Have to agree with Kristoff. The "Castrati" were mostly involuntary boys who were castrated without their consent. They were made eunuchs to preserve their voices before the onset of puberty. Some may have volunteered because the "Castrati" were so revered; they were like movie stars. However, I didn't get castrated so I could sing and most others on this site probably didn't either, though I might be wrong. But I prefer eunuch. Hash

Kristoff, I'm glad you brought up Anne Rice's book " Cry To Heaven".

Yes it is set in the past and the whole novel is about a deviously devised castration to a lad who sang with great skill.

This novel has so many depths and layers of intrigue and also of tremendous

personal development. I recommend it as a "must read" and if you have some difficulty to begin with in identifying with the characters or the historical past, stick with it. It is a powerful book and a great piece of fiction written with such perception and insight. I loved it.

I have just had a telephone conversation with a close friend....

BudleyBare (imported) wrote: Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:30 pm . The primary subject was my recent surgery. He expressed dismay at my choice of the word 'eunuch' as a label. He much preferred the word castrati, suggesting that I reconsider thinking of myself as a castrati rather than eunuch....And so I come away from this conversation pondering this "label issue". It appears to me that most on this web site prefer the eunuch label (I could be wrong), but there is a relatively heavy presence of the word castrated as well.....Any viewpoints on this really insignificant matter?

P.S., there is also part of me that wants to avoid any labels other than perhaps human being, and just be me. Labels can cause segregation or discrimination, and lead to conflict.

I agree that it might be preferable to avoid any labels. My own take on the issue is reflected in my decision taken several months ago to change my signature from 'eunuch' to 'ballless.' I'm not a eunuch in that I continue to be sexual. I'm simply balless - also a castrati.

The discussion of cords is also interesting. One of my own problems was not having properly formed cords. My testicles thus did not 'dangle' below my crotch. This - that they lived most of the time in my inguinal canals - made them subject to infection and also difficult to remove.

kristoff wrote: Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:38 pm Although I am forthcoming about my status as a eunuch with most friends and family, many folks are distinctly uncomfortable with the whole topic, and tend to squirm a bit regardless the name/label applied. As a result, I tend to guage my discussion sometimes to their comfort levels, yet without avoiding a topic.

Personally, ever since having read Anne Rice's "Cry to Heaven," I just cannot think of the term "castrati" in any context other than the Italian singing contingents of the 18-19 centuries.

On the other hand, my roomie and a couple of others around here refer to us at the Archive as the "nutless wonders" - in many respects entirely an appropriate name, I suspect.

Or would the "Nutless Nuts" be even more appropriate?

Minor update on my status/progress as I approach the one month anniversary of castration:

Itchy/scratchy feelings: I have recently begun to notice changes in my skin. For one, I am having scratching sensations in my underarm (arm pit) area. I have never had this kind of itchy/scratchy feeling before. Cannot say definitively if related to castration, but timing does suggest so. It is not to such a degree that I cannot tolerate, and I hope that it just goes away.

Swelling: Also, while in the capital city this week (that is why I have not been visiting here since last weekend), I got a second opinion about progress, and it was nothing but good news. There still is a significant amount of swelling in the lower abdomen area, but that is probably because the internal stitches have not yet completely dissolved. There is no swelling in the scrotum, and it really does seem to be much smaller than before (not only because it is not carrying any contents, but because it seems to know now that it no longer is needed for any function).

Outlook: still entirely positive. No signs of depression, regret, misgivings, or lack of support from friends and family. I continue to think less and less about being a eunuch, and just simply am getting on with my life. Planning a second trip for sometime this fall to places yet to be decided. Part of my business in the capital city this week was renewal of my passport, and that was the first time that I have been confronted with a government form to check off on sex. I of course clicked on the male box, but my mind was brought back to the real status of being neither. The lady behind the security glass at the Consulate had not a clue what was going through my mind.

I am glad all is going well. I found after castration my skin became dryer and I was scratching it. Time to buy some moisturizers.

I know what you mean about checking the box. Thefraj and I have talked about checking the space between the boxes. Of course for a passport it is probably best to check male.

