It is done.....

[CFI10000 (imported)]

Thanks for the information about the inner workings of Dr. Fara's office. My orchiectomy (suggested by my doctor when I wanted testicle implants - since my balls had shrunk so much) was also elective. I wondered if I would sense some judgment from the surgery staff.

It was only the surgery assistant I talked with while he prepared me. He read my chart and did not cringe. There was more of a hint of a smile of approval. I remembered my doctor saying they helped another guy get new balls the week before, and he also had a "removal." He did ask if I was hairy down there. I told him I used an electric trimmer last night to clean the area. That received a smile of approval. The surgery assistants are busy preparing all the supplies and equipment. Saving them that step seemed to be significantly appreciated.

Once I realized there was no judgment on his part about getting an elective castration (more of a sense of understanding and support). I was then fully able to relax and let the process happen.

Thanks again for your summary of their process.

[cw1911nr (imported)]

Interesting (to me) anecdote from the OR and some other random crap:

So, while in Preop, or whatever they call it, I changed into the obligatory gown. They put an IV into the top of my left wrist, the big vein that runs down to the thumb. Got asked the same questions by like 4 people, ya da ya da.... Then I waited until the OR was ready.

So, they walk me into the OR. The "table" was about body width, with arm supports splayed out at 90 degrees. Kind of unexpected. Looked like a torture device.... Anyway, hop up, they start strapping me in. I am looking around for a few seconds. I see Dr. Fara chilling out on a stool waiting. The anesthesiologist is by the IV doing something. There is this female nurse on my right side doing stuff. Very efficient, little talking. I hear the anesthesiologist say he is gonna give me something to relax. I say OK, but then immediately hear the nurse start talking to me. I look over, I think I did an involuntary inhale, she was so gorgeous!! She introduced herself (can't remember her name, darn it) and smiled, and then, NOTHING...... A switch was flipped.

But wow, what a last memory of the OR! I kinda wonder if she does that on purpose. The memory of her is imprinted in my brain for life.

In recovery, I can only remember snippets of getting dressed, looking at my package and seeing a big bandage and thinking it is done! getting into the car, etc.

I asked my wife if she wanted me to drive (I always do this. I have been under 3 times (not general, just sedation) over the past decade) for upper GI, colonoscopies and I always ask her if she wants me to drive as soon as I get in the car. What can I say, I like to mess with her.

General anesthesia is no joke. The sedation stuff gives you a cool head rush before you remember nothing. And coming out was way quicker, at least for me. The general anesthesia took awhile to come out of, I am sure there is an amnesia aspect to it. Like I said, I sorta remember getting dressed. I know there was a woman there. I did not give a shit, I know that. I probably said something stupid.... No idea. I have no idea if I was wheeled out or walked, although I am pretty darn sure they had to wheel me out. I really don't remember. Don't remember much until getting in the car and "offering to drive" and then riding back to the hotel. Took a pain pill, then slept until about 8 PM, watched some TV, took another pain pill, so I would be unconscious all night and not toss and turn, and then no more pain meds after that.

[photoglenn (imported)]

Well, after years of thinking about it, doing multiple rounds of Androcur, etc. I had the testicles (and excess scrotal skin) removed yesterday. I would like to thank everyone past and present for posting here and providing both pros and cons of the procedure!

So, there is some tenderness on each side of my pubic bone where the ends of the cut off spermatic cords lie. Doc said that will go away over time. Otherwise, some mild seepage and I mean mild -- yesterday afternoon and evening. I took a Percocet yesterday afternoon which caused me to sleep all day, then another last night. Slept like a baby. Woke up with zero pain! Have not taken anything for pain since. I think I am just lucky.

I am feeling tenderness in the pubic bone area this evening, but no need to take anything for it. Also, very minimal bruising, so far.

All in all, a very positive experience, on par pain wise with my vasectomy which started me down this road almost 30 years ago.

As I know people will ask, I did it for 3 reasons:

1. recurring pain post vasectomy.

