Delicate Question

[TheProgressive]

I am a 50+ year old male, in senior management. I discovered the benefits of therapeutic massage while recovering from injuries and surgery. I receive regular treatments, two to four times per month. I also travel frequently and value a good massage, especially after long, international flights.

My question as a client relates to practitioner's position or practice regarding clients who may leave behind a small amount of fluid (not urine or ejaculate) on the sheets or towel. I have fairly active Cowper's glands and virtually always have some flow of clear fluid during a massage that is visible, especially when covered by a sheet. I have discussed this with my regular massage therapists and they just ignore it because they know that, after many visits, I am just there for the therapy and am a safe client with no ulterior motives.

My concern comes with approaching new therapists. I am extremely nervous about broaching the subject, or knowing just what to say. It makes every potential meeting with a new practitioner extremely stressful. Would be grateful for any advice. Thank you.

 

[Huckleberry Sin]

You've expressed yourself very well in this post. You could book your appointments in advance and email the therapist with this same information.

Personally, if I knew I had tendency to produce any bodily fluid during a massage, I would use protection to avoid leaving it on the linens.

 

[Bleeding Heart Liberal]

Personally, if I knew I had tendency to produce any bodily fluid during a massage, I would use protection to avoid leaving it on the linens.

This is an excellent point. Body fluids on the sheets can create a bio-hazard issue for the therapist. At my schools student clinic, we had separate bagging and laundering for anything that came in contact with body fluids (other than sweat.)

Out of respect for your therapist, I'd encourage you to look into incontinence products. I understand that that is not the issue here, but I'm aware that there are very discreet products available that you could use to prevent any "spills." If you were to address the issue that way, you would never need to discuss the leakage problem with the therapist, as it would then be a non-issue.

 

[missdancerxx]

Personally, if I knew I had tendency to produce any bodily fluid during a massage, I would use protection to avoid leaving it on the linens.

I completely agree.

If you know you have a problem, PLEASE don't leave it for us to clean up. :shock:

 

[aiko is a girl]

Personally, if I knew I had tendency to produce any bodily fluid during a massage, I would use protection to avoid leaving it on the linens.

I completely agree.

If you know you have a problem, PLEASE don't leave it for us to clean up. :shock:

Agreed.

 

[Courtney L]

I'm unconvinced that this is a huge biohazard issue. I'm open to changing that opinion if someone can point me to some reliable information somewhere.

Until then, I'm not sure I agree that this client should do anything differently, including any kind of disclosure. Frankly, these things happen. The less energy and worry is put into them, the better.

 

[xx_satanic_mechanic_xx]

I'm unconvinced that this is a huge biohazard issue. I'm open to changing that opinion if someone can point me to some reliable information somewhere.

Until then, I'm not sure I agree that this client should do anything differently, including any kind of disclosure. Frankly, these things happen. The less energy and worry is put into them, the better.

While I totally agree with you, Josh, that it is not a huge biohazard ~ the client asked for advice because it makes him uncomfortable.

Now to shed a slightly different light on the subject: how would you feel if I were your client, & needed glute work. I would not disclose that I was on my period, but you discover evidence of such when I leave. {well, first off, you wouldn't find such evidence as IF there was a leak I would be so embarrassed, I'd strip the table and burn the sheet before you returned :shocked:} Would you still be as non-chalant?

 

[Tilly]

A *huge* bio hazard requiring safety suits, eye, and respiratory protection? Of course not, but at the same time depending on the circumstances, extra care needs to be taken with bodily fluid spills. Different therapists have different comfort levels dealing with these things, and different facilities will have differing policies on how to handle them.

Cicerone, I see a difference though when one is an unexpected accident, and the other is understood to be expected. Just as you wouldn't climb on a therapists table during your period without protection, I don't believe the OP should be getting on other people's tables without some type of protection (since he's aware ahead of time that this will be an issue.) If I had a client knowingly and repeatedly leaving fluids behind (when it's very easily dealt with) I would take that as a sign of disrespect towards myself and my space/the facility. I've worked with incontinent clients before, and they have always taken precautions so they wouldn't have an accident on the table, for both our sakes.

