I am scheduled for surgical castration in Philly in May. That's fine, but on my next regular visit to my local urologist how do I explain the missing testicles. Is there some plausable medical explanation that would allow me to save face, and not feel imtimidated about going to my next visit. Need help here.

smoothie36 (imported) wrote: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:17 pm I am scheduled for surgical castration in Philly in May. That's fine, but on my next regular visit to my local urologist how do I explain the missing testicles. Is there some plausable medical explanation that would allow me to save face, and not feel imtimidated about going to my next visit. Need help here.

How about forthrightly and honestly? How about something like this: "I have / had a need, and after considerable thought, introspection, counsel, and trial experience with chemical castration (You have, haven't you?), I decided to proceed. This (XXXXX) is how I wish to handle this. I need you to do (XXXXX)." Very matter of fact approach, dont let him get away with condemnation - just tell him what is and what shall be. Then, if s/he is an asshole, fire them, and find another uro.

The good sister has it absolutely right. Be straight and up-front about it. It's your choice. It's your body. You hire him to help you maintain it. If he's upset, find someone else....

If your regular uro/GP can't deal with it, fire 'em.

They work for YOU, not vice versa.

Maybe tell them you have what I've been dealing with for years. I have some kind of infection in my testicles and prostate that causes a lot of pain. I beat it back with long-term antifungal and sulfa drug treatments that go for about 4 months. But the infection just receeds into my testicles and lies dormant. After a few months it comes back.

Tell them that, as a last ditch resort, you found a physician to remove "the problem" and now the infection has not come back.

I have not lost my testicles but I've had pain for years. I have either a yeast infection or a bacterial infection that I just can't get rid of.

DocT

Thanks for the input. If I went throught the "fire him" process and had the same problem with the next one, where would it stop?

Maybe I could start with a new one and tell him the balls went a while back for some medical reason I can not recall.

Tell it like it is may work too. Oh, what to do?

If you don't want the truthfull direct aproach, you could always say you were assaulted while on vacation in mexico and the testicles were too damaged to be saved. Or and ATV accident while riding sand dunes in Baja?

Good luck with your procedure and much happiness with the results!

My testicle were put out of commission with a burdizzo

When I went to my female GP she examined me and never said a thing..just stuck the fingers where the always do and had me cough.My GP never examined my testicles anyway and totally ignored my penis.All the years I have gone to doctors I have never really been examined.

The only thing that got the doctors attention was my testosterone test dropped to 25 instead of being the normal 300 and above.

I got called up and was told to make an appointment with a urologist.

I chose my own urologist went on the internet and found the one I wanted on a ts page.

He was my urologist for 12 years...he never said a word and did a thorough exam and said he would put me on t patches. I asked him If I needed my testicles anymore and if I didn't could he remove them.He said he takes testicles off mostly ts patients and most doctors do not remove testicles..most would not remove testicles that dont work...it is just not done.

He said he was not most doctors and removed my testicles in his office a week later.After the testicles were out he examined them and saw they were atrophied and not much more than empty shells.He cut one in half and the centers were basically gone.

He retired 2 years ago

I found me a female urologist the only one in the area

The only comment I got from her was she wanted to examine my scrotum for scar tissue which she did.

Its been 2 years and she called last month and insisted I show up for a checkup the 12 of February.

If your urologist gives you problems find a different one.I know female doctors are scared to death of touching male genitalia.At least the 5 doctors I have seen .I had my last full exam 3 weeks ago...the a practitioner do the exam ...I told her I was having a problem with my penis...she told me she would need to do more investigation into it and left it at that.Good thing I go to a urologist or I would be in trouble.

I don't get my moneys worth at the GP>S office.

after a while of dealing with doctors ....I dont embarrass anymore...you just learn to push them around instead of them pushing me.

If they don't like it ...tough

Be honest tell them the facts and if they have a problem seek another doctor. Any good doctor will be confidential about your condition and do their best to help keep you healthy. If you find one that is troubled by your situation you have to get another. And don't make up stuff it confuses what little data they have and ruins any trust in the doctor patient relationship.

Where does it end? At last a question I know! It ends with a fine doctor who you can talk to about anything. Anything less is a waste of your time and energy. I've had some very poor to awful doctors, one excellent one and a few that I think are "ok" I think the one you see the most is the most important one to be able to talk to.

I know saying this is probably difficult to believe but being a "castrate" is not that huge a deal. Doctors in general are looking at health and not having testicles is not such a big deal. At least not like having one lung or no liver etc. You either treat with HRT or do Calcium and maybe some Antidepressants while the patient gets used to his condition. Think of Hysterectomy for women. Very similar I think. Its a female "castration" and not the end of the world. Men just don't have them as often thats all. And there is this stigma of Eunuchs singing in the choir etc...

And women doctors are not all weirded out about male genitals. At least mine is not. But a lot of men really are weirded out about being examined so I think they opt to do as little of that as needed until you prove to not be ready to jump out a window when they do it

This is just me but I prefer Female Doctors. Ok - I'm jaded because I have a good one and some of the worst bozo type doctors were all male. I have had good male Doctors as well. My surgeon was male and he was ok for example.

Being honest with your doctor is all well and good, but if you have insurance, it may not be as simple as it looks. This is because most insurance plans decline coverage for any elective treatment (including an elective castration), as well as any consequences that arise from the elective treatment (such as the need for T replacement, and perhaps even the conditions that come from castration like osteo). Since there is a chance I may be getting insurance before too long and may need to face this same issue with a new doctor, I have been wondering about this in the context of insurance issues. I am going to start a separate thread to discuss the insurance side of this.