Rectal Method used when congested.

When I am down with a cold, often I am very congested and it just makes more sense to take the temperature rectally. This was also done when I was living at home. Mom felt if one could not keep one's mouth closed around the oral thermometer for at least three minutes, then out came the rectal thermometer. How about you, members?

I can agree with that. If I went to the doctor with a real bad cold and cannot do an oral temperature and the nurse wants to a rectal temperature for an accurate reading, I will let the nurse do it but, as longest she promises me not to say anything about it on my file and she ans I have to be the only ones in the exam room. I am almost 40 years old.

I wouldn't dare to ask the doctor for a rectal temp. under ANY circumstance. Using a rectal thermometer at home for any reason, congestion included, shouldn't be a problem, if you so choose.

When I was growing up and the only available thermometers were glass mercury I would at times use my frequent congestion to get a rectal reading instead of an oral measurement. I just happened to have a lot of congestion, which I unfortunately still do, its the way my sinus cavities are formed, but I would in fact play up more congestion than I sometimes had just so I could get my mom to take a rectal reading instead of the oral, She believed in a five minute registration time, so if I was unable to breath through my nose their was no way I could keep a thermometer under my tongue and mouth closed for that long. So it was over on my tummy and pulling down my pants for her to insert the rectal thermometer up my behind.

When I was a kid, up until about age 11, my rectal temperature was taken at home and at the doctor or hospital if I could breathe through my nose or not. It was just considered the way kids had their temperatures taken. Nowadays, if I am sick and running a fever, I make my way into the bedroom, get out the thermometer and vaseline, shake down and lubricate the thermometer, take off my pants, lay in bed, pull down my underwear and slide in the thermometer, wishing a cute female nurse or doctor was doing it for me. Oh yeah, that's how my usual play session starts too when I'm not sick.

My mother transitioned me to oral temperatures early (or at least, before I was ready). My ace-in-the-hole (so to speak) was my frequent head colds and bad nasal congestion problems. I couldn't breath effectively through my nose and keep my mouth shut long enough to get a valid oral temperature. I was also prone to gagging with the thermometer under my tongue.

She would try using my armpit, but she wasn't satisfied with those results, so reluctantly she'd resort to the rectal route. This was my preference anyway. As a result, I'd play up my nasal congestion to increase my chances for a rectal temperature. It worked frequently until I was 10. By then I had decided it was time.

If I was real sick and could not hold an oral thermometer under my tongue; a rectal temperature would best for an accurate reading. I would let the nurse have at it.

To me, it just depends on how congested you are and how you feel.