Feeling too old for rectal temperature taking by mom

How old were you, when you started to feel embarassed, humiliated annoyed or anything like that about rectal temperature taking? When was the first time you tried to resist, or convince your mom about other methods like oral/axillary?

I mean, strictly speaking about home temp taking with your mother, not at the doctor.

Even if you did not fuss about, just obidiently submitted to it, laying on the bed, what was the point when you started to say that "Mom, I am way to old for doing this way" or maybe also saying that "Why I have to lay down on my tummy? I can hold a thermometer in my mouth!"

Or thinking while the thermometer is in your bottom: "My friends must be on oral temp, why would my mom want me to take rectal like I was 3 or something?"

So I am basically curious about your age when these thoughts appeared in your mind, and what were your thoughts exactly?

I never had those thoughts I never minded rectal temperatures. In fact, I was quite disappointed when the doctors nurse asked me if I wanted oral. so I told her no rectal is fine.🌡️🧴🧻

I have no recollection of that. I don't know what age I was when mom moved from sticking the thermometer in there herself to asking me to stick it into the same place.

Once as a youngster when sick I was given the option by my mom. Oral or Rectal?

Never bothered me so I said rectal and stayed with it until about 11 or 12 and never got sick enough to necessitate it in my teen years and my mother had long stopped Rectal temperatures.

As I got into my twenties I decided I would stay with it after a visit to a clinic where I again years later I was given the choice as a “ joke”. I told the nurse “ You can take it rectally if you want” She said she was joking. I told her I was being honest and if she did want to take it that way, it was not an issue for me. She took it rectally, then after the temperature taking said …” Most adults don’t care for a rectal temperature though at times it is necessary but is the best way, anyhow!” Been with it ever since. A long time.

For me it was relatively early, just before turning 4. I remember the age because of where we were living at the time. My mom wanted to check my RT and she took me into the bedroom. We had family visiting at the time and I was worried that someone might walk into the bedroom and see me even though the door was closed. When she told me to lay down on my tummy I refused and I told her why. She assured me that no one would come in, but I was not convinced. I remember thinking to myself that my refusal would not work, but my mom decided to try oral and I had no difficulty holding the thermometer under my tongue. From that day onward I never had my temp taken rectally again....not at home or by a doctor/nurse. This was in the mid-50's, so not every kid in the 50's had RTs throughout their childhood.

I think I was about 9 when I began feeling like I was getting too old for rectal, but I still turned over obediently. One day, my mom accidentally broke the rectal thermometer while shaking it down. Since she had an oral thermometer in her bathroom for my parents, I assumed she would at least let me attempt to use an oral one, but instead she went out to the pharmacy, and bought a new rectal thermometer, as well as a spare one, which pretty much answered that question. Within a few minutes of her getting back home, I was once again on my tummy with a thermometer sticking out of my tush.

I never minded rectal temps and never had those thoughts my mom and doctor switched me at age 10

No i never really felt to old, it was just how my temperature was taken, made me feel taken care of and like a little boy She had both an upstairs and downstairs thermometer. She would usually have me undress and lay on my tummy on her bed. I loved watching her shake her thermometer down, I knew it was going to happen. Quite often after having my temp taken she would lead me to her bathroom by the hand. I knew what that meant

So from infancy on it was always taken rectal….it’s really all I knew even though I remember crying over it. It was not exactly my favorite thing to have done but none the less whether I liked it or not; that’s how it was done!

I had it oral a few times but not many!

I’m in my 40’s now and I still take it rectal and prefer it and ONLY RECTAL! Although the thermometer feels good in my bottom; it’s not sexual to me!

Now my twin sister on the other hand would protest and have a fit! She stopped getting rectal temperatures at home by age 9 or 10 and where probably stopped about the same time @ the dr! I still didn’t care for the rectal route at the doctor or at home but I really didn’t have a choice as I was a mouth breather and asthmatic so keeping my mouth closed long enough was next to impossible getting an accurate reading!

Mine was never taken at home; that’s what the clinic was for.

I recall being mystified by the strange procedure as a younger toddler over my mother’s lap. Soloing up on the exam table around age four for the first time was when the embarrassment really kicked in. Witnessing my little sister taking a rectal thermometer during a shared appointment is the day I put everything together in my head about what was actually happening to me.

At age four I asked my mother why they did it that way, and she told me it was because they thought I might bite the thermometer, and that I needed to comply without question nor complaint. I clearly remember wondering why anyone would want to bite on a piece of glass?!?

By age four I knew I was too old for a rectal thermometer. I still had almost two more years of it left to go at that point.

The older I got, the harder it was for me to accept, but accept it I did.

