Anatomy clothes help!!

[always-be-happy]

Hi guys

I’m really worried about the formaldehyde used in anatomy, anyway yesterday we did it. The process was okay.

I didn’t get any thing on my clothes, however the next day (today) I went into my room and it absolutely stunk like the dissection room.. the smell was from my clothes.. I now put them in the washer for 3hrs with lots of soap.

My question is, is the smell harmful? The room smelt of it, and I quickly took them to the washer, but I am really worried my house is going to contain the toxic smell... and it’s winter so I can’t leave the windows open.

Also after being in the lab for the first time I started getting a chest pain after breathing it, and today I had chest pain on and off.

Thanks so much I am sorry I am a worrier but any help or anything to put my mind at rest is appreciated

Thanks

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[SoppyElk]

I haven't had any issues with the smell and had no medical problems with it, so you should be fine. Environmental safety even did a test where they put monitors on us for a whole lab period and the levels were still really low. If the smell really bothers you you can buy some vix. I know a lot of classmates who do that.

 

[always-be-happy]

I haven't had any issues with the smell and had no medical problems with it, so you should be fine. Environmental safety even did a test where they put monitors on us for a whole lab period and the levels were still really low. If the smell really bothers you you can buy some vix. I know a lot of classmates who do that.

Thanks, how about the smell on your clothes? It stank up my bedroom 🙁 is it harmful?

 

[DexterMorganSK]

Hi guys

I’m really worried about the formaldehyde used in anatomy, anyway yesterday we did it. The process was okay.

I didn’t get any thing on my clothes, however the next day (today) I went into my room and it absolutely stunk like the dissection room.. the smell was from my clothes.. I now put them in the washer for 3hrs with lots of soap.

My question is, is the smell harmful? The room smelt of it, and I quickly took them to the washer, but I am really worried my house is going to contain the toxic smell... and it’s winter so I can’t leave the windows open.

Also after being in the lab for the first time I started getting a chest pain after breathing it, and today I had chest pain on and off.

Thanks so much I am sorry I am a worrier but any help or anything to put my mind at rest is appreciated

Thanks

Why are you wearing your regular clothes and not scrubs in the lab?
The smell of formaldehyde is not harmful but use goggles and a mask if you feel uncomfortable again.

 

[always-be-happy]

Why are you wearing your regular clothes and not scrubs in the lab?
The smell of formaldehyde is not harmful but use goggles and a mask if you feel uncomfortable again.

Our uni don’t provide scrubs or changing facilities etc, we are expected to wear normal clothes and a lab coat. 🙁

They don’t have masks either 🙁

 

[libertyyne]

You will live. Until you wont.

 

[raiderette]

Buy your own scrubs, change in a bathroom and wash them daily. Get a cheap pair of shoes and leave them outside.

 

[SoppyElk]

Thanks, how about the smell on your clothes? It stank up my bedroom 🙁 is it harmful?

I have an old pair of scrubs that I use and they reek. I leave them in my school locker though so they never come home

 

[always-be-happy]

I have an old pair of scrubs that I use and they reek. I leave them in my school locker though so they never come home

It’s a weird one, for them to smell I guess they absorbed the gas,. And are now releasing it into the room?

 

[libertyyne]

It’s a weird one, for them to smell I guess they absorbed the gas,. And are now releasing it into the room?

Do you think they could release enough to be of concern? It's probably your skin and nasal cavity that is coated with the stuff that is giving you that impression .

 

[shisong]

hmm i always crave steak after i finished my anatomy lab last year... but on a serious note, i know few people who put on "mask" or have change of clothes/shower right away post lab

 

[ryanr]

The formaldehyde smell is going to get into your clothes (and skin) one way or another no matter what, the scrubs will probably still smell after you wash them
If you have lockers you can store your scrubs and lab coat specifically for anatomy lab so you don't have to bring home the stank with you. If you get them really dirty, or after several labs, you can bring home to wash
As far as health concerns - really a moot point since you have to do your gross anatomy lab regardless. Probably not the best for you, but you'll get through it. Good luck friend

 

[mehc012]

It’s a weird one, for them to smell I guess they absorbed the gas,. And are now releasing it into the room?

Anatomy clothes ALWAYS reek of anatomy. Usually not so bad after just one session, but then, I never wore any clothes home until I was very very used to anatomy, so perhaps I would have thought so had I done so earlier.

It's not dangerous, you will be fine.
If it bothers you, get a set of anatomy clothes and either change at school, or do the laundry as soon as you come home from lab.
If you feel silly about wearing scrubs when no one else does, just get a cheap pair of sweats.

