Were Your Exams Anticipated Growing Up?

In my family, my mother made all the arrangements for our physicals until I was leaving for college! As a child, I never knew when one was coming and often learned that day. As a teen, I grew smarter and saw dates circled on a wall calendar and had some suspicion that was later confirmed the night before or that next day! There was also the apprehension of going as each September drew near for our school physicals, which often meant some kind of shot! Now, I get those nice reminders to call and schedule an exam and on some occasions get a courtesy call to see if I would like to take advantage of a cancellation appointment. No matter what, I still get that jittery feeling as I drive to the doctor's and anticipate what awaits me. The feelings are the same whether I know well ahead of time or it sneaks up on me. Few words evoke more reaction and memories than, "Take off everything, including your panties and bra for the doctor."

We were usually told the day before or that day. Always that day we were to to shower and put on clean clothes. Then at the doctors we were told to undress. I didn't mind shots so much as I did the stick in the finger. I was anemic when I was young and the crappy nurse would always bring a slide with a lady bug or butterfly or something for me to pet and she would jab my finger. They knew if I saw a lancet I would freak so they tricked me. My sister wouldn't even watch. I would have to put these drops of iron on food yuck. They thought it would get worse when I started my periods but it didn't. I grew out of it.

We were usually told a day before hand. I didn't like going at that age.

It was usually done like clockwork. A few days after school was out for the summer and I was off to see the doctor. I was advised the day before or the day of the appointment. The folks wanted it done before we went on summer vacation. It made sense.

It was very usual that it was the mother who took an appointment and in that case it was logical to leave you know it the day before and of course it was different as a little kid and a pre-teenager, but in any case you might be clean, so she asked at you to wear a clean underwear and clean socks and also to have a bath or a shower

a mother would have not tolerated that you were not clean when you went to see a doctor either she was thre or not if you were a teenager able to see a doctor alone.

For her, it was important for the respect of the family.

of course it was the same for the mandatory school physical examination which tooks place a few days after the beguinning of the school year but was performed at school

my mother received a letter at home to inform her about the day, to obtain her agreement ( in fact it was mandatory, so there was no possibility to skip it by going to see your own doctor family) to have answers about vaccinations and to ask to her to give us clean underwears and socks and to make us take a shower or a bath

Whilst I don't recall how far in advance I was given notice, as the summer holiday wore on I became increasingly apprehensive about the inevitable visit to the doctor. I remember once being unusually calm in the waiting room because I reasoned that, not being ill, I wouldn't get a dread injection in my bottom but I hadn't allowed for booster shots!

I don't remember being all that aware of when my exams were scheduled. I do remember receiving at least one good head-to-toe exam each year from my doctor. I think it was usually in the early fall before school started, but it might have actually been more of a mid-summer thing. And of course that was in addition to any sick visits I might have needed throughout the year. My mom was always the one that made the arrangements and took me to my exams, never my dad. For the most part, she told me a day or maybe two in advance. Most of the time those annual exams were done right after school that day. I do remember her reminding me on the morning of an exam to make sure I put on clean underwear, etc. And when I was taking a shower the night before an exam, she would remind me to wash especially well so I'd be clean for the doctor.

I seemed to be more aware of the scheduling for sports exams that I received at school. That's because I would have already been in regular contact with the coach and had received lots of paperwork with practice schedules, etc. Part of that was always information on when the group exams were scheduled at school. My first year in high school I didn't really know what to expect of the group exam, so I don't remember anticipating it or being apprehensive about it at all. But after the first year, I knew what to expect and seemed to make a mental note of when it was to occur and anticipate it more.

My folks scheduled them on days off, etc. I'd usually be given plenty of warning - a week or two in advance - to take a note in to school. As I grew older, the exams tended to be scheduled in the summer so I could get clearance to play sports.

I knew one day that I would have to have a vaginal exam but I was going to try and postpone that as long as I could. Didn't happen though haha. When I first found out I was pregnant my mum was like, you know you're gonna need to be checked down there and I was like uggggghhhhhh yeah I know but I don't want to. Now look at where I am ?

