Tired of being treated with immodesty

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I just had an echocardiogram by a medical technician On the gurney, he just opened up my johnny coat in front with no covering on the side he wasn't scanning. I have a single mastectomy and I'm tired on medical technicians caring less than physicians and nurses about privacy. This has happened with other and different types of scans before

The first time I was incensed was 3 1/2 years ago when I was treated like a piece of meat. Put on the johnny coat, go to the radiation room, rip it off quickly, lay there half naked, they come back in with all of them standing there watching me trying to salvage my modesty.

Am I wrong? Shouldn't med techs learn compassion along with their skills? As I have said, I don't remember a doctor or nurse who has ever treated me like that.

Comments

  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited March 2012

    I think if someone does something that makes you feel uncomfortable (as far as modesty is concerned) then what they are doing is likely not appropriate.  From your description I think you have every right to feel incensed.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2012

    amontro- You are definitely not wrong for feeling that way.  I'm a pretty modest person anyway but it feels like BC strips us (no pun on words) of all that.  All of our lives we're told to cover that part of our anatomy up but now that we've had BC we're not supposed to care about all the people we've had to expose ourselves to?  I think a lot of medical personnel just become immune to it but there are situations, like yours, where they could take extra care and be more sensitive.  I would try to bring it to the attention of whoever is in charge at that facility.  Sounds like they need a wake up call.  I've started requesting female techs for all my appointments where possible.  They may not be more sensitive (though they usually are) but it makes it all a little less uncomfortable.  Sorry that happened to you.  (((hugs)))

  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited March 2012
    All I can say is, don't ever get a hemmorhoid.  Embarassed
  • reesie
    reesie Member Posts: 2,078
    edited March 2012

    I agree with Sharon. And more importantly I think you need to speak up. If no one says anything then the docs/nurses won't know there's a problem. And if no one says anything the techs might not even realize they're doing it.



    I have to say I've never had this problem (although they've probably been bowled over by my immodesty lol). I had a BMX no recon and my rads team still made sure to tell me when a male was going to be present (the physicist was male). As a matter of fact they always let me know when anyone else was entering the room (my RO, the sub RO when she was out)

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2012

    The techs are trying to move quickly. The time scedule is crazy busy… but that's no excuse. Say something.

  • Isabella4
    Isabella4 Member Posts: 2,166
    edited March 2012

    amontro...speak up. Don't let these techies get away with that behavior.

    I went for an ultrasound for my heart. I have BMX, no recon., There were 2 machines operating, it was busy. One male tech, one female tech. I went up to the young secretary that was running the show, and asked, quietly and pleasantly, could I please see the female operator. Bit of huffing and puffing, not too much...she conferred with a couple of young doctors who were flitting about, and came back at me with  'we don't do this sort of thing, you have to take what comes'  So I stood up, and said 'well, I'm won't be sitting here waiting to 'see what comes', and would like to see your immediate superior'  With that she said, as if to calm me, 'just sit down, dear, I'll see what I can do'

    Calling me 'dear' makes me see red, but I kept my cool this once !! Within 5 minutes I was put in, with the female tech !! Couldn't that have been arranged when I had first asked, and explained why. I think some of these youngsters just enjoy a bit of authority. I have learned to stand my ground with them.

    Isabella. 

  • EnglishMajor
    EnglishMajor Member Posts: 2,495
    edited March 2012

    I had a nice young lady rads tech. A few sessions in she brought over her new male colleague because he was subbing the rest of the week. I was really upset that she went right into the techcnical instruction. No intoduction/explanation. So I said "And YOU are?" to the new guy. I told them I felt like a car up on a grease rack (when they failed to observe the niceities). they did apologize and were considerate there after. 

  • pebee
    pebee Member Posts: 317
    edited March 2012

    I lost my modesty after my second kid.  I got used to breastfeeding in public - although that did not do me much good. 

    My story - I was getting measured for my tatoos for radiation when I realized that the male technican was my son's football coach.  It was an interesting conversation.

    I spoke to a guy who had heart surgery.  He said he got used to showing everything when he was in treatment.  It seems like it is part of the territory.

  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2012

    On the other hand - IHC over here in Utah go through great pains to keep you covered up to the point where it gets absolutely ridiculous.  Let's shift that hand towel 3 times so that the non-radiated breast is covered up while the radiated breast is totally exposed.  Let's stop everything we are doing to adjust a hand towel.

    I never had much modesty to begin with - now I have absolutely none.  I am not going to stand around with one arm out of a hospital gown for a mammogram - oh but wait - need to change the plates so put your arm back in - stand for 1 minute - take your arm out and let me guide your breast with my hands onto the plates.

    I can see it on both sides - those techs that go ridiculously out of their way to maintain modesty for you and those that are indifferent to you being modest.

    I personally can't understand how one can maintain their modesty when everyone in the world is touching your breasts at every single appointment.  I actually quit doing BSE's during treatment because between my breast surgeon, oncologist, and radiologist - I was getting felt at least once every single week for months on end.

  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 1,107
    edited March 2012
    I WAS very modest, but now feel the way same Jancie does.  I got poked, prodded, and looked at by so many Dr.'s, nurses's, and technician's that eventually it did stop bothering me.  I was a little disturbed the day there was a guy doing my radiation, and I became tired of the RO asking me if he could look at my breast during rads, because that's all he did-looked.  I stopped seeing him when my treatment was over.  After all that, it doesn't bother me now when I do have to bare it all.  Now the other end, that would be a different story Sealed
  • amontro
    amontro Member Posts: 504
    edited March 2012

    Glad to see I'm not alone. I think it's the idea of male "technicians", not doctors or  nurses, who are the ones who do this. None of the technicians I've had have even worn a lab coat. They are in their everyday shirt and jeans, which makes it all seem so impersonal.

     My scans which require technicians are always so last minute, but I will take your advice and request a female, if allowed.

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