Was never given options all ways rectal at home and clinic and hospital

Was never given options all ways rectal at home and clinic and hospital

My own experience of RT-related embarrassment was a bit different. Like a few of the other posters here, I never actually minded having my temperature taken rectally as a child. On the contrary, it provided some intimate time with my (otherwise usually harried) mother. I thus resisted switching to oral temps and was disappointed that Mom insisted that I make the transition when I was about 6 years old.

After that, I spent several years hoping that she would find an excuse to have to take it rectally. At the same time, knowing that RTs were considered the “baby” way, I felt shame for craving it so much and was too embarrassed to ask directly to have it taken like that. As a result, I tried to find ways to “sabotage” my oral readings, for example by secretly drinking cold water first and not keeping the thermometer under my tongue. Unfortunately, none of them ever worked.

The one and only time after my transition to oral that Mom did take my temperature rectally, it was because she had lost or broken the glass oral thermometer and needed to get a reading before calling the doctor. I was 11 or 12 at the time. As a preteen, I was acutely aware that I was too old for the rectal thermometer and thus felt like I had to make a show of displeasure to pretend I was upset. But I was secretly thrilled and so obediently followed her instructions to turn over onto my stomach for the procedure. My embarrassment spiked, however, when my little sister came into my room while the thermometer was registering. She was old enough to understand that rectal temperatures were for babies and had probably even transitioned herself to oral by that point. She was smirking the whole time. The acute embarrassment of those 5 minutes contributed to a lifelong obsession for me.

I remember being seven or eight years old and not feeling well. I should probably go to the pediatrician. My father insisted on taking my temperature in my bottom. So I had to lie on my stomach. He pulled down my pants and shoved the thermometer up my butt. Then he went into the kitchen. Although I was fascinated by taking temperatures, I couldn't wait and after a (probably too short) time I took out the thermometer and showed it to my father. He was not amused, shoved it back up my butt and went into the kitchen. This probably happened two or three times. My dad got angrier and angrier, walked me back to the sofa, shook the thermometer down and shoved it up my butt, deeper this time. That stung. Then he sat down next to it, held the thermometer very tightly and stroked my bottom. I must have thought that I was a little boy and had to be good. Although I felt too old for rectal temperature at that moment, I also felt comfortable and cared for. Very strange.

@GerHarren, to be as specific and comprehensive in answering your OP queries as possible:

How old were you, when you started to feel embarrassed, humiliated annoyed or anything like that about rectal temperature taking?

Answer: Never to this day ever had any of those 3+ feelings about RT’s, now age 71+ (72 next month).

When was the first time you tried to resist, or convince your mom about other methods like oral/axillary?

Never, not once.

I mean, strictly speaking about home temp taking with your mother, not at the doctor.

Good point, noted. Mine nearly all at home by RN mom. Rarely at doctor visits.

Even if you did not fuss about, just obediently submitted to it, laying on the bed, what was the point when you started to say that "Mom, I am way to old for doing this way" or maybe also saying that "Why I have to lay down on my tummy? I can hold a thermometer in my mouth!"

Never started. I cannot imagine any reason I would think that.

Or thinking while the thermometer is in your bottom: "My friends must be on oral temp, why would my mom want me to take rectal like I was 3 or something?"

Never ever had that thought.

So I am basically curious about your age when these thoughts appeared in your mind, and what were your thoughts exactly?

Never appeared in my mind ever. My only thoughts were “I kind of like the feeling of that Vaseline®️-lubricated glass thermometer mom puts in my butt, mom is an RN Nurse and a great mom, she thinks I might be sick and this must be the best way to do this.”

Occasionally she would use a glass oral thermometer instead of RT, but preferred the more likely accurate rectal route. Either was fine with me, but orally I had to keep my mouth closed around the thermometer so it was actually easier for me rectally.

@GerHarren your OP queries suggest you really didn’t like RT’s or thought they were embarrassing or annoying. What was your experience?

Eric

I had my temp taken rectally at home until the end of elementary school - so about 11 or 12. I never made a fuss about it as I was used to it. I however became somehow self conscious about them when I understood that most kids my age didn’t had rectal temps anymore but oral ones.

Don’t remember getting RTs as a kid. I’m sure I did as an infant, but my memory kicks in around age 5 or 6. Those memories were my mother putting an oral thermometer under my tongue, or handing it to me.

I do remember crying @ the doctors office having my rectal temp taken but o think a lot of kids probably cried having their temp taken that way. Now @ home o don’t really remember 😭 crying so much over the rectal temperature, my mom or dad were always the ones who took it. I only cried if I felt really bad other than that; I just knew that’s how it was taken and just let it be and accepted it!

