Had to go see a new MD yesterday, an Ophthalmologist for an eye issue. Most of the physician offices I've been in and around the last six or seven years since I had my Orchie, just used the old handwritten forms for histories asking about past surgeries, meds and such. While the first time I wrote down "Bi-lateral Orchiectomy" prior to a CT scan, I was way nervous about possible questions. Since then I've always written it down and have only been asked about the specifics once. In November, I filled one out for the GI clinic and my handwriting isn't that great so when the lady came into enter the information into the computer, she couldn't read that and asked me what it was since all she could actually read was the "Bi-lateral" part. She made several guesses before she asked me and when I said "Orchiectomy", she quickly went back to the computer screen and did not say anything else to me.

Well the Ophthalmologist's office had those little notepad type computers they all seem to use now where it asks you questions and you just touch the screen when the appropriate answer shows up. When I got to the "what surgeries have you had" section, I checked the Cardiac Cath Lab procedure, the Craniotomy and very near the bottom of the list "Testicles removed" showed up.

I quite willingly checked it as well and couldn't help thinking that while I'm positive they were not wondering if it was voluntary, at least the possibility that someone has had his Testicles removed, has become common enough to list as a possible surgery on medical history software.

I just thought it was an interesting development...

We shall see I have an appointment with my Ophthalmologist on July 18th. But keep in mind that an Orchiectomy is not that uncommon. It's just that they are not a surgery that has a stigmata of shame or being embarrassed about attached to it so much now a days imho. I am using my own Dad as an example. He had one done around 1962 or so. He never talked about it and I have no idea why. I suspect it was the same reason as mine. The only reason I even knew he had one was I accidently saw him nude and noticed his ack was dangling empty. I asked why does daddy look funny there. The answer I got was he had his testes removed. I asked again way later in life trying to at least have a partial family medical history for my own knowledge and was told point blank we not going to discuss this ever.

I make sure my own kids and grand kids have an up to date history just incase for their own health.