2. reduce libido to be closer to my wife's libido, which is zero.

3. Comfort. As I sit here with gauze and tight underwear on, I can already feel the increase in comfort over having all that junk between my legs! I am also an avid bicyclist, so real curious to see how the bike saddle is going to feel once I am all healed up.

Also, got it done in Atlanta, Dr. Fara. Expensive, but he does good work!

Again, I can't believe I actually got it done! I will admit, I got pretty apprehensive the afternoon of the 4th, but I kept thinking about all the positives I felt while taking Androcur. I am gonna see where I baseline before considering any HRT. I just want to see what will happen if nature takes its course.

Thanks again all!

Good idea to establish a baseline before starting any HRT.

I was on HRT before my surgery, and continued it after surgery.

However recently I stopped HRT for several months, and while I did not have any negative experience from stopping it, after several months found that I completely lost all sexual drive and sexual abilities and my penis shrunk a lot, so I restarted the HRT recently, and am going to continue using it.

The good thing about this is that when you have balls you can not conduct such an experiment, but without them you can do trials of using various doses of HRT, to find what works for you, or not use it at all.

[dcballboy (imported)]

Cw - Curious, how old are you? Do you have kids? Did your balls shrink with androcur? Were they low-hanging? And do you think any of these things mattered with Dr. Fara? Thanks!

[cw1911nr (imported)]

photog - You hit the nail on the head. That is exactly what I hope to achieve, either no, or minimal hormones until I find what works for me.... Coulnd't have said it better.

dc - Interesting mix of questions..... 60. yes. yes. not really. I have no idea.

Dr. Fara was professional. He maintained a professional persona at all times. He was friendly, but professional. Nonjudgemental.

[wanasoso2 (imported)]

All the previous comments were great and if you share your experience of future HRT various dosage, I think it would be helpfull for many of us.

Take care.

[CFI10000 (imported)]

There is a testosterone I am on called Natesto from Germany. I put it in my nose 2 or 3 times a day. If I do it early, I do a third dose at night. If I am working out, I may do the third dose. A guy wanting a testosterone level around 800 or 900 would do the two or three doses. A supply of that is $140 a month for three tubes (no insurance involved at that price). The price is higher if you want your insurance involved.

If you want a really low level, you could probably get by only using one tube a month. It's most cost-efficient to get a prescription to be able to order three tubes a month.

The advantage is that you can fully control what level you want to be.

The problem with shots every week or two is that you will have a very high level the first few days, and then it drops. That is uneven and harder on your body.

Based on my experience with this, I would suggest taking one hit in the morning and one hit at night (one nostril), and you could probably get to a level of 100 or 150. At that level, you will not be horny, but your body will get enough T to avoid the bad effects of having none. If you are feeling low one day, then you take a little extra.

It's been tested and prescribed to younger married guys who need a boost but don't want to stop their sperm production. And they don't want to take too much (which will reduce their natural testosterone production).

If you are feeling low one morning, you do a little extra. This gel stays in your system for 5 hours. My blood work (all the other numbers) has been excellent since I started it. I started TRT with shots, and then I did pellets. I feel most even and good on Natesto.

If you want to check the effect, you take it and get blood work done one hour later.

[WheelyCurious]

Cw - Curious, how old are you? Do you have kids? Did your balls shrink with androcur? Were they low-hanging? And do you think any of these things mattered with Dr. Fara? Thanks!

Not sure if you meant me or not - at any rate, 65, no kids (GF & I started trying to late) I was on Lupron and now E, not androcur, but no shrinkage. Not particularly low hanging. I'm not seeing Dr. Fara, but I doubt if any of them would have mattered, as they wouldn't have really affected the surgery.

WheelyCurious

[CFI10000 (imported)]

https://youtu.be/81ODNtKbMwc Interview with Dr. Fara.

[cw1911nr (imported)]

I listened to that interview during my research. He is a bit older looking now than that photo. Also, always had a mask on also, so never got to see his whole face. Nice guy though.