Katie wasn’t a bad kid, she had just ended up at the wrong party, where some kids had been taking and selling drugs. She hadn’t had anything to do with that, but had some beer from beer pong. At 18, this wasn’t the worst thing she could have done, but was still illegal since the drinking age was 21. Thankfully, her father had convinced the court to wipe the arrest from her record, with the stipulation that she enter an addiction rehabilitation programme and completed some community service. So when her parents dropped her off, her mom gave her a tight hug and said she knew she was going to be good and her father warned her sternly about not causing trouble.

Katie left her parents at reception and followed a tall man in dark green scrubs through double doors and into the hospital. The walls were all pained a bright white, making the place look sterile. Led down several corridors, Katie entered a room with a neat desk covered in paperwork and a computer. Behind the desk was a man, maybe in his early 40s, with salt and pepper hair wearing a white coat. “Good morning Katie,” he gestured for her to take a seat in front of the desk. “I can see from your paperwork why you are here. So we will start you off with a 3-day inpatient stay, followed by regular visits with our therapists based on your needs. For today, we’ll do your intake assessment and get you settled in your room. I appreciate you have already filled in our medical history and substance use paperwork.”

Katie nodded, remembering filling in the extensive online forms with her mother the night she had been arrested. The doctor didn’t sound friendly, just clinical and matter of fact. “Now,” he continued, “you’ll be staying in the hospital’s psychiatry ward for your rehabilitation treatments, but we do an initial medical assessment of your physical health in the clinic. You are to do what you’re told when you’re here. No complaining. Am I clear?” Katie nodded “Yes.”

“Yes what?” He sounded more stern this time. “Yes… Yes doctor?” Katie guessed. The man in the white coat nodded. The man in the green scrubs held the door open and led Katie into a small room, handing her a paper hospital gown. “Take off all of your clothes and leave them here. The opening goes in the back.” Katie expected him to leave as she got changed, but he stayed, watching her closely. “Underwear off too. No jewellery either.” That command was the first time Katie had heard the man speak. Katie took off her chain, panties and bra, trying to hold the gown closed to over herself. The orderly took her clothes and shoes, storing them in a locker. He attached a wristband including Katie’s name, birth date, and several abbreviations and symbols Katie didn’t understand before leading Katie to the next room.

It looked probably like many did in this hospital. An examination table with crinkly white paper sat in the middle of the room, which was spacious. A young man in light blue scrubs greeted her. “Hi, you must be Katie? I’m Alex, one of the nurses working today. I’ll be preforming some of your intake process today. Let’s get your height and weight first.”

Katie awkwardly shuffled to the scale, letting the nurse record her weight. When measuring her height, Alex instructed her to put her hands at her side and stand up straight, meaning the gown parted just enough for Katie to notice a breeze. With both Alex and the orderly in the room, she didn’t want to be exposed. “Hop up on the table facing me Katie.” Katie shifted her weight, feeling the cool vinyl and scratchy paper on her bare thighs. Alex approached Katie with a thermometer. “Put this under your tongue.” As Katie pursed her lips around the plastic, Alex talked a bit more. “Since drugs and alcohol can have such major health impacts, our intake examinations are quite extensive.” He placed another thermometer into Katie’s ear as he spoke. “They also allow us to ensure nothing is being brought into the facility. But since your visit is court-mandated, none of the processes are optional I’m afraid.” Alex sounded cheerful explaining this to Katie, who supposed that explained why she couldn’t keep her underwear on.

Alex pressed two fingers into her wrist, followed by her neck, before recording her pulse and measuring her blood pressure. Katie’s feet dangled from the edge of the table as she contemplated how strange it was to have no warning of what was going to happen before she was touched, as she had always had previously in doctors appointments. “Lie down on your tummy.” Another direction Katie followed.

She watched as Alex approached with a thermometer, this time opening the back of her gown to expose her butt. Rolling onto her side, Katie started to protest. “Katie, lie on your stomach. Now.” Alex was far from cheerful this time. Katie didn’t move quickly enough for him and so the orderly came and pushed Katie’s shoulders into the bed. Alex used a gloved hand to part her cheeks, and the other to push the lubricated thermometer into her tense anus. Katie squirmed, but Alex held the thermometer so there was no chance of it moving. “Things will be a lot easier for you today if you do what the doctor orders.”

