Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Original poster
Roggers · 01/03/2023 10:21

@cauliflournonsense that's the kind of thing I meant. I apologised to her about it and pointed it out as I was so out of it and shocked I didn't really know what else to talk about. I also ripped my nail out of the nail bed and really wanted her to treat that first as it hurt so much it was all I could think about at the time. I'm sure that will be wrong too Confused

OP posts:
nocookiesnocream · 01/03/2023 10:21

Everyone needs to lighten up a bit and stop taking such offence at something that was clearly meant to be lighthearted.

I swear people scour these threads looking for opportunity to put people in their place. A lot of self righteous MNers out today!

Who can honestly say they've gone through their entire life as a woman and not cared once about how they may appear? I have! I used to shave my legs for every medical appointment even though I knew people didn't care, but I cared. Check out the pregnancy and birth boards, people get waxed, nails and hair done before giving birth. People do care how they appear and that's fine

OP I would have been mortified too!

Sparklingbrook · 01/03/2023 10:22

There’s probably a list of things that HCPs hear every day from people about their appearance where they just have to smile and say nothing because it’s the millionth time.
The medical equivalent of ‘it doesn’t scan? It must be free!’ to supermarket cashiers

ilovesooty · 01/03/2023 10:22

How is it lashing out to say that I can't believe this is serious?

That comment about Wednesdays is bizarre.

Some very strange people on here.

SameOldJunk · 01/03/2023 10:22

Frankly, my arse is such that the big pants ARE me being ready Grin

Shinyandnew1 · 01/03/2023 10:22

I’m probably missing the point here but I can’t imagine a situation where I would need to be fake tanned (ie if I was glammed up to go out and showing off my legs/arms/chest) but wouldn’t have shaved my legs and armpits?! Wouldn’t you be showing those bits off too?!

How would you even put fake fan on evenly on your skin if you hadn’t shaved your legs for 4 weeks??!

Chickenly · 01/03/2023 10:23

ilovesooty · 01/03/2023 10:22

How is it lashing out to say that I can't believe this is serious?

That comment about Wednesdays is bizarre.

Some very strange people on here.

Pot. Kettle.

user1492771818 · 01/03/2023 10:23

A colleague of said she won't strip for the emergency shower at work. She was prepared to let melting clothes stick to her skin if she spilt acid on herself.

soleilblue · 01/03/2023 10:23

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

ilovesooty · 01/03/2023 10:24

Chickenly · 01/03/2023 10:23

Pot. Kettle.

Show quote history

Please yourself. I found your post bizarre.

GPFavo · 01/03/2023 10:25

ilovesooty · 01/03/2023 10:22

How is it lashing out to say that I can't believe this is serious?

That comment about Wednesdays is bizarre.

Some very strange people on here.

If you don’t think you were lashing out then why do you assume a comment about people lashing out is aimed at you? You can’t have it both ways. Strange people indeed.

Original poster
Roggers · 01/03/2023 10:25

@Shinyandnew1 I don't really wear things that show above my elbow, but it might have a v neck. Hence why arms and chest. I fake tan all the time anyway not just for special occasions. And you're right it definitely doesn't work as well with hairy legs. I've learned that lesson

OP posts:
WindscreenWipe · 01/03/2023 10:26

ilovesooty · 01/03/2023 10:24

Please yourself. I found your post bizarre.

Show quote history

And I found your post bizarre. Do you have a point or are you just here to be negative?

Galadriel90 · 01/03/2023 10:26

I don't get why this thread had upset so many people. OP was clearly intending to have a lighthearted chat about it.

Sickoffamilydrama · 01/03/2023 10:27

I was a cardiac nurse treated many people as an emergency having a heart attack not once did I notice anything they where or weren't wearing. Far too busy with what was required to help them.

IncompleteSenten · 01/03/2023 10:28

If I'm in the sort of emergency situation that requires my clothes taking off me I don't think I'd give a shit what I looked like.

CharmedUndead · 01/03/2023 10:30

IncompleteSenten · 01/03/2023 10:28

If I'm in the sort of emergency situation that requires my clothes taking off me I don't think I'd give a shit what I looked like.

