Last thorough hands-on physical

I realized recently that it's been 11 years since my last thorough hands-on physical.

My doctor had recently moved into a concierge practice, and I spent a few months looking for a new doctor and getting an appointment scheduled for an annual physical. The nurse brought be back to the exam room, measured height, weight, and blood pressure, and then asked a lot of medical history questions that she typed into my record. When she was done, she left, telling me the doctor would be in shortly.

I was surprised that she didn't ask me to undress. My previous doctor had me in underwear with a paper gown. When the new doctor came in, she greeted me and sat down at the computer to review my records. She was older, early 60's, I would say. She was kind but also firm. She wasn't happy about my weight, or my blood pressure, or my cholesterol. She outlined a plan to address all three, and made it clear that she wanted to see me in three months to follow up.

Then she went to the cabinet and pulled out a cloth gown and drape. "I'll step out while you get undressed," she said. "The gown opens in the front. Sit on the exam table with the drape over your lap. I'll be back shortly."

She returned and did the standard head-to-toe exam. She checked my eyes and ears. She looked in my throat. She felt my lymph nodes. Then she had me lower the gown to my waist, and listened to my heart and lungs. She was friendly, but business-like. She pulled out the table extension and had me lie down. She palpitated my abdomen and listened to bowel sounds.

Then, she had me put my arms back in the gown and turn on my left side. I still had the drape covering my lower body, but it had moved around a lot and wasn't covering much. "Let's adjust your fig leaf," she said with a smirk. She folded the drape over to expose my butt and had me pull my top leg up for the rectal exam. I had never had a rectal exam in that position before, so she had to do a lot of coaching to get me in the right position. This was the first time a woman had ever had her finger in my ass, but it wasn't nearly as erotic in reality as the fantasy was.

Declaring everything normal, she had me stand up for the hernia exam. She stood behind me and reached around for the exam, which was another position I had never encountered before. I still had the gown on, but since it was open in the front, it didn't really hide anything at that point.

Finally, she told me I could get dressed, finished writing her notes, and told me to follow up with her in three months.

The second appointment wasn't nearly as exciting as the first. We reviewed the weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers, and she praised me for making good progress. A couple months later, she retired, and I was handed off to another doctor. The new doctor, also female, is closer to my age. But with her, I've never even taken off my shirt. All the auscultation and palpation is done through my clothes, and she mostly concentrates on what the blood tests tell her. Overall, I think the care is actually better. The science tells them what to test for and how to respond when the numbers are out of whack. And unless I have symptoms to check out, the need for the hands-on exam is greatly diminished. But the medfet in me misses the old days.

When was your last thorough, hands-on physical? How did it go?

Here is a similar topic "Complete Physical Exam"

https://en.zity.biz/index.php?mx=forum;ox=display;msg=1208092

That can be read through for member's exams.

My annual exam the middle of last month was a very thorough hands on physical exam. It was a little quicker than the last one a year ago. But was still a very thorough and hands on physical. He did a complete exam starting with my head, neck E,E,N,T, working his way down my body checking everything as went ending with a skin exam followed by a genital and rectal exam.

I do see things changing from year to year he is not taking as much time to talk and ask questions as he used to. He is always moving trying to get done and on to the next patient.

Mine are very thorough including having me strip to underwear before he comes in and then removing them for the genitalia/hernia portion which is done both lying and standing

Not since I was a child. As an aldult at least for me it almost seems transactional. No gown to change it into nothing like that. Some auscultation sure but thats it. Ive tried a few different GPs now.

My last “full” physical was about 10 years ago with my old doctor. He was an old school doctor nearing retirement. His medical assistant lead me into the exam room and told me to remove all my clothes except my underwear. She said there was an exam gown in the drawer if I wanted one. I decided I didn’t need one and stripped to my boxer briefs. At the end of the exam the doctor had me pull down my underwear and checked me for a hernia. The next physical I had, my new doctor just had me remove my shirt. No genital exam. Now at my yearly exam, no clothing is removed and all he really does is listen to my heart.