In my youth and teenage time my mom made all the many (regular) appointments of all exams and noted them in her calendar which I could read. Mostly some days before an appointment she talked to me and talked often about what will done to me then what nerved me totally. I was enervated that she took me so often to exams, but she always told me that the doctors want that close intervals because of my sickly condition, so that she took me at least once every quarter to the paediatrician for thorough general exams and to the dermatologist for the very intense full body mole exams and at least every three to four months to the gastroenterologist into the childrens clinic (I hated these appointments because they last nearly the whole day!) and twice a year to an urologist (for exams because of my late puberty at that time!). But my mom annoyed me mostly when she suddenly decided to bring me to an exam the next morning, when I had tummy trouble again or when she found new or changed moles and nevi for example. Then I could not go to school the next morning and I knew that my class members would ask me later why I miss, at which doctor I was then, why and what was done to me. I didn´t liked that at all. The appointment for our yearly school exams were given by the school to us at the beginning of every year. So we knew that nearly three weeks before, but the greater problem was the questionnaire, which my mom had to fill up every time before the school exam. She always wrote everything about my problems in detail, so that I was so nervous before the exam, so that the school doctors were mostly uncontent about me and so that I always got a letter from the school doctors afterwards, in which my mom was requested to go to more exams (to the paediatrician and dermatologist) with me, which she did then few days later without a fixed appointment then, too.

"Naevi"

you must have a great experience of the physical examination by a doctor if you were going so often to see a doctor at youth and teenage years

It was in a certain way normal that your mother took care of you if had some heath issues which needed a check by several specialists doctors

So I understand that you did not like it but it was useful

I assume that she not only tool the appointment to the different doctors but she went with you and inside the office of the doctor to konw what they found or thought about your health

it was certainly embarrassing but also logical

at what age did she stopped to accompany you ?

"Jimmy John" when I was still a student at school, I went to see a private doctor only when I was sick or may be for a vaccination, never for a complete examination before the beguinning of the school year because my parents knew that we were submitted a few days after to a mandatory school physical examination at school

my parents received at home a letter just before to inform them of the day and they had to sign an agreement and mention special diseases for the school doctor

It was also mentioned that we must be clean, wear clean underwear and socks and take a shower or a bath.

I did not like these school physical examinations but it was impossible to skip them and I was always apprehensive about them even after the first year of school when my mother told me that she had received the letter and like you I remember her reminding me on the morning of the examination day to be sure that I put a clean brief and socks and that I washed myself completely to be still more cleaner than usually

I try not to think too much about it but I did not succeed and when it happened , I was too nervous ...

then it stopped until the next year

And I disliked also to be questioned after by my mother about the results of the examination, what the school doctor had checked and said about me

I began to realize that having an exam shortly before the start of school was going to happen no matter how I felt about such an experience. In part, the school administration required a medical note stating that one was healthy and up to date on vaccinations. If not, you could not remain in school and needed to then see the school doctor to avoid being dismissed. The tradition continued throughout high school and college. By then, the exam had become more involved and certainly more personal, no more parent present, and would always involve being undressed.

As I look back now, I think that this annual rite of passage gave me tons of memories. I wonder how those now in school regard this expectation. I don't believe one can skip out on showing that you are healthy and up to date on your shots.

Mom usually took my sister and me around the middle of January for our checkups. She always wrote our appointments on the calendar that hung in the kitchen. The only issue was that she didn't put the new calendar up until the very end of December so we had to wait to find out. When she did put it up we always looked at it and our exams were usually the first two things written on it. We went together until I turned 13, then we went at different times.

Exams were a surprise for me through age 12. My mother would let me know the day of the exam that we were going to the pediatrician. I arm sure very few kids like going for physicals but I was somewhat indifferent until I changed pediatricians at age 11 and had to strip to my briefs and have them down for a full visual inspection and palpation exam of the genitalia. From then, I began dreading the exams and the embarrassment I felt having to take down my briefs and let the doctor see how my penis and testicles were developing. From about 13 until I went to college, I knew about an exam being scheduled in advance since I got myself to the doctor's office for the appointment. My exams were always in the late summer before school started because I needed the exam for sports.