I'd like to think I wouldn't care. But I bet the fact I hadn't waxed or whatever would be there in the back of my mind.

GenuinelyDone · 01/03/2023 10:31

When I broke my leg I stank of pond water and was covered in mud and whatever else was in the field we'd quad biked through. It was an adventure weekend and the break happened on the last activity.

Because the first aider didn't believe I'd broken my leg there was a 2 hour delay getting me to A&E. By the time I'd been x-rayed the doctors confirmed that I needed surgery but the swelling had advanced too far for them to do it for a few days and I was on 100% bed rest until they could operate to stop further damage. No amount of flannel and bowl of water was making that much better and aside from iodine, my poor broken leg went unwashed for 3 months!

I absolutely reeked. I was so self conscious of it. In the grand scheme of things it really didn't matter, but I was utterly mortified. Even more so when my period started on day 2 in hospital.

No one at the hospital batted an eyelid at the state of me. But it's etched in my memory over 25 years later. Some things just stick with you - especially if they're ludicrous to worry about in the face of what was actually happening.

Doughnutteh · 01/03/2023 10:32

Ready? Ready for what?

To be seen by a medical professional who views bodies in their natural state all the time?

What do you mean? Shaved? Tanned?

I never do those things.
I don't wear fancy underwear either.

What a weird thread, the last thing on my mind in a medical emergency would be 'Do I look Instagram ready for this doctor' 😂

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 01/03/2023 10:33

soleilblue · 01/03/2023 10:14

They won't care if your legs are hairy in a&e..

Show quote history

I didn’t say they would, did I! It’s not about them, I’m sure they don’t care (though I’m sure they appreciate clean at least!). I care!

CharmedUndead · 01/03/2023 10:33

GenuinelyDone · 01/03/2023 10:31

When I broke my leg I stank of pond water and was covered in mud and whatever else was in the field we'd quad biked through. It was an adventure weekend and the break happened on the last activity.

Because the first aider didn't believe I'd broken my leg there was a 2 hour delay getting me to A&E. By the time I'd been x-rayed the doctors confirmed that I needed surgery but the swelling had advanced too far for them to do it for a few days and I was on 100% bed rest until they could operate to stop further damage. No amount of flannel and bowl of water was making that much better and aside from iodine, my poor broken leg went unwashed for 3 months!

I absolutely reeked. I was so self conscious of it. In the grand scheme of things it really didn't matter, but I was utterly mortified. Even more so when my period started on day 2 in hospital.

No one at the hospital batted an eyelid at the state of me. But it's etched in my memory over 25 years later. Some things just stick with you - especially if they're ludicrous to worry about in the face of what was actually happening.

Sometimes it's easier to focus on the inconsequential stuff rather than taking in the really awful bigger picture!

ironhelp · 01/03/2023 10:34

OP I fake tan myself like that too 😆

Its different from a real tan in my opinion, as you have the opportunity to do it evenly all over. My DP is always looking at me confused 😃

waterlego · 01/03/2023 10:34

I went for a massage the other day with a male massage therapist. My leg hair has about 4 months worth of growth. I thought about shaving them before I went but razor blades are expensive and also, I didn’t want to. I figured most men probably don’t shave their legs before going for a massage. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I care so much less about all this stuff now I’m in the crone phase of my life.

JustFrustrated · 01/03/2023 10:35

Right now?

I'd be okay. I'm wearing really beautiful underwear, and I use an at home IPL device, so not shaving since .....Saturday...isn't an issue.

And for "elective" surgery I'd shave thoroughly and really hydrate my skin before hand so okay there too.

I learned the hard way that it stings when plasters/sticky pads are ripped off hairy bits.

Also, if you use retinol products on your face and have a GA ....warn them. Cause my surgeon was very concerned when they took the tapes off my face (eyes taped shut and the tube thing in my throat taped down) and I was left with massive grazes/removed skin after from it.

Orangetree3 · 01/03/2023 10:35

Obviously some pp are missing that this is lighthearted!
I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I often put my better pants on when going on a long car journey for this exact reason 🤣 think I’ve watched two much 24 hours in A&E! I however likely would not have shaved recently.