Suspected fever with rectal thermometer coming out dirty

I'm curious how often an enema or suppository was given after it was discovered that the rectum was full.

I have no recollection of that!

In France, in my experience,glass thermometers had a short thin tip followed by a thicker part, and only the thin tip was normally inserted. For it to hit feces, they would have to be ready for expulsion. Perhaps in the United States thermometers were inserted deeper?

Every time got temp if thermometer dirty got soap up bum then enema

With a European-style thermometer, the normal way is to insert just the tip, and generally it should not hit fecal waste.

However if one inserts such a thermometer deeper, and the patient should have gone potty, then it will be dirty when coming out. In fact, it has just happened to me!

And it looks that American-style rectal thermometers were also meant to be inserted deep.

It must be really embarrassing for the patient when it happens!!! Did it happen to you?

Has happened to me before

It has happened to me, it is embarrassing.

I don’t find it odd to see some feces on a thermometer if it’s used rectally, I mean that’s what’s up there so how could that be embarrassing you’d almost expect it although it doesn’t always happen.

Can’t remember that happened with me, but I can recall a scene with sister. She was sick at home. Mom took her temp and I just heard “gosh you are full” or something. Next she was asked to march to the bathroom where she got her cleanup.

@Jacana American-type rectal thermometers used in a clinical setting were meant to be inserted no more than an inch and a half into the anus. But people like me who use rectal thermometers for fun and erotic pleasure often insert the thermometers deeper - halfway, three-fourths of the way, even so deep as maybe a just quarter of an inch of the thermometer protrudes from the asshole.

As a child at the clinic while submitting to the obligatory rectal thermometer, I do recall hearing “we have a little poopy!,” more than once. I was never impressed that it had to be announced- nor understood why. It was almost like it was exciting for the nurses- as if it were a pleasant surprise?

Besides adding insult to embarrassment, nothing was ever done about it.

@arttemp That seems to suggest these thermometers were inserted quite deep. I can't see this happening with a European style thermometer except if the patient was really on the verge of pooping.

@Jacana I can assure you thermometers did go in quite deep indeed, even though it wasn’t recommended nor required.