BudleyBare (imported) wrote: Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:13 am Minor update on my status/progress as I approach the one month anniversary of castration:

Itchy/scratchy feelings: I have recently begun to notice changes in my skin. For one, I am having scratching sensations in my underarm (arm pit) area. I have never had this kind of itchy/scratchy feeling before. Cannot say definitively if related to castration, but timing does suggest so. It is not to such a degree that I cannot tolerate, and I hope that it just goes away.

Swelling: Also, while in the capital city this week (that is why I have not been visiting here since last weekend), I got a second opinion about progress, and it was nothing but good news. There still is a significant amount of swelling in the lower abdomen area, but that is probably because the internal stitches have not yet completely dissolved. There is no swelling in the scrotum, and it really does seem to be much smaller than before (not only because it is not carrying any contents, but because it seems to know now that it no longer is needed for any function).

Outlook: still entirely positive. No signs of depression, regret, misgivings, or lack of support from friends and family. I continue to think less and less about being a eunuch, and just simply am getting on with my life. Planning a second trip for sometime this fall to places yet to be decided. Part of my business in the capital city this week was renewal of my passport, and that was the first time that I have been confronted with a government form to check off on sex. I of course clicked on the male box, but my mind was brought back to the real status of being neither. The lady behind the security glass at the Consulate had not a clue what was going through my mind.

I've also have some problems with dry skin, although I attribute it to my intake of spironolactone. Granted I no longer use it for castration purposes but instead for it's diuretic properties and reduction of mild hypertenstion control (intake is 50% less now then when I used it for chemical castration). The areas most affected for me are elbows, hands and feet (and lately some dry skin on my face). Of course the dryer winter weather makes things a lot worse. I do use a hand cream occasionally and it seems to help a lot on those problem areas.

For a whole body moisturizer I found a product that works great for me call Avon "Skin So Soft". Just spray it on after a shower, rinse and pad dry. It seems to have an oil like substance that replaces the oil lost on the skin, but it does not give you a slimey or greasey feeling like baby oil or some hand lotions. It also has other qualities I find uses for. Used full strength it removes most dried paint, sealers and adhesives from your hands without nasty chemicals!

A few weeks after visiting the good doctor Kimmel for my castration, I made an appointment with a local urologist (just to get a second opinion and for the sake of convenience). This second doctor commented on the small insicion size and the good healing I was doing. One thing I do remember the second doctor telling me is that although the outside heals rather quickly it can take up to 6 months for the inside to completely heal. I found this to be the case with my castration surgery as well as my umbilical hernia operation 2 years prior. I did experience some significant swelling for a few weeks in the scrotum (most likely due to the insicion located in the scrotum vs. the abdominal approach).

I'm very glad to hear you have a positive outlook on all of this. I think it helps greatly afterwards to have a positive attitude before getting surgery. One thing I did noticed, and a few I have talked with also, is that about after the 6 month mark of having surgery I felt some slight depression and a fair amount weakness for a few weeks. Granted this was not a big issue, and nothing I could not work through, but something you may keep in mind when the time comes.

One thing that still bothers me a little is having to check off the gender marker on things such as renewing my drivers license. Although in essence I live, work and conduct my daily affairs as a woman, I am still legaly bound to check off the "male" marker. So far I haven't encountered any problems, but I've seen the puzzled look from the person behind the counter when they proccess the forms. I still intend to remedy that with surgery sometime in the future.

It's good to read your update. I have been thinking about you. I'm glad you feel as strongly positive still. Like tugon and Christina, I found dry skin a problem with slight itchy armpits. Just leave the armpits alone, don't scratch them that will make it worse of course. I like a long hot lingering bath, it's the best for my back pain and in the early days of being a Chemical Eunuch I used Dove Moisturiser.

It was very soothing and the issue of dry skin has settled down.

My one concern Bud from reading about your plans to go to Antartica is that at some point I'm sure your energy level, your daily stamina will take a plunge.