My last full physical was last August. The last time I saw my PCP was about 2 months ago, but that was a wellness check, so it was basic. (no GU/Rectal, I was mostly dressed) She is leaving the practice, so in August, I will have another full physical, extra thorough because it's a new patient exam. That's the usual pattern. Annual exam (full physical), then wellness check alternating every six months.

This past November my physical was very thorough. I have had doctors who didn’t do a thorough physical and I immediately left the practice. The key is finding an older internist who doesn’t accept too many patients. My doctor does two physicals a day one in the morning and one in the later afternoon, he sets aside atleast an hour for the exam. I have no idea what I will do when he retires!

I can't recall when the last time I was asked to strip and wear a gown for an annual exam? Sad.

It usually is more of a mental health type appointment with a few quick questions/answers followed by any specialists that should be brought in, if any. Even then it's very specific and detailed to that concern/issue, which almost never requires a gown.

What’s a ‘concierge practice’?

Last thorough physical that I had was about 11 years ago. Only testicular check that I have ever had.

What’s a ‘concierge practice’?

@Dr_F

A concierge practice, also known as concierge medicine, is a model of healthcare where patients pay a membership fee for enhanced access to and services from their primary care physician. This contrasts with traditional insurance-based practices where patients' access is primarily limited by insurance coverage. Concierge practices often offer more personalized care, extended appointment times, same-day or next-day appointments, and direct access to the physician.

My physical last year was reasonably thorough. I undressed to my socks and underwear - the doctor is pretty old school and kind of a "guy's guy", and the topic of a gown never even comes up. I think he just assumes men are comfortable in their underwear. I received a pretty standard, but complete exam - auscultation, abdominal palpation, lymph nodes. For the genital exam, I stood up and was asked to drop my underwear. I pulled them all the way down, and the doctor gave each testicle a good, thorough rolling. No examination of the penis, though, and I'm too young for a prostate exam, so that was it.

Last summer when I changed insurance and was finally able to get a doctor closer by. She did a complete exam from head to toe and did not use a chaperone or assistant. She did have someone or a voice to text transcribing through her tablet though which she left on her desk. I was there for at least 30 minutes maybe longer as she also went over labs and what things I needed to focus on.

It has been so long I really don’t remember; probably close to 15 years.

Approx. 16 years ago. That's a long time, and during which I had several physicals going on, from general check-up to major Visa application ones (which I already kinda anticipate very thorough, invasive exam with anxiety - not joy; a product of overconsumption of medfet stuffs I guess!). But they have been all very clinical blood test and device-dominated. Maybe I need to visit a place where detailed physicals is still a thing. Maybe some of you kind souls can suggest me real clinics for that!

Boo. I was holding off posting in this topic until today hoping that I would be able to say "yesterday," but I must continue to say, "20 years ago" at my last visit to Fenway Health in Boston.

I scheduled a "sexual wellness" visit which I thought definitely would be a pants-off exam, and walked away with prescriptions for tadalafil, mpox vaccine, and HPV vaccine, but no exam whatsoever. Just talking.

I'm thrilled that the diagnostic testing technology has advanced this far, where mysteries to my parents' generation are easily diagnosed and treated (e.g. that ulcer isn't caused by stress; it's caused by an H. pylori infection easily treated with an antibiotic regime). But as an avid participant in this site, I'm thoroughly pissed off that physical exams are dead.

I think a play doc or other alternative is my only option at this point.

I guess when I was 18 when I needed to take a physical for studying abroad.

After that not really ever. I've had medicals but not "thorough hands on".

I had my annual physical last week. It wasn’t as thorough as previous years but was still a complete exam.

The clinic was clean as usual and after a short wait the MA calls me into the room to take my health history and some vitals. I was told to keep my clothes on, unlike previous visits where I did change into a gown. 5 minutes after she leaves the room, the NP walks in, wearing black scrubs. She goes over my medical history and asks if I have any concerns. Once that is done, she starts the exam with me seated on the exam table, checking my ears and eyes. She looks in my mouth and has me say “ahh”. She then feels for the lymph nodes in my head and neck before listening to my heart and lungs both front and back. Next, she takes out the reflex hammer and tests that. She also has me do a sharp/dull test on different parts of arms and legs. “I’ll just have you lay down for me.” I do and she listens and palpates over my stomach. She then feels for the pulses in my feet.

