Rectal Temps at a Doctors Office

Susie, I myself do not recall a feeling of having something "forced" up my butt, in the sense of being held, or struggling, or refusing. But I recall some "unwanted penetration" episodes - one digital rectal exam for suspected appendicitis where the doctor simply did not tell me that she would push her finger inside (boy it did surprise me), and having to "bend over" for a suppository and the unpleasant feeling of mom's finger pushing on my anus.

In both cases these were not "big" things but it gave a lasting impression, even though I was not physically "forced".

When I was a kid in the 50's, 60's and 70's my Doctor always took my temp rectally. As I got into my teens I had to request it when I went to the doctor. At home that was the only thermometer we had so it was always taken that way.

^^^^ You were a kid in the 50's 60's and 70's??

That's the longest childhood I ever heard of! 😁

Susie: Fits if born 1958. ;-)

To me a kid is a young child well under 10.

I never heard it used for older children.

I havent had a rectal temp done on me (that I was aware of!), since I was 7 y/o in the '50s when I had measles. I those days before vaccines for anything other than smallpox, communicable disases always warranted quarantine at home. Also, physicians still came to your house back then, if you were too ill to come to office or had such an infectious disease. I remember I was so damn sick at the time that I couldn't care less where the temp was taken! That was last RT I recall...but have had surgeries since then when very probably it was done rectally until I regained consciousness. Cannot think of any reason for RT other than serious illness, surgery, unconscious patients in hospital.

Rectal temps are only done now on babies, children unable to hold an oral temp (that is probably less than five) and in patients who are comatose or very uncooperative. Doctors never take rectal temps. At least I don't.

I would definitely say rectal temps are alive, well, and actively being conducted at the vets office. I think this is where all those glass mercury stubby and pear shaped rectal thermometers "ended" up going actually. My vet mercilessly pops it deep in my pooch with nary a hesitation every exam. Shaking like a leaf, she always lets out a little whimper. Obvious humiliation in all species of the animal kingdom.

Right on Alex very funny. This topic needs more levity.

I remember when there were two thermometers sitting in alcohol (assume alcohol) in plain view labeled Oral and Rectal in the exam rooms.

I remember that too J9999. I don't remember ever having any thoughts though about that, seeing them together like that. I was probably 7 or 8 and in the peds office the last time I saw that. However thinking about it now, I guess the fact that one, I still remember that, and two that I actually took notice and knew the difference between the red and blue tops at 7 means that again it's just another example of how my medical fetish has been going on for a very long time.

Mashie

I don't think I would allow a doctor to take my temperature rectally at a dr.'s office, I'd be too embarrassed. I'd prefer it to be done in my home.

It isn't going to happen unless you're comatose or less than three.

I beg to differ with you on that Liquid. I have had it done and for a good reason. However, I was so so sick and I was in Doc's office. Since he only took it that way in play due to how sick it was it was the right choice. He would know exactly how high it really was then. Apples to apples so to speak. Now with that being said, had it been anyone else he would have taken it orally because that is the way it would have always been taken. Again, apples to apples.

Mashie

Don't you think that it was Doc which made the difference?

I would say that there isn't much of a chance for a rectal temp taking these days unless you happen to have a doctor or nurse practitioner who believes it's best. Mine still does and even though it's a tad embarrassing, it isn't horrible or offensive. Heck, half the time I don't even realize it's there until she removes it!

A rectal temp. taken during a physical ? That's one of the best jokes I've ever heard ! If your doctor wants to take your rectal temp., you should leave immediately, and check to see if they're a genuinely licensed physician, or just some kinkster masquerading as an M.D., who is likely a former prison inmate...or should be. I'm 60, and have never seen or heard of any such thing taking place.

Liquid, yes absolutely Doc was the difference. He doesn't take rectal temps on his regular patients, hell he seldom takes a patients temp anyway because unless you are really sick or have a preceding factor, there really is nothing to gain from a temp.

But when the only way he has ever taken my temp was rectally, then when I was in a potential crisis him taking it rectally at that point was the correct medical decision. I was post op for kidney surgery. It went well but took about 3 times longer than expected and was pretty tough surgery according to Doc and Mikey, my surgeon. I was still in New York, it was 2 or 3 days post op actually and suddenly I was sweating buckets, cold then hot then nauseated, shaking and all sorts of other things. I called him on his cell phone during office hours which I never ever do. He told me to get to his office ASAP, or he would send his staff to come and pick me up.

I managed to get to his office. I don't remember getting there but I remember being there. A lot of that day is sketchy, all I know is that I was sick. I remember sitting up on his exam table. I remember him telling me that he was going to take my temp. I remember him explaining to me that he was going to take it rectally and why. Then I remember arguing with him and I was saying something like I was to sick for him to take my temp. I remember me staring him down. Then I remember him saying something along the lines of, that he wasn't playing, he was dead serious, he said he was very worried about me. And then that's about all of that day I remember. If more happened Doc would have to fill in the rest. He probably remembers a lot more than I did from that day.

