Embarrassing medical exam

[Inco24seven]

Hi is it just me but I find my health care examinations totally nerve - racking ? Yesterday I had a trip to the physiotherapist, this was in connection about arthritis in my knees. However whilst I was in the examination room they asked if they could look at my hips at the same time and would I mind taking my shorts down ? This i did very reluctantly because I was wearing a Tena slip diaper . I did explain this to the physiotherapist but I was told it would only take a few minutes and they know all about my incontinence problems which are all on my health records.
So I complied with the request and laid on the couch for the examination , all the time feeling very embarrassed . It only took five minutes or less but I was totally devastated about the experience . Whilst i was laying down having my knees and hip examined I wet myself , unfortunately that's what happens when you're incontinent. My Tena diaper was noticeably very wet . I feel sure the physiotherapist would have noticed this, in fact it would have been very difficult to miss I still find my incontinence problems a total embarrassment after more than six years. I still find talking to Drs about my bladder problem very difficult.
Sorry about my rant ,I just get so down from time to time.

 

[justej]

Honestly it took me getting a suprapubic catheter to not be embarrassed anymore. You can't hide a tube/bag! Bowel issues are something I still struggle with, but luckily it doesn't happen too often when I am out. New providers are often nerve wracking, you definitely aren't alone!

 

[Inco24seven]

Hi . I hate to make a fuss and normally I don't . But I was so embarrassed after my physio appointment last week it really upset me. When I was laying on the examination coach and I had a wetting accident that really took the biscuit . But I see by your post you also suffer with bowel problems . That must make just wetting yourself seem like a breeze, I really am sorry to hear that . I would be mortified if I had bowel problems along with just my urinary incontinence . I wish you all the very best

 

[justej]

I'm at the stage where it is what it is. But I know what its like to have a medical professional see you in that vulnerable state, especially when an accident occurs! At first when the bowel issues started it was really hard. I have been dealing with urinary incontinence since 2016 when I fell down an escalator. It was pretty inevitable that bowel incontinence was going to happen at some point, but boy was I in denial! I use a wheelchair full time and its weird that almost makes it OK for a lot of people. I have home health aides that are with me daily for 10 hours a day and I have been VERY lucky that when the bowel issues started they have been really supportive an non judgemental. One of them has been with me a little over 2 years now and she has been an absolute blessing.

I have said many times I wish I could go back to dealing with just urinary incontinence and just having to manage with diapers. But life is almost never how we planned and it just ended up that I have a suprapubic catheter and bowel incontinence now! I could wish all day that things were different but it wont change anything, ya know? My motto for awhile is adapt and overcome. But it took awhile to get there.

Sorry for the long post!

 

[Inco24seven]

I'm at the stage where it is what it is. But I know what its like to have a medical professional see you in that vulnerable state, especially when an accident occurs! At first when the bowel issues started it was really hard. I have been dealing with urinary incontinence since 2016 when I fell down an escalator. It was pretty inevitable that bowel incontinence was going to happen at some point, but boy was I in denial! I use a wheelchair full time and its weird that almost makes it OK for a lot of people. I have home health aides that are with me daily for 10 hours a day and I have been VERY lucky that when the bowel issues started they have been really supportive an non judgemental. One of them has been with me a little over 2 years now and she has been an absolute blessing.

I have said many times I wish I could go back to dealing with just urinary incontinence and just having to manage with diapers. But life is almost never how we planned and it just ended up that I have a suprapubic catheter and bowel incontinence now! I could wish all day that things were different but it wont change anything, ya know? My motto for awhile is adapt and overcome. But it took awhile to get there.

Sorry for the long post!

Oh I do sympathize with you I really do. My only challenge is that I need diapers 24/7 , embarrassing ? yes for me very embarrassing but when it comes to having bowel accidents that is on another level. I will do my very best to cope with just having urinary incontinence . All the best from the UK

 

[james939]

That sounds really uncomfortable. Feeling exposed like that would shake anyone, especially when it’s something so personal.