Im like some of the others here, many days I stay in PJs. When I was still very ill, I lived in niteys and little else, and if I had to go to doctor, I went in a "housedress" and sandals.
I bathe sometimes twice a day, shave daily, and wash my hair daily, if I don't I feel yukkier. BUT there was a long time when bathing was dangerous, nd sometimes impossible for me.....as was combing my hair, brushing my teeth or dressing myself at all.
I never wear makeup, makes me itchy and yukky. No perfume, either, same reasons, plus makes me nauseaus. I have done my own haircuts since I was 10 yrs old.....my hair is quite long, often braided or baretted etc, never blow dried, never curl ironed, it is naturally wavy.
When my son had his first emergency eye surgery, I had come straight from round he clock deathbed care of my mom, and had just rushed husband to VA ICU....got home to race my son to see followup for his eye injury, and that doctor sent us from there to univ hospital 5 hours from home, do not stop at home. I did not understand surgery was in the works....we took nothing with us, and I had been running in circles already leading up to this appointment. Got to the univ and they took son immed into surgery prep and we were in holding pattern awaiting a room for ..UG....I think 2 days? Dureing which time I dared not leave his side at all. Bummer is we went to the eye doctor appointment here while dinner was cooking at home, and we were hungry, and were going to eat as soon as the appointment here was done.
Then post surgery, there was a mix up at hospital, and I wound up sleeping leaning on his bed, no cot came, no meals came, and he was in a room with no bathroom......so I went 3 days with same clothes, etc etc etc. I now KEEP an emergency change of clothes and toiletries in my car at all times and no longer go to any appts ithout certain necessities.
WHen I was in nurseing school, and I am NOT an advanced practice nurse- we were taught that taking in and charting a patients personal grooming and such was part of the initial assessment, just as is a persons behavoir and demeanor etc when we first enter the room to meet the patient. CPS here has also told us that if our children lack in grooming, hygeine or cleanliness, it is a red flag for neglect. Including if fingernails need trimming.
If a patient comes in for whom mobility is a problem, it can be a signal to be aware a person who is not groomed well etc might need help at home for such things. For a patient who is normally well groomed - to show up ungroomed, it can be an indicator of how they are feeling/functioning. If yo are trying to tell a doctor you have been feeling very poorly for say a week, yet you are perfectly groomed etc, the doctor may not believe your words. A psychiatrist also may jump to a conclusion if you come in appearing disheveled etc. If I showed up at my rheumy and tried to complain my fingers and hands were causeing me pain, but I wore my hair all styled so carefully, and shoes with lots of laces, and clothes with lots of zippers, ties, buttons etc......he surely is going to wonder what in the world I am talking about, he will wonder how I did manage to dink around with all those things if my fingers or hands are painful.
Depending on the type of doctor, sometimes it is best to go without nail polish or makeup etc, becuz your fingernail beds and skin color can tell a lot about your state of health. ANd depending on what type of doctor, for example if you are going to someplace that may have other patients in waiting room who might be sensitive to smells....you might want to be more aware of any perfume, say for example an allergist, an asthma doctor, an oncologist....r ob gyne. Those patients in those waiting rooms might have some difficulty with fragrances.
Yup, if I call an ambulance? they get what they get. our ambulance response time is generally less than 2 minutes. Driving ourself to ER is 10 mins average. It depends on the type of emergency, yes, I HAVE showered before going to ER, LOL. Yes, I have thrown kids into a fast shower before ER.....depending on the emergency. Me? going to scheduled doctor appointment? Usualy a very easy to manipulate dress or skirt and top, freshly bathed, hair washed and combed simply, slip on shoes and no makeup or nail polish or perfume. Freshly shaved (if I can do so) Oh and again, depending on reason for appointment..sometimes smell can point a doctor in a diagnosis direction, too.......so fragrance once again might interfere.