Katie could barely process what was happening. The orderly held her shoulders firmly until Alex removed the thermometer, allowing her to sit again. As she did, the doctor from earlier entered the room, greeting Alex. He had left his white coat behind, with a light blue shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and black trousers. A stethoscope hung around his neck. Alex listed off the measurements he had taken as the doctor donned a pair of blue gloves. “Thank you Alex.”

Without warning, he took Katie’s face in his hands, palpating around her jaw and neck, manoeuvring her as needed. His fingers moved along her scalp, moving through her straight blonde hair. Turning her head, he looked through an otoscope in each ear and shon lights in each eye. “Stick out your tongue. Say ahhh.” These instructions were the first thing he had said to Katie since the exam started. As she did as she was told, a swab pushed deep into her throat made her gag. But the exam didn’t stop, the doctor continued with palpations as Alex packaged the swab.

Katie felt more relaxed as familiar process occurred: he checked her reflexes, looked at her hands, and felt her throat as she swallowed. “Untie the gown for the next part.” Katie looked around at the room full of grown men, not wanting them to see her breasts. But it wasn’t Katie that instruction was for, as Alex quickly moved to lower the gown. Katie instinctively used her arms to cover her chest, but Alex gripped each wrist and held them behind her head. Katie felt her face redden as she sat exposed as the doctors cold stethoscope moved across her chest.

Everyone remained silent as Gloved hands began palpating Katie’s armpit, moving down to her left breast and circling toward her nipple. The same was repeated on her right side. The doctors strong hands pressed together on each side, then firmly pinched each nipple, making Katie cry out. She has never had a breast exam before, having only previously seen her paediatrician. “Lie on your back.” Katie was quick to obey, not wanting a nurse or orderly to force her into position again. However, as she placed her hands by her sides, Alex took her wrists once again holding her hands above her head. Katie stared up as the doctor repeated all of the motions again, this time not making a sound.

His hands moved down once he was finished with her chest, prodding her stomach instead, followed by tapping and listening with his stethoscope. Once finished, the doctor gave Alex a nod and Katie’s hands were released. The doctor left without a word, having barely spoken through Katie’s whole exam. Instead, Alex asked her to sit up and retied her gown. “We’ll go into the next room now Katie, just follow me.”

Katie struggled to keep up, hurrying barefoot while trying to keep the gown from opening. The room they entered was a similar style, but instead of an examination table there was something more similar to a dental chair. It had the usual vinyl fabric, arm rests, but also additional protrusions with black attachments on either side. There was also a semicircular hole at the edge of the seat. When told, she sat in the chair as both Alex and the orderly placed her knees in the supports, and pulled her butt down directly into the hole. Katie protested, but Alex firmly reminded her “The alternative is jail, where you will be strip searched anyway.”

Katie pouted but knew Alex was right. Her gown was removed to leave her completely exposed. Alex continued making notes as the orderly watched Katie. A minute or two later, the doctor returned, saying a few things to Alex that Katie couldn’t quite overhear. Despite trying to remain composed, being so exposed in front of strangers, and having no idea what was coming next, made tears start to slide down Katies cheeks.

Suddenly, Katie started to remember vague warnings she had heard about gynaecologist visits from her friends. “No, no I don’t need this. I’m healthy I promise!” Katies tears continues as her legs were spread further apart. Alex, who had resumed being cheerful and kind, wiped a tissue under each eye, shushing Katie. “This is perfectly normal for a growing girl to get checked.” The back of the chair whirred and reclined, leaving Katie straining her neck to see.

The doctor stood between her legs, taking a seat on a short stool and disappearing from Katie’s view. He watched her nervously twitch. Katie had carefully shaved her legs, armpits, and even her public hair, leaving only smooth skin for the doctor to carefully examine. Alex provided a tray, where he used a gloved hand to unwrap the plastic speculum. Lubrication can’t be used before swabs are taken, but comfort was not a priority in this case. Without warning, the blades slowly crept inside Katie’s vagina. Loud clicks announced its opening, and Kaite gasped at feeling stretched internally. Katie’s hips jerked at each swab, feeling the scraping of ticking first along her vaginal walls, and then across her cervix. The final swab circled her sphincter before being inserted slightly, each one handed to Alex to be secured for the lab.

