I had bunion surgery on my foot a few years ago. I didn't expect it to be like a major surgery but it was treated that way being as I was put to sleep in a hospital. I got 2 gowns to wear, one front facing and the other back facing, so your butt wasn't hanging out, they even have me a teddy bear dressed in the gowns to mimic, plus instruction sheet. It did say to wear nothing but the 2 gowns, but I ignored this since it was a simple foot bunion. I wore my panties and bra. Being as the gown was so lose on the neck area my bra showed and a nurse said I needed to remove it along with my panties. I said no because I'm only having a bunion surgery, and told her it was a sleep bra with no metal underwire or snaps, it was like a pull over tank but short. She then tugged at her scrub pants and said see no elastic they are draw strings, because elastic is flammable and not allowed in a surgery room. I looked at her and said so your not wearing a bra or panties under your scrubs, she said well we are not supposed to. I told her too late your VPL is showing. Lol
I went for toe surgery and they insisted to be totally nude. I said I’m not getting surgery on my privates, far up the body. She mentioned germs, despite the underwear being new and fresh. (I brought unopened disposable non plastic underwear from the specialty store). Would exposing my privates and ass be cleaner and germ free? She mentioned emergency, tiny chance what if, I said the surgeon has knives and scalpels, it takes under two seconds, snip it. . The paper disposable are best. If they don’t allow, make sure you have a written paper trail a week before stating your rights to object. I’d have no problem if my midsection was getting operated on. When a nurse says “ I’ve seen it all”, I told her I don’t give a damn about what she has seen or how she feels, I’m the one getting surgery. She said I’ll be asleep anyway, and I said is it ok for me to see your privates when you sleep? She wasn’t going to win. Her job was to make me comfortable and respect my rights to refuse, otherwise, I’m out of there. Just be sure you document well in advance. I remember a nurse coming to “adjust” my IV, likely to shut me up, calm me down. I stopped it. Remember, it isn’t up to them, unless it is necessary. Their excuses were dated. The rest of the staff was fantastic, but not Nurse Ratched.
I just had a 1.5 hour parastomal hernia surgery at a university teaching hospital in the middle of Indiana (guess which) and you can bet I had a foley catheter put in my penis (after I was anesthesized) for the surgery and it wasn't removed until 2 days later in my hospital room.
I also wanted to mention, in pre-op for my parastomal hernia surgery above they gave me a gown and said "remove everything" and the female pre-op nurse (I'm male, 62) never left the room and fiddled with her computer as I had to strip and put the gown on. At my local hospital, the female intake nurses always left the room as I changed but not here. Then 2 male nurses put an epidural into my back and then quickly off to the O.R. where they knocked me out before prepping me further. My local hospital always prepped me before the O.R. so I knew what they were doing and who was in there. Evidently, the larger the hospital, the less they worry about your dignity.
For my surgery they preped me in the pre op room. It was same with me please completely undress then lay in bed put gown over me. Nurse stayed there, another nurse came in removed gown and placed the catheter in the whole time other nurses and staff moving around. Gown back over me then to operating room where gown removed placed on operating bed never had a gown put back on.
They usually want all your clothing removed due to possible germs that could spread in the sterile environment. Remember if you have pets you might have pet hair or dander on your clothes which could cause an infection. Even if your clothes have been freshly washed in your trip to the hospital they have been exposed to germs. Also there are some surgeries that you have to be naked under the gown
But if you are having a surgery that does not involve the private areas of the body or you do not need a Foley catheter request disposable scrub pants or tear away shorts. These can be quickly removed if the terrible disaster happens that they usually use as a scare tactic to get the patient to comply. Just be nice to your doctor or preop nurse and explain your reasoning. But don’t let them put you off with its policy or protocol or allow someone to intimidate you as I have seen in many cases. Don’t forget hospitals do have patient advocates who help smooth things over. In some cases it is just convenience for them and saves the hospital expenses.
But if you are having a surgery that does not involve the private areas of the body or you do not need a Foley catheter request disposable scrub pants or tear away shorts. These can be quickly removed if the terrible disaster happens that they usually use as a scare tactic to get the patient to comply. Just be nice to your doctor or preop nurse and explain your reasoning. But don’t let them put you off with its policy or protocol or allow someone to intimidate you as I have seen in many cases. Don’t forget hospitals do have patient advocates who help smooth things over. In some cases it is just convenience for them and saves the hospital expenses.