I would periodically peruse the calendar in the kitchen. I remember every time that I saw "Dr Joe 1:30", I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. Honesty, I would go to my room and masturbate just thinking about how embarrassing it was going to be while I was there with my erection being examined. Once I remember, probably as a young teen, being in the car with my mom, her friend, and me grandmother the night before. They were talking about plans this week and my mom said, "Oh, tomorrow we are going for checkups." To which my grandmother replied, "Make sure they wear clean underwear" (since normally we didnt wear clean underwear???)

Mine for my 16th birthday was highly anticipated, because I was going to be the big kid and go back by myself. This was the first time the doctor was examining me since puberty hit (I have no recollection of any physical between 8 and 16, just going in for shots), and I was torn between being scared of getting an erection in front of him and excited wondering what he'd do if I did so (see other posts of my for exams back in those days).

Once I reached 18-19, I remember trying to find a female pediatrician to go to as I had never had one and wondered what that would be like. I called several offices trying to learn how the doctor conducted genital exams and reached one sweet nurse one day who told me "I don't think she'd make too big a deal out of that. The exam would have to be done but it wouldn't be unusual for that (erection) to happen." I never folowed up on that for myself, but often thought about it.

"Up to date on your shots" was the operative phrase for me, Julie. I didn't mind whatever else happened to me so long as the result wasn't an injection-sore bottom.

Not anticipated, but dreaded. My mom would say, at least a few weeks ahead, you have a physical on (whatever) date. So i would dread it sometimes for weeks. I hated our pediatrician, a scary old dude. I never wanted to get undressed. He was a perv. To this date when I hear someone say anything about having a physical, i cringe. like, i had a physical, or at my physical, or I'm getting a physical. ....whatever, to me is always been something you never ever tell anyone you are doing or did, and i don't know why.

Growing up my doctor was Dr. Dan and he went to our church. I knew him and his wife and his two girls very well, so well that I was their main babysitter when I got old enough to do so. They even took me on vacations with them every summer which was great and gave this poor girl opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise.

My mom would tell me when she made a doctors appointment for me and then would remind me the day before hand. But as soon as she told me it was made I started dreading it. I was always afraid that Dr Dan was going to make me take something off which would have really embarrassed me a lot. I was a chubby kid so it made that fear all the worse.

When I was 13 I believe I got really really sick. I had been prone to strep throat my entire life even after I had my tonsils out when I was 4 or 5. There have only been two times in my life I have been so sick that I said to the people taking care of me "I am too sick to go to the doctor/hospital". Both those times I would have died had the people taking care of me not been stronger than myself, lol. Once was this summer when I was basically septic, and the other when I was 13 or so. I didn't know what the heck was wrong with me. I had a sore throat a few weeks earlier but wasn't even bad enough to mention and it went away in a few days.

Well that morning I didn't come down to go to school so my mom came to my room. I was covered head to toe in a rash and all my joints were swollen, on fire, and I couldn't hardly bend them. Also, my face was basically swollen shut. My mom thought I had been bitten by spiders or something so she rushed me to the doctors. I told her I was to sick to go.

As sick as I was and as bad as I felt I still had that fear in my head that Dr Dan was going to see me naked and that scared me even more. I did have my temp taken rectally then by the nurse before Dan came in. He did end up seeing a some of my butt because I got quite a few shots back there but for the life of me I couldn't tell you what they were. Everything hurt so bad already it didn't really matter. I was diagnosed with Rheumatic Fever.

I guess there were two girls in my town who had the same things a few weeks before me but it wasn't caught and treated in time and both of them died if I remember correctly. Again, having doctors as good friends means you are in the membership, and membership definitely has it's privileges.

Mashie

I hated our pediatrician, a scary old dude. I never wanted to get undressed. He was a perv. To this date when I hear someone say anything about having a physical, i cringe. like, i had a physical, or at my physical, or I'm getting a physical. ....whatever, to me is always been something you never ever tell anyone you are doing or did, and i don't know why.

You know my situation well then...god that souunds so familiar.

I remember it was always in August. Sometimes, I would see the form from the school on the kitchen table and I knew it was coming. Usually it was just my mom's request that I take a bath in the middle of the morning and finding my new school clothes and underwear laid out for me when I was done. I always thought this was funny because I was always in my under pants when I saw the doctor and those came off first thing.

I remember getting so worked up with anxiry before an exam that once the doctor made a comment to me that I was full of perspiration which only made the whole situation worse. what he didnt realize was that my t-shirt that I had just removed for the exam was soaking wet!

