The last actual physical I had I would say was thorough. I say actual because any so called physical since then pretty much the doctor didn’t even touch me. Medicine in the US now seems to just have the gp acknowledge a problem and refer to a specialist or as you age it’s time to see this specialist or that one.
Anyway as for that physical, here is a run down of it. I had been seeing this doctor now for 3/4 years and it was rare and only when I had a gp problem. I can’t remember the reason I saw her but she pointed out that I had not had one in years and should schedule one. I didn’t disagree, so I scheduled as I checked out. It was a long way out, like the original poster said they blocked an hour appointment for the physical. Closer to the date I got a bunch of forms to fill out that went system by system asking about problems and family history. I am pretty sure this was almost like a guidebook for the doctor and the physical.
Anyway the appointment finally came, I was taken back weighed, height measured, led into a room where the nurse took my blood pressure and the rest of the vitals. There was a specimen cup out on the counter along with the gown I would be wearing already laid out when I entered. She told me they needed a urine sample, and then to disrobe down to my underwear and put on the gown. She showed me where the bathroom was and sent me on my way with the cup and an alcohol wipe to the restroom. I tried but could not pee at the time. I told the nurse I couldn’t and she said that was fine for now, I could do it before I left. Back to room and I undressed and put on the gown. About 5 mins later in came another woman with a cart to do an ekg. She was getting ready to leave as the phlebotomist came to draw blood. At this point 20 mins or so had passed and the nurse came back in to see if I wanted to try and pee again. I thought I could so I got off the table and that’s when I became aware of how short the gown was, it was basically a long shirt. I went across the hall in my underwear and gown to the bathroom, trying to be quick as possible because the gown really didn’t offer much when upright below the waist. I gave the sample they needed and darted back to the exam room. The doctor came in started going over all the paperwork and began her exam. She checked my ears eyes mouth, listened to my lungs heart and bowels. Palpitated my abdomen, checked my reflexes etc etc asking more questions as we went as she followed along with the forms. The last section of the form was GI/GU. She told me it was time for her to examine my penis and testicles. She asked questions, urinating fine, any sexual difficulties, and pain or problems she needed to look for. She then looked back at the forms I filled out and saw the history of colon cancer. I was told I needed to get a colonoscopy, even in my mid 30’s because of my risk factors. She then stated that she normally didn’t do a DRE on someone my age but in this case it wouldn’t hurt to do and was up to me. I told her I was fine with it and it wasn’t my first, she laughed, as she moved towards the door. She told me she was getting the nurse for this part and to go ahead and take off the underwear and have a seat back on the table. Both of them returned pretty quickly, at this point as short as the gown was, I think my penis could be a easily seen up the gown, covering up wasnt much of an option.
She had me lay back and lowered it to my penis and felt around my pubis, pulled it back up and with that my genitals were on full display. She took a decent look at it while laying down, then she asked me to stand, followed by can you lift the gown a little. Each testicle was examined and then the hernia check. The doctor then told the nurse she needed everything for a DRE, ie a new glove lube and fecal blood test. Then i was asked if wanted to lay back on my side on the table or just bend over. I just opted to bend over the exam table. First she had a look and felt around asked the nurse for jelly and told me relax and then bare down and she slid her finger in. She felt all around and then just stopped moving her finger. One last thing to check while I am here and that’s your prostate, she warned me of feeling like I might need to pee and then proceeded to examine it, when done she pulled her finger out and told me we were done. The nurse showed me the box of tissues to wipe off with and I could get dressed.
It was as I said thorough and the last time I have a gp examine me, if you have one like this today keep that doc, they are rare.