Many people dread going to the hospital, but there are times in life when we simply have no choice. Still, even routine doctor visits don’t always unfold as we expect, and some patients find themselves in awkward or surprising situations.
Illness arrives without warning, and when it does, we seek medical help to protect our health. Yet some of those appointments become unforgettable for reasons no one could predict.
On Reddit, several users openly shared their most memorable experiences at the doctor’s office, stories that quickly grabbed the attention of other readers. Some are laugh-out-loud funny, while others are uncomfortable or just plain strange. Here are a few of the moments they described.
(Comments have been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.)
1. Blue Hands That Weren’t a Medical Mystery After All
Not me, but my roommate went to the doctor because his hands were turning blue. He was born premature and has always dealt with terrible circulation, so he assumed something serious was happening. The doctor was so confused that she stepped out to consult other physicians. When she came back with alcohol wipes, the blue ink wiped right off. Turns out he never washed his new jeans, and every time he slid his hands into his pockets, the dye rubbed off onto his skin.
2. Forgetting Underwear Made a Physical Exam Very Awkward
I had a routine physical and forgot I wasn’t wearing underwear. I usually go commando unless I’m in a short dress, so when the doctor said, “Put on the gown but keep your bra and underwear on,” I instantly regretted everything. When he lifted my gown to check my abdomen, I blushed and blurted, “I’m not wearing underwear.” He just looked at me like he wasn’t sure what to do with that information.
3. When “Turn and Cough” Became “Turn and Burp”
Back when I played peewee football, I went in for a sports physical. I was really young, and when the doctor told me to turn my head and cough, I panicked because I hadn’t coughed in a while—so I burped instead.
4. Doctors Argued Over Which Leg Was Shorter
My left leg is slightly shorter than my right (only about 1.5 cm), and when I was younger, I had to see a specialist because I also had scoliosis. The doctor—an older German man—had three international interns with him: one from South Africa, one from Mexico, and one from China.
After reviewing my X-rays, the doctor returned to tell me that my right leg was shorter. I corrected him, but he insisted he was right. The South African intern backed me up and pointed out that the doctor was looking at the X-ray backward. The German doctor refused to accept it, and the argument became so intense that the Mexican and Chinese interns quietly slipped out of the room.
5. A Childhood Motorcycle Accident That Became a Family Legend
I was about five when my brothers and I were riding our mini motorcycle in a big field next to our house. I crashed and split my leg open, so my parents took me to the local doctor for stitches. When the doctor pulled down my little pants, he discovered I wasn’t wearing underwear. Twenty years later, I still have the scar—and my family still teases me about going commando during my big crash.
6. The Doctor Who Really, Really Liked John Cusack
A few years ago, I came down with the flu. My wife drove me to a 24-hour emergency clinic nearby. The doctor on call was in her mid-30s and pretty cute. My wife was in the waiting room while the doctor examined me, and she suddenly said, “You look just like John Cusack.” (I actually do.) I told her I hear that a lot, but she kept repeating it—and her tone started getting weirdly intense. I was lying there trying not to pass out when she began playing with my hair and talking more about John Cusack… right before my wife walked in.
