Persuading the reluctant urologist

[mesuras (imported)]

I'm very eager to have a double orchiectomy and scrotomectomy. For medical reasons I want it done as an outpatient within a hospital in case there is a sudden complication.

I have approached a number of surgeons, complaining of testicular pain, deformed testicles, and spontaneous emasculation that has been occuring for a number of years as the result of age, disease, and medications, that have made my penis useless for everything, including peeing (it's usually withdrawn into the scrotal folds and I struggle to get it out far enough to shoot over the edge of the toilet bowl). My scrotum dangles low and gets in the way of a lot of crap and other annoyances.

At the same time, late in life, I am slowly being feminized, in behavior, in mind, and in body, from the medications and the aging. I live as a woman 98% of the time. I could qualify for a half-way SRS. I have the shrink who'll testify to my sanity and sense of reality.

I'm trying to be persuasive but it's not working on urologists. I'd like to hear from anyone who's been able to get a surgical procedure. I've tried claiming fear of cancer but only the real thing may possibly work. Testicuular ancer or severe traumatic injury seem to be the only reasons that will persuade a cautious urologist.

Has anyone here been able to pursuade a reluctant surgeon? What was your winning line? Has anyone been able to safely "modify" his scrotum or testicles to the point where a surgeon felt sufficiently justified to proceed with the procedure?

Meanwhile, I'm doing my best to get my balls to self destruct (crushing, twisting, banding) while being careful not to add some possible irreversible trauma to my body. I'd appreciate all suggestions, onlist or offlist.

Thanks for your help. When I'm smooth down there I'll post again and tell you what worked for me.

[gandalf (imported)]

Hi, I went through two urologists. The first one laid all my pain on prostatitis and after heavy med for infection and vioxxfor 30 days, he pronounced me cured. I asked his nurse what the vioxx was for and she said "pain in your testicles". I told her they still hurt and walked out. A year and a half later I went to the second one. After 7 months of tests and various things, he tried nocavaine in my right one because it was the one hurting the most that day. It did not stop the pain, so he was undecided until I told him that myinsurance does cover hormone replacement. I had already checked and mine did. So he reluctantly agreed as long as I could get hrt to keep from developing osteo. He didn't really like it but he did it. If I had been younger, he porbably would not have done it. He would not remove the scrotum, though. Still hoping to get rid of it.

[mrt (imported)]

Hi Welcome to the Zoo:

I think your going about this the wrong way. Your profile says your interested in transition. Even if your not interested in full SRS you should (My opinion) approach this that way. This is a well understood acceptable medical procedure assuming you speak to a Surgeon who does this.

I would sit down with my GP talk to him/her about how you currently life (99% female) and ask for a referal to a clinic that does this. Then I would be specific about your desire for Orchiectomy asap. I think with a couple of letters from some mental health folks that simply say you not a "nut" and that you would profit from surgery / hormone treatment you would be on your way.

If you desire for transition is just a fetish talking to these mental health folks might be of value to help you sort that out. And for gosh sakes do not harm yourself! This is a red flag that will (I think) make it harder for you to get the treatment you want.

And on that note - I would not attempt to make up symptoms and try to "trick" a surgeon into doing this. Not when there is a straightforward way to get it done for the reason you state in your profile.

[Hash (imported)]

mesuras,

If you were born in 1930 as your profile states, that could be one of your problems. As a senior citizen, your doctor might have questions about your mental state of mind and your ability to deal with an operation as stressful as castration. However, as you state, your balls must not be producing much testosterone, but that's not uncommon in a senior citizen. If your date of birth is not 1930, I'd suggest finding a female urologist. They are most often more sympathetic and understanding. If you can't find a female urologist who lives close to you, try Dr. Kimmel. He'll castrate you just for the asking. Hash

[jlc9292 (imported)]

Mesuras,

Reading your post paralleled my experience with testicular pain, scrotal problems, and a desire to have the problem removed. Your situation seems much more severe than mine was but I was successful in getting a urological surgeon to give me a bilateral Orchiectomy as a resolution to the problem. Briefly my situation was that my pituitary gland was not producing any LH (lutinizing hormone) or FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) so there was no or very little production of testosterone in the testes. In addition I was having mild pain from testicular swelling on occasion and the testes were atrophying with time. The epididymis was hard and swollen most of the time due to a long-term vasectomy and “blow outs” as a result. There were mild varicose problems in the blood supply. None of the conditions were life threatening but did reduce quality of life. That is how I approached the Dr. Additionally, I was on HRT, had been for a couple of years, and had no expectation of ever getting off it. I had prepared an open letter to doctors explaining my problem and why I thought the Orchiectomy was the best solution. After three visits and a series of tests the doctor finally ask me what I thought the best solution was. I told him that removal of the testes and as much of the cord as he could remove was what I thought the best solution. He agreed and three days later I was operated on in a surgery center. I was 59 yrs old at the time.

I believe that most doctors are scared of lawsuits more than anything else. Urologists also would rather fix problems than remove offending organs. That said, you have to develop a partnership with the urologist and he has to feel confident you are capable of making good and rational decisions and that you are fully informed as to the medical implications. The more educated you are the better regarding the procedure and the results you expect. You are probably going to be more successful with a Dr. that operates by himself/herself in their clinic. Peer pressure from partners in a practice combined with fear of lawsuit generally makes it difficult for one in a partnership although my Dr. had several partners in the practice. He did get a hard time from them tho after the surgery.

I hope this is helpful. I would be glad to communicate with you more if you wish. Feel free to Private Mail me. Good Luck.

[A-1 (imported)]

Maybe one could get an attorney to draw up papers of a "hold Harmless" nature that would absolve a physician performing such a procedure of any possible future legal action.

Maybe this might help convince them that they could not get into a legal hassle for doing the procedure...

...might be worth a try to at least mention it to a reluctant physician...

[BossTamsin (imported)]

The trouble is with the current legal system. I'm not sure there's a wording in existence which would prevent someone from mounting a case based on mental illness, or some such argument based on their judgement being impaired at the time. I can guarantee they'd have their pick of lawyers, and no problems finding a pshrink willing to testify to their impaired state. Unfortunately.

[DonFL (imported)]

that's why when i was going to do it though the "system" i had collected letters from my psychologist and Psychiatrist, and my General Practitioner. I just landed on a coupple of really a-hole doctors and got a side-show Bob at the end, well i wont get into that here.

[mrt (imported)]

that's why when i was going to do it though the "system" i had collected letters from my psychologist and Psychiatrist, and my General Practitioner. I just landed on a coupple of really a-hole doctors and got a side-show Bob at the end, well i wont get into that here.

I think in general terms all of us are going to bounce into a Doctor (or two) who is a twit. The best advice is to smile, get up, go find a new one. You do not want anyone cutting on you that is not 100% in tune with you and there is no reason to need to accept having a half assed Doctor work on you for any medical problem.

[DonFL (imported)]

well i was going about it properly but when these doctors do what they do to us and then mix in a bad depression spiral, it is a bad thing. just noticed walmart has female hormones in their women's health section for 4$ but men's health doesnt even make it on their list. We get the short end of the stick when it comes to health-care... I agree, i finally found a doctor who would have done it in the system, but a bit after the fact..