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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you had to undress in front of someone in an emergency would you be ready?

342 replies

Roggers · 01/03/2023 10:01

Another one inspired by the emergency thread as this still mortifies me nowGrin last year I was taken to hospital unexpectedly after a car crash. I had to be topless for the ecg, and then someone helped me into a gown after. When I fake tan I usually only do my arms, legs up to the bottom of my bum cheeks, chest to nipple line and neck as that's the only bits that ever show so why would I waste time faffing doing the rest. Her face when she saw my weird tan lines was a real treat. I hadn't shaved my armpits or legs for about 4 weeks (it was winter alright) and I was also wearing the biggest, most unflattering pants you've ever seen as I'd been at the gym

Now I wonder if I should be more prepared for if something like that were to ever happen again. Although I'm sure they've seen it all and much worse before anywayGrin so if something similar happened to you would you be embarrassed or are you always perfectly presented?

OP posts:
Bethany7 · 01/03/2023 13:15

I totally get what you are saying O.P!
And to I wouldn't be ready at all either!

Glad you are physically OK after the accident and ignore any comments that are unkind on here.
Also, of course your thread is lighthearted, that's obvious, to me anyway!

Bethany7 · 01/03/2023 13:15

I meant no not to!

astarsheis · 01/03/2023 13:17

You will have more trauma through reading the bonkers replies to your thread...i would have it deleted 😁

Earlydancing · 01/03/2023 13:19

SunsetsInVenice · 01/03/2023 13:03

I'm always shaved but wonder if it's different for those who are single

Why, as a single person, would I not shave? I epilate too. And paint my toe and finger nails. And colour my hair. Are single people not meant to take care of themselves or something?

FancyFran · 01/03/2023 13:25

In my early days I worked as a beautician. We see it all. Heart shaped muffs for valentines. Dyed and bald. I draw the line at Vajazzles. Sequins on your Minnie, just weird.
Personally I always try to have decent knickers. The old 'knocked over by a bus' senario. My legs have no hair, I've seen more on a chip.

gogohmm · 01/03/2023 13:26

Well I remember my mum saying you should always have proper underwear without holes in case you are ambulanced to hospital, lightheartedly of course. In reality emergency staff really couldn't care less, but perhaps we could emotionally prepare ourselves that in emergency they do what is needed medically even if it is embarrassing to us. Sometimes they don't even have time to explain what they are doing, they want to save our lives

LavenderHillMob · 01/03/2023 13:33

soleilblue · 01/03/2023 10:23

It's really sad if that's how people really think

I agree. Please teach your children that HCPs have seen it all before and are unlike to notice your unshaven, unevenly tanned bits, never mind comment on them.

Where they might briefly roll their eyes is when people turn up for a planned appointment wearing clothes they can't easily remove...

See also supermarket cashiers when customers are surprised they need to pay for their shopping.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 01/03/2023 13:34

I had to use my t shirt as a tourniquet during the pandemic and therefore be in my bra! Didn’t hesitate although I’m no sight to see!

booboo24 · 01/03/2023 13:36

I think it's a great thread @Roggers! It reminds me that I'm not the only one who is not always immaculately groomed where noone can see! I haven't been in your position where I was unprepared to have to been seen naked in an emergency, but, I did go to the chiropractor last year for my neck, not knowing I'd have to strip down to my underwear and a gown. I was due a leg wax so was hairy (in patches on my legs) my knickers were my comfy faithfuls which had a hole by the elastic and said 'mince pies before guys' across the bum - thank you Primarni! I was very embarrassed, mumbled something about the wax appointment, but the knickers, well, nothing much to say there was there!

My nan was always very well put together, she always wore a hat, shoes and gloves and hamdbag, over her arm to match. She had a few heart attacks and I remember being about 8 and having to take her to hospital with my mum for a checkup. She got given a gown to put on which she did, and off she trotted up the corridor with a nurse, complete with hat, gloves, shoes, handbag over her arm, and this bare white bottom on show to the world as she hadn't done it up at the back. My mum and I were crying with laughter at that sight and I've never forgotten it!

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 01/03/2023 13:37

Massive sense of humour failure on this site.

I don't use fake tan but I'd quite possibly have hairy legs which I would cringe about and - like a pp - probably apologise for 😆

It's funny what you worry about when in an emergency situation so not narcissistic at all.

Your fake tan habits are pretty funny tbf op!

canyon2000 · 01/03/2023 13:39

I know what you mean. When I go for my regular colonoscopy I always shave my legs and armpits. I also put on nice clothes and underwear even though I will be wearing a robe and shorts. It isn't for the doctors and nurses as I know they don't care. I do it for myself as it makes me feel better. If you are going to hospital you can feel scared and a bit vulnerable so feeling my best can help with that.

ichifanny · 01/03/2023 13:40

Having worked in a&e and HDU and hospital emergency settings I can’t say I’ve ever judged anyone or even noticed if someone wasn’t groomed etc or what underwear they have on. Only cases of extreme neglect where it causes problem for the patient I would notice .

