Examination | Stool Samples 2/2

Views: 3595 Created: 2007.12.31

First post

When I was young I had been having stomach issues, my mother took me to the doctor. They concluded that I had a stomach bug, but the doctor wanted to take a stool sample. He put on a rubber glove, and proceeded to have me lie on my side with my knees drawn up. He told my mom to tell me that it may hurt a bit, but to relax. They then pulled my pants down to my knees. He then stuck 1 finger up my rectum, and extracted a piece of stool. Does this sound like a normal procedure to anyone? It was really strange for me.

davidwest

Never heard of doing it that way although I have had doctors who got a bit on their gloves when doing a rectal exam or prostate exam and smeared it on one of those test strips that checks for blood in the stool. I've had to collect my own sample in years past a couple of times where the doctor gave me a kit that I used to take two or three samples and then mailed it into a lab. Had my rectum swabbed a couple of times in the hospital once but that wasn't for a stool sample I don't think.

RichardAsni

Yes. Nurse gave me a cup and lid and pointed to the bathroom. It was very embarrassing to bring out the cup and ask who to give it to.

Personally I would rather have a nurse use a swab to take the sample.