R T at the Pediatricians ( memories)

I was around 4 to 7 Years old and in the beginning of the exam, before the entrance of the doctor, The nurse had me undress and weigh and measure me. Then she would have me lay on my belly, on the examination table. She would always remove my underpants all the way off. Ask me not to squirm as she got a jar of Vaseline and a rectal thermometer from the cabinet. She would spread my legs and apply cold jelly to my anus and push it inside. Then spreading mu lower cheeks push the glass thermometer deep inside my rectum. Moving it around as it went inside. My rectum was filled with Vaseline. She would stand next to the table and cup her hand over the thermometer, and my ass cheeks holding the thermometer inside. She would spread my legs real wide too! I felt the tip of the thermometer against my prostate. She would leave it in for exactly 5 minutes. Then before removing it she would give it a twist and sternly remind me to keep my legs open wide. She would wipe then excess Vaseline from my anus and cheeks. I did get a small erection from the thermometer pushed inside as I turned over she would smile at me. She made me lay naked until Dr D walked in to examine me. Some times she would listen to my femoral arteries (both sides) with her stethoscope. ( it was cold and so was the room we were in).

I remember going to the pediatrician like it was yesterday. On the way there I would have butterflies in my stomach worried about getting my temperature taken and maybe needing a shot. For some reason my mother always felt the need to tell the nurse checking us in that she had checked my temperature at home “by rectum.” I always assumed everyone in the waiting room heard and would be beet red with embarrassment. We would then wait and I would be too nervous to read the books or play with the toys. Once we got to the exam room my focus would be the big jar of Vaseline and the two thermometers on the table. Of course I knew which one was for me. I would be told to strip to my briefs and after the usual we etc. “the moment of truth“ arrived. The nurse always said the same words “why don’t we have you turn over.” I knew that meant it was temperature time. Once I was on my tummy I would lift up and my briefs would be pulled way down. The nurse would then go to the two thermometers and get the one with the stubby tip. I’m not sure why but it always embarrassed me seeing that thermometer. She would then shake it down sharply and you could hear the snapping sound. Next a big glob of Vaseline would be applied to the tip as I stared on. Depending on my age and mental state sometimes I may have whined a bit at this point. I’d get scolding reassurance that “it won’t hurt.” Next would come the prying open of my cheeks and the probing of the thermometer as it was inserted in my rectum. The nurses hand always cupped my buttocks for five full minutes and time seemed to stand still. I was always admonished to “hold still“ and told I was being a “good boy.” After the 5 minutes was up the thermometer came out and my temperature was announced

Chilling memories! The snap of the glove, getting the KY or lube out of the drawer, retrieving the thermometer from the cylindrical container, shaking it down, lubing her finger, and then admonishing me to turn over. Chills went up and down my spine as I felt her tell me to lift up some and down went my briefs. At other times, I was admonished to take everything off and get onto the table and lay on my belly. Either direction was met with anxiety and embarrassment. Being seen with the thermometer protruding between my cheeks was the ultimate in exposure.

Great memories! Thanks.

I had the same experience, and not good memories. For me, rectal temperature taking at the doctor’s office and at home went all through high school. Lots of times being seen by others who were walking in the hall with the door open, as well as at home, with friends and relatives as witnesses.

My younger brother and I would go the our pediatrician for our yearly check up. I would go first since I was the oldest. I would strip down to my

underwear go out into the hall for my weight and height. then it was back to the exam room. I would hope up on to the exam table. the nurse would

check my blood perisher. then I would have to roll over on my tummy I would have to lower my underwear. The nurse then would walk over to the counter. and get the rectal thermometer out of the holder she would shake it down and lube. then she would walk over to the exam table she then

parted my bottom cheeks and inserted the thermometer into my rectum. After five minutes she then removed the thermometer. and wrote my temperature on my chart. then the doctor came in and examined me . Then it was my brother turn he got the same treatment as me.

