Dignity in Healing
I have friends who cringe when going to physical therapy because there are semi-naked people being worked on, and they might be semi-unclothed as well. Treatment and healing may test your dignity.
I really don’t care if my butt-crack is showing, so manual manipulation can be done on lower muscles. I don’t care if the shirt is pulled up past the bra line on my back (I’m facing down on the table). Only the physical therapist sees it and they have seen much more with other people. Dignity in healing is hard to keep.
When I had my baby, dignity escaped me. ALL of me was seen and dealt with. I had a crew of doctors and nurses delivering, teaching me how to breast-feed, and ALL of me was exposed. My dignity went out the door.
When I had back surgery, they did not tie the back of my gown at all (and I could not – plus they did not let me wear undies), unless they took me in the hallway. I had to call a nurse every time to take me to the bathroom – my gown hung wide open, even if it was a male nurse. I had a scare once and they needed to do EKG tests on me in the middle of the night – the nurses tore off my gown completely to put the probes everywhere. My dignity went out the door.
Physical Therapy is cake – nothing bothers me if they need me to do something or pull clothes up or down to get where need – I am never close to unclothed nor are the other patients. Same with acupuncture – my entire top needs to be off and pant legs pulled up, but a towel is over me. There is a lot to be seen there, as well, though I am face down. Dignity in healing is lost.
I have a friend who was mortified when in her first session she had gas – but because of what physical therapy manipulation (or massage or other) might do to people it could force some gas out. It’s nothing they haven’t seen happen from others. Just either ignore it or chuckle and apologize but then get it out of your head. It’s not a big deal at all. Her dignity went out the door but it’s all normal day stuff for caretakers.
Really – doctors, physical therapists and caretakers have seen it all – seeing much of you makes no difference to them. They don’t remember you over someone else – it’s part of their job. They don’t unclothe you for any purpose than to help you. (IF anyone takes advantage or touches you in ways you know are wrong – report them immediately). Dignity in healing may seem a lost cause, but don’t let it get to you. You are the most uncomfortable one where others don’t really notice.
PR
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