Now that I am on Dr. K's schedule for this spring, I have a number of questions on how to handle the before and after process. I am trying to prepare a brief guide on the process of visiting Dr. K in Philly. I will base it on anecdotes of former patients and of my own future visit. Some parts will stress the mechanics of travel and hotel, and some on the actual procedure and the recovery process.

For example:

1. How do you make a reservation at the Best Western? How do you get the Dr. K discount?

2. Can you walk to and from the motel to get the procedure done?

3. Can you get up to eat nearby? I have been told by the doctor's assistant that I must lay in bed for at least two days, and have meals brought in. Are the hotel restaurant or others very close of reasonable quality?

4. Do you have to ice the incision continuously? The assistant said I must put ice on the empty sac for two days also.

5. How long before you can move around locally and then travel home?

6. Are the stitches dissolvable or must be removed.

7. Is there a drain?

8. Are 6 and 7 different with two procedures at the same time?

9. Is the office sterile and professional?

I will refine these questions and incorporate all the information I have before reposting in this thread.

Any further input you have will be appreciated.

Are there are any Philly area eunuchs or friends of eunuchs who would care to look in on me post op? If so plese e-mail me direct.

Thanks,

Smoothie

I'll take a stab at this, I know Murray and his operation pretty well.

smoothie36 (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:58 am 1. How do you make a reservation at the Best Western?

Call 215-568-8300

How do you get the Dr. K discount?

Just let them know you are his patient (you do not have to give them any details).

smoothie36 (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:58 am 2. Can you walk to and from the motel to get the procedure done?

Yes.

3. Can you get up to eat nearby? I have been told by the doctor's assistant that I must lay in bed for at least two days, and have meals brought in. Are the hotel restaurant or others very close of reasonable quality?

Hotel service is OK, or order in from many many restaurants in the area (there are tons of good restaurants in Philly and you MUST have cheese steak while there anyway). Do as Dr. Kimmel, Mary and his staff instruct for best recovery. Don't be tempted to do too much for a few days, take it easy.

smoothie36 (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:58 am 4. Do you have to ice the incision continuously? The assistant said I must put ice on the empty sac for two days also.

As needed for swelling and such. 2 days sounds about right.

smoothie36 (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:58 am 5. How long before you can move around locally and then travel home?

About three days I'd say. Again follow instructions (don't go out right after the procedure traveling around Philly in a car like Dr. Spector used to do with patients ).

smoothie36 (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:58 am 6. Are the stitches dissolvable or must be removed.

Sometimes either, depends upon the individual patient and if it is scrotal removal or not. Scrotal removal almost certainly would not be dissolving.

7. Is there a drain?

Again, sometimes depending on the individual. It usually comes out in 24 hours if needed.

smoothie36 (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:58 am 8. Are 6 and 7 different with two procedures at the same time?

Clarify please????

smoothie36 (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:58 am 9. Is the office sterile and professional?

Yes. Although some have said not, I did not find there to be any problem with the office or surgery. Infection is always a risk in ANY surgery, even at hospitals. We recently had a rash of staph infections at a local hospital here. It's life, there are no guarantees. But I would say it is safe (my opinion only).

Good luck.

Jeff

1. Call the number given above (I assume it's correct). I did not take advantage of the discount myself, although from what I hear you just mention his name and you get it. You can also make reservations online (which is what I did), but you probably can't get the discount that way.

2. I walked there, and I could have walked back if not for my post-op complication. People who have no complications can walk back, although whether they should is another question. Cabs are available if you like, and I'd recommend it if you can.

3. You could, but you definitely should not. I stayed in bed for the several days following the procedure that I was in Philly. Fortunately I met someone while at Kimmel's who took care of me. Otherwise you will either need to have food in your room in advance or get it delivered. I'm not sure exactly where most of my food was bought, so I can't give the specific locations, although I thought the food was fine. I missed out on having a cheesesteak

4. Two days sounds good. After that as needed should work.

5. A few days, give or take depending on you and your health. Just take it as easy as possible, and you should be OK. Do any sightseeing before your surgery. I stayed probably longer than I needed to at 5 days. Most seem to stay about 2, and 2 is all Kimmel asks.

6. Just like everything else with Kimmel, it seems to be something different for everyone. Although I had castration only, mine were not dissolvable, which caused me huge headaches trying to get them removed because a local urologist almost refused to remove them since he did not approve of the surgery. They probably aren't too difficult to remove yourself if you had to.

7. Same as 6. I did not get one, and one probably would have helped me.

8. I only had one procedure, so I don't know about 2. Asking Kimmel would be your best bet.

9. I'd say so, although I developed a local infection even though I followed all directions and took all meds. But it is a risk with any surgery, even with meds and a clean office.

note on the stiches, just go to a "doc in a box" and tell them you were told to remove stiches placed by a specialist in another state, but are uncomfortable doing it yourself. They normally dont have any problem doing so. Have Dr Kimmel write on an RX pad page the instructions and date to remove the stiches, this smooths the works of the system.

if you dont want a pro to remove them, here is my least painfull way to remove them:

Do NOT take aspirin, fish oil, or any blood thinner within 48 hours of removal unless your absolutely have to due to heart conditions.

Order EMLA (35$) (if you dont want any pain, the pain is minor but im a wimp), and a disposable surgical instrument pack (10$ online.) Get alcohol wipes at local pharmacy store (5$ for 100) and a few surgical absorbent pads or gauze ($0.59 each at CVS).

a mirror is handy.

Rub area down with EMLA. this will burn for a moment lightly and then totally numb the area. The scrotum numbs VERY fast with EMLA.

Wipe away the EMLA after your totally numb with the alcohol wipes. wipe down the entire scrotum while your at it.

Using the scissors in the kit, cut each stitch near the skin on one side of the knot.

Using the hemostats in the kit, pull the knotted side and the stitch will slide out with little to no pain since you used the EMLA. Repeat for all the others.

wipe down with alcohol and I also recommend betadine solution also. Cover area with a surgical absorbent pad to absorb any leaking blood till it clots.

Plan C: Ask him to use absorbable stiches.

all done!

Notes:

EMLA: $26.49 + S&H

http://www.canpharm.com/index.cfm/fusea ... &ovtac=PPC

CURITY Instrument Set, comes with gause too. $6.35 + S&H

http://www.amazon.com/CURITY-Instrument ... 643&sr=8-1

none of this is to be taken as medical advice or diagnosis and im not a doctor who is licensed to practice on humans and only a certified veterinary surgical tech in the state of texas.