Hi all,

As I approach the four month anniversary of my castration, I am really becoming aware of a growing change in my outlook in life. However, the change is totally contrary to almost everything that I had expected, and in my case that is probably a good thing. Specifically, I am becoming more calm, and more turned off by negativity. Given that I am NOT doing HRT, everything I had read and had been told led me to believe that the so-called eunuch calm would likely not appear in my case. The exact opposite seems to be happening -- I am becoming more calm and peaceful and peace seeking.

Am I complaining? Absolutely NOT!!! I have just returned from a short trip to the Caribbean side of my residence country, and enjoyed several days of relaxation and conversation with some new found friends. This morning (first full morning back at home after this trip) I started catching up on some back email and web sites (including EA as of late this afternoon). There has been a noticeable "sensitivity" to the negativity of certain emails that I have received, and while pondering them and my changing outlook (to a more peaceful perspective), I received a telephone call from a close friend, one who was also on this recent trip with me. Early in that conversation he said that he has noticed a growing peacefulness in me, and was so struck by it that he had to tell me. It just wasn't appropriate to have that kind of conversation while on the road trip. His comment was not the only feedback that I have received.

So, why I am handling this eunuch state so differently than others? Dunno, but I am happy it is turning out this way.

And still no desire nor need to start HRT.

I've been traveling during the past week to the capital city of my country of residence. During that time, I passed the 6 month anniversary of my indoctrination into this special fellowship. The purpose of this post is simply to reaffirm my happiness at having completed the transition into nutless land, mostly because of the resulting loss of testicular pain and gaining control of my life.

The positive things in my life are already documented in earlier postings in this thread. There are two generally negative items, but I do not view them as major issues. Recall that I have opted to avoid HRT, and remain true to that commitment (so far). The two negatives are that (1) my energy levels have decreased, and I suspect that is because of the dramatic reduction in T, and (2) keeping my weight down is more difficult, but not impossible. Also, I believe there have been some short duration periods of mild "hot flashes" (is there such a term as "warm flashettes"?), but cannot state definitively that I have had any flashes -- it just seems that I have had some periods of elevated body warmth.

Emotionally, psychologically, and such I am very happy and wish nothing to change. I have generally stopped using the "e" (eunuch) word, and in those now rare cases when needed, I simply state that I have been castrated. Don't know why I do it that way, but that is what I presently prefer to describe myself as, a castrated male.

As a precautionary measure, my doctor (as well as friend) recommended that I shift from soy milk back to cow milk in case there is a link between soy and feminization, e.g., enlarged boobs. I have done so, already having large enough boobs and not having a lactose issue as others may have.

My current health challenges have nothing to do with the groin area now. I had a small (non-malignant) skin cancer removed about 6 weeks ago). And then I suffered a major back injury while out walking about 3 weeks ago when a foot bridge collapsed from underneath me and sent me into a river and onto large rocks, causing major bruising of my backside. The three walking mates came to my rescue. Nothing was broken or fractured, as confirmed by emergency room x-rays; however, I still walk carefully.

BudleyBare I am sorry about your fall when the bridge collapsed but I am relieved no broken bones or long term injuries. You have certainly had more than your share of times in a hospital.

I am glad you continue to have happiness in your life. May your hot flashes continue to be mild and your weight gain be minimal. I also think it is a positive step for you to define yourself. You are my castrated male friend.

Hi all,

I've been absent for several weeks now, and all due to the accident involving the bridge collapse in mid-November. I am just home from a hospital stay in which I had my first ever back surgery. It was originally to be about a 2 hour "laminectomy" procedure, but turned into a 7+ hour quadruple laminectomy when I was actually opened up. The bottom line here is nothing but good news, as all of the damage from the bridge collapse was repaired, and now it is only a matter of time (and reasonable post surgery care) before I am back to full capacity.

