Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to think you shouldn't get your prolapse out on telly?

95 replies

woollyideas · 30/01/2011 10:17

I know some people think Embarrassing Bodies is all for the good, being educational, etc., but AIBU in thinking an old lady shouldn't be showing the world her prolapsed bum on national television?

Also, what was with the bloke with warty hands who DIDN'T (as it turned out) have them on his dick as well, but hey, let's just zoom in on his dick anyway.

And why wasn't the girl with two fanjos wearing a paper bag on her head?

My DD says 'It's not as if people will recognise her when she's walking down the street; no-one will remember her...' But I'm thinking 'Do these people not have work colleagues, families and friends (or - in the case of elderly lady - bridge partners) who might feel ever so slightly cringy about them afterwards?'

No matter what was wrong with me, I definitely wouldn't be getting my bits out on television and showing them to the nation. Would you?

OP posts:
altinkum · 30/01/2011 10:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

babypickles · 30/01/2011 10:19

Two fanjos?

babypickles · 30/01/2011 10:20

Do they get paid a lot of cash for doing the programme?

TryLikingClarity · 30/01/2011 10:26

That's what I thought too!

If these illnesses are that embarrassing then why oh why would you go on TV to discuss them??? Confused

PlasticLentilWeaver · 30/01/2011 10:30

If it means that other people get the confidence to realise that its ok to go and get help, then good on them for doing it.

Original poster
woollyideas · 30/01/2011 10:31

I can see that seeing images of the condition would be educational/reassuring, etc., but I just don't understand why the people concerned don't want to be pixellated or something! Why can't they just show a close up of the body part without showing the person attached?

I don't know if they get paid, but no amount of money would be enough of an inducement to me.

OP posts:
babypickles · 30/01/2011 10:31

Perhaps they never mentioned it was gonna be on Telly? ;)

goneanddoneitnow · 30/01/2011 10:33

Because you have to wait months and years on the NHS for minor problems. Often having to go to numerous appointments months apart.
The Embarassing illnesses team sort it out straight away. And they do it properly.
I would do it if my prob wasn't embarrassing as NHS won't treat me as problem is classed as minor. Bloody unpleasant for me though.

babypickles · 30/01/2011 10:38

I had a vaginal repair... it was awful. Anyway I had to wait 3 years so I can relate to PP comments....

girlscout · 30/01/2011 10:42

Whatever you might think about yourself you have to admit she came across as a real sound woman with innate dignity, even in tv circumstances. I was quite proud of her.

Original poster
woollyideas · 30/01/2011 10:44

3 years for a vaj repair Babypickles? That's bad. I never realised there was still such long waiting lists... Sad

OP posts:
babypickles · 30/01/2011 10:49

Yeah I had anterior and posterior prolapse after DD (the gash slasher)!! Waiting time was horrendous....

Original poster
woollyideas · 30/01/2011 10:56

Sorry to hear that Babypickles. That's awful.

But I still want to know why they had to show that bloke's dick when he had warts on his hands. And why he would agree to that... Confused

OP posts:
LadyThumb · 30/01/2011 11:01

Probably because they were making the point that warts can be transferred to the dick - but this bloke hadn't transferred them because presumably he didn't touch his dick!!

CalamityKate · 30/01/2011 11:03

It baffles me.

"Well Doctor I've had this Hideously Embarrassing Ailment for 25 years and I haven't visited the GP before because I've been too ashamed. Feel free to have your camera person zoom in on it right now".

Did anyone see the bloke with the smelly bottom, who thought he'd got some sort of anal seepage? Apparently it was always smelly. Turns out there was nothing wrong with him other than JUST NOT WIPING HIS BOTTOM PROPERLY!

Now THAT'S embarrassing.

Original poster
woollyideas · 30/01/2011 11:12

Yeah, right, LadyThumb. Show me a man who doesn't touch his dick and I'll show you a man who has no hands.

Eeurgh to Calamity's smelly bottom man.

OP posts:
babypickles · 30/01/2011 11:14

Ha ha so he just had a shitty arse? That is embarrassing!

Chocolocolate · 30/01/2011 11:33

YABU OP

I am quite open when talking about certain things that other people find embarrassing.

My mother thinks I should be more discrete as people will gossip about me but I couldn't care less if they gossip and what I find is that other people often discuss their embarrassing issues with me (in confidence), as they know I won't judge, and I encourage them to seek the proper help.

Sometimes just knowing you're not the only one makes all the difference and I'm so pleased that that woman had the confidence to go on the TV and show her prolapse.

I know people who have suffered with prolapses for a long time as they're too embarrassed to seek help. Prolapses are very common in older women who have had children.

Also, I think that it's good that they showed that gentle man's penis as he had some white pimples that others may worry are warts - it's always good to seen normal differences as well as abnormalities.

PrettyCandles · 30/01/2011 11:41

I very much doubt that the people on the show are truly embarrassed by their problems. Far more likely that they are exhibitionists! But their problems could well be highly embarrassing to the average person.

Certainly it's useful to highlight problems, so that Mr or Ms Average will learn that it's a good idea to show that to the doctor, of that this is normal, or that it's a good idea to wipe your bum properly.

Iwishiwasasleep · 30/01/2011 11:41

You have really made me laugh OP. Thanks. YANBU.

Surely, the programme could be shot in such a way that their identity could be hidden. They have families and friends and just because they are not embarrassed about showing their fanjos on tv doesn't mean their families won't be!!

brimfull · 30/01/2011 11:49

pmsl yanbu
I always think the same thing when watching this.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 30/01/2011 11:53

Bloody love that programme, too emabarassed to go to the doctors, brave enough to whip it out on tv [bgrin]

And although that poor womans prolapse had me screeching behind me laptop when it peeped out like a snail coming out of its shell I thought she was very dignified and chances are had been waiting a long time for an op, which is pretty disgraceful tbh.

And I missed shitty arse man, is he on youtube ?? [benvy]

dreamsofsea · 30/01/2011 12:14

Obviously for the majority of people, their only motivation is to obtain mediacal treatment for problems with which they have suffered for YEARS. That's pretty shameful for a developed country that for some, their only access to the medical treatment they desperately need is to take part in a modern day freak show, baring their most intimate part to public gawping.

Some are exhibitionist who just want to be on the telly and maybe get a free boob job out of it (last series).

Saying that, is it next week that will have that bloke with the wierd tumoury lumos on the back of his head? I am ashamed to admit I do watch it at the same time as madly disaproving of the fact the poor participants are so desperate for help. Truly humbling also what so many people have to live with. Like that woman who developed the spams after injuring her elbow. She's only 35 but clearly has never had the chance of a 'normal' life. Even Mr warty must have really suffered, mind you, a bit yuck to learn that warts are a common problem for chefs. Grisly.

HeroShrew · 30/01/2011 12:15

shitty arse man was clearly a poo fetishist who couldn't believe his luck when he got Dr Christian ;)

dreamsofsea · 30/01/2011 12:16

don't normally self correct, but in this case, poor woman with spasms, not spams. oops.

I think it'll take me a long time to get the image of that prolapse peeeping out, out of my head. Boak.