Two Things

A couple of things happened this past week that made me think.  Firstly, I had an appointment for a flexible cystoscopy on Saturday. That really didn’t go well. I’d had one about ten years ago and remembered all too well how uncomfortable it was. So I was tense before we got started. However, when the doctor grabbed hold of my penis, started manipulating it and shoving anaesthetic ooze into the old Jap’s eye, I went rigid and couldn’t relax. He decided that I need an anaesthetic before having another try. Sigh…

On the previous occasion, that part of the procedure was carried out by a female nurse who was altogether more gentle. I mean, this is a highly sensitive part of the body, so grabbing hold of it and shoving the foreskin back while squeezing the old man was bound to be uncomfortable. Is it any wonder my back arched like a drawn longbow?

Then there was Glasgow airport yesterday. I set off the bleeper thing. Lord knows why, I didn’t have any metal on me. But I had to be manually searched. Again, I realised just how uncomfortable I felt. This was close up and personal – the guy stuck his thumbs in the waistband of my jeans, his hands running close down my body and I tensed up again. He was polite and pleasant, but I hated every second of the process, my body was rigid in reaction to his touch.

In these situations, people are searched by members of their own sex – presumably to avoid all sorts of unpleasant allegations, understandably. However, if I’m going to be touched so intimately, I’d prefer a female be doing it. Is it me? Am I unusual? I really hate being manhandled or touched by men. At all. Anything other than a handshake is a touch too far for me.

Maybe I’m just a bit odd…

10 Comments

  1. I suspect that most men would prefer these things to be done by a woman, I would so I’m sure that it’s not just you. I would also expect that women would prefer a woman too, but I am prepared to be corrected by any ladies out there.

  2. A cystoscopy may be awkward if done in a ham-handed manner, but consider having a catheter stuck up the old chap and it won’t come out easily. Ouch, ouch, ooh! Nice nurse couldn’t shift it. Needed the surgeon to apply the anaesthetic gel and muscle power.

  3. You are not alone, I can tolerate a handshake after years of conditioning as it is a social norm. But any other sort of touching even a friendly hand on the shoulder will cause me to go rigid. Although in my case it applies to women and men.
    A colleague once noticed this and said “I’m sorry did I invade your personal space?” I responded “Abi on a good day my personal space starts at 10 feet, on a bad day 10 miles “

  4. >I set off the bleeper thing. Lord knows why, I didn’t have any metal on me.

    I go through various airports several times a month. You can set off the bleeper just by brushing against the inside of the scanner as you walk through. Keep your elbows in.

    Also they have a remote switch which “randomly” triggers it anyway. Sometimes its random, sometimes if they just don’t like the cut of your gib or you’ve been eyeballing them they’ll set it off.

    I’ve had all of the above at one time or another. I’ve also had the random buzz, and then just been waved through anyway.

    I’ve never been to Glasgow airport, but I can report that Gatwick North has recently updated all of its security screening equipment and it was really quick and easy two weeks ago; super efficient.

  5. I had a ball exam conducted by 2 quite young female nurses and was a tad concerned that the old chap may stand on ceremony. Fortunately, in a weird way, it seemed the exam room was also the store room and people kept wandering in and out without even bothering to knock which did somewhat alter the dynamics.

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