Also, does the lab coat come home with you? Because that will also smell.

Your nose is very sensitive to things, and picks up on tiny amounts of chemicals. Just because you smell it, doesn't mean it's poisoning you or that your room is full of anatomy gas. If it's safe to breathe IN the anatomy lab, it's safe to breathe in a room that briefly contained clothes which were briefly worn in anatomy lab

 

[always-be-happy]

Anatomy clothes ALWAYS reek of anatomy. Usually not so bad after just one session, but then, I never wore any clothes home until I was very very used to anatomy, so perhaps I would have thought so had I done so earlier.

It's not dangerous, you will be fine.
If it bothers you, get a set of anatomy clothes and either change at school, or do the laundry as soon as you come home from lab.
If you feel silly about wearing scrubs when no one else does, just get a cheap pair of sweats.

Also, does the lab coat come home with you? Because that will also smell.

Your nose is very sensitive to things, and picks up on tiny amounts of chemicals. Just because you smell it, doesn't mean it's poisoning you or that your room is full of anatomy gas. If it's safe to breathe IN the anatomy lab, it's safe to breathe in a room that briefly contained clothes which were briefly worn in anatomy lab

Hi,

The lab coat stays there, they provide boxes of nitrile gloves we can change as much as we want 🙂

I think I will get used to it soon somehow 😀

 

[ciestar]

It actually triggered my asthma something fierce so anatomy was a major struggle all last year.

But seconding other comments, have something you wear only for anatomy and leave them at school.

Also, white vinegar helps get the smell out.

 

[Nucleophile1]

I always wore scrubs for anatomy lab and kept them in my locker. If I needed to wash them, I would do so and then take them back to the locker. At my school, we aren't allowed to dissect unless we are in scrubs. I would definitely recommend getting scrubs and if you have to take them home, keep them in the laundry room or hall closet instead of your room. I can't imagine wearing my regular clothes to dissect.

 

[Crayola227]

uh, what

you get scrubs or other dedicated clothes, and underwear, a bra if that's what you wear, and a surgical cap, and if your hair is long you bun it up tight. Separate shoes only for lab, and socks.

It gets into your hair, that's why I was smelling it on my pillow, even after washing my hair. I would shampoo and rinse 2 or 3 times. Stayed for months. In the skin of my hands, could smell it when I ate.

Only good options are double glove, wash hands immediately after like 2 or 3 times, and get all the way out of those nasty clothes, and then put into a bag that seals with scented dryer sheets.

Does your school have no classrooms or areas that would accommodate changing?

If people tried to attend or even walk around campus in their dissectionwear - we got into severe trouble.

It wouldn't be wrong for the students to organize a way to approach the administration about finding a place for students to at least change their clothing if not store them

Our school had 2 large rooms where they had us do our changing, locker room style in that there wasn't privacy.

You could have your clothes in tupperware or sealed plastic bag for transporting. Just seriously if you have to bring it home find a place to put that shyte.

 

[Crayola227]

I recommend Borax and vinegar for washing your scrubs, and I do them 2x

Also, do this nasty ass wash AFTER you wash your regular clothes, and leave the lid up on the washer.

I would even run the washer a bit afterwards to help get the smell out before doing clothes I didn't want to reek the next time around

 

[mehc012]

uh, what

you get scrubs or other dedicated clothes, and underwear, a bra if that's what you wear, and a surgical cap, and if your hair is long you bun it up tight. Separate shoes only for lab, and socks.

Word. I had a dedicated anatomy bra at first, but I eventually just stopped wearing one during dissections because our school got a scrub machine for anatomy scrubs, so the only thing having an anatomy bra did for me was give me one piece of clothing that eventually reeked that had to go by my face. Plus bras cost money.

It gets into your hair, that's why I was smelling it on my pillow, even after washing my hair. I would shampoo and rinse 2 or 3 times. Stayed for months. In the skin of my hands, could smell it when I ate.

Only good options are double glove, wash hands immediately after like 2 or 3 times, and get all the way out of those nasty clothes, and then put into a bag that seals with scented dryer sheets.

Also worth trying the soaps that mechanics use, like Fast Orange, etc. They're good at getting oils out (which gets the phenol/formaldehyde smell out better) and smell like citrus. You have to use them dry, though...put a dollop in your hands while you're walking to the sinks, scrub hard while waiting in line, then rinse and wash again with regular soap. A lightly scented lotion afterwards also helps.