It takes very little energy or effort to obtain a product to make this entirely a non-issue for the client or therapist. When my father was dying of cancer (bladder/kidney) he had issues with small amounts of leakage for a while. There's a product he used, very similar to a thin pantyliner that he placed in his underwear and voila! Nobody knew it was there, and he didn't have to worry about anybody noticing anything. It seems to me that this route removes the stress of worrying how new therapists will perceive the issue, how to bring up the subject, and whether or not it needs to be addressed in an intake.

 

[boom]

...I don't believe the OP should be getting on other people's tables without some type of protection (since he's aware ahead of time that this will be an issue.) If I had a client knowingly and repeatedly leaving fluids behind (when it's very easily dealt with) I would take that as a sign of disrespect towards myself and my space/the facility. I've worked with incontinent clients before, and they have always taken precautions so they wouldn't have an accident on the table, for both our sakes.

It takes very little energy or effort to obtain a product to make this entirely a non-issue for the client or therapist.

:iagree:

Absolutely! Maybe the OP never thought about protecting himself before. If so, this embarrassing moment is understood, but now is a good time to think about it and change the prior course of action.

 

[offilla]

Delicate Question

I have discussed this with my regular massage therapists...

My concern comes with approaching new therapists. I am extremely nervous about broaching the subject, or knowing just what to say.

Taking a second look at this post, as it was just spammed.

I know it is an old thread, but another thought would be to speak to the new therapist just as the OP had with his regular massage therapists. Seems he was able to do that previously. So why all the nervousness?

I wonder why I didn't notice that before?

 

[S M]

Delicate Question

I'm reading this even later! But I wanted to quote something here about "biohazard fluids" and why this is a bodily fluid that should be avoided.

For those of you who believe (as I do) that Wikipedia is mostly of truth:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulbourethral_gland

Function
During sexual arousal each gland produces a clear, viscous secretion known as pre-ejaculate. This fluid helps to lubricate the urethra for spermatozoa to pass through, neutralizing traces of acidic urine in urethra[2], and helps flush out any residual urine or foreign matter. It is possible for this fluid to pick up sperm, remaining in the urethral bulb from previous ejaculations, and carry them out prior to the next ejaculation. The Cowper's gland also produces some amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and Cowper's tumors may increase PSA to a level that makes prostate cancer suspected.[citation needed]

That being said, this "clear fluid" should be treated just like blood or sperm would be treated, because it could be a hazard and it can spread infectious diseases this way!

 

[Quentin W]

Delicate Question

If you were my client, I would first thank you endlessly for being so open and honest. I would then instruct you to simply ball up the linens at the end of our session when I'd left the room.

No big deal, really.

 

[firesign]

Delicate Question

If you were my client, I would first thank you endlessly for being so open and honest. I would then instruct you to simply ball up the linens at the end of our session when I'd left the room.

No big deal, really.

Agreed, it really is no big deal as long as the client is honest about their medical history. I have one client who has a flatulence problem, and sometimes the condition leaves residue. As with all table linens, I grab the set by the corners and wad it up from the outside. I don't come into contact with the residue, and I have to wash my hands and table afterward, anyway.

 

[ngantuk99]

Delicate Question

Agreed, it really is no big deal as long as the client is honest about their medical history. I have one client who has a flatulence problem, and sometimes the condition leaves residue. As with all table linens, I grab the set by the corners and wad it up from the outside. I don't come into contact with the residue, and I have to wash my hands and table afterward, anyway.

Regarding the part of the quote bolded above, we have absolutely NO way of knowing if someone is being honest about their medical history, so this thought process is irrelevant at best.

If I had a repeat client that left bodily 'residue' behind, I really don't know what I would do, but I think it might be a problem for me.

 

[czarina]

Delicate Question

Agreed, it really is no big deal as long as the client is honest about their medical history. I have one client who has a flatulence problem, and sometimes the condition leaves residue. As with all table linens, I grab the set by the corners and wad it up from the outside. I don't come into contact with the residue, and I have to wash my hands and table afterward, anyway.

Regarding the part of the quote bolded above, we have absolutely NO way of knowing if someone is being honest about their medical history, so this thought process is irrelevant at best.

If I had a repeat client that left bodily 'residue' behind, I really don't know what I would do, but I think it might be a problem for me.

Fecal residue, in my client's case, and I'm sorry if you have trouble trusting any of your return clients. You have absolutely no right to consider any of someone else's thought processes "irrelevant".