Katie felt herself trembling under the doctors hands. She was spread wide by the chair, opened from the inside by the speculum, and had no way of knowing what would happen to her next. She was relieved as the speculum was removed, craning her neck to watch as the doctor standing between her legs. Unceremoniously, he inserted two fingers into her vagina, groping every inch of her insides. A hand on her stomach pushed and pulled her insides to be prodded through her vaginal walls, making Katie grimace.

It felt like an eternity for Katie before the fingers were removed, but the snap of fresh gloves didn’t let her last for long. The feeling of cold lubrication on her asshole made her start to plead. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please no!”

The doctor ignored her pleas, keeping his finger applying light pressure to her sphincter while Alex wiped the fresh tears from her eyes. “It will be easier if you relax and trust the doctor to make you better. We’re just making sure there are no nasty effects from the substances you have been using.” He reassured her. From the end of the bed, the doctor gave another instruction. “Bear down Katie. Push gently like you’re going to the toilet.” He didn’t sound angry, just cold in contrast to Alex. Katie did as she was told, knowing she had no alternative. “Good.” The single word was the first encouragement she had heard the doctor give, just as he slowly pushed one finger into her rectum and the other back into her vagina. Katie couldn’t help but clench and wiggle, but the knee supports prevented her legs from moving much.

The doctors left hand returned to her stomach, repeating the manipulations from the vaginal exam, but this time with an added layer of discomfort. Katie felt the two internal fingers squeezing together through her perineum before slipping back out. She closed her eyes, trying to imagine she was back at cheerleading practice, or even math class would be a happier alternative to this.

“Bear down again Katie.” The familiar instruction made Katie’s toes curl, but she dared not ignore it. A large finger reentered her rectum, sweeping around every inch of her walls, leaving nothing private. “Good Katie, a urine sample next.” He encouraged, removing the probing finger. Katie hoped this meant she would be allowed out of the chair, but instead she felt her labia being parted and wiped.

“Ow!” She cried, feeling a sting coming from where she peed. The doctor continued to inject the stinging liquid as Alex rubbed her restrained arm. “That’s the aesthetic jelly, it will make inserting the catheter much more comfortable.” He explained. Katie tried to protest, but Alex cut her off, saying “How else would we get an accurate drug test?”

Katie thought about peeing in a cup, which seemed like a valid alternative. Before long, the thin tube was slowly inserted, making the burning worse, but she bit her lip to keep herself from making noise. The doctor watched her face scrunch as he inflated the balloon, and tugged on the catheter to make sure it was secure. Alex tied a tourniquet above her elbow and Katie flinched as the needle went in. She watched several vials of blood fill, trying to forget she was spread eagle while this happened.

As Alex took out the needle, the nameless orderly started to undo Katie’s restraints. Katie considered making a run for it, but since she didn’t know her way around the corridors, or have any clothes, she figured she wouldn’t get far. As she sat up, she felt the tube dangling between her legs. “Don’t touch that.” Alex firmly ordered, making Katie’s hand snap back like the tube had bitten her.

Looking around the room, Katie realised the doctor had left, making her relax significantly. Another orderly, identified by the same green scrubs as the first, had brought in a wheelchair, which Katie obediently sat in after regaining her gown. She had never expected she would be so grateful for this flimsy paper.

As she was pushed down more halls, winding through the hospital, Katie debated asking questions. Eventually, she gathered the courage to ask where she was going. “Just in here.” The orderly answered, unhelpfully. Katie read the sign pointing to the hallway she was pushed down, ‘proctology’. They passed mostly nurses, an occasional patient, making Katie self conscious of the tube dangling between her legs. Before long, she entered yet another exam room.

The table in the centre was different yet again, with an L-shaped section at the foot. Katie couldn’t imagine what it was for, but figured it couldn’t get worse than the gyno chair. A nurse hurried in after the orderly, closing the door behind them. She checked Katie’s wristband before greeting her, mousey brown hair pulled into a bun. “Oh you’re from the rehabilitation programme, that explains it.” The nurse may have been speaking to Katie or herself. “We don’t get teenagers too often! I’ll assume you have never had a proctology assessment before?” Katie shook her head. “Well they can be a little uncomfortable, but they’re very necessary. Put your tummy here on the table, and knees here.”