Does your school have no classrooms or areas that would accommodate changing?
If people tried to attend or even walk around campus in their dissectionwear - we got into severe trouble.
It wouldn't be wrong for the students to organize a way to approach the administration about finding a place for students to at least change their clothing if not store them
Our school had 2 large rooms where they had us do our changing, locker room style in that there wasn't privacy.

Our school didn't have changing rooms, so we all just stripped in the halls. If it bothered you there were classrooms and bathrooms and I think 3 changing rooms that somebody lobbied for, but for the most part we just got used to it. I bet if you lobby they'll change it, but probably not in time to help OP.

You could have your clothes in tupperware or sealed plastic bag for transporting. Just seriously if you have to bring it home find a place to put that shyte.

On the plus side, it's like the one thing people are guaranteed not to try and steal. People leave tubs of anatomy crap out all the time, and people take one whiff and don't even consider jacking them!

 

[Crayola227]

Yeah, I forgot I used to use lava soap like my dad the car mechanic did for grease on his hands. Good tip mehc

 

[Crayola227]

Our school didn't have changing rooms, so we all just stripped in the halls. If it bothered you there were classrooms and bathrooms and I think 3 changing rooms that somebody lobbied for, but for the most part we just got used to it. I bet if you lobby they'll change it, but probably not in time to help OP.

My anatomy bra was just a cheapie sports bra, like $10. But it's not really a good option for me to skip one....

I'm not understanding how the OP's lecture/lab is structured. I can't imagine the class expects them to wear their anatomy clothes to lecture. Or by car/public transport to/from if lab is not after lecture.

Or to wear "normal" clothes to lecture and then in lab.

There's a chance that if you just bring this to the admin's attn, they can quickly fix this for you by just telling you where you could change.

Hell if I was the lecturer I'd let the students change in the lecture hall. Both genders of students getting down to skivves if they so choose seems like NBD. Just because that shyte is so gross it just seems like WTF.

 

[mistafab]

Let an M2 guide you young padawan.

As others have said - buy yourself a pair of scrubs, they are super cheap. Next, leave your scrubs and Anatomy gear in a locker at school and don’t ever bring it home. When anatomy is finished at the end, throw away these scrubs. +1 boss point if you have a throwaway pair of shoes as well (I was glad I did, they were old sneakers anyway).

Also - little known factoid - use two pairs of gloves in the anatomy lab and your hands won’t smell when you go eat your sandwich for lunch.

 

[Crayola227]

The issue is that there aren't lockers or a designated place to change, even.

Double gloving was rec'd already - my hands still reeked. It might depend on how long you've got your hands deep in it.

I cannot even imagine wearing shoes I would keep after it was all over. I wore some $5 ones from Goodwill and chucked them.

 

[mehc012]

The issue is that there aren't lockers or a designated place to change, even.

Double gloving was rec'd already - my hands still reeked. It might depend on how long you've got your hands deep in it.

I cannot even imagine wearing shoes I would keep after it was all over. I wore some $5 ones from Goodwill and chucked them.

Again, just get a tub and leave it...anywhere. Nobody's going to steal that sh¡t.
If OP is the only one changing, the bathrooms should be available. If they're not, well, it's not unheard of for med schools to have no place to change, people just get used to it. They'll find something that works.

 

[Crayola227]

Yeah my school no way in hell that would have worked out except they designated a couple of empty-ish rooms in the basement to be unlocked for us to use to change. Over 100 students, 2 2 stall bathrooms. And we couldn't have just had tubs of that stuff lying around, if we hadn't had a place to put it we would have had to take it home with us, or it would have been tossed by the janitors or we would have heard about it.

Otherwise, the rest is pretty easy.

Sounds like the OP maybe wasn't thinking about all this or instructed on gross-wear

 

[raiderette]

OP, have you talked to your fellow students, or MS2 at your school? They can't all be walking around in the funk.

 

[mehc012]

Yeah my school no way in hell that would have worked out except they designated a couple of empty-ish rooms in the basement to be unlocked for us to use to change. Over 100 students, 2 2 stall bathrooms. And we couldn't have just had tubs of that stuff lying around, if we hadn't had a place to put it we would have had to take it home with us, or it would have been tossed by the janitors or we would have heard about it.

Otherwise, the rest is pretty easy.

Sounds like the OP maybe wasn't thinking about all this or instructed on gross-wear

Haha, 180ish students stripping simultaneously in the halls together around here. If people go to bathrooms, they don't use the stalls, so it's primarily a method of limiting which gender sees you strip. They try to make sure the interviewees aren't in the hallways during those periods...probably not the impression they want to make on them 😏