Now suppositories; those were a different story! I cried 😭 and would try to fight it b/c I HATED suppositories! I would cry and kick and try to fight them…..it never worked I always got them anyway but I don’t ever remember my parents getting mad….they would just gently tell me; “it’s ok sweet baby, just relax it will be over soon!”

But the temperature thing…..well not sure why it bothered me at the doctors and not at home but anyways!

It was always rectal for me and still that way today as an adult!

If I’m ever sick; the pants come off and the thermometer is inserted into my bottom. Sometimes if I’m feeling really bad I don’t feel like putting anything in my bottom so I will start with the ear 👂 or forehead then depending on what the reading is I might go ahead and take a rectal reading! But rectal is the best and most accurate for me!

I asked my mom one time why she took my temperature rectal and if she ever thought about switching me to oral. She said that they tried oral but because I was a mouth breather she never got a true reading so the only other way (back in the 80’s and 90’s was rectal!

That is where they got the most best accurate reading on me.

My twin on the other hand got switched to oral @ about 6 or 7. I remained with the rectal route and still do today!

Thank you for your honest reply, thomasmtl! Can you please tell me more about this part of your post:

became somehow self conscious about them when I understood that most kids my age didn’t had rectal temps anymore but oral ones.

I mean, how did you know when was other kids switched to oral temperature taking method,(and at what age was the switching point for others)and what was your reaction to that. For example, did you try talk to your mother about it, especially highlight the fact to her that you are 'way too old" for rectal temperature taking?

My mom grew up in rural Alberta, Canada & enemas & RTs were the rule. I got RTs well into my teens, prob around 16 or 17. I never really complained to stop. It was just the way it was done. Looking back, it prob was a little weird laying naked & prone on the bed with a thermometer up my butt. Mom always inserted it. I still do RTs when needed.

My mother is a doctor and measured me and my sister's rectal temperature until we were about 16 years old

It was really embarrasing

She didn't care if my friend or my aunt was present in the room

And it happened 10 years ago, not in the eighties😊

As a medical professional no doubt your mom had her reasons for taking your and your sister’s rectal temperatures. I agree it must have been embarrassing going through your early and mid teens. But it is the most accurate way.

Too bad you and I guess your sister too had others not directly involved in your care, witnessing the temperature takings.

And welcome to Ziti!

Growing up in the 50s ot was pretty standard for rectal temp takling to stop at 5, about, except if in hospital. I missed it as I leaned at a young age that that the rectum is an erotic place. I am learning through this wonderful site that there are many who enjoy anal stimulation and how enjoyable that it was and how it can enhance a very boring sex life. Word to the wise: before you enter a sex relationship ask if she/he is into anal sex, etc.

Surely by the time I reached the age of 11 I was very aware of being undressed at the doc's and having to submit to the exam and all that was involved like having to strip for a temperature taking. Even though I was expecting one, it was still hugely embarrassing and became associated with feeling self conscious and experiencing arousal. Mom had stopped taking it years before but supported the nurse taking it without hesitation.

As others have eluded to, growing up in the 60s and 70s rectal temperatures were not at all uncommon. I felt at times as if I was plenty old enough for an oral option, yet rectal was far more often chosen for me. I did not resist but I would get quiet and turn onto my tummy when instructed to do so. It was something that played on me during the drive to my check-ups etc. I would see both thermometers in their glass holders as my vitals were being checked. Once my blood pressure was completed I’d hear “let’s have you turn onto your tummy and get your temperature recorded”.

I recall not ever liking having my rectal temperature taken as a kid. But I tolerated it for the most part. I do remember resisting sometimes. It was taken that way at home until I was nine. I have no recollection of my temperature being taken rectally at the doctor's office as a kid, even though I'm sure it was. My feelings changed when I began to play with rectal thermometers on my own as a teen. When I met my first man at the age of 18 (he was 32), the rectal temperature experience became something altogether different because at that point, a rectal thermometer became a sex toy for me. Taking an adult male's rectal temperature and having mine taken by another man became the kinkiest thing imaginable for me.

I preferred my temperature taken rectally by my mom. Until I was 10 it was always over her knee. Then it would be me lying on her bed. There was something soothing about her holding her hand on my bottom during the process. When I turned 10, it was only orally at the doctor's office. My mom would insist it be rectally and even offered to insert it. Rules were rules so my mom stopped insisting. I was thrilled when in college when asked by a local physician would I prefer orally or rectally. I quickly answered and he said students my age ever ask for it that way. For the next few years when I would go to the office, I was not asked again. Those were the glass thermometers and would stay in for awhile. I hate the ones that quickly beep when done.

I guess when I started getting erections

@thomasmtl Did you tell your parents you felt too old for this?