" Bob 1952"

I recognize that it was in a certain way funny to think that all the mothers wanted always that their sons wore clean briefs when going to see a doctor even if the doctor was instructing them to pull them down almost immediately and even sometimes if they were told to undress in a waiting room did not see even quickly their briefs.

But in France it was the same and even more stupid for the mandatory draft physicals, at 18 age we were called to report at a draft physical by a letter from the local authorities and it was mentioned in that letter that we might wear clean underwears and socks and wash completely our bodies.

As regards the underwears (always a white tighty whitey brief at that time) and the socks, it was completely useless since we were immediately ordered to strip completely and to line up stark naked, so a new clean brief would have not been required normally since no doctors or officers or members of the draft board commission could see us in briefs, they saw us stark naked!

My mom would schedule my physical and usually tell me a couple of weeks ahead of time plus it would be written on the calendar. It was around the same time every year so I came to expect it and even start looking at the calendar to see if it was on there.

In addition to the anticipation, which as most of you have said related to seeing a date circled on a calendar, I so remember how mom would remind us, usually the night before, that we had our physical exam in the morning. It most certainly made for a difficult night's sleep and a lack of appetite in the morning. There was never any conversation at the breakfast table just mom reminding us to not take forever to wash and get ready. Often, we were not fast enough and she would venture up to our bedrooms and urge us along. Any protest or questions were met with a stern warning to "Get going," or "The doctor has to decide that dear." A plea of "Do we have to," was similarly dismissed. Begrudgingly we would move it along and get in the car for a ride that seemed way to fast and then arrive at the doctor's office. Efforts to disappear behind a corner of the waiting area or hide one's face were useless. Inevitably, the nurse would find us and order both of us to follow her. A delay was met with mom saying, "Let's go." It was only a matter of minutes before one of us would be told to remove everything with mom making sure our birthday suit was front and center! At that point, tears or a rapid heart beat could not postpone or rescue me!

Yes, we lived in rural area and it was about a hours drive into town to see the doctor. Our first hint was when mom had us take a bath first thing in the morning. This was always in the summer but she laid out school clothes and new underwear. Then we knew for sure.

As I recall, our annual check-ups were scheduled near the end of the summer, shortly before the new school year began. Although my mom didn't necessarily hide the date from us, she generally would not tell us until the day before, when we were to take a bath, and as we got older a shower, making sure that we were exceptionally clean for the doctor. From the moment the upcoming appointment was announced, I remember the sense of dread running throughout my mind and my body. The question of whether I would need any shots raced through my head, but at least there was still a chance that would be avoided. What was a certainty with our pediatrician though was that within minutes of entering the exam room, I would be on my tummy so the nurse could take my rectal temperature before the doctor came in to see me. Knowing this had my stomach in knots all night, during the car ride to his office, and while waiting in the waiting room until I heard my name called by the nurse ready to take us back to the exam room. It would be impossible to overstate how much I dreaded and hated having my temperature taken rectally as a child, although ironically, it would be impossible to overstate how much I desire and love rectal temperature taking now as an adult. This is the origin and focal point of what has brought me here, although as I have been exploring the stories and discussions, I am beginning to discover how much deeper this all goes for me.

Getting shots was always my main fear too, Iris - especially where I would get them. I only recall once not getting one. How often (if ever at all) did you did you avoid one and where did you normally get them?

Although there were years when I remember getting more than one shot, there were also a few (very few) years when apparently there were no immunizations on the schedule, which is why each year there was always at least a glimmer of hope that shots might be avoided this time. The only shots that I have any memory of were all given in the arm, which from reading others' experiences seems to mean that I was pretty lucky as a child since I am certain that I would have dreaded and hated them even more than I did if they had been in my bottom instead. On the other hand, I am now very curious as to what that experience and those sensations would feel like.

As you surmise, Iris, in childhood and adolescence I hated the humiliation of being injected in the bottom, especially when exacerbated the embarrassment of not being able to sit down afterwards. As an adult, however, all has changed and I now take all shots back there - even when given a choice - because they hurt less back there and I can't see what is happening. If the nurse is attractive, it can also be an erotic experience.