Underwear during surgery?

Hi princess, I guess you have probably had your surgery by now, but for anyone else that is interested, I work in surgery and we have everyone remove their underwear for a variety of reasons. Firstly, if the operating site is near your underwear there is a chance it will get covered in the orange/brown betadine that is used for cleansing and this stuff does not come off. Then there is a possibility that the bladder canrelax under anesthetic and urine will be expelled which is harder to clean up when you have to remove wet underwear from a heavy sleeping body, that it could be in the way (as in mens longer boxer shorts) of the grounding pad that is usually attached to your leg if a cautery is going to be used, and you also don't want any metal on you that would be in a bra or studs on boxer shorts. Then there is always the chance that the surgery can take longer and a catheter would need to be inserted to drain the bladder and it would be in the way. And when patients are being moved over to the operating table when they are asleep, the underwear can get caught up or twisted. If a patient has to be laid on their stomach for a long surgery the nurse has to check the position of the breasts and penis/testicles to make sure they are positioned equally under the patient and not twisted where they could be damaged with the weight of the body on them for a long period. And there is always a slim chance that an x-ray may have to be taken if the lung sounds don't sound too good when trying to wake you up or the needle or sponge count is wrong so a n x-ray has to be taken to show that it is not in the body, and metal on a bra or underwear can conceal an area where there could possibly be a tiny needle and it won't be seen. But rest assured no one is even taking notice of your naked body, we see hundreds every day and it is just the norm , we are all busy doing our jobs preparing the body for surgery. There are lots of things to get done, hooking up cautery machines and suction and leg circulating pads, and checking all the instruments and counting needles etc. Once the operation site is prepped the scrub tech will drape the patient in sterile drapes leaving that site exposed and we don't even see you, not even your face, which only the anethesia can see at the head of the table.

"we see hundreds every day and it is just the norm , we are all busy doing our jobs preparing the body for surgery". Well you aint seen mine and you aint going to. If it's no big deal to see it, then it's no big deal not to. Every "possibility" that you've mentioned is just that--- a remote possibility and it's my decision to accept those "possibilities" and still do what I have to do to save my modesty and my dignity. I'll show you mine when you show me yours!!

I have several friends who are doctors and nurses working in the OR. They all tell me the stupid jokes being made about peoples privates and other inopropriate comments. I am not saying it happens all the time but don't tell me everybody is professional all the time..

It's the patient who actually has the say since they have to agree to the terms..like if i can say i don't want a catheter they can't legally put one in because i've said not to well in Australia its that way...my brother has had 3 surgeries & from what he can remember he kept his underwear on for atleast the last two....

YES! Finally someone who understands!!! Thank you!

OMGosh...I am up for rotator cuff surgery on my left shoulder and probably the right will follow. The thing is, NO ONE, in my opinion has the right to see you naked if you don't want them to. I am sick to freeking death of reading "They are professionals...la de da!" I don't give a rats @ss how they feel, I care about how I I I feel. After all, aren't I the one having the freeken surgery?!

Seriously, I have been crying out loud since Friday - it's now Wednesday. I was born normal but I have come from an extremely abusive background - both parents equally at fault. Not only do I have C-PTSD, but I also have been diagnosed by two PhDs with DID (MPD). I'm a Christian women so please pray for me if you feel inclined. I refuse whole-heartedly to have surgery and will thus lose the use of my arm unless and until this surgeon (or I find another who) can understand that he needs to make an exception to the rule re: undergarments. If there is a problem, it takes two seconds to cut through material. I have high B/P and high cholesterol. I don't need to be worrying as much as I do about this naked stuff. I WILL NOT submit to this, even to my own detriment. Why can't they get this???!!!

Write on your permission papers that you don't want them taking off your clothes i.e underwear but you may have to wear a strapless bra or something since they will have to have access to your shoulder....

Thank you for your reply. Can they still do it against your will?

I don't see why anyone should be prohibited from wearing underwear during surgery, unless the surgery is being done on that part of the body.

I can't see why anyone should be prohibited from wearing underwear during surgery, unless the surgery is being done on that part of the body.

Thank you MedKre. Same belief. However, My Doc has since said that he refuses to do surgery on me now bc I refuse to take off my bra & undies. Personaly, I think he doesn't want to be bothered with a "difficult case". I'm not difficult normally, this is making me difficult and I can't seem to make progress in the medical field being I have a mental disorder. My 'littles' & even teens inside are just not willing to compromise what-so-ever because they know all too well what happens when "clothes come off". I, as the adult host, know I will be safe & understand that (most) Dr.s & anesthesiologists, PAs, male nurses ect. aren't interested in 'getting their jollies' but there are way more others and just one of me. They collectively are ruling right now. :(

This is not my 1st issue with Dr.s but it is my 1st serious issue. I don't wish to be just another number, I am a person with a heart, mind and soul just like any other normal person...I just have more of them...trouble is, most were repeatedly tortured in various ways and the others, dare I say, were abused just 'regularly'? Honestly, if anyone reads this who has any knowledge in the legal field, just what are my options? Do I ned Dr. Phill? Gloria Allred? Why are my needs being ignored when the outcome is so detrimental to my well being? This brings extreme distress to my emotional, mental and physical health, not to mention the loss of use to my arm.

I wish to start a movement to protect any an all victims of abuse. Does anyone remember the Oprah show where her audiance was entirely men invited who were sexually abused? This is not about women, it is about people. People who matter and count just as much as non-abused individuals who doesn't seem to be bothered by being naked during surgery. But for the rest of us, and according to statistics I think we are the majority, maybe we might have some issues that could be appreciated by medical personell.

It has been proven time and time again that "feeling good" is the best medicine. Look at dogs, as one example, who help children heal in cancer clinics and who help criminals soften their harden hearts while interaction takes place during their incarcinations. My bodily privacy is my soft fluffy puppy who helps me feel safe and who I can find strength in which to heal. Otherwise, I will feel traumatized, sink back (which I have begun to do already) and I'm too weak now to fight for me. I'd rather run or worse.

Please somebody hear me...J

really what do they say

Thats what im saying i feel you shouldn't have to take off under wear for goll bladder surgery