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Original poster

Any surgeons about? Why wasn't I wearing knickers?

209 replies

ohwerehalfwaythere · 15/10/2021 22:08

I had laparoscopic surgery for an ovarian cyst this morning. Went into surgery wearing disposable knickers but wasn't when I woke up. It's really bothering me. Can anyone shed any light what would have happened? I'm in England. Thank you

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 15/10/2021 22:20

You very often do have a catheter during surgery though, but sometimes they will remove it before you’re fully awake. I have always had a catheter and they’ve always put it in after I’m asleep. You could just ask though.

Original poster
ohwerehalfwaythere · 15/10/2021 22:21

@gardeninggirl68 of course I asked. This obviously wasn't explained to me

OP posts:
DPotter · 15/10/2021 22:22

May well have been a quick catheterisation just during surgery. I appreciate it feels odd but I highly doubt anything sinister.

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Cantthinkofaname21 · 15/10/2021 22:22

I had exactly the same experience same operation - woke up very confused as my pants had gone. I did ask and it was to do with hygiene & a instrument needed if I remember correctly.

Original poster
ohwerehalfwaythere · 15/10/2021 22:22

I'm sure it's nothing sinister it just wasn't nice to find out unexpectedly

OP posts:
FelicityBeedle · 15/10/2021 22:23

You can still ask your nurses now if you’re very worried. They won’t mind

Original poster
ohwerehalfwaythere · 15/10/2021 22:23

Thank you to those with constructive comments abs good wishes x

OP posts:
Thymeout · 15/10/2021 22:25

They may have needed to adjust the position of your uterus from outside in order to see what they were doing? People's insides aren't as neatly arranged as the diagrams in medical textbooks, and everything is jammed together with no space between organs. Ovaries in particular can be elusive.

'Feels very invasive' strikes me as an odd thing to say, given the fact that you would have been lying on a table starkers under strategically placed bits of material. Surgery is invasive. How can it not be? The paper knickers are to preserve your modesty until you're unconscious. After that, it's the last thing on anyone's mind.

jesscakess · 15/10/2021 22:25

I've had this procedure and was told they would insert a pain relief suppository while under. I was also told to remove all underwear. I've had quite a few surgeries, both gyne and non. Always had to have no underwear, even when I was under for 4 wisdom teeth to come out.

Firesidefox · 15/10/2021 22:27

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Original poster
ohwerehalfwaythere · 15/10/2021 22:27

@Thymeout as I said I've never had surgery and this was not pre planned. So it does feel invasive when you have no idea what to expect

OP posts:
grapewine · 15/10/2021 22:27

@ohwerehalfwaythere

I'm sure it's nothing sinister it just wasn't nice to find out unexpectedly
I really get that. I would have felt the same and hope you will get some answers tomorrow.

They should have told you beforehand.

Original poster
ohwerehalfwaythere · 15/10/2021 22:28

Don't be unkind @Firesidefox it's really not necessary

OP posts:
Porfre · 15/10/2021 22:28

@ohwerehalfwaythere

I'm sure it's nothing sinister it just wasn't nice to find out unexpectedly
That's totally understandable
HalloHello · 15/10/2021 22:29

Also sometimes if the procedure is more tricky than anticipated they would need to change your position and or use different instruments so would need access to your vagina potentially, or other areas of your abdomen. I think often when surgeons and other staff are doing these procedures so routinely, they don't even think about those miniscule details like removing pants because it's so normal but as a patient, it's definitely not routine. However, a lot happens when you're under anaesthetic that you wouldn't even know about like all the monitoring, the positioning of your body, moving you, cleaning you before and after, transferring you onto the bed. The will have pulled your gown right up, and then you wake up in a different bed, different room, all tucked up and decent again and have no idea how. It's very bizarre and disconcerting but totally and utterly normal. I am a recovery nurse and see the confusion a lot. Most people come out with their own pants in a bag.

Houseofvelour · 15/10/2021 22:29

I had the same after my laparoscopic surgery. They'd removed a lot from womb and ovaries and also did a hysteroscopy while down there so removed knickers so they could get better access.
Speak to the nurses about it if it'll give you peace of mind.

I know it's really disconcerting but remember, during surgery. There'll be the surgeon, nurses, anaesthetists, possible student doctors etc so the chance of something untoward happening is practically zero.

Porfre · 15/10/2021 22:32

Personally I think if they had any reason to go in that area they should have explained this to you beforehand.

They should have said and explained we may need to use a catheter during the surgery, they shouldn't touch you or go into that area without telling you beforehand. Regardless of the type of surgery.

YANBU.

I'd definitely clarify with them what happened, and they need to put processes in place so that this doesnt happen again.

You shouldn't have to be questioning this now, it should have been explained about what would happen during the surgery.
And if it was the anaesthetist they should have explained that they would need to use a catheter.

Twizbe · 15/10/2021 22:32

A few years ago I had a vein removed from my leg.

Same thing, went in with knickers on came out without them.

The nurses had to help me put some new ones on and in my anaesthetic haze I thought this was hilarious.

No one told me before that I'd be knickerless
Through it

defnotadomesticgoddess · 15/10/2021 22:32

I had a similar laparoscopic thing recently. I went in wearing disposable knickers, cane out without them. I was told I’d wee’d myself in recovery (I’m so classy!!) so I presumed they’d taken them off then when they cleaned me up as I was dry when I was conscious. May have just been something like that.

HalloHello · 15/10/2021 22:32

@Houseofvelour

I had the same after my laparoscopic surgery. They'd removed a lot from womb and ovaries and also did a hysteroscopy while down there so removed knickers so they could get better access. Speak to the nurses about it if it'll give you peace of mind.

I know it's really disconcerting but remember, during surgery. There'll be the surgeon, nurses, anaesthetists, possible student doctors etc so the chance of something untoward happening is practically zero.

Yep and all those people have seen you totally naked I'm afraid...
Firesidefox · 15/10/2021 22:32

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StoneColdBitch · 15/10/2021 22:34

I'm not sure if you're asking because you're worried about sexual assault? I'd be astonished if that had happened - there will have been multiple people in theatre at all times. I wouldn't assume any ill intent at all.

Niconacotaco · 15/10/2021 22:35

Not helpful, but I had gynae surgery a few years ago and felt upset when I realised I had no pants on afterwards! It makes no sense but it felt wrong anyway. I hadn't thought about it beforehand and I don't expect someone to have put them back on, but it was strange to wake up and feel half naked.

NatriumChloride · 15/10/2021 22:37

Hi OP. It would have been because they inserted a catheter to drain your bladder, to reduce the (very rare) chance of bladder perforation. I’m sorry that this wasn’t explained to you, it’s not good practice.

Notashandyta · 15/10/2021 22:38

I had a laparoscopy and disposable knockers were gone afterwards. I didn't think anything of it and assumed there was a reason they were removed and that was indeed why I was wearing DISPOSABLE knickers, so they could be removed and disposed of during op

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