Just had my penis "de-sleeved" during operation

[SplitDik (imported)]

I've added four more photos from Day 7 to the Flikr stream[

[quote="SplitDik (imported)" time=1302

678120]
quote="SplitDik (imported)" time=13023
[/quote]
34320]
: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jabelar/se ... 336658793/
[/quote]
(NSFW and you'll have to log in because they are age restricted due to content).

I saw the urologist for a checkup (10 days). He was really happy with the results. I am worried about the scarring and the fact that I have no feeling AT ALL in the front of my penis, but he said that everything was healing great that I shouldn't have noticeable scars and that the nerves would regenerate.

I have had no discomfort at all except for one stitch that does hurt when I'm fully erect (which is pretty often since I can't masturbate or have sex). I asked him about it, because while many stitches have dissolved, the remaining ones still seem really tough and can't be pulled out with tweezers. He suggested I soak my penis in a glass of warm water each night ... that should be a fun sight. Anyone for a cup of tea?

[nullorchis (imported)]

Photos scary at first, but as healing progressed I see they added a couple of inches to it as a bonus. Very nice. Interesting that you went that route as a sexual outlet instead of wanting / obtaining castration.

I'm unfamilar with something and wonder if it is done and if so what is it called:

A process where the urinary outlet is re-routed to below the scrotum, near the anus, so that urine and ejaculate comes out that hole and the opening at the top of the penis is surgically closed.

Would this be a way to avoid acquiring hiv/aids, or if someone had hiv/aids, of not infecting someone else.

After alcohol injections and stopping TRT, sexual activity is not on my TO DO list, and I do not have hiv or aids. I was just curious.

Then I don't know if raw sperm, if extracted directly from a testicle, would carry hiv/aids. If not, a man who had hiv/aids could at least engage in sexual activity and not infect a partner, and if a MF couple (where female does not have hiv/aids) could have children through sperm extraction and medical insemination.

Even if this worked, I suppose The Pope would still not condone it. Neither would companies that make condoms.

[SplitDik (imported)]

Just got my bill from the hospital. It was listed as "partial penis amputation"!

I don't think any of it is missing, but maybe I should check more carefully ...

The bill was $40k. I have to cover $4k of that, which is pretty pricey. I'm a bit annoyed about the whole thing, because I'm pretty sure I could have removed them myself (I put them in myself) for free or got a body mod artist do it for $200.

The doctor really upsold me on it -- safer to do in hospital setting (could be infection), he could minimize scarring, etc. But he turned something as simple as removing 15 beads under the skin into a 2-hour operation categorized as "partial penis amputation" under general anesthesia.

Since I'm from Canada, I'm not used to paying for any medical treatment. So I just went along with it not imagining it would add up to that sort of expense. They actually estimated $500 out of pocket before the surgery, but then afterwards they said "it took lots longer than anticipated". So I guess in the US the cost is totally open-ended, meaning I'll never again do an elective surgery. $4k for an emergency would be worth it, but not for something cosmetic that I didn't even care about one way or another.

So I now have a circumcision-type scar which is somewhat itchy, painful and unattractive, loss of all sensation in the front of the penis, and sort of a layer of scar tissue under the whole penis foreskin (since he skinned the whole thing).

I'm an optimist so the loss of sensation is okay since it allows me to perform better with the wife (last longer) and the scarring on the under the foreskin seems to give the effect of some girth increase.

But overall it was somewhat the wrong decision.

[Sweetpickle (imported)]

If it's not too late negociate.

It is the practice of American hospitals to present astronomical bills and then negociate with the insurance company for as much as the insurance will pay.

A friend got a $25,000 emergency room bill, after negociation it was $4000 insurance company $1000 patient

<-- they will screw you if they can

[SplitDik (imported)]

If it's not too late negociate.

It is the practice of American hospitals to present astronomical bills and then negociate with the insurance company for as much as the insurance will pay.

A friend got a $25,000 emergency room bill, after negociation it was $4000 insurance company $1000 patient

<-- they will screw you if they can

That makes sense, but wouldn't the insurance company do that anyway? They're still footing 90% of the bill so presumably have incentive to do that without any prodding from me. Or do you mean that they will only negotiate their portion and not tell me that they got a reduced price?

