A conversation with Dr. Kimmel

[kristoff]

I just got an email from another member who had used Dr. Kimmel. According to him, Dr. K. left the stitches a bit loose on purpose. I just wish that the pain would subside a bit - makes it hard to function. I do pop a few Tylenol from time to time which helps.

In some ways, the orchiectomy was easier than my vasectomy, but the recovery differs considerably from what I was expecting. For one thing the incision is much longer.

Thanks for all the input.

Sutures should NEVER be left loose like that. Defeats their purpose. To ease the discomfort, he should have stitched, then used overstitches to relieve the pull pressue on the incision line. There should be no supuration or discharge after about 24 hours in most cases. If there is concern viz drainage, then a penrose should have been installed. Bottom line, from what you say, he did a sloppy job. Spector did on me. Took two weeks of great pain before surgeons were able fully fix his fuck ups. After reopening and fixing all of his fucking up, I was on my feet 2 days later and working (I was doing landscaping then - supervising). Same wound, better job second and third time around (took two to clean up after spector). I suspect my opinion of Kimmel is slipping. I would suggest you go see a doctor. Go a few towns away if needed.

[thirtysleuths (imported)]

I confiscated mom's pads for two months after my operation with Dr. Kimmel. Obvious discharge I'd say only lasted about a week or two, but I wasn't about to gunk up my panties. It took a long, long time to heal. It went from expected drainage to looking and smelling like I was crapping liquefied dead bodies out of my crotch. Ugh. But hey, all's well.

Taking the stitches out sucked immensely. It hurt. A lot. He said it wasn't supposed to hurt at all, but the stitches were in weird, and stiff; the wound was sore long after I was supposed to have already taken them out. I waited--took extra salt baths, but it didn't seem to help. I feel ya, Kangan.

Kimmel's a very sweet man, but I can, in sincerity, only recommend him to the desperate.

[smoothie36 (imported)]

Dr. K is most likely in his 80's and his conversation does wander at times. I'm afraid Kristoff is right. Loose stiches leave an open wound that is hard to heal. The incision need be no more than a inch, and neatly stiched back together. If a drain is prefered, a small tube can be left in for a couple of days. Ice should prevent torn stiches as it will control swelling. Time for the great Dr. K to line up a replacement. Someone needs to come forward.

[Eddie (imported)]

When Dr. Spector castrated me, he left mine the same way. It keeps you from having a drain tube put in and then having a local doctor remove it. When Dr. Kemmel removed my scrotum, he told me the same thing. The incision will start healing from the ends. Both doctors used dissolving stitches on me and they started to break down after about four weeks or so. Do not clean with hydrogen peroxide as it will prevent it from healing. After a couple of weeks you can soak daily for a few minutes in a tub. I was told by a doctor friend to use a ear syringe to flush out the old blood by inserting it in an opening (incision). It work great to remove the old clotted blood. Then you will see your scrotum starting to shink and then the incision will go together to heal. The scrotum goes though a lot during the surgery and the ends where the testicles where connected will swell making you think you still have them. This is why Dr. Kimmel showed them to you when they were removed. Believe me it will all come together and you will be happy with the results.

[kristoff]

When Dr. Spector castrated me, he left mine the same way. It keeps you from having a drain tube put in and then having a local doctor remove it. When Dr. Kemmel removed my scrotum, he told me the same thing. The incision will start healing from the ends. Both doctors used dissolving stitches on me and they started to break down after about four weeks or so. Do not clean with hydrogen peroxide as it will prevent it from healing. After a couple of weeks you can soak daily for a few minutes in a tub. I was told by a doctor friend to use a ear syringe to flush out the old blood by inserting it in an opening (incision). It work great to remove the old clotted blood. Then you will see your scrotum starting to shink and then the incision will go together to heal. The scrotum goes though a lot during the surgery and the ends where the testicles where connected will swell making you think you still have them. This is why Dr. Kimmel showed them to you when they were removed. Believe me it will all come together and you will be happy with the results.

I stand by my statements above. If you have to flush clots, a sloppy job was done. An incision should generally not be left open for drainage - not one such as this. After Spector fucked me up, and after the first repair surgery a penrose drain was left in to drain all the edema built up from the damage done. It was left in for 5 days, then one stitch was removed, and it was pulled out. A dissolving suture was used to close the remaining hole. A wound such as these should never be left open. The use of dissolving sutures to close the scrotum is a perfectly acceptable application providing they take at least 3 weeks to dissolve. Kimmel has mistakenly used such sutures in past that started dissolving after 5-7 days - BIG mistake. Too many stories have accumulated over the past 3-4 years of cumulative errors that more caution is warranted. (BTW, I live with a registered nurse practitioner who has extensively filled me in here, and have consulted with one of the urologic surgeons who has worked on me 3 times - MrT knows him, too, as dr. personality). Again, I conclude Kimmel is slipping, and caution is warranted.