Mashie

If your doctor is not from the Stone Age, there is a modern, faster and more efficient way to read your body temperature. It is an instrument about the size of an electric tooth brush. Just place this object next to your forehead and in a few seconds this object will give you an accurate reading.

Pinky123 you are absolutely right, there is a modern, faster, and more efficient way to read your body temperature which is the item in which you talk about scanning on your head. However I would absolutely argue, and I believe that most of the other medical professionals would also argue and agree with me when I tell you that the instrument in which you speak of is absolutely NOT accurate. It can be, but it isn't at all reliable.

However with that being said, seriously there are very few occasions that you need a temp much less an accurate one to begin with. So do and use what you want, but trust me, a patients temp really doesn't mean anything to us except those few occasions. Personally speaking, the only time I take a patients temp is when they are one of those patients who have the preconceived notion that we medical professionals need to take things like temps in order to take care of them properly. Ummm, yeah no.

Mashie

I'm not a big fan of the temporal scanner. I was also one of the few that thought the tympanic thermometers were a crock, and fortunately they fell out of favor. Turns out I was right about them.

Vital signs. It's vital that you have them, not always vital that I measure them. Our doctors do their own intake, including vials when they're indicated. If I need to know your temperature, I'll take it. I have IVAC electronic thermometers in every exam room. Usually oral is just fine. Severe pharyngitis, tonsillitis, or suspected sepsis? Yep, even adults will sometimes get a rectal temperature. Happens about once every couple of years, not exactly common, but it happens.

The time Mashie got her temp taken that way was NOT fun and games.. and as we say my doctor hat was firmly on.

Doc

Oh my lanta I was so mad at you that day lol. You know I hate to lose a power struggle, especially with you, lol. And yes my love, I know it was the right thing to do........now.

Mashie

I have had my temperature taken rectally my entire life and my underwear was always completely removed, just as it was for a spanking. I still have my temperature taken rectally and I am nearly sixty. My man also spanks me bare when I misbehave and I find that completely normal. I find nothing wrong with rectal temperature taking or bare bottom spanking. Never did, never will.

Myrtlepw561, you do realize that this thread is talking about having your temp taken in your fanny in the doctors office in real life right? You can't tell me you get in it your bottom these days at the doctors office do you?

Mashie

Yes actually still have my temp took rectal if I've been misbehaving as I'm lucky enough to have a very close friend of my girlfriend who is a nurse as my doctor, she knowns that I get regular discipline and rectal temperature checks at home so sometimes her nurse will take my temperature rectally in the doctor office and has happen a few times recently when I went in...but usually get took in my mouth or ear thankfully and always wondered what she wrote down in the chart for the nurse to do each time I go in for checkup.

The pediatrician that I went to, had an office in his home, and no nurse. My temp was never taken rectally after age 5 or 6, and I was lucky enough not to have been hospitalized during that time. The pediatrics wards of the past used rectal temps. on all ages, from infancy up to late teens, or even early adulthood, so I've been told. I had a female friend in college who was hospitalized in the pediatrics ward at age 19 or 20, and her temp was taken rectally. She was humiliated by it, but said that she just accepted it. I also knew another female student in a similar situation, who refused the rectal thermometer, and was accommodated with an oral temp.

I don't remember if I ever had had my temperature taken rectally when I was at the doctor. But what I really do remember is that my mother always checked my temperature rectally before visiting the doctor. I was kind of threatened before the visit. My mom always said to me: "I think we better have to check your temperature before going to the doctor. He will ask us about your temperature anyway, so if we don't take it here at home he will check it up for sure." Then I had to pull down my underwear so my butt was completely naked, while she was preparing the glass thermometer with lube...

The one recollection of having rectal temp taken was when I was around 7 or 8. I became very sick at school an then was sent home. My mom was able to get an appointment with my pediatrician shortly after being sent home. So anytime, I was there for a exam I had to stripped down to my underwear. After taking my vitals she prepared the thermometer with some type of lube. Then the nurse had me turn over on my stomach and pull my underwear down a little. Next, I felt her spread my cheeks apart and slide the thermometer in my butt hole. She placed one hand on my lower back while holding it in my butt. After she was done pulled my underwear back up and just waited for the doctor.

Mine was rectal till 5 then under the arm

I seem to be in the minority, as a child of the 70s, my Pediatrician’s office never checked temperatures. I never had a single temperature taken by the nurses there even on sick visits, which looking back is very strange. I have to admit being somewhat jealous of those members whose doctors took rectal temps on a regular bases. I got plenty of rectal temps at home, which is how I got to enjoy them but absolutely none at the doctors. In fact the only time I even remember the nurses ever talking about one was when I was waiting in the lab area of the office and a young girl was before me. The nurse who was trying to get a finger stick on her was telling her that it wouldn’t hurt but it would feel kind of funny like when they just took her temperature. Well I was too busy trying to imagine this little girl with a thermometer in her bottom to realize that the nurse wasn’t really being completely truthful, even a finger stick hurts and I am sure the little girl didn’t appreciate that.