eunuchjeff (imported) wrote: Wed Oct 21, 2020 10:37 am
I was castrated with just a local anesthetic (my preference). I walked about a mile to a restaurant several hours following and then drove home the following day, then returned to work on the 2nd day following. All was fine. Very little pain.
Tough ball cords and sack on you Jeff ! Impressive pain tolerance and a skilled dr.
My urologist preferred to use a general anesthetic for my bi-lateral orchiectomy but I was able to convince him to use a spinal block so I could be awake during my emasculation. He agreed with the caveat that the anesthesiologist would be present for a general if I caused any fuss during the procedure. That worked out well as midway through my back was miserable from the flar operating table. He then administered some fentanyl in my IV which erased the discomfort in about 10 seconds
I nearly fainted during my circumcision, because I found it to be very painful. I personally couldn't imagine doing any major surgery under local anesthesia.
I had a general for my orchiectomy but Propofol and a local when my scrotum was removed. Let me tell you if you have a choice, opt for the Propofol / local as it's safer and much easier to pull out of the fog when its done.
I had local with a vasectomy years ago. I felt pulling and tugging, but no pain. My orchi was performed under general. One second I'm talking with the anesthesiologst about race tracks, the next, they're waking me up and I'm grogily asking if they got them. They did. My cord stumps are way up by the top of the base of my penis, which is what I wanted. Dr. Did a super job. I can imagine that kind of pulling would have been very uncomfortable under local.
Not sure just what they gave me, except that I'm very insistent (over their objections) that they NOT use any sort of opioid (They addicted me to fentanyl when I was in rehab, I went through a week of hell getting that monkey off my back - I'm not letting him back in the room!) I know they put in an IV and shot me up w/ some sort of happy juice before going into the OR, and then added more after putting me on the table. I also got a mask put on and the last I remember was seeing them setting up the leg supports... Woke up a short time later in recovery and was able to help them get me dressed and leave to go home in the paratransit van within an hour...
FWIW, my GF has had problems w/ anesthesia not working well on her in the past... The past couple of times she has had surgery they gave her ketamine and she was very happy with that....
However I'd say that the general rule is that you will get what the doctor / anesthesia team feels is best for you given your personal medical situation and their preferences for what they think will work best...
WheelyFixed
Paraplegic - T-5, ASIA-B. 2010 Injury left non-functional & frustrated. 4/24/22, stop T. 5/4 start 3.75mg Lupron. 6/29 - T ~0. 7/7 - start E. 9/2 stop Lupron. 3/30/23 - GOT LETTERS! surgery (O&S) 9/28/23. Doing 0.75mg/day E patch as HRT
Can’t speak to these specific procedures but have experience with each, and can share personal perspectives:
- I’m terrified of general, first because I had a very traumatic experience when I was 18 and they didn’t give me enough anesthetic. The memory of that still causes me distress whenever general is offered as a choice. The other is that I know a number of medical practitioners and the invasiveness of general is pretty heavy and can have nasty side effects - some of which have happened to acquaintances. The paralytics they use for intubation can cause memory loss and hemorrhaging. The tube itself can cause damage to the laranyx. Reflux can cause really serious issues.
- Local - No problem. I have had several times. Also have no anxiety issues with being awake and “present.” Had surgery last year and watched the whole thing, including the surgeon pulling on a tendon with both hands to where it was visibly outside my body. Having another surgery shortly where it will be the same scenario. For nullification, I have no desire to watch, because I think that would just be a little too much gore. I will just look around the room and count ceiling tiles.
- Regional - I get epidurals 3X a year for other health issues, so have become accustomed. Depends on the practitioner - a good one is bearable, a bad one digging around in your spine repeatedly, trying to hit the mark, is horrible. Academically speaking, spinal blocked surgeries allegedly have better patient outcomes. This is what I would choose for nullification, if it was the only alternative to general.
- Sedation - this was my favourite, as it was a gentle trip to Candyland, where all unicorns play and Oompa-loompas cater to your every desire. I was fully sedated and all I remember is just before waking I heard the surgeon say that he had to speed up because I was coming out of it, and then feeling him tugging on my body part and hearing the crunching. Then poof, I was awake. Not traumatized, as I didn’t care and wasn’t in pain; just alert. Very, very high, but alert…
