over the years, and it seems that they are more uptight about nudity now than they used to be. Maybe it is generational. I find the older they are the less disturbed they seem to be. I suppose this could be due to familiarity.

I should be back by Sunday, and will miss my morning sessions on this site. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[theoldman]

Just a thought. Hospital gowns & medical insurance have a lot in common. They both only half cover you.

[barelybob]

Fortunately, my disability gives me complete coverage. As for the gown, it is better than "complete" coverage.

See you folks in a few days!

Bob the optimist /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Jochanaan]

Blessings on your surgery. I pray it goes well.

Barelybob...Good luck with your hospital visit...I recently had a MRI of my head and was instructed to go into the little changing room and put on the " gown" .....After a couple of times of trying to put on this three holed wrap I noticed the instructions on the wall....No more bare backsides at Kaiser... /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[RIVERRAT]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ben_m:
barelybob,

Thanks, I needed a good chuckle! No, I certainly wouldn't recommend it, but it's quite funny.

My own recent experience would suggest that the medical community is also becoming rather hung-up about nudity. I think this is bound to happen when, as a society as a whole, we fail to understand true principles about nudity and instead choose to let our lives be taken advantage of by the likes of "Hugh Heffner", et al.

My own Doctor happens to be a woman. Many who know me, and wouldn't dream that I could be a naturist, know that my Doctor is a female. I've had lengthy discussions with many about why I'm not bothered by this in the least. However, the reality is that my female Doctor (who I know has performed many surgeries on the male reproductive area) is quite obviously not particularly comfortable with nudity. One of the last times I visited her, I went under the heading of just getting a "physical", but there were a couple of things on my stomach that I really wanted her to look at. When she was carefully trying to examine me (listening to my lungs, heart, and such) by fishing her stethascope (spelling?) under my shirt, realizing that she needed to see that part of me anyway, I just went ahead and took my shirt completely off. It seemed stupid to do otherwise. She didn't react at the time, but after finishing listening to my heart and lungs, and looking at my stomach and such that I wanted her to look at, she got quite nervous and asked me to get dressed (and my pants never left me). Only then would she continue the examination.

In a different recent experience, the last time I was in the hospital, one of the (female) nurses gave me incredibly detailed instructions for how she wanted me to "uncover myself" (using the blankets, surgical gown, etc.) so that she could probe my stomach. If I hadn't been in rather intense pain at the time, I'm sure I would have laughed when she said "So I don't have to see your....." - (and she just pointed, she couldn't even say the word)).... Pathetic, it really is. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I go to VA out patiant clinic for all my exams I have for all the last 10 or so years, I have had 3 female doctors, they have done prostate and hernia exams, I have never noticed anything but complete professionalism.

[RIVERRAT]

I gave this reply to ben-m about female docters, I have been going to the VA outpatient clinic for about 10 years for physical exams and the like, I have had 3 female doctors, they have given me both prostate exams and hernia, I would say they were very proffessional and in complete control, unlike the people described in this thread, again I ask what is a thread?

[barelybob]

I made it home yesterday afternoon. Everything went fine. I'm quite sore but doing okay otherwise.

I did find it interesting, after these discussions, that they put me in a surgical gown for the surgery, and when they were getting me ready in the OR, the doc says "Let's just get rid of this thing!".

I'm a bit run down right now, so I think I'll lay down.

Talk to you later, and thanks for your well wishes. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[greensunshine]

Glad everything worked itself out /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

As for surgery...I just had some minor surgery several weeks ago at one of the nearby clinics in my area and while everyone was in the room the subject came up about my little buddy (Greensunshine) I have tattoed on my left breast. Amusingly everyone seemed to be comfortable with the subject of nudism...one gal even mentioned she never wears bras...something about the latex in them that doesn't agree with here system. Anyway to make a long story short...it really depends upon the doc and their staff as to how nudity goes over with them...mine definitely didn't have a problem...nor does my regular doc who also is a female...come to think of it, I have been able to discuss the subject openly with all my docs (both female and male) /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Greensunshine /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Barelybob,

Glad the surgery went well. Welcome back. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[RIVERRAT]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ben_m:
Riverrat,

Interestingly enough, my immediate reaction to your comments was to defend those that I'd talked about against the implication that they could have been more "professional". But, as soon as I thought that I thought "wait a minute, they really could have handled those situations better than that". I'm trying to be understanding and not overly judgemental, however. I understand the impact society is having on them. I don't consider it sufficiently "non-professional" to consider taking my business elsewhere, by any means.

And, since I told the bad stories, perhaps I should tell the good stories. I had to return to my female Doctor, immediately following the visit I described, twice. Both times, the shirt came off (I didn't make them ask - it was obvious it was going to have to be that way), the job was done without comment (and there were also female nurses present both times), and everything turned out "fine". Interestingly enough, the Doctor did ask if I needed a surgical gown or anything, I just looked at her funny, and she went ahead and said "obviously not". I guess it's easier to give an impression than I might sometimes think. I do hope nobody had the idea I was trying to "show off" - I ain't got nothing to show off, and I sincerely hope that was more than evident in my behavior. Sometimes there's a fine line that way, and it's tough to control the reactions of others.

Thanks for making me think more about this, Riverrat. And, I'm glad to hear about the professionalism of the female Doctors that you've had. I for one, think it's neater than neat that we live in a time when female Doctors exist and (I hope) are not discouraged from so being - recognizing that not long ago, that may not have been the case. Honestly, if you'd asked me just a few years ago if I thought it appropriate for a man (especially) to have a female Doctor, I almost certainly would have said "no". I hope I've learned something. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Very well said Ben_m, we live and learn, think about all the women who have been examed by men doctors, she is a doctor first and a female later.

[RIVERRAT]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by barelybob:
I made it home yesterday afternoon. Everything went fine. I'm quite sore but doing okay otherwise.

I did find it interesting, after these discussions, that they put me in a surgical gown for the surgery, and when they were getting me ready in the OR, the doc says "Let's just get rid of this thing!".

I'm a bit run down right now, so I think I'll lay down.

Talk to you later, and thanks for your well wishes. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Bob I don't know where you haD YOUR SURGERY, but for mine I still had the robe.

[barelybob]

Thanks again everybody.

Riverrat, I had it done at the Seattle VA hospital. The robe was actually not needed since they basically strapped me down and stood me on my head. I had it back on in recovery.

Hey, the sun is coming up and it's clear. Think I'll try to get some of it later. After all it's supposed to get to nearly 50. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif