Orchiectomy Tips

[TiffFox (imported)]

Hello all,

I'm new to the boards.

I am scheduled to get my orchiectomy in a couple of weeks, and have had the "shave everything, no aspirin for a week beforehand, wash thoroughly with antibacterial soap" lecture

Are there any other things I should do in prep, any suggestions as to what to take with me?

someone suggested fasting for 12 hours before the procedure, which I'm going to ask the doctor about tomorrow

Thank you in advance............Tiff

PS Dr. Kimmel, before anone asks

[Harlow (imported)]

Hello all,

I'm new to the boards.

I am scheduled to get my orchiectomy in a couple of weeks, and have had the "shave everything, no aspirin for a week beforehand, wash thoroughly with antibacterial soap" lecture

Are there any other things I should do in prep, any suggestions as to what to take with me?

someone suggested fasting for 12 hours before the procedure, which I'm going to ask the doctor about tomorrow

Thank you in advance............Tiff

PS Dr. Kimmel, before anone asks

Not much more u can do except to wait till the time u go for ur surgery.,, As lready mention, loose fitting clothes,, Iam sure Dr Kimmel or his staff can fill u in on anything u ask,,,,,,

[Riverwind (imported)]

I would also buy a pack of heavy pads, yes the kind that women use when there on there period. You will need them. Also take an ice bag, you will find that it also will come in handy. If you are going alone, pack in some food and drinks before surgery, they do have room service but sometimes you just want a peanutbutter sandwich. Take a book, tv for 2 days str8 can get to be a bit much.

You will like Dr Kimmel, he is very caring and will contact you at your hotel. OH which reminds me there is a motel about a block away that he sends plp to, you get a discount. Ask the motel for 3 or 4 pellows you will want them under your legs.

Cant think of anything else except, pack lite and loose fitting cloths.

Good luck and keep us up to date.

Also if you need to talk and you have a laptop with you or after you get home, come in the chat room, we will be there.

River

[Christina (imported)]

No need to fast 12 hours before. Dr Kimmel reccomends a light dinner and breakfast before the surgery. I had pizza the night before from across the street and a bacon and egg sandwich on toast with juice on the morning of the surgery in the hotel. There is an ice machine down the hall, I brought a small cooler to fill, and do get some good resealable bags for the ice. I doubled and triple baged the ice so they wouldn't leak during the night. The hotel also has a data port for you laptop, I didn't bring one, but had my cell phone instead. When I resevered my room I asked for a king size bed, but ended up with two full size beds. That worked out better because there were extra pillows from the unused bed. The hotel has two restaurants, one offers breakfast and brunch, the other is a sports bar with lunch and dinner and is open late. Across the street is a WAWA, pizza shop, and chinese restaurant but it was closed on Mondays.

You'll be off you feet for a good bit, so a robe and slippers are all you should need for lounging around. Dr Kimmel will also give you a weeks worth of meds so you don't have to go out and get them, plus a prescription for refills of the pain meds and antibiotics. He also gave me a number of large gause pads which was ok for me. You might want to pick up a box ahead of time. The 4X4 inch are plenty large enough.

[marca (imported)]

and the most important, at least a week off from work.don't aspect you can go to work after 3 days.

greetings marca.

[luvpain (imported)]

Trust me you can go to work 2 days after getting cut, but it really sucks.

I had Right nut removed on Friday, left one was attempted on Sunday but with the cautery pen failing had to place back in and suture up.

Luckily I had Monday off, but I did go back to work on Tuesday this week. But I have found as long as I am sitting or in bed the pain is tolerable. Standing up still is the worst for pain followed by walking.

As for gauze pads you may want to get a box of the non-stick pads to use also as removing stuck on pads can be a bit painful.

[Kelly_2 (imported)]

Hello, Tiff. Welcome to the group!

Most of us did not fast. Indeed, I had a wonderful dinner the night before.

We have seen some very good tips for the surgery and afterwards. Regarding the day of the surgery, sometimes people take a Valium. The surgery is generally done under locale anesthetic, so we are awake the whole time. I had mine by Spector, but if Kimmel is similar, the anesthetic shots to the thingies are entirely painful. Oh, gawd! Be ready.

Afterwards, keep the area clean and use Neosporin or equivalent. I agree with the suggestion about diapers (nappies), they can be useful for a little while after the orchie (and after SRS). Tight jeans are out while healing, but they (and panties) sure fit better when the healing is done.

I am not sure if anyone has told you yet, but the remainder of the cords in the scrotum may swell up fiercely, such that for weeks or months, it still feels as though you have thingies in there. That does eventually go away. But there can be (for some people) an ache at the end of the cords. Almost universally, that goes away after SRS because the majority of the cords are removed. I did not have the ache after my orchie, and I am guessing that you will not either.

Lastly, many women are able to change their birth certificates to "female" after the orchie. That can be a real benefit.

I wish you the best!

Warm hugs,

Kelly

[TiffFox (imported)]

Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone.

I am now 5 days free

it does ache quite a bit, but no sharp pain (which I guess is good)

it's wierd though, both sides were larger yesterday, but after the salt bath, the right side shrank quite a bit.

The left side is still somewhat large (and feels hard inside)

starting to get tired of these four walls

[luvpain (imported)]

Congrats!

Things will probably be swollen dor a few weeks and will feel hard for even longer. It has been 3.5 weeks since my right nut was removed and that side is still hard, the left side has been a week and a half and is hard and still draining a little.

[DreamingxAshley (imported)]

Although this person most likely had this done already, the fasting part really isnt a good idea.

1. You'll be more likely to get sick afterwards.

2. Your body during the procedure will produce vast amounts of adrenaline and endorphins to counteract the pain, and if you have an empty stomach it wont have any way of getting the energy it needs for this. So it will take energy from your body, and then you'll just feel weak.

Even if you tend to get really sick during stuff like this, it's still a good idea to eat SOMEthing. You'll need it.

Piercers won't poke you unless you have had something to eat for the same reason, and if they don't require it, then they aren't good piercers.

Helpful thoughts from someone who has had several piercings and tatts. (and a bit of medical training).