Abdominal exam while sitting up?

I always thought a doctor could only do a real, thorough abdominal exam with the patient lying on his or her back, but in an earlier post I remembered a time when I was younger and a doctor palpated my abdomen while I was sitting up.

This happened to me twice after that. Once during a routine physical, the doctor had me lift my shirt up while I was sitting and did a fairly complete exam of my belly, including auscultation. Then, during a gynecologist appointment, the table was positioned so I was sitting upright for the breast exam, and the doctor pulled back the sheet to tap around my tummy without moving the table.

Has anyone else ever experienced this, or know any reason for it? Were they just trying to get it over with quickly? Strangely, male doctors always ask me to lie down for that part of the exam, even if they have me sit up for the rest of it.

I think it'd be really exciting to be forced to sit up completely naked while my chest and belly were examined, first with a stethoscope and then with gloved hands, but I don't think that's too likely to ever happen!

Once years ago, I vaguely remember having an abdominal exam standing up. I may have even had them sitting when I was a boy; i don't quite know for sure.

I've never experienced this. The sitting position is probably less effective for a doctor to be able to properly locate anything of interest. The sitting position might just be to save time - an all too frequent problem with exams today.

Yes, I had an abdominal exam sitting up during one physical--for employment, I believe. This was one of the most cursory exams I have ever received, and all my exams have been brief. Interestingly, as cursory as this exam proved to be, the doctor did take the time to have me slip down my briefs for the most embarrassing part. He even did the hernia exam without touching. He just watched as I coughed for him.

While this is rare, I have also had my abdomen examined while sitting down, although it was followed by another exam laying down. i don't know why they did both? perhaps it was to examine the abdominal muscles or the position of the organs in different positions. for me I was sitting up on the table in my underwear and the doctor had just finished examining my chest. he listened to 3 spots, two to the sides and one below my navel (which he then listened to again when i was laying down). he also pressed in on my sides as if trying to feel through my belly a couple of times. then he tapped above my navel and then below trying to tap my bladder maybe. it was a little strange.

I had one while sitting - quick and not very interesting. other times it was laying down and took time to palpate and auscultate

My pediatrician, who I saw till the ripe old age of 17, always had a habit of examining my tummy while seated. I would usually be asked to lift up my t-shirt while she listened to my chest and lungs, after which she auscultated and palpated my abdomen. A supine exam always followed however. I was a bit chubby during my teenage years, and found it very embarassing having to sit with my shirt lifted up to my neck and my belly exposed. I would sometimes wear my pants high on my waist to mitigate exposure, but it always back fired as she would then unzip the pants and slide my underwear down a little before performing the abdominal exam.

I think this this is done primarily during the young ages until about 9 or 10

Can't see how you can palpating thoroughly with the patient sitting up

I haven't had one sitting up, but after a regular abdomen exam (laying flat on the table), the doctor had me lay on my side. then then palpated and pressed into my belly. He also listened to my belly while on my side and simultaneously pushed with his other hand. he said something about constipation and stimulating bowels.

The only time I ever had an abdominal exam seated was once when a doctor was checking to see if I had a blockage in my intestines. I think he was checking the size of a portion of my intestines to see if that section changed if I was sitting as opposed to laying down.

I haven't had a full abdominal exam sitting up, but I have had a doc take a quick feel

I had so many abdominal exams and palpation of my tummy (and outie navel) for hernia checks, too, in different position by standing infront of the doctor, mostly by lying on the table on my back, on my side and sometimes by being on my knees and elbows, too, but I never can remember an abdominal exam by sitting up!

I was having symptoms conducive to gallbladder disease, so the doctor palpated under my right ribcage while I was sitting up. While not quite an abdominal exam, it was quite stimulating to have her lean in and reach up under my shirt to palpate the area. As I have mentioned before, she is well endowed and has the propensity to wear low cut tops.

I've had this once by a nurse at a school health center. She didn't seem to know what she was doing.

