RT's Making a Comeback.....I don't think so

Much as we all love RT and it's place in play or fantasy, I don't see them making a comeback in clinical settings or in legitimate home care. The forehead and ear temps are (I'm told) as reliable and clearly less invasive. RT is yesterday's method. So it goes. That said, we can still play. Be safe and from time to time, there is the infrequent occasion (see my earlier posts) where one might luck out.

Though clinical grade electronic thermometers are pricey, the time it takes in a professional medical environment to obtain a reading has made electronic thermometers is a fraction from that of a glass (mercury-fill) thermometer which is the primary reason that the glass thermometer has become obsolete. A good analogy has been the replacement of the the high end still film camera used by professional photographers (say at professional sporting events) with the wondrous professional electronic camera where a snapshot is captured instantly and stored on a memory card that would seem to have an infinite amount of snapshots taken and low end electronic cameras entering the mass market. For glass thermometers though, coinciding with the availability of electronic thermometers for both professional use and for consumers has been the removal of glass, mercury-fill thermometers from use and destruction because mercury is a powerful neurotoxin should it be released into the environment from a broken glass thermometer as liquid mercury turns to a gas at room temperature. (Oddly enough the medical profession could care less that an organic mercury compound was added as a preservative to vaccines that had been injected into infants and children and again it is all about money.)

I wonder when the last time any legit doctor routinely took a patient's temp (other than an infant, of course) in the rectum.

"Okay, Mrs. Smith. I see you are here for a sinus infection. I'll just need you to slowly lower your panties and lay across my lap so I can get your temperature." ?

Seriously, rectal temps are wonderful in a play setting. But that's all they are - fantasy.

From the late 1800's, through the very early 1990's, rectal temps. were the common and accepted "gold standard," in many countries, hospitals, and private homes. Some used it exclusively for infants toddlers, and a few teens, while others used it for all ages. Our social and medical standards today, look nothing like before. Rectal temps. are frowned upon by the medical community. Technology is so advanced that most temps. are non or minimal contact. As far as making a comeback ? Do you mean, in the sense of fashion, or nostalgia ? Only for a very tiny segment of the population, that can remember that far back. If you were to ask anyone under 40 about rectal temp. taking, they would probably think that you were high on something. The world has changed.

For the younger crowd, having a rectal temp be requested may seem more intense and out of the ordinary since people under 40 rarely experienced R/T as a child. The connotation of the R/T has a whole different meaning to someone that was never imprinted with one as a child.

It has no familiarity to anything in their past and carries a sense of newness and excitement....and to those so inclined, a strong sense of submission.

Yes I think that's true.

Nowadays rectal temps are not taken anymore for example in hospitals or at the doctor and ear thermometers became the standard

I gotta say, I grew up up in the late 60's and 70's not once did I ever hear of anyone, child or adult having a temperature taken in the bottom. Must be a US thing.

Here's a long thread in which Dutch teenagers discuses receiving suppositories and having their rectal temps taken:

https://www.jonginlandvancuijk.nl/ervaringen.asp?ac=view&fos_id=10&web_id=270&fms_id=130&fromtype=recent&erv_id=143708

You will need to translate from Dutch.

I recently went to the ER for what I thought was a prostate issues (turned out to be something else, previous wrong diagnosis), but I never even removed my pants. This was bizarre growing up in an era where I was stripped to my underwear for any doctor visit. The tests were all scans done by machines, there was no physical looking or touching done. So this is the future of medicine.

People have become hypersensitive to nudity because we live in a culture that sexualizes everything. You cant even be nude in the gym locker rooms any more without guys looking at you like you're weird. When I was growing up, if you were super shy about your body you were a puss. I know because I was, and got teased about it. The jocks were not shy about nudity.

Anyway, times have changed, technology is here...mostly its just more covert now. They strip search you at the airport without making you remove a stitch of clothing. And they can take your temperature at least 4 different ways without exposing you.

JJM. Forgive my reference to "not making a comeback." I wasn't being clear nor realistic in my post. RT is most assuredly a thing of the past in clinical settings. We can still enjoy as a private fetish but (with VERY rare exception) it is done with in professional medical circumstances.

@DoctorJohnny2

Unfortunately I can't speak Dutch. Can you translate a bit, please? ?

Use Google or Bing translator.

At one time, rectal temperature taking was an enduring process, and likely embarrassing, for all involved. Temperature taking today has become very technical, and mundane. Rectal temps. as a standard practice doesn't exist. Oh, and let's not forget the current mental health communities. Sticking something in your butt ? What kind of weirdo does that ? They " obviously" need counseling and meds. I'm sure that rectal temp. taking is also responsible for global warming, according to some. After all, for those purists who still use Vaseline, which has a hydrocarbon base...we can't have that. I can just imagine someone being charged with "assault with a rectal thermometer," in a court room of the future. Yes folks. You can relegate rectal temp. taking to a nostalgic era.

This topic is a no brainer. Rectal temperature taking on anyone other than, perhaps a baby, is pretty much extinct and will never make a comeback. The trend now is for the physician to be much less invasive. Whether or not this is a good practice remains to be seen, but we need to view reality. Some physicians even don't have their patients remove their shirts to be examined with a stethoscope. It is done over the shirt. The people out there that are wishing for rectal temperatures to return, I hope you don't take offense to this, but no doctor or nurse is very anxious to see naked 40-50-60 and 70 somethings. It is not very appealing to them.

Many good points raised, but to totally dismiss the use of RTs I’d say is a bit premature.

I agree there are advances in medical technology where faster alleged more accurate devices can be and are employed. And yes being an invasive procedure performed anally, there is the response factor with the person/ patient receiving it.

That said, there may well be medically indicated or necessitated rectal temperatures based on various factors.

Each person is different with respect to having their rectal temperature taken. As indicated here (Ziti), many are devotees or believers in rectal temperatures. They use that method and in some circumstances. may have their temperature taken rectally.