[nullorchis (imported)]

If Kimmel should be in "the home", who can we trust. ?

Cutting someone open and closing them up is one thing.

But each testicle has a lot of connecting cords and tissue and removing testicles is not like pulling a tooth.

I would not prefer removal of my balls by slicing up my scrotum. A professional orichtectomy through the inguinal canal is the only way I would accept.

If we can't go to Kimmel who will we go to?

Probably out of country !

But only with good references !

Verifiable references. Never trust any one person. Get lots of cross references.

There has got to be someplace on this planet where a qualified doctor will perform an elective orichectomy. It's not rocket science. Just pretty much "taboo". Lots of hacks out there who are more than happy to chop off your balls, and never care one bit if you live or die.

This network, over the top as it might be, is probably the best place to cautiously network with people who are in the know, and people who won't butcher you.

Being careful and cautious is the name of the game for anyone who wants voluntary castration.

Steve

[Kangan (imported)]

I've been to my personal physician (more about this later...) and he said everything was okay and healling properly, including the slight drainage.

My own feeling is that Dr. Kimmel can do a great job of cutting, but he ought to leave the closure to someone with steadier hands. Dr. Kimmel is only in his early 70's. However, I do feel that he should pass the scalpel to a younger man as he is on the verge of losing his touch.

Personally, I like and respect Dr. Kimmel, but I can only rate his surgical technique as "Passing" or "Average."

[Kangan (imported)]

A quick note about the Best Western Motel City Center. Don't stay there! The place is going downhill rapidly, and by next year it may be demolished to make room for high-rise apartments. There was no food service at night, and some of the local restaurants are gone too.

My recommendation: Stay somewhere convenient to your mode of transportation (near the airport) and use a taxi to and from Kimmel's office. Stay at a good full service hotel with 24/7 room service. The difference in price is well worth the benefits. I don't know how anyone survived for three nights at the Best Western on takeout pizzas!

[Kangan (imported)]

Being concerned about Dr. Kimmel's handiwork, I made an appointment to see my personal physician of long standing. I brought with me a copy of the signed consent form from Dr. Kimmel's office.

I must say that waiting for my turn to talk to my doctor was much worse than having an orchiectomy, fear factor wise. When he walked into the exam room, I mumbled, "8-days ago I went to Philadelphia and had a procedure performed that I had been wanting done for over 34-years." Then I handed him the consent form.

My doctor read the first line, "Request for Castration," and his eyes immediately bugged out and he turned slightly pale. I was glad that he was seated and not standing up. "I can explain," I began.

"Just let me digest this," he muttered as he reread the document several times, mouthing the words, "bilateral orchiectomy... regional anesthesia... results in total sterility and impotence...." Then he turned to me and asked, "Did you volunteer for this?"

"Yes. I've been wanting this for over 34-years," I repeated. Then I told him why. "I got arrested back then for a sex offense. My libido was too strong and it got me into trouble with an underage person."

"So you chased the girls too much?" he queried.

"Boys too," I admitted.

"You did the right thing," he stated firmly. "That was a very manly thing to do. I'm impressed."

I had to smother a giggle at his accidental pun. "Yes, it took a lot of balls to do that."

"Why Philadelphia?"

"Only doctor who would do it on demand," I replied. "It was healthy tissue. The only other doctors that I could find, needed a diagnosis of cancer or a bunch of referral letters from several shrinks."

He nodded in agreement. "Well, you certainly solved your problem. Could I take a look?"

I dropped my pants and under garments. He poked a prodded gently with gloved fingers. "Through the scrotum, I see..... You are healing just fine."

"What about the slight drainage?" I asked.

"Don't worry about it. Are you taking any antibiotics?"

"Cipro."

"Well, then you are all set."

And that was that. On the way out I made another appointment to have the stitches taken out in another week's time.

[nullorchis (imported)]

Wow. I feel for you while waiting to see your Dr. and then having to communicate the information to him. I would have probably passed out in a cold sweat or had a heart attack or stroke from elevated blood pressure.

With that awful ordeal over, how sweet it is to know you are making satisfactory progress. By Thanksgiving you will be a new you.

The only thing wrong with this is that I don't have the will power to do the same thing. You are an inspiration, but as much as I want the same I am so afraid of surgery, or rather complications after surgery, that I suppose I will never get my life long desire fulfilled, unless something medical should occur and help the process along....and I would rather that not happen.