Rectal temperatures | How was taking rectal tempera…

Views: 1400 Created: 2017.10.09

First post

I remember being very young and being sick with a fever. Mom had me in her bed and she sat down on the bed next to me." I have to take your temperature and I need to put the thermometer in your rear end. It won't hurt. I need to lay still while it's in or it might break." This was all new to me, but I thought if it did not hurt, it might be alright.

My pajama bottoms and underpants were pulled down once I was on my stomach on the bed. True to her word, it did not hurt at all. In fact, I liked the sensations the lubricated rectal thermometer provided and enjoyed all three minutes of this new procedure and those that followed that day.

Members, How did your mother or nurse first explain the temperature taking process to you?

LineReader

As a kid, getting my temperature taken, Mom had little if anything to say other than "It's time to take your temperature" or "I need to take your temperature". I'd had it done any number of times, and as far as I can remember, never a bad experience. Back in "the day" it was the more common/preferred method, and considered accurate.

phantasy

I think i remember my dad taking my rectal temperature when i was real young. I think i was like 5 when my dad told me "i need to take your temperature, i'm going to have to take it rectally; which means in your behind like i always do. I do it this way because it is the most accurate way to tell how sick you are and its very important OK?" My dad continued with; "first ill be putting some vaseline on my finger to go inside you to make sure of the direction i need to put the thermometer in as not to hurt you. None of this will hurt, my dad took my temperature this way when i was young." Then it became that all he needed to do was to put his hand on my forehead and i knew what to go do.

RTnurse

My earliest memories go back to 6 or 7. Mom always did it rectally on my back, I think I just got used to it and never asked why it is like that. Somehow it became normal for me. Lasted till 16 when I left the house for studying.