For Christina and I and many other eunuchs here the issue is compounded by our spinal problems. If your general level of health is good and I see from your thread that all is going well, then I could be overstressing this issue hugely because the spinal pain factor is obviously dominant. I would just suggest that you always live within your comfortable energy tolerances. Comfort is such an important issue. Been thinking how you are and I'm glad to see all is well

Sac_mec (imported) wrote: Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:26 am It's good to read your update. I have been thinking about you. I'm glad you feel as strongly positive still. Like tugon and Christina, I found dry skin a problem with slight itchy armpits. Just leave the armpits alone, don't scratch them that will make it worse of course. I like a long hot lingering bath, it's the best for my back pain and in the early days of being a Chemical Eunuch I used Dove Moisturiser.

It was very soothing and the issue of dry skin has settled down.

My one concern Bud from reading about your plans to go to Antartica is that at some point I'm sure your energy level, your daily stamina will take a plunge.

For Christina and I and many other eunuchs here the issue is compounded by our spinal problems. If your general level of health is good and I see from your thread that all is going well, then I could be overstressing this issue hugely because the spinal pain factor is obviously dominant. I would just suggest that you always live within your comfortable energy tolerances. Comfort is such an important issue. Been thinking how you are and I'm glad to see all is well

Sac_Mec, I do appreciate your comments and concerns! Thank you. I am refraining from scratching, but am not totally convinced that it comes about because of a dry skin condition. That could be the cause, but it feels more like tee-nintzie (sp?) little "bumps" (pin head sized or smaller bumps/lumps) just under the skin, somewhat akin to a zit, but that is not the source. Also, I am on guard for a loss of energy, but made the decision not to let those kinds of issues/changes affect my life. Not ony have I firmly committed to the trip to Antarctica for next January (21 days by ship), but I am also seriously considering a trip before that to either India or Ecuador.

Re my general health, it is typically "good" for me, but that is not saying much. I have never been blessed with good genes, and have many health challenges. Fortunately for me, back/spine problems is not one of my challenges.

Thanks again for your support and concern. When I found this web site earlier this year (after my first of four surgical procedures since Christmas), I feel like I have found a group of really neat guys, and you (collectively) have become part of my extended family. It is a neat feeling.

After posting the above reply to Sac_Mec, it just occurred to me that today is my one month anniversary of full castration. Happy anniversary to me!

As previously posted, things are generally going quite well for me. Last week I was in Panama City for business and medical stuff. There still is swelling in the lower abdomen where the two long incisions were made. Most, but not all of the internal stitches have now dissolved, but there still are some remaining, and that is the reason for the swelling.

Insofar as physical changes since May 22nd, my scrotum definitely is smaller now. My penis does seem to be somewhat smaller, but again it could be just that it is hanging in a little closer to my body or it could be a result of the swelling that is slowly going away. My skin (not specifically referring to the scratching issue discussed previously) seems to be becoming more, uh, translucent (that is the only word that comes to mind). No, I know that I am not becoming invisible, but the overall skin tone seems to be healthier, perhaps a bit thinner, and somewhat "translucent".

Insofar as emotional changes since May 22nd, I have experienced nothing untoward. No depression, no regrets, no nothing of an ungood nature. My support circle (friends, etc.) remains strong and genuine. Some want to know more details than others, but that is a personal choice on their end of things. Depending on their questions, I am willing to gloss over details, or go into great detail. I am surprised at the support and interest of some of my long time male friends (who are also prior work mates while I lived in Hong Kong). Their questions indicate a real interest in my condition, not a perverse interest for vicarious thrills. A few really wanted all the details, such as erection, penis, feelings, scrotum effects, libido, vitamin/mineral (e.g., calcium) supplementation, etc., type topics. In other words, these questions indicate to me a much higher degree of knowledge and experience than I would have expected. One guy even shared his personal experiences as a teenager of (using his words) "becoming a 'one banger' due to hereditary issues in his family", which is something I never knew or suspected while working with him.

Insofar as HRT is concerned, I remain committed to avoiding HRT and have no indication so far that such a decision is not appropriate for me. I am taking increased doses of colloidal calcium (1500 mg to 2 gm per day).

In closing, it would be hard for me to say whether my friends or this web site has been my biggest support mechanism. Probably this web site, but it would be close to a tie. But with regard to knowledge and advice, this web site is the big winner, hands down.

Thanks guys!!!!