Why Wait?

[nvrgag44 (imported)]

This is getting amusing. Kind of like a political discussion. We can argue until the cows come home and not change each other's minds. I'll do what I think is best for me. Done.

[ZeuterMe (imported)]

I'm not here for elective work, I'm here for advice on pain reduction. I'm here to request advice on whether I've run out of viable, nonsurigcal alternatives, since my urologist just prescribed $32,000 per year (and that's AFTER insurance) worth of physical therapy on an open-ended basis.

I think you nailed it in one, wannabe, those of us who were really serious about getting castrated did whatever was necessary to achieve our goal. Even though I knew I would have to put up with pain and swollen and very uncomfortable balls, I injected mine with calcium chloride to cause sufficient visible damage to get them removed. I had put up with the pain caused by my vasectomy for long enough and just wanted the damned things gone. It is now just over a year since they were removed and I could not be happier with the result. I am so pleased that they are gone. I would have driven from Sydney to Perth to get this done had it been necessary.

Strictly speaking, I don't want them gone, I want them to stop hurting. My resources are limited enough that while I could probably make it happen at any point I wanted within a couple weeks of making the decision, it would ruin me financially and it'd run the risk of alienating family to the point I would be healing on the street. At which point, I think it's fair to presume an infection is inevitable, and I can safely presume it won't be treated adequately.

I'm just not sure what to do.

[micdavi24 (imported)]

I'm not here for elective work, I'm here for advice on pain reduction. I'm here to request advice on whether I've run out of viable, nonsurigcal alternatives, since my urologist just prescribed $32,000 per year (and that's AFTER insurance) worth of physical therapy on an open-ended basis.

Strictly speaking, I don't want them gone, I want them to stop hurting. My resources are limited enough that while I could probably make it happen at any point I wanted within a couple weeks of making the decision, it would ruin me financially and it'd run the risk of alienating family to the point I would be healing on the street. At which point, I think it's fair to presume an infection is inevitable, and I can safely presume it won't be treated adequately.

I'm just not sure what to do.

I can sympathize with you. I also suffered with sore testicles for years and vacillated as to what to do about them. Several docs had a go at treating them, all without success. Then I decided that I wanted them gon to end the pain and discomfort and then the real fun began as the first 2 urologists that I saw just wanted to treat them. I gave up on the idea of removal till I read about the calcium chloride injections. By trhis time I just wanted them gone any way I could get it done as I had decided that there were no other options but removal. I read the calcium chloride thread and then went ahead with the injections. Within 3 months my testicles had been removed and I am now happy and pain free and have been so for just over 12 months. My opinion is that in the end you will come to the same conclusion that I did and work towards their removal.

As for your family, I don't know your circumstances there, but if they are anything like mine, they will support you in your final decision. I discussed my forthcoming castration with my wife and my daughter and both were very supportive. My wife even knew that I was following the injection route and supported me in this. Maybe this is because she had suffered with endometriosis and ovarian cysts for years until she finally had a hysterectomy. Now we joke about being two eunuchs together. I would suggest that you have an very open and frank conversation with your family and lay things out for them in plain terms and you may find that they will be more supportive than you thought.

Truly, I would advise removal as this is the only real cure for this problem and you won't make a whole bunch of docs rich and enable them to use you as a guinea pig.

[ZeuterMe (imported)]

Truly, I would advise removal as this is the only real cure for this problem and you won't make a whole bunch of docs rich and enable them to use you as a guinea pig.

Ironically, I chose this name in a fit of pique while looking into being used as a guinea pig. If I'm going to do anything permanent, I'd like to have my doctor on board, a large pile of disposable saliva testosterone test sticks, a nice photo-microscope, and inject one CC of Zeuterin™ into either side. I'd be able to provide data on how quickly the stuff works, both in terms of testosterone falloff and how long it takes to achieve azoospermia, without giving a dog a handjob every day. Also, I could evaluate the claim about 'most pets not showing any sign of discomfort'.

And, since I'm planning on having them removed anyway, they can be removed after 90 days for biopsy, sectioning, and histology tests, and I have nothing to lose.

Because Science!

(PS: Tell me a vial of the stuff fell off the back of the truck, and I'd be a lot more tempted than I am by the current CaCl / vodka / calchlorin zeitgeist, because science. And ethics. Also, I would literally be the only person who could make an informed comparison between surgical castration and Zeuterin™.)

[ZeuterMe (imported)]

Currently, I have a referral to a person who is arguably the world's best practitioner of neurotomy for a groinal nerve block.

I have a sinking suspicion I'm already sterile, however, but this test could provide a smoking gun.

Meanwhile, I have a referral to a physical therapist whose last groin pain patient experienced an 80% reduction in a single one-hour session.

I haven't considered I might have two overlapping issues -- let's see what happens!

[ZeuterMe (imported)]

Why wait? Because the doctor's booked solid for the next three months. -_-

[ZeuterMe (imported)]

My GP does minor surgery. Any reason not to ask him for his services?

[ZeuterMe (imported)]

I feel like I'm on a roller coaster, on the way up - the scary part. I know I'll enjoy it once I make my decision, but the most terrifying part of this ride, like any other, is when the lead car starts to nose down, and you know you're about to move. I can tell I'm within either a couple months or a couple of days of deciding on castration.

Should I stop? Should I even ask you to try to stop me?

[ZeuterMe (imported)]

Here's what I want to say to my doctor (he does minor surgery, and works out of an ambulatory surgical center:

• I've gotten over the fear once, don't make me do it twice.

• You know this has been going for three years with zero improvement.

• I trust you.

• This has the highest odds of a cure (provide citation)

• This is the cheapest both up front and over a projected lifetime; the insurance co-pay may be as little as $250, with $50/year HRT.

• I was already considering a vasectomy

• This would ensure follow-up care was easily available

• I wouldn't have to recover in a motel

• This would eliminate travel costs to a specialist

• Doing this at the same time as another medically necessary minor procedure would minimize facilities costs

I think I'd have a good chance at getting him to agree to some custom requests I'd be tempted to insist on:

• Modified closed castration from veterinary journal - minimizes postoperative swelling, pain, and downtime

• Local anesthetic of the cord and cremasteric muscle - possibly key to preventing phantom pain; this is the only transsected structure that isn't thoroughly infiltrated by anaesthetic agents shot into the testicular parenchyma.

• Cosmetic work (the "sheathoplasty") - definitely the hardest sell. To some significant extent however, he trusts me, too, including my science chops.

[foxytaur (imported)]

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