I have had and have the same feelings, fears, anxiety and everything else that is described here. Just waiting for the command to roll over. watching everything unfold before my eyes, and then it happens. Home or pediatrician, no difference. @JordanJ I can so totally relate to you and your situation. I got boxed out of campus housing and am stuck at home, too, under Mom's reign along with my sibs.

And I still get my temperature taken rectally at the pediatricians

Why do they still do it that way?

I have written a lot of my experiences in other threads. For me, trips to the pediatrician were always very nerve wracking, but I was much more concerned with the shot than the rectal temp in my early years. That completely changed though in older years, as I learned how to not clench my butt during shots, but rectal temps became much more embarrassing to me. When I walked into the waiting room, I would look around at the other kids knowing that they knew I would have the thermometer in my butt, just as they would. I would try to read “Highlights” or something and every time the nurse would come to the door I would get butterflies. Then finally, my name was called and I would follow the nurse. The room would smell of heavy alcohol, and I would be told to undress to my undies and wait for the doctor. The nurse would then knock, who knows why, because from then on they didn't care who saw you. "Let's go weigh you.." they would say, and then it was a march down the hall in nothing but thin white briefs. If I was lucky, I would make it to the scale and back without any other kids, but inevitably, there would be another underwear clad boy or girl on the scale or walking to or fro. Back in the room, the door would be closed behind you if you were lucky. If it was a busy day for the nurse or something,the door might only be flung and bounce back open. My heart would start pounding, especially if the door was cracked. Blood pressure, pulse, and then the dreaded moment when I would be told “ok, over on your tummy so we can take your temperature” Undies would be slid down past my knees. The nurse would take a red thermometer out, shake it down, put some lube on the tip, then turn around, spread my bottom open, and stick the thermometer in like a dart. “That's a good boy.” It would feel cold and slimy at first. Time would slow to a crawl, I would hear every movement on the crinkly paper, and the clip clop of nurses walking back and forth. I might be told to be still if I moved too much. I would get an erection when I was older. I might hear other kids or nurses talking. Sometimes my nurse would talk to my mom, but usually it was quiet. Fianally, it would be pulled out with a slurp, leaving my butt gooey. I would struggle to get my underwear up without showing my penis, but that rarely worked. This went on until I was 12, and then at 13 I was old enough to switch to oral.

I’m sure I must have had my temperature taken rectally as a child, but I don’t have any memories of it. Wish that I did, but I suppose fantasies and hearing stories from others will have to do.

I live in Quebec and there where no “pediatricians“ I went to a family doctor. And at the beginning of every appointment, he took my temp in my bum no mater if I was sick or just a regular appointment. This went on until I was 16 years old. I never really minded until I was older, then it became really embarassing.

During our annual back-to-school checkups, my sister and I would be in the same examining room at the same time. Our temperature would be taken at the same time. Mine was taken orally since I was past 7, while hers was taken rectally. My mother tried to intervene on my sister's behalf, but the nurse was firm: “We usually wait until they're seven.” I got to watch the nurse take the rectal thermometer out of its sterilizer, shake it down, lube it and slip it in. I remember admiring the way it stuck out. At one point, I started to say something when the nurse cautioned me, “Don't talk, or we'll have to take yours rectally, too.” In retrospect, it was a missed opportunity. I still remembered how good my last r/t felt and should have told the nurse to go ahead to take mine rectally.

From the age I began playing doctor, I have always found the sight of the top of a rectal thermometer just showing above the butt cheeks, very appealing. I don't like the butt to be hairy or hair around the anus, that's a turnoff. I had a 10-year-old male friend that I played with from age 10 to just past 13, he told me he liked the look of the thermometer in someone's butt too.