Oohoohwee · 01/03/2023 13:40

I actually apologised to the lady doing my colposcopy about my hairy legs once 🤣🤣 I’m sure she couldn’t care less, I only remembered as I was staring at them I hadn’t had a shave in months and joked I’d have sorted them out if I’d remembered

Sheitgeist · 01/03/2023 13:41

Earlydancing · 01/03/2023 13:19

Why, as a single person, would I not shave? I epilate too. And paint my toe and finger nails. And colour my hair. Are single people not meant to take care of themselves or something?

Show quote history

That post was silly for non-single people, too... I'm not single and rarely shave; if my marriage depended on bald body parts it'd be a pretty crappy and shallow relationship.

Oohoohwee · 01/03/2023 13:43

And OP I thought it was clear the thread was light hearted! I also don’t think taking comfort in our routines or taking an interest in your appearance is narcissistic! Grooming and self care can be a huge morale boost

Hoplesscynic · 01/03/2023 13:45

Roggers · 01/03/2023 10:16

Precious tan line? This place is absolutely fucking bonkers sometimes. It was clearly a light hearted jokey thread. Obviously at the time I didn't care what I looked like as I'd been through the most traumatic experience of my life and was glad to be alive and breathing. But looking back it makes me laugh at what I looked like. And I clearly said they have seen it all and much worse before

OP I haven't read all the comments but you seemed to be getting a lot of grief on here.
Even if it wasn't 'lighthearted', people are allowed to feel embarrassed in this scenario. I for one would definitely be, regardless of "thanking my lucky stars". I would hate to have to undress as I'm really self conscious of my body. So even in an emergency, I would be absolutely mortified to be seen like that.

Season0fTheWitch · 01/03/2023 13:46

Anyone taking this thread the wrong way is definitely trying to convince themselves they don't care what they look like!

I shave regularly and tan properly for moments like this! And I throw out any underwear I wouldn't be seen dead in because I once went for an x ray and had to wear a gown and my pants and they were massive and pink and on show for all in the waiting room to see!

But I don't think the A&E staff would think twice, but I would!

jays · 01/03/2023 13:47

Roggers · 01/03/2023 10:10

Jesus Christ people I'm not 'dwelling on the shallow and narcissistic'. And of course I'm fucking lucky to be alive, the crippling anxiety and months of counselling I've had are helping with that. It was clearly a light hearted thread

Don’t let those posts get you down, it was funny and quite clearly lighthearted, some folk are just miserable x

Beverlymacker1 · 01/03/2023 13:47

I went into labour 4 weeks early, wasn't at all prepared and spent most of the time very embarrassed about my hairy legs (and other places).

WestwardHo1 · 01/03/2023 13:52

My legs are like a rainforest at the moment. The poor old chiropractor had to touch them. Meh. I was unapologetic: "it's much too cold to shave your legs in the middle of winter." She agreed.

samsmum2 · 01/03/2023 13:52

OP ignore all the snipey comments - thats MN for you. I totally got what you were saying and for the record, I race cars and before every race, I shave my legs, & wear respectable underwear, just in case I end up in hospital!

skyeisthelimit · 01/03/2023 13:56

Some of the responses on here are so OTT, it's clear the thread was meant to be a bit of fun.

OP - I had to call an ambulance when I had chest pains. When they turned up they said they had to do an ECG, so I said to the ambulance man who was about to attach the bits to me "I'm not wearing a bra" just so he was prepared.

He replied "Don't worry love, neither am I" Grin grin].

I had to shove my bra in my bag for when I left hospital as they carted me off to A&E to do some bloodtests.

Notaboutthebass · 01/03/2023 13:56

Sometimes I nip out at night with comfy trousers and no knickers, down a fast road too. The other night I was thinking, if I had a crash and had to have my trousers cut off they'd get a right eyeful!

Sounds like a bad crash if you've had to have counselling over, are you okay now, what happened?

LuvSmallDogs · 01/03/2023 13:58

I've never had to strip for A&E, but have recently had lots of people mess about with my breasts and (hairy) armpits. I apologised profusely for the sweat to the first Dr to feel my pits, explaining that I walked there all bundled up for the cold and she just chuckled and said she does a lot of walking too.

I reckon they see it all and probably don't mind much so long as the person isn't being rude/abusive.

Though of course, it can be hard to remember for some of us patients, who are feeling very vulnerable and worried.

Takethatandparty30 · 01/03/2023 13:59

GooglyEyeballs · 01/03/2023 10:13

Her face when she saw my weird tan lines was a real treat. Yeah right! 😂Like a HCP gave two tosses about your precious tan line. It is a bit narcissistic to think that they would care about your tan line.

I never understand this way of thinking. We are all human regardless of the job we do. I'd have noticed. It would have made me smile, as I tan in the same way! But of course people see things, and have thoughts about them. The op is not being narcissistic, quite the opposite!