“Would you like some pyjamas instead of the hospital gown?” Asked the nurse when I was going for my shower the morning after my operation.
This seemingly innocuous question then sparked a discussion on nightwear no one had anticipated.
Once I left my parents' home I vowed never again to wear pyjamas. What I really dislike is not pyjamas <i>per se</i> but what they represent which is getting formally dressed to go to bed.
When I was young in the Forties and Fifties and even the Sixties to some extent, of course we lived in cold houses heated by a coal fire or a gas fire or an electric fire in the main rooms. Bedrooms were invariably freezing in the winter.
Conversely in the summer I recall the house being unbearably hot at bedtime on occasions.
So when I left home I ditched my pyjamas for good. However, I’ve spent a lot of time in hospital over the years and one can hardly wear nothing but one’s birthday suit in hospital. Apart from anything, approaching 80 years of age the human body is rarely a thing of beauty.
So I have always worn the far more comfortable hospital gown.
Anyway we had a good laugh and a discussion on who did and who did not sleep in their birthday suit. And I got my gown.
I'm now out of hospital and back at Anna's. Home on Tuesday.
(Apologies to those who read this yesterday. I didn't realise that the font size had changed from normal to tiny. Yet another Blogger mystery.)
Prayers for your good recovery
ReplyDeleteAs a single person, I prefer to be ready to run out of the house in cases of an emergency in the middle of the night, tee shirt and sweat pants or shorts attired. I don't even sleep in a bed. I don't like bedrooms. During a person's most vulnerable time, sleeping, being in a place you will be most likely be against my cave dwelling DNA ancestry instincts. I've felt this way before PTSD set in.
Apes bedding down in trees has merit, in good weather.
Thanks, Maywyn. Duly recovered and back at my friend's home near Glasgow. That is by far the most unusual response I'm likely to get I think. I do love the comfort of a bed and my bedroom is my sanctuary.
DeleteYou do come up with interesting topics, Graham! Feels like confession time, but here goes! Until about ten years ago I slept naked, and since there was another naked (and willing) body next to me it was the only way to go! However, as you say, the ravages of time creep up on us, and nudity seems not the best option. I am reminded of that old joke, “What deters people from having sex after fifty? Nudity!” So now, I wear the pyjama pants my wife makes for me, and a tee shirt. I will be ready for that emergency mentioned in the comment above. I just hope it’s not in the middle of a Canadian winter when it’s 25 below outside!
ReplyDeleteDavid, you've made a very valid point but I've slept alone for the last 23 years so there's noone to worry about my decrepit body and the lack of pjs.
DeleteI dislike hospital gowns intensely. When we were kids on the farm we did not have pajamas. So I haven't worn pajamas my whole life.
ReplyDeleteRed, I can understand your dislike of hospital gowns but I do take a a dressing gown. However now they always make sure that you have a dressing gown of theirs to cover your bum.
DeleteYour headline did catch me as I think of undressing for bed. Now hospitals give you a dressing gown at least and don't leave you walking around with a gown gaping at your rear.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I've just made that very point to Red. The bare bum days are gone.
DeleteYour hospital gowns must be better than ours because I'd prefer pyjamas any day!
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I usually wear a t shirt to bed and only add pyjama bottoms when it's cold
Kylie, our hospital gowns are the same (as New Zealand so I assume yours too) but they overlap at the back unless one is very corpulent and the staff always try and make sure that they are done up. They do provide dressing gowns here as well now as a matter of course.
DeleteI haven't worm pyjamas since my school days. These days I wear very thin sleeping shorts, it's too hot for anything else. No bed coverings either.
ReplyDeleteCro, that sounds like a good compromise to me.
DeleteMy PJs or nighties are only worn before and after bed, not really IN bed. Thankfully, it is rarely so cold that I need more than my duvet, and when it is, I prefer an extra blanket to wearing anything in bed. It just seems to become uncomfortable the moment I turn the light off and pull the duvet upmto my chin.