“Can I take a quick look at your private area?” I nod and she goes to the counter to grab a pair of blue gloves. While she’s slipping on the gloves, I lower my pants to mid-thigh. She feels the pulses and lymph nodes in the groin, then quickly checks the penis for any lesions. Next, she does the testicular exam. Finally, I’m asked to stand in front of her so she can check for a hernia. She rolls back her stool, takes off her gloves, and tells me everything is fine, and I can see her again in a year’s time.

I'm seeing a lot of droughts here. I guess you can credit all of the abusive doctors for ruining it for the rest of us, that they cut back on everything.

My last hands-on exam was my pre-employment physical, in 1986. I had never had an exam as thorough as that in the past, and never since. Blood work, urine. EKG, chest x-ray, you name it. I had my first prostate & rectal exam at age 30. I have to say, the doctor had the personality of a rotted turnip, but he was thorough.

My primary doctor for the had 30 years has never seen me naked, that tells you how thorough he was, the primary i recently started seeing isn't much better.

All of my exams and doctor visits are thorough - hands on or hands off. The last time I got the “hands on” exam was 18-20 years ago. Now, if there are any concerns I get referred to a specialist or get imagery or other tests. I consider today’s technology better, more accurate and more conclusive than probing and guessing.

My last complete physical was last year and I'm going for my next one next Tuesday. I've been seeing my doctor for 30 years or so and he's always very thorough.

@Boxers50 ooo u should fill us in on it.. would love to hear how it goes

The last time I had a full strip medical exam was around 15 years ago. The usual stuff with testicles felt and anal exam.

My last thorough exam was yesterday and completely unexpected. I had gone with an unrelated matter and was expecting a relatively quick exam but what I got was anything but. I had my height, weight, BP and temperature taken. Plenty of questions asked and then she picked up her stethoscope. She listened all over my back and chest to my heart and lungs. Then had me lie down and check my stomach, as I had gone to see her about a hernia. She proceeded to check, prod and feel around that area and my groin for some time before I was sent for an ECG and chest x-ray. With an echo and a gastro scopy to follow

Mine was when I was in university 15 years ago at the student health center. Complete physical with underwear lowered and genitals examined. More recently, I had a dermatologist exam where the female doctor would have me remove my underwear and, in some situations, then lie down and assume the frog-leg position, whereupon she would touch my genitals.

I had my last full physical examination a little over a month ago. My new doctor was very hands-on and also was treating me for walking pneumonia. I started a new job which required me to relocate hence the need for a new doctor. I also had a very comprehensive employment physical a few months before that.

I am used to female providers but I had a zoom conference with my new male doctor prior to making my decision and he seemed like a good fit for my needs. I am in my late twenties physically fit and confident guy.

I am extremely career oriented with old school work ethic. I am a GENZINO: Generation Z In Name Only. Unlike many of my peers I don't become frustrated or angry when the doctor has me undress to my underwear to be examined. I have read several stories about how my peers react to these situations and all I can do is get a good laugh and move on with my life.

I would have to say about 1992; at least that is the last time I can remember being told to strip to my underwear and wait, sitting on the table. Since then I have had check-ups, wellness exams, bp checks, and "physicals," but none were that thorough. I had the same GP from 1992 to 2023, and in that time it went from being nearly naked to just shirtless to pulling clothing up or down as needed to sitting there fully clothed (while he spent most of the time looking at and typing into the computer).

Not since 2019, and I didnt totally undress, but did undress down to my briefs. The doctor did not do a rectal exam, however he did do a brief genital exam to follow up on a skin condition that he already knew I had.

I'm supposed to have a "check up" with my doctor in a couple weeks but no doubt it will be kaisers "just ask questions as quickly as possible to get you out the door" type deal lol