 

[Miguel P]

Delicate Question

Agreed, it really is no big deal as long as the client is honest about their medical history. I have one client who has a flatulence problem, and sometimes the condition leaves residue. As with all table linens, I grab the set by the corners and wad it up from the outside. I don't come into contact with the residue, and I have to wash my hands and table afterward, anyway.

Regarding the part of the quote bolded above, we have absolutely NO way of knowing if someone is being honest about their medical history, so this thought process is irrelevant at best.

If I had a repeat client that left bodily 'residue' behind, I really don't know what I would do, but I think it might be a problem for me.

Fecal residue, in my client's case, and I'm sorry if you have trouble trusting any of your return clients. You have absolutely no right to consider any of someone else's thought processes "irrelevant".

I believe that a client leaving fecal residue every time to be a problem - which is my opinion,

Realizing that ALL clients must be treated using universal safety precautions, regardless of what they tell us they DON'T have isn't just my opinion. It's a basic tenant of providing safe care for our clients while protecting ourselves. So, your saying that as long as the client is honest about their medical history, is in effect saying that you don't need to worry about these basic universal precautions is dangerous. So you are correct, I shouldn't have used the word irrelevant, I should have said dangerous the first time. It IS a big deal.

 

[STUPID IDIOTZ LOLZZ]

Delicate Question

In a case where a client is leaving fecal residue, I feel like one should encourage that client to keep their underware on during the massage as an exta barrier. And, I do think it is a big deal if clients are leaving any type of residue or bodily fluids on the table.

If they don't know there is/was going to be a problem and it was a one time occurance, I can accept that. If it is a regular occurance, I believe something needs to be done. If I were having an issue where I thought I might leave fecal material or bodily fluids on a table, you can bet your bottom dollar I'd wear the proper protective barrier. If that meant plastic panties, then so be it. I certainly wouldn't want to be contaminating someone's table. I expect my clients to feel the same.

In my practice it is important to keep these occurances at a bare minimum. I have had only one incident where a client leaked from her period on my table in 15+ years & no fluids or fecal residue ever.

I really don't want clients in my practice who would be leaving fluids/residue on my table, and I am certain the other clients in my practice wouldn't either.

The one client I mentioned was very embarassed about the issue, and I was absolutely kind and didn't make her feel bad at all - she was of course, welcome to return. That said, these standards are important to me, and I believe my clients value my standards.

 

[Rocky]

Delicate Question

I have very little patience for clients that permit their bodies to leak on my sheets/tables. Children know better, and adults should too.

Clients that are prone to leaving fluids or "residue" of any kind should be held responsible for managing what their bodies do. If a client is incontinent, wouldn't you expect them to wear absorbent undergarments rather than urinate or defecate on your table?

Seminal (and related) fluids, trace urine, vaginal discharge, fecal residue... these are just lesser versions of urination and defecation, and they come with similar types of contamination risks. Regardless of the reason, these clients need to be responsible for managing what their bodies do. That means they need to wear underwear and possibly additional absorbent layers during a session.

The OP is aware of his issue and I think his question is excellent. I think his dilemma is a problem only if he doesn't wear undergarments during his massage. If he wore underwear during a session, he wouldn't be leaving his fluids to contaminate the sheets/table. However, even then he should discuss the issue with EVERY new massage therapist he sees, so they will be alert for any discharge that might soak through and stain the sheets. He is an adult and easily capable of taking the necessary steps to avoid future incidents.

 

[rhywherne]

Delicate Question

i think the best answer is to put a towel under him so that the fluids are collected by the towel and not the sheep/bed.

Easy to remove. In fact op could bring his own. I have several who do that.

 

[gothie_rex]

Delicate Question

i think the best answer is to put a towel under him so that the fluids are collected by the towel and not the sheep/bed.

Easy to remove. In fact op could bring his own. I have several who do that.

I don't think that is the best answer. I think that statment sends a mixed signal that this is acceptable. No.
No leaking on our tables.

I think JasonE said it best:

"I have very little patience for clients that permit their bodies to leak on my sheets/tables. Children know better, and adults should too.

Clients that are prone to leaving fluids or "residue" of any kind should be held responsible for managing what their bodies do."

Responsibility can be easy when the client chooses to wear leak-proof undergarments.