ReplyDeleteThe few times I have been in hospital were always planned, never an emergency, and so I brought a bag and my own PJs each time.
Meike, I keep a bag at home ready for any emergency admissions (which for a while were frequent) and it includes my dressing gown and slippers. PJs would be pointless because you can only wear them once and you get a fresh gown every day or more frequently if needed.
DeleteAll of these comments have left me with some unwanted images indelibly imprinted in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry about that JayCee. I can well understand.
Delete'getting formally dressed to go to bed' is a not a phrase I ever expected to come across. It brings to mind top hat and tails!
ReplyDeleteAfter a certain age, most human bodies look better covered, but I take the point that people can please themselves.
I take you point, Jabblog, about being formally dressed. It was, perhaps, rather an overstatement of the situation. These days most of the human bodies I see parading half naked in public would be better covered. I am fortunate in not needing to please anyone 'cos I live alone but if I'm wandering around the house it's generally preferable to be covered for all sorts of reasons. Not least of which is that I have mirrors.
DeleteI know I always say this to you but it is true- the nurses must have such good time when you are around! :-)
ReplyDeleteKay, I'm very fortunate that most of the nurses have a good sense of humour.
Delete(BC Warning = Boring Comment) I trust that the routine operation was successful and that you will soon be heading back to Lewis - fully serviced just like your car! Rather than wearing traditional pyjamas, why not get some handmade in the Edwards tartan? See:- https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=1088
ReplyDeleteYP, unfortunately the Edwards tartan is the most boringly dull tartan one can imagine. When I had my kilt made I had it made in a tartan of my adopted home ie The Western Isles.
DeleteYour well-known cousin Huw Edwards has Edwards tartan wallpaper, bedding , carpets and Y-fronts. It was such a shame to see him crucified by "The Sun".
DeleteLike Salty Pumpkin Studio, I want to be ready in case of an emergency so I wear pajama pants and an old tshirt to bed. My oldest son lives with me and he does NOT need to see my old naked body running down the hall! Yikes!! :)
ReplyDeleteEllen, I can understand your point of view. I'm fortunate enough to live alone so that's not an issue. I do have many guests though so there are three dressing gowns between me in bed and the bedroom door!
DeleteDo they offer pyjamas to female patients as well, I wonder? I'd happily accept (perhaps depending a bit on what I was in hospital for). I do prefer to sleep "fully dressed" (comfy T-shirt + soft pyjama trousers or leggings)
ReplyDeleteMonica, PJs are available as well as gowns for anyone.
DeleteFunny you mention coal, we found a big rock of it in the garden. Although I don't like using coal in the fire because of eco reasons we did try it and were surprised it burned for so long. Back to pyjamas I think I'd wear them in hospital too, just because they are a piece of home I'd take with me, I don't know many people who like hospitals.
ReplyDeleteAmy, coal was the norm in the first half of the 20th century in the UK. It warmed houses and it powered power stations (usually in the latter converted to coke). Noone chooses to be in hospital but I feel very comfortable in them because I owe my life to them.
DeleteGive me a sexy nightie any day - much the best thing to go to bed in! :)
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I'd feel a bit self-conscious in a sexy nighty.
DeleteI wear my birthday suit all the time. I don't even know how I'd take it off. I wear another layer on top of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the humour Debby. After yesterday and last night I needed to laugh.
DeleteThe older I get the more I clothe myself when sleeping. My worst nightmare is my son being the person to discover my cold, dead, naked body. The least I can do is ensure it is clothed. (I try to dress quickly after showering!)
ReplyDeleteHope you are recovering well after entertaining the hospital staff - and us all.
Pauline, my reasons for going into hospital almost always involve the medics removing anything I'm wearing anyway.
DeleteThanks Graham for an entertaining account of your recent hospital stay. I was glad to read that you are doing well, and had a lot of smiles over the previous blogger comments. We wear lounging attire before bed time, usually gym shorts and t-shirts in warmer weather and flannel pants in winter, but all are discarded come bedtime. As, like some others, we do not dress for bed.
ReplyDelete