Unexpected Rectal Exam in the Hospital

Did anyone ever get an unexpected rectal exam while in the hospital or in a medical situation where you did not expect it?

I spent a lot of time in hospitals as a kid, mostly for orthopedic surgeries. It was a teaching hospitals, so you got used to various residents and medical students coming in and doing various exams, but the were usually at least vaguely related to what you came in for.

However, there was one time that I remember where I was in the hospital for a surgery. I must have been some where in the 8 to 12 range, as I remember that it was before I had “graduated” out of the regular peds wing to teen wing/ older peds section.

I remember being in bed when a resident came in and said that he had to do an exam and was going to put a finger in my bottom. I remember having to roll over on my belly and the doctor slipping a lubricated finger in my bottom for a second or two, and then the doctor moving on without any explanation.

I don’t remember being freaked out by it. I had had rectal temps when younger and I may or may not have had a rectal exam before. (I also had some urological issues.) It was just odd and out of the blue.

Did anyone else get a rectal exam out of the blue during an unrelated hospital stay? Especially an unexplained one. Either as a kid or as an adult.

@RTmemories I recall reading, some years ago, about teaching hospitals having students perform digital rectal and vaginal exams on sedated patients without medical justification. Apparently it was easier this way than to have to find a patient who actually needed such an exam and obtain consent for an examination by a trainee. I did not know they would also do it on un-sedated children and exploit their deference to authority.

I myself had some "surprise" rectal examinations in childhood but at least they were related to a problem I had; it's just that they did not even bother telling me I would get a finger in my bottom. At least your intern told you.

Yes as a federal worker I got a yearly exam and it was a variety of RNs who saw you prior to the doctor.

On one exam the nurse I had was doing my vital signs which because of an issue I wound up having my temperature taken rectally which I was ok with. After removing the thermometer I was asked to lay on my side and that’s when she administered DRE. No, I did not expect that from her.

Another time ( same job) I was seen by a urologist who administered a DRE and then he watched and instructed as his student doctor , a lovely blonde 30ish something performed the procedure also.

The details are really fuzzy, but I sort of remember having one when I was really young during a trip to the emergency room bc of intense stomach cramps (maybe they thought it was appendicitis, I think it turned out I was just constipated). Can’t reminder much, but I’m sure that if I did in fact get a rectal exam, it was definitely unexpected.

I did once. I was in the hospital for what turned out to be kidney cancer. I had been there about a day and a doctor walks in, looks me over and says “I want to do a rectal exam”. Looking back I should have asked why, but I didn’t. So my mom and sister leave the room, he puts gloves on, I roll onto my side and this jackass rams his dry finger in hard. I screamed and said “What the hell is wrong with you???” He rubs his finger on a piece of paper and says “I see a little blood. I want you to make an appointment with my office to check you out”. Of COURSE you see blood you MORON after what you did. I threw him out and told him not to come back. I really think he was a pervert and was doing that just to get patients to his office even though they had no problems. I think if he came back he would have had a big problem!!

I hope you contacted the hospitals administration about this. There's no excuse for a DRE without lubrication, but they can't address the problem if they don't know what this doctor is doing.

I forget what I was in the E R for but A young female Doctor came into the cubicle snapped on exam gloves and told me that I need a rectal examination to check for blood. She had me turn on my side and she unbuckled my pants. She slid my pants, underpants down to my knees. She lubed up a finger or two and forced them deep into my rectum. Moving around inside me touching my prostate she removed them. and wiped them on a card. She said good no blood here. Then she looked me over, and turned me on my back. Exposing my penis and left the room.

I over heard and saw the outline of the female patent about 40 being told she was going to be given a rectal exam. She was in the next exam booth in the ER suite. She protested then moaned as it was done! I felt very anxious hearing her gasp!

An unexpected rectal exam would be great at many locations outside of a hospital as well.

Just when I was 18 went into hospital and after I got into pajamas and doctor came in and pulled the curtain said he had to do an admitting exam. He opened up my shirt and listened to chest and lungs. Then he had me lay back he opened up my bottoms and pulled them and underwear down to mid thigh examining my penis and testicles then he had me roll over on side and he spread my cheeks he just looked in but did not put anything in. Then he let me stand up so I could pull my pajamas back up.

Yes but at the gi docs office

I was setting up my first colonoscopy at 36 met with the Dr, talked about prep, me wanting no sedation etc. My gf at the time always wanted me with her at the doctors for some reason and she went along with me as well. She sent us out to the waiting room to schedule it. I thought if there was going to be any exam it would have been done by her.

5 mins or so go by and I am called back by a PA, we both get up and she tells my gf she doesn’t need to come, but both of us were like it’s ok. We were taken into an exam room with a table set up to kneel over. Right from the time I entered the room she told me she was going to do a Dre so I needed to lower my pants and kneel on the table. So I ended up getting a Dre I didn’t expect in front of my girlfriend. Probably the most embarrassing exam I have ever had.

I ended up in A&E due to a bad slipped disc in my back. To check there was no immediate severe nerve damage the doctor inserted hi finger in my anus and i had to clench to prove everything was still OK

Just when I was 18 went into hospital and after I got into pajamas and doctor came in and pulled the curtain said he had to do an admitting exam. He opened up my shirt and listened to chest and lungs. Then he had me lay back he opened up my bottoms and pulled them and underwear down to mid thigh examining my penis and testicles then he had me roll over on side and he spread my cheeks he just looked in but did not put anything in. Then he let me stand up so I could pull my pajamas back up.

Interesting...

I can see a reason why they would check on your vitals (blood pressure, heart rate. etc)

But a genital examination? It really makes no sense to me.