For me, the most embarrassing procedure was definitely the post-op follow up from a ureter-scopic lithotripsy. That's the procedure where they go in through your ureter with a scope to break up and remove a kidney stone. You are under anesthesia during the procedure, and they use a scope, a laser to break up the stone, and a small basket/gripping tool to grab the larger pieces for removal. After the procedure they leave a stent in place from the kidney to the bladder, with a string/thread that runs out the end of the ureter and leaves a quarter to a half inch exposed. The stent is to keep the ureter open in case of swelling. In the recover room, before being discharged, the nurse needs to visually check to make sure that there is an adequate amount of string extending from the tip of the penis. The stent stays in place for about a week (if I recall correctly).
Well, for me, within about 48 hours the string had pulled up inside me. I called the urologist's head nurse, and she said not to worry about it unless it caused discomfort (and wanted to make sure that I continued taking all of my anti-inflammatories).
So, after a week I went back to the urologist's office to get the stent pulled out. It was a simple procedure to be accomplished by the nurse (an RN). After some small talk she said that it would be quick and might provide a little discomfort. She had me drop my trousers and underwear to my knees and sit on the exam table. She picked up my penis and commented that the string wasn't visible (duh...). I told her that I had called the head nurse and related the conversation. She said, okay, no worries, it happens. She then bent close and with a pair of forceps in one hand, squeezed the tip of my penis to open the urethra. She probed up in there with the forceps (gently) and continued to squeeze and manipulate the tip of my penis. Not being able to find the tip of the string, she assured me that it was nothing to be concerned about and that it wasn't uncommon for this to happen. She then had me stand and do some kegel squeezes, saying that sometimes that help the string extend. Nope. Then she suggested that I go to the restroom and try to urinate. I did and when I came back she tried again. This was scheduled to be a 10 minute procedure - NOPE! Finally, she had me get dressed and sit back on the exam table and went to get some help. She came back shortly with the head nurse (LPN) who was very reassuring. The LPN asked me to stand and drop my trousers and underwear to my knees and lay back on the exam table - and she repeated the same procedures as the RN, squeezing the tip of my penis, probing with forceps, etc., all with the RN looking over her shoulder She suggested that I try to urinate and before I could say anything the RN said that we'd tried that. The LPN said, don't worry, I have a tricks that never fail (well, why didn't she try those first!).
She had me remove my trousers and underwear completely and sit back on the exam table. She got a warm compress to place over my penis and covered my lap with a drape. She had me put my feet on the end of the table with my knees bent up (kind of frog-legged, but not quite) and then hiked the back of the exam table up so that I was practically sitting upright. She said that I should stay in that position and let the warm compress "loosen things up a bit." The LPN left the room and the RN offered to get me some water or something to read. To read?!? How long was this going to take!!!
After about 10 minutes they both came back and the LPN said let's see how things are doing. She removed the drape and warm compress and had me keep my knees bent. She then repeated the same procedure as before, pinching the tip of my penis to open the urethra and probed with the forceps - nothing. Then, starting at the base of my penis she lightly squeezed feeling the urethra underneath my penis and did that down to the tip. Again, squeezing the urethra open and probing with the forceps. Then she tried with me standing and doing kegel squeezes. No luck.
She apologized and said that she was going to go find the urologist on duty. After a few minutes a young dark haired doctor came in and introduced himself. He didn't do any exam but said "I understand that we're having a little difficulty removing the stent." He said that he'd have the nurse set me up for a cystoscopy and he'd have the stent out in a minute and have me on my way. So they had me move to the cystoscopy room and remove my trousers and underwear and sit in the cystoscopy chair. The LPN was assisting and was very apologetic and comforting. She asked if I had a cystoscopy before (I had) and she said that sometimes, after the numbing shot sometimes that string would reappear. Anyway, she wiped down my penis, testicles, and thighs with betadine (or whatever they use) and draped me, leaving my genitals exposed. She brought the syringe and told me that I might feel a sting (understatement). We waited a few minutes and she squeezed the tip of my penis again to open my urethra and looked / probed for the end of the string. No luck, so she went to get the doc.
He came in and said that he'd have me out of there in a jiffy. He inserted the cystoscope (no display on the tv screen for me to watch this time). He slid in, said "huh" and the "there it is" and "this my feel a little weird" and pulled the stent out. Evidently, the string had retracted all the way up into my bladder. He showed it to me and it was considerably longer than I thought. He apologized and said - and this is an exact quote "it's cold in the OR and sometimes it's difficult to cut the string at the right length."
All told, that 10 minute appointment took over an hour.
And THAT, friends and neighbors, is my most embarrassing procedure!