As long as I went to my pediatrician until age 17 I received RT at nearly every appointment (with exception of several appointments in a short period of time). While I was waiting in the waiting area, one of the nurses called each child to one of the three treatment rooms. Inside after height and weight the vitals were checked, and while lying on the belly, the electronic thermometer with gel-lubed tip was gently pushed into the bottomhole. While registering the pulse and blood pressure were measured. During that time the thermometer finished measurement and would be withdrawn. For me, nothing to be scared of, I knew what happened. But sometimes I could hear some kids and teens raise a protest against the thermometer in their bottoms, even throughout the closed door.

I still remember one situation when I was 11yo and met a classmate in the waiting area. He was really nervous because he obviously didn't like RT. When a nurse called his name to enter the treatment room, he mumbled something like “hopefully my ass stays virgin today” I wished him good luck, he showed me thumb up and the door was closed. In my thoughts I couldn't believe that an extroverted and tall boy who wore his jeans sagging style was that anxious to get a thermometer 3-4 cm in his bum. When he came back he made a stupid face like the thermometer must have been so huge. He also told his mom (who didn't join him to the treatment room) how brave he was even when the big thermometer was so far inside. I showed him a big smile, because we all heard him discussing and moaning.

Sometimes my temperature was checked twice, because the doc repeated the measuring. In most times it was fpr having me lay still on my belly withe bare bum to get an injection (most times while thermometer was still inside). Sometimes I guess it was more looking at my anus if everything is okay. Don't know which other reasons he should have had to make a second temp check.

I've mention in a similar thread, that the very first RT I had done was a surprise. For some reason I was mad and very unhappy during one of my wellness checks. Must have been around 7. Doctor came and did the usal examination with little to no collabartion from me. He was trying to get me to open my mouth so he could take my temp. I refused several attempts, next thing I knew I was getting flipped on my tummy and had a thermometer slide in my bum…couldn't say I liked it or dislike it felt odd and cold. From then on my pediatrician took it that way. Pretty sure I had it done that way when I was littler and graduated to the oral one. My guess was, since I didn't collaborate with the doc they might have guessed I wasn't ready for the oral thermometer or it was just ponishment for my behavior that one visit.

For some reason my mother always felt the need to tell the nurse checking us in that she had checked my temperature at home “by rectum.”

@davocea So you also got your temperature check by your mum at home before each and every appointment? I feel with you, as it was the same with my mum. But at least my temperature wasn‘t checked again at the pediatrician. But, as I‘ve written on some other occasions, I can still remember the odd feeling before an appointment. My mum, holding a thermometer and a pot of Nivea creme in her hands, telling me to go to my room as she needs to take my temperature. Being totally healthy this always felt kind of unjust.

As I‘ve mentioned in other discussions getting my temperature taken at the pediatrician always was an unpleasant surprise as luckily these events were rare. He had a cabinet were he stored all his instruments. He took them out one by one and put them back after usage. I guess it was to not scare his patients by letting the instruments lay around in plain sight. Well for me this did not work all too well as I always felt a little scared when he was approaching the cabinet and opened a drawer to take out what he needed next. You never knew what to expect. If it wasn‘t one of these dreaded wooden spatulas used to depress the tongue it was quiet a relieve. Except when he took out a syringe or the thermometer. Those were the instruments I definitely hated the most. The thermometer was a typical mercury filled glas one. It was protected by a metal shelve. I always watched him both mesmerized and frightened taking it out of the shelve and starting to shake it down. He asked my mum to bare my butt and make me lay on my stomach while applying some of the cold gel which he used as lubricant. Despite me clenching my butt checks together he alway managed to get it in pretty quick. After looking at his wrist watch he started talking with my mum. It always felt like hours until he withdraw it.

