Comments on: Going gownless (Day 170)…

By: Anne-Laure

Anne-Laure — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 20:03:43 +0000

I never had to wear these things in my whole life! I grew up in France and now live in the Netherlands. When I go to the doctor, I keep my clothes, and just remove what has to be removed. Though when I have to remove my underwear at my gynaecologist, he changes the paper protection on the chair for every patient and trows it away. But I think that it’s not very professional for a doctor to be shocked by a naked body!

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:59:14 +0000

You can buy those cloth gowns, you know. Keep a couple in the closet and grab one for your doctor’s visit.

Besides…yours will be prettier!

By: pat farquharson

pat farquharson — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 02:20:17 +0000

thanks for the happy birthdays for a day that is best forgotten!
Cotton gowns need to be washed and dried after every use. They are for the privacy of the patient and to create a separation between sexuality and physical assesment. It can be fine to throw away the coverup for a same sex physician but doctors may still be shocked if they are confronted by the complete naked body! I like the idea of a towel brought from home, that would work well.

By: Lori V.

Lori V. — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:04:30 +0000

I’d rather bring my own, in the form of a twin-sized sheet or beach towel, I think. What happens if the office staff insists that you use one? I’ve had retail stores insist that their store policy requires them to put my purchase into a plastic bag.

By: christal

christal — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 22:12:49 +0000

you are a brave soul, vanessa!! this is one I won’t be doing. I get embarrassed enough just being on that cold table in the gown. bringing your own is a great idea, but for emergency visits- I’ll stick to the cotton gown.

By: senseofbalance

senseofbalance — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:25:12 +0000

Or why not ask for – nay, rather, DEMAND – a cloth gown? I’m someone who has to gown up frequently, and have been told (by doctors) that cloth gowns are preferable because they can be sterilized afterward. If a paper gown has been worn by (say) someone with an infected surgical incision, live bugs are being thrown into a (usually open) trash bin.

Believe it or not, the main purpose of gowns isn’t to protect modesty but to prevent surface skin reactions (which might mask a diagnosis) owing to cold air. Seems crazy, but I’ve heard it more than once.

By: Carreen

Carreen — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:03:33 +0000

2 greenie points for my doctor. Her office still uses cloth!

By: Jen (SLC)

Jen (SLC) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:35:11 +0000

My doctor said that I could wear a wrap dress to my annual. The only problem is that I never dress up, so when I wear I dress to work, people ask, “What’s the occaision?”

By: healthycookie

healthycookie — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:22:58 +0000

Oh… and Happy Birthday Pat!

By: healthycookie

healthycookie — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:22:22 +0000

I made this change too! When I was in LA this summer for acupuncture I realized something I hadn’t last fall… I don’t really need to wear the paper gown. It doesn’t keep me warm and they rip it to shreds to put needles all over my body. I decided rather than use a dozen paper gowns for the duration of my visit, I would just go by a couple pairs of unsexy underwear. I don’t even want to count how many gowns i went through in the fall.