Katie stood from the chair, but couldn’t make herself get onto the table. The orderly pushed a hand into her lower back, encouraging her into position. As she knelt, the shape of the table pushed her bottom up. The nurse arranged her legs to further expose her, but Katie had given up any hope of modesty by now. At least this nurse seemed to be kind. “Have you had enemas before Katie?” Katie went red, remembering her mother once giving her a fleet when she was about 8. But she was 18 now, and still remembered not enjoying that at all. “We need you nice and clean so the doctor can have a look. It won’t take too long.” The nurse tried to reassure Katie while retrieving a bag attached to what looked like an IV pole and snapped on gloves.

Katie gripped the sides of the table as the tip of the nozzle pressed gently against her sphincter. “Bear down now sweetie.” Katie didn’t, but after a moment the nozzle was forced in anyway. She groaned as pressure increased inside her rectum. “Just inflating the nozzle Katie… Now we can start the flow…” Katie could feel liquid streaming inside her. Squeezing her eyes closed, she promised herself she would never drink again. She moaned a few times with cramps, eventually the nurse informing her that all the liquid was done, she just had to hold it for 5-10 mins.

Katie gasped, not knowing how to bear the pressure for that long. As she wriggled on the table, she became increasingly aware of the orderly who stood between her and the door, watching intently. “Good job Katie, another minute and you can stand up.”

“Good! I’m going to remove the nozzle first, then we’ll bring you to the bathroom.” Katie felt even more tense as the nozzle was deflated and removed, afraid she would leak as her legs shook under her. The nurse supported one arm as she led Katie to the adjoining bathroom. While the nurse left, Katie saw the orderly in the door as she expelled, but couldn’t do anything to change that.

“All done? The doctor is ready for you now so let’s hurry back in.” Katie dragged her feet at that, but saw the familiar doctor standing by the bed. Alex was there too, and helped Katie back into the kneeling position, this time securing a strap across her back. “Just so you don’t move and hurt yourself.” Alex explained. Katie was grateful that the friendly female nurse stayed, stroking her arm as the others gathered equipment that Katie couldn’t see. Katie jumped as the table angle changed, tilting her head down and waist up. “Nothing to be afraid of sweetie, the doctor is just going to have a look inside your colon with a special device called a proctoscope. Won’t it feel better knowing everything is healthy?”

Katie didn’t know if it was worse when she didn’t know what was coming next, or now that she knew what she was in for. She cried out as a finger reentered her rectum, circling around and around. “Shhhh,” the nice nurse continued, “just getting you lubricated. The scope might feel a little cold next.” As promised, an icy probe rested against Katie’s bottom. “Bear down.” The doctor ordered, watching Katie’s sphincter twitch and tense, eventually doing what was asked.

Katie sobbed quietly as the doctor advanced deeper, squeezing air inside and manoeuvring the scope as he did. Every inch he went deeper made Katie think she would split open. Slowly, she could feel the scope start to move back out, still changing angles and adding more air. The kind nurse kept stroking her arm and telling Katie was a good job she was doing. Eventually, the doctor finished and gave Alex a nod. The table readjusted to its original angle and the restraints were removed. Alex wiped the excess lubricant from Katie’s behind, making her even more embarrassed. Before she knew it, she was back in the wheelchair being brought through the hospital again. This time, the sign on the wall showed that she was entering ‘psychiatry’.

Instead of an exam room, Katie was brought to what looked like a ward. There were three beds separated by curtains, the first was completely hidden by the blue drapes, the other two empty. The orderly brought her to the centre bed and let her sit. Alex came in shortly after and told her to lie down. The catheter got a bag attached, and an IV was inserted into her left hand. Before he left, Katie was covered in a thin blanket. She lay there, with nothing to entertain here, thinking about what she had just undergone.

She had entered the hospital at 10am, but figured from the lack of sun it must be quite late now. Before long, Alex came back with another nurse. Alex pulled the privacy curtain as he greeted Katie. “Good news, all of your tests have come back already, so we’ll get you set up for your evening medications. You may need a little help sleeping after today’s excitement. Now, onto your elbows and knees.” Katie, completely overwhelmed from the day, complied silently. “The doctor prescribed suppositories to help sooth any irritation from your examinations.” Alex placed a hand on her lower back as the bullet shaped medicine was gently inserted. As the second was pushed in, Katie felt the gloved finger follow, forcing it deep inside her. Alex gave her back a few gently pats, holding her in position with his finger for a minute until the medication had a chance to dissolve. Katie quickly fell asleep once Alex left, exhausted from the day.