I've never had back problems (nor surgery thereon) before in my life, but I will be especially compassionate when I learn of someone undergoing such pain. I am one of the lucky ones, first in having the resources to afford the surgery, second in having access to a world class neurosurgeon (along with my doctor-friend who assisted) to perform the procedure, and most importantly the support mechanism to see me through this.

This is now my sixth surgical procedure this year, and I hereby declare enough is enough. It will take me time to catch up on postings on this board, but in the meantime, I wish you all a very happy holiday season. And please do not follow my lead with regard to surgery, ever!

BudleyBare, I wish you a speedy recovery from your recent surgery. I am still waiting to recieve word of my back procedure. I had hoped they (the surgeons) would have interviened sooner than they did. My injury was in April of '05 and they have tried everything but surgery to correct the problem with no relief. Now they realise that some sort of procedure is the only thing that is going to help. If they had done this sooner I would have been in better physical shape to under go surgery (I've gained too much weight from lack of exercise and medications for them to perform surgery), not that I'm looking forward to it.

But there is a procedure they are willing to do and it is minimal invasive (it still will require 6 months of healing time) and should give me a 50/50 chance of returning to a normal life.

I'm glad to hear your doctors got right on the problem to fix your back. As you might guess, it's tough living with the pain every day. Again I wish you the best in your recovery and happy holidays to you.

As previously mentioned, I have been planning a trip to Antarctica. Given everything that I went through during 2006, it was "iffy", but I did get a medical release yesterday to make my long-awaited trip to Antarctica. I leave tomorrow morning, should return sometime in the second half of February, will be very careful, but am packing this morning for THE TRIP.

There is a wonderful life ahead for each of us, if we choose to seize it. Be careful of the definition of the word "wonderful" as I use it here; to me it means full of wonder (or perhaps wander?), not that everything is peaches and cream.

Obviously won't be visiting the EA for a month or so. Wish you all well.

BB that sounds very exciting. I wish you a safe and enjoyable trip.

I agree that we have to create our own sense of wonder. I will be wandering more this year and the first stop is Vermont in May. I look forward to reading about your adventure and welcoming you back to the EA. You will be missed.

I hope you have a wonderful Antarctic time. I certainly look forward to your report on your trip when you return.

You will not, however, be the first Eunuch Archive member on the continent. We have had one member who was resident in one of the research stations there.

Bon voyage!

BudleyBare I hope you are having an exciting and safe time. I keep checking your thread for a new post. I look forward to having you back on the EA and hearing about your adventure.

tugon (imported) wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:48 am BudleyBare I hope you are having an exciting and safe time. I keep checking your thread for a new post. I look forward to having you back on the EA and hearing about your adventure.

Tugon, et al,

I am now back home from my trip to Antarctica, and am reading the EA board for the first time in more than a month.

One must EXPERIENCE Antarctica in order to appreciate its rugged, enticing and yet very dangerous beauty. You can read about it, listen to people talk about it, see pictures of it, etc., but those avenues simply cannot do justice to experiencing Antarctica.

I won't go into all of the details (you would be bored to tears), but there were some exceptional highlights, such as being diverted to another area to rescue some people from a Norwegian ship that had run aground, feeling the biting cold wind like I have never experienced before (and I lived in Iceland for 2 years!), smelling the penguins, capturing an image of a humpback whale as it breeched the surface, seeing up close the largest private yacht in the world (belongs to Paul Allen of Microsoft fame), talking personally with the lady doctor who wintered over in Antarctica and had to do self surgery because of her cancer, etc., etc., etc.

In sum, I visited Brazil, Argentina, Falkland Islands, Uruguay, Chile and Antarctica, and now have all seven continents on my list of visits. I have one picture that I plan to reduce in size and use as an avatar on the EA system; I was so cold that I could not smile for the picture. And speaking of pictures, I took over 1,500 images, and so you can imagine what I will be doing for foreseeable future.

WOW!!!!!! But it is good to be home again.