I only remember getting a rectal temp once at the pediatrician. I was a very healthy kid who rarely ever got sick so it was never important to check my temp on a well visit. The one time though I remember it vividly. I was around 7 and was going in for a throat culture to check for strep throat. It Must have been cold season or something because when my mom took me the office was packed with sick kids. It took about 20 minutes to be called back and a very pretty, young nurse with brown hair took us in the back. She lead us into the room and closed the door and clarified with my mom my birthday and why I was there. She then asked if I had a fever and my mom said that I felt warm but she hadn't taken my temp yet and the nurse said ok we can check it right now. I had taken my shoes and jacket off and was sitting on the exam table, it was soft with the crinkly paper underneath. The nurse opens a drawer and turns back to my mom and asks her if I would be ok with a rectal temperature check because she only had a rectal thermometer in the room. My mom said that I never complained about having it done that way at home so I'm sure it would be fine. Then the nurse turned to me and asked if I could lay down on my tummy for her, I of course did. I then watched as she took out a thin red thermometer case, a small white tube of Vaseline, and and alcohol pad. She put a tissue on the counter and gave a small squeeze of the Vaseline on to it, then she took the glass thermometer out of the case, wiped it with an alcohol pad and then shook it down, she then placed it in the Vaseline on the tissue and put a glove on her left hand. She the. Twirled the thermometer so the tip was covered in Vaseline and turned to my mom and asked her if she could pull down my pants and underwear. So she comes over to me and asks me to lift up and then gently slides then down. Then the nurse puts her gloved hand on my rear and tells me to lay still like a good boy, then she spreads my cheeks with her thumb and index finger and gently slides the thermometer in. That's when my mom tells the nurse that sometimes I pull the thermometer out before it's done reading so the nurse puts her hand on my cheek with the thermometer between her fingers after a few quiet minutes the nurse pulled it out, wiped off the Vaseline and told my mom my temp was a little over 100. She then wiped it down with another alcohol pad and put it back in the case, while I sat up and pulled up my pants and underwear. It seems longer than it was, the whole procedure from start to finish was only about five minutes, the rest of the appointment was unremarkable but man did that stick in my head and really cemented my RT fetish for life. This was in 1993 and I never had my temp checked there again, but they had switched to all tympanic thermometers a few years later.

I know growing up it was taken rectally at least up to 8 or so

My mom was my pediatrician and all of her nurses knew I got rectal temperatures just like the other kids (until 7 years old) in mom's practice.

Mom had a playroom set up for me (the exam room right next to the nurses desk) before I started first grade because it was easier to take me to work with her than to drop me with a babysitter every day. She also wanted to spend as much time with me as she could. I am the baby of our family. Her last child.

I remember lots of times that I would be sick with a cold, playing in my playroom and one of the nurses would come in, open the cabinet and take out the rectal thermometer (the only one in the cabinet) and a jar of Vaseline and say “I need to take your temperature” or “Your mom wants me to take your temperature.” There was still a full exam room cabinet in my playroom.

I had a single twin bed for naps (the examination table had been removed) so some of the nurses would lay me on my bed , pull my pants down at take my temperature there.

If one of the exam rooms next door or across the hall were not being used some would pick me up, carry me there and lay me on my stomach on the exam table and take it there.

Most of the time they just sat down in the chair in my playroom, pulled my pants down and put me over their lap.

On several occasions one old nurse called me to the nurse's desk, put me across her lap and took my temperature while she answered the phone and worked on charts.

When you grow up around a clinic like I did, it seemed like getting a thermometer in my butt was just part of my world.

In the 70’s early 80’s . going to the pediatrician office. Knowing u was going get the thermometer put in ur butt . On ur tummy sometimes the nurse would give u a little cartoon card book to look at to take ur mind off the thermometer I guess . I was 6 years younger then my sister most of the time she was in the room when I got it done. I do remember seeing her a couple times with a thermometer in her butt

Rectal temperatures in a pediatric setting are by far the most accurate way of determining that critical vital sign. With an oral thermometer, a child can't be trusted to keep it under his or her tongue until they have reached an age of maturity and responsibility. A thermometer can easily slip around in the mouth and slip from under the tongue - a lot of oral thermometers are also heavy for young folks to hold still in their mouths. Plus, children can be easily distracted, start talking and doing other stuff that could cause the thermometer to fall out.