Were Your Exams Anticipated Growing Up?

Not really for doctor appointments, but definitely for the school physicals. When the mobile exam room would appear in the school parking lot, each year, I would start feeling butterflies. They did these physicals over the course of a few days, with the younger students going earlier. So, as I got older the anticipation would last longer as I waited for the day my class would be examined.

I remember sitting at my classroom desk, waiting for when the school nurse would come to the classroom door and call me, and two or three others, boys and girls, and lead us down the hallway and outside to the mobile exam unit. We would sit in the small waiting room, and the doctor, always a female, would see each of us individually. It was nervous and exciting sitting there knowing my classmates were in there undressing and being examined naked on the other side of that thin wall. Then, when it was my turn, being told to take everything off and then placing all my clothes next to that wall, knowing my classmates were on the other side of that door, just inches away. Standing there, totally naked, for 15 or 20 minutes while the doctor checked me over with classmates so nearby, it was such a feeling like I never felt at any other time.

Probably, the best year was when I sat in the waiting room while each of the others went in before me. The anticipation was never greater. But, one year, I went first, and then after the physical I went back to class, so it was all over much too quickly!

All of my exams were anticipated up until I was 16 my mother was always in the corner for it and could see quite a bit

Yup. Usually in late summer or at the start of the school year. And every year I'd simultaneously get a little excited (because I'd been thinking about it all year) and and anxious about it (because I was always on the heavy side and the doc would usually give me the third degree about it). Tho I was always thankful that, when I hit puberty, it was always just me and the doctor in the exam room. Never had a parent in with me.

I would say the exams were always anticipated by me. Mom made all of the appointments. Crazy part is the doctor I had; his son went to school with some of my sisters. Always looked forward to the exam at large. Enjoyed stethoscope, coolness of the exam paper. Other parts of the exam. Always wondered about getting shots. Who didn't. Doctor in some ways was more of a pain that the exam it self. I still enjoyed the exam I tried to block out the doctor as if I was on my own little medical island.

Not much, But for School medicals, the anticipation before the exam was enormous, we had to stand in line all the way from the bed to well outside the doctors office.Genital exams were mandatory.

And added to that was the additional suspense of wither you would be examined by the male doc who just came for the exam and will rush off after examining a few people or nurse.

I never went to the doctor much, but our school district required physicals periodically, and these were done during the summer. The sense of dread I felt as those appointments approached was overwhelming.

As others here have cited, my exams/check-ups were scheduled exclusively by my mother. I was not told long in advance, but usually the night before. This would typically leave me a bit restless, but I knew there was no point to arguing or complaining. When I was much younger, it also usually meant a toy afterwards if I did as I was told. Once on the way to the pediatrician's office, I would be quiet and often nervous. I think that is status quo for most kids.

Once there, I got butterflies, each and every time. My mother would check in and then I would read Highlights magazine or sit and talk with my mother. When my name was called, we were taken to the exam room, I was told to undress down to my underpants. The nurse would come in, chat with my mom for a moment, then I was put on the scale, measured, given a blood pressure reading, and then told to lay on my tummy.

At this point, I knew what was coming. I laid there so many time, in this same situation. Listening to the drawer being opened, hearing the sink rinse the alcohol off of the thermometer and then being told to raise my bottom so the nurse could slip down my underpants. The nurses were all middle aged and kind, so it was not a horrible experience, other than feeling very vulnerable and exposed. She would tell me to relax, that it would only be a few minutes and it would be all over. I spoke not one word. I would feel my underpants come down, then her hand would part my bottom and the cold tip of the thermometer would slowly be inserted into me.

Once she was satisfied that it was in far enough, she would place a hand on my lower back and relax me as she talked with my mother. After a few minutes, she would part my bottom again and slowly slide the thermometer out, get the reading and place it in a small metal tray. I would lay there as she cleaned me, then the doctor would come in for the actual physical. This same procedure occurred so many times I cannot remember.

My exams were always a surprise! And what made them even worse was when they were either delegated to my aunt as my guardian for the day which meant that she was going to see me with everything off and whatever embarrassing tests the doctor decided to do that day! I Had problems with my stomach and constipation and other digestive issues so frequent tests involving insertions of various instruments into my poor sore rectum were usually involved in when there was a trip to the doc! SO I was never told due to the verrrry large fuss that I would obviously kick up!

No I never expected them and also I didn't liked because I had to miss school (I didn't enjoy school but I hate not going because you are kind of lose)

My mum the previous days always said the "tomorrow at xx hour we are going the doctor so be ready" even at high school was the same

It was always around my birthday for my brother and I. At the end of May. Near the end of school and before camp. So pretty much by April I was already anticipating going. It seemed like every year between 10-14 the doctor had done something completely different for the genital exam, and I always wondered how more in-depth it would get.

I had a similar experience. I anticipated my physicals as they were always close to my birthday at the end of May. It was a very routine yearly ritual for me during that time of the year.

Worse than anticipating exams was knowing in advance I was going for a shot. I worried for days in advance where I would get it.

I had only 3 medical exams. First in primary school, docktor checked my genitals but not bottom.

Then next in middle school also genital check no bottom and last one on army draft.

As for many others here my mom managed my medical appointments. She kept doing it until I went to the military at the age of 19. I never minded it as it was quiet comfortable having someone dealing with all this stuff and not having to worry about. She was and still is at the same time an organized and totally chaotic person. I think she never missed to make important appointments at the pediatrician or later our GP but at the same time almost always forgot to tell us kids about them. So they were quiet a surprise most of the time. Which was kind of a good thing. I never bothered going to the pediatrician. He was a really nice man. But before some appointments my mum felt the necessity to take my temperature. I have never figured out why she thought this was necessary but I definitely hated it. I guess the anticipation of having my temperature taken before the appointment might have quiet unpleasant. But as said thanks to my chaotic mum that never happend as she normally was already holding the thermometer in her hand when telling me about the appointment. So no time to worry.