Rectal temperatures | Thermometer Shake Down 2/2

Views: 1248 Created: 2021.10.08

First post

Does anyone remember their thermometer being shaken down by either their nurse, babysitter, parent or other relative?

One memory that still stands vivid in my mind was the sight and sound of the thermometer being shaken down by the various nurses that attended me at our local clinic as a child.

If I wasn’t already facedown and prepped on the exam table paper, I would sometimes get to witness the thermometer get withdrawn from it’s clear plastic antiseptic filled holder, get wiped dry and shaken down.

Some nurses would snap it in three shakes with a loud popping wrist; some would shake it long and slowly, as if trying to nonchalantly flick a booger from their fingertip as they visited with my mother.

There wasn’t that many sounds that accompanied receiving a rectal thermometer, besides crinkling paper, but the wrist popping by the ladies who kept the violent shakedown short and sweet is a sound that has remained solidly affixed in my fifty some years of accumulated memories.

Graham G

For me it was just seeing the Vaseline jar being opened up in the thermometer being shaked down and being told to get on my tummy knowing where it was going to go

TeriRN

My partner shakes it down every time before she takes my temp. That sound and seeing the jar of vaseline sitting on the nightstand before she tells me to lay across her lap gets me so wet.

Cleanout lover

I vividly remember lying face down , underwear pulled down or off, and watching Mom shaking it down. I knew if it was anything higher than 99.6 out came the enema bag or bulb.

Senecaguy

I remember my mom shaking the thermometer down but the sad part was she took my temperature orally.

Mustanng95

I remember mom taking me to the emergency room on a Saturday afternoon because I had been sick nauseated and vomiting all morning. In the early 80’s Doctor office was closed on weekend. It was pretty empty in waiting room so got called back fast. The nurse took us to a Open room For assessment with cuticle dividing the area. She asked mom what I had going on today basic questions when did it start if I had been running a fever yes if she been giving me Tylenol yes . But was not keeping it down long enough to work. nauseated yes vomiting yes. headache no diarrhea no . nurse took my Blood pressure, oral temperature (glass thermometer) 3 or 4 quick snaps of the wrist then under my tongue she asked mom if she was taking oral temperatures at home mom told her yes . after about three minutes she remove the thermometer looked at it and placed it back in there in the container. then she said to follow her she will get me into a little more private exam room. after about 10 minutes or so she returned to the room. with another nurse said that she needed to get my temperature one more time before seeing the doctor. as she was saying this she removed a thermometer from her pocket and begin to shake it down vigorously then she informed mother that she needed to get a temperature in my bottom I quickly protest mom even saying it had been a few years taking oral temperatures even at my pediatricians office but she said they needed to get a accurate reading at this point I didn’t care anymore feeling as bad as i did just wanted to get it over with

Mustanng95

n/a

My mom would come into my room take my shirt off and shake the thermometer down. She would then put it under my arm for 5 minute. During the wait I would get erect and still do to this day