I have been an inpatient in hospital over the weekend. Twice I had an abdo exam sitting up.

i did ask the dr if he wanted me to lie flat but he said i was fine the way I was.

I've never had an abdominal exam sitting up, always laying back

Neither do I. Always laying back, which I think increases the feeling of impotence as arms have to consciously be put to the side, leaving the body exposed.

My belly exams are always supine. That's the only proper way to do it from my understanding, unless having the patient in left lateral to locate the spleen. I think most of the doctors who do it seated or standing are being very cursory and sloppy.

As far as I remember, I think all of my abdominal exams have been performed while I layed down.

Every abdominal exam I've ever had has been with me positioned flat on my back.

I've always had belly exams laying on my back whilst my GP pokes and prods my belly! (I've had a few exams)

Anybody else had to take belly jewellery out during or before an exam?

Love

Abi x

Never had a abdominal exam while sitting - always lying on my back

Always laying flat or slightly inclined. Never sitting up though.

I've always had to lay down for it, but also no parts of my exam were ever sitting up.

It allows internal organs to shift into different positions for accessibility not available while supine. Side laying positions, knee chest positions etc also allow for this to happen.

I have never had an abdominal exam while sitting up, always laying down on my back.

Most abdominal exams are performed in the supine position with the head and knees well supported with small pillows or sheets for comfort and also to relax the abdominal muscles. The hands should be at their sides and not under their head as this causes tensing of the abdominal wall. In addition good lighting is essential, as subtle shadows of abdominal wall masses can be observed.

Initial observations are made for any signs of distention and if present it is localized or generalized this also includes the flanks. The skin should be observed for any areas of discoloration such as the bluish discoloration of the umbilicus (Cullen's sign) or flanks (Grey Turner's sign) or for striae or "stretch marks," and surgical scars. The skin of the abdomen should also be checked carefully for engorged veins in the abdominal wall and the direction of blood flow in these veins.

Next, the abdomen should be inspected for masses. Any mass of the abdominal wall will become more prominent with tensing of the abdominal wall whereas an intra-abdominal mass will become less prominent or disappear. Useful maneuvers include having the patient hold his/her head unsupported off the examining table, or holding their nose and blow, or to raising their feet off the table.

Abdominal wall masses are most commonly hernias (either umbilical, epigastric, incisional, or spigelian), neoplasms (benign and malignant), infections, and hematomas.

Once a mass is determined to be intra-abdominal, its location should be described in relation to the abdominal quadrants. As the relationship of intra-abdominal organs to these quadrants can help in attempting to determine the cause of the mass. The mass should be examined for movement with respiration or for pulsation with each heartbeat or peristalsis

Lastly, the abdominal wall should be observed for motion with respiration as normally the abdominal wall moves posteriorly in a symmetrical fashion with inspiration.

Then auscultation should be performed on the abdomen. When listening you should listen over several areas of the abdomen for several minutes for the presence of or absence of bowel sounds ( generally a minimum of 3 minutes).

After which palpation and percussion should be performed, but always ask patients with abdominal pain to point to the area of greatest pain. You should first gently examine the abdominal wall with the fingertips followed by deep palpation of the abdomen. Performed by placing the flat of the hand on the abdominal wall and applying firm, steady pressure using a two-handed technique. Percussion is used to determine the presence of fluid or gas.

Abdominal tenderness is the objective expression of pain from palpation. When elicited, it should be described as to its location (quadrant), depth of palpation required to elicit it (superficial or deep), and the patient's response (mild or severe). Observing for spasm or rigidity, Guarding or Rebound tenderness.

Abdominal exam while lying on my back. Shirt up, pants down to knees. 4 quadrants. Hernia check while still lying on back. Testicular exam. Palpate penis. Retract tight foreskin - I try to pull back but can't - OUCH! Spread urethral meatus - sensitive. Discuss tight foreskin.

Excellent, RN1993!