The problem is that despite being "astronomical" it may actually be a reasonable price for a two hours of surgery by the city's top urologist in a pretty nice hospital ...

Interestingly too, out of the $40k, the doctor only got about $3k. Which is good for two hours work, but seems like it mostly the hosptial making the money.

[kristoff]

That makes sense, but wouldn't the insurance company do that anyway? They're still footing 90% of the bill so presumably have incentive to do that without any prodding from me. Or do you mean that they will only negotiate their portion and not tell me that they got a reduced price?

The problem is that despite being "astronomical" it may actually be a reasonable price for a two hours of surgery by the city's top urologist in a pretty nice hospital ...

Interestingly too, out of the $40k, the doctor only got about $3k. Which is good for two hours work, but seems like it mostly the hosptial making the money.

The insurance companies negotiate and get the discounts. Patients do not. Demand an accounting, find out what the insurance paid, then calculate your 10% based on that. If the hospital won't take it, tell em to collect it. It would provide a hell of a good negotiating point.

[SplitDik (imported)]

The insurance companies negotiate and get the discounts. Patients do not. Demand an accounting, find out what the insurance paid, then calculate your 10% based on that. If the hospital won't take it, tell em to collect it. It would provide a hell of a good negotiating point.

It's enough money to be worth some hassle, so I'll look into it.

However I find with most of these "negotiate your debt" suggestions that the hassle can be pretty high. It's like people that say non-chalantly that you can just stop paying your mortgage. That does kinda work if you truly can't pay, but if you do have the means you face regular collections tactics -- threats, private investigators contacting your friends and employers, etc.

The problem here is that I have the ability to pay. I just think it is a high price. Of course you can still negotiate on that basis, but to say "take on an insurance company and a top hospital" is easier said than done.

Has anyone here successfully negotiated a hospital bill without proving real hardship?

[kristoff]

It's enough money to be worth some hassle, so I'll look into it.

However I find with most of these "negotiate your debt" suggestions that the hassle can be pretty high. It's like people that say non-chalantly that you can just stop paying your mortgage. That does kinda work if you truly can't pay, but if you do have the means you face regular collections tactics -- threats, private investigators contacting your friends and employers, etc.

The problem here is that I have the ability to pay. I just think it is a high price. Of course you can still negotiate on that basis, but to say "take on an insurance company and a top hospital" is easier said than done.

Has anyone here successfully negotiated a hospital bill without proving real hardship?

Yes, I have, that is why I suggested it. my copay was dropped from 5400 to 1000 based on persistently pushing my point. Insurance paid a bit over 10K on a 27K bill. Firm, forceful, no theatrics, and perhaps a letter from a buddy on his law office letterhead.

[SplitDik (imported)]

Yes, I have, that is why I suggested it. my copay was dropped from 5400 to 1000 based on persistently pushing my point. Insurance paid a bit over 10K on a 27K bill. Firm, forceful, no theatrics, and perhaps a letter from a buddy on his law office letterhead.

So how do you find out what the insurance actually paid? Does the insurance or the hospital have to tell you that?

The "bill" I got from each is of course matching, where the "what insurance pays" line matches the hospital bill. It does seem pretty misleading if they don't actually pay that. I guess technically they could say "we were billed for that amount", but if they are practically paying less it does seem like a consumer protection issue -- if they paid less then the cost was less and the insurance is responsible based on percentage of the cost.

[kristoff]

So how do you find out what the insurance actually paid? Does the insurance or the hospital have to tell you that?

The "bill" I got from each is of course matching, where the "what insurance pays" line matches the hospital bill. It does seem pretty misleading if they don't actually pay that. I guess technically they could say "we were billed for that amount", but if they are practically paying less it does seem like a consumer protection issue -- if they paid less then the cost was less and the insurance is responsible based on percentage of the cost.

Can't speak to where you are at, but in Minnesota the law requires full disclosure upon request. But it would be a very rare insurance company that ever pays the full rate.