You should have refused...report to patient advocate in writing. They are supposed to give you the privacy when undressing. She probably needs to be taken down a notch. Report to patient advocate and patient safety. Won’t do you any good but it might for someone else.
Hey, I’m 15 years old and I’m due to have a lyproscopy surgery on my ovary, on Tuesday. And I’m extremely worried about what I will wear, I really really don’t want to remove my underwear at all. And I’m so worried because I know that’s it’s a male surgeon, I will be put under general anaesthetic so I wont know what’s happening. I’m extemily private, and I’m very shy too. I just want to know a list of clothing which I would wear especially if I don’t want to remove my underwear. I’m thinking that it’s a child’s right to cover up private areas during surgery. I’m sorry if I sound picky, it’s just I struggle with confidence and I worry about everything, funny enough I’m not worried about the actual operation just my dignity, thank you.
Does anyone not think that they remove your underwear then put them back on? I woke up with a different pair of underwear then I had on and mine were put into the recovery room. Once your out anything can happen.
Your safety and health is more important. You might need a catheter, which they would insert after you are asleep.
I am a trauma survivor as well, but I am more concerned about them getting the surgery done correctly than being sexually assaulted. There are medical professionals (female and make) in the OR.
May ask for a sedative stop your not so freaked out. These are professional medical experts that are there to help you, not hurt you.
I am a trauma survivor as well, but I am more concerned about them getting the surgery done correctly than being sexually assaulted. There are medical professionals (female and make) in the OR.
May ask for a sedative stop your not so freaked out. These are professional medical experts that are there to help you, not hurt you.
A lot of paranoia on this forum.
This is very true and a lot of people don't seem to realise that once you're taken to the prep room by the porter/tech staff what ever you want to call them you will only be seen by highly trained OR staff until after you're operation when you are returned to recovery, you do not have every tom penis an harry walking in and out of the prep room or even the OR as they are sterile areas, unlike some people think, you will not be filmed for training purposes or any other reason unless you have given prior written consent to say you don't mind and even if you do give concentration filming will only be of the operation not when you're being prepped and naked on the table.
All hospital staff have to sign a confidentially sheet when they join as a doctor,surgeon,nurse or even admin staff and if they breach that clause, then they will be severely disciplined struck off and banned from working in the medical industry again, it will also go on their employment record making it impossible for them to gen another job that requires confidentiality.
Nurses and doctors see thousands of patients a year and don't care what your bits look like or even have time to think about much more than what they are actually doing, unless the operation is actually taking place above shoulder height the surgeon wouldn't even see your face because the anaesthetist will have a drape Infront so only he sees your face an not your body.
People need to get over themselves and stop worrying more about there dignity than their health!
All hospital staff have to sign a confidentially sheet when they join as a doctor,surgeon,nurse or even admin staff and if they breach that clause, then they will be severely disciplined struck off and banned from working in the medical industry again, it will also go on their employment record making it impossible for them to gen another job that requires confidentiality.
Nurses and doctors see thousands of patients a year and don't care what your bits look like or even have time to think about much more than what they are actually doing, unless the operation is actually taking place above shoulder height the surgeon wouldn't even see your face because the anaesthetist will have a drape Infront so only he sees your face an not your body.
People need to get over themselves and stop worrying more about there dignity than their health!
I prefer to keep mine on as well. A few months ago I had to have surgery on my knee. The nurses' assistant told me to take everything off including my underwear. I asked if I could keep it on and he said "come on, you know the rules". I felt very uncomfortable with them off for a few hours. Don't patients have the right to feel comfortable? If I am uncomfortable, my blood pressure rises. Is that worth it? Besides, they put a surgical drape around my knee anyway.
I agree with you 100%, these doctors take all kinds of liberties. My wife once agreed to have students present during her procedure, I didn't find out till afterwards, I was furious!
So a male should not worry if he has a small penis so long as it works. The staff would not care one way or another and they probably could not see it any way!