Preparing for Orchiectomy on Saturday! Advice please!

[l0nghairdontcare]

So I am scheduled to have a bi lateral orchiectomy on Saturday. This all seems to be going so quickly but I know this is the right thing to do and the healthiest for my mind and body. So it is unconventional since it is out of state and a doctor that does not require a letter. I will not be listing him here until I speak with him about it first, but if he gives me the OK I will surely provide his name and practice to any other girls who need it.

So anyways, I am not telling my Endo until after it is done since my therapist and him follow the SOC and I was refused a letter until at least October, if even then. Of course this is MY body that is going through this medical change in gender and it is MY decision to take a healthier option to constant Lupron injections which have TERRIBLE LIFE DISABLING side effects.

So with that said, I need advice for this whole process.

Firstly my regimen is as follows :
October 14th 2013 -
Lupron Depot 3 Month
Avodart (Dutasteride)
Elestrin Gel

I am 21 years old and I have no clotting issues or other health issues to speak of, I was also tested for a genetic clotting disorder that came out negative.

I want to know what do you think I should do about my Estrgoen? How long should I stop it before or after surgery? *I KNOW THIS IS A HARD ANSWER TO GIVE BECAUSE EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT BUT I WANT TO BE GIVEN AN EDUCATED/ GENERAL/ FROM EXPERIENCE IDEA*

Also I would like to know what the surgery process is like from prep to recovery. How well were you able to walk and such? I am staying from the 10th, having surgery on the 11th and leaving on the 13th by plane. I will have to walk and lug luggage around and be on 2 different planes after surgery. I will not be given general anesthesia which SCARES ME TO DEATH! But I will be given local. Has anyone had it done with Local and not General anesthesia? I have never had surgery before so I dont know what to expect.

I really just want anyones experience as well, the recovery and everthing, changes afterwards, just anything.

ninja admin edit: dosage

[Jamie D]

We have had several members who received orchiectomies.  As I recall, it is usually done under a local, rather than general anesthesia.  So are most vasectomies!

We have several topics on the SRS board.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

I took my E as usual and didn't worry about it. The recovery was a piece of cake. I just took it extra easy and lifted nothing over a pound. I had people do my grocery runs for me so I wouldn't lift anything heavy and accidentally pull a stitch. I bought a few bags of frozen peas and used them instead of ice packs.

I was healed up within 5 to 6 weeks. As far as the surgery was concerned, I had them knock me out when they did the ole snip-snip. The Hydrocodones they gave me sucked so I didn't even bother taking them. I just went with it until I was completely healed. The scrotum will shrink like a frightened turtle. I've heard that you can stretch it or something for GRS later but that was never an option for me, which is why I had the orchi in the first place.

[Vicky]

Check with the surgeon as to what HE wants as far as stopping medications or changing them before surgery and after, every one of the GCS surgeons has their own protocol, and I'll bet dollars to donuts that urologists do too.  Medicine has a reason for still being referred to as an art!! 

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Check with the surgeon as to what HE wants as far as stopping medications or changing them before surgery and after, every one of the GCS surgeons has their own protocol, and I'll bet dollars to donuts that urologists do too.  Medicine has a reason for still being referred to as an art!!

I called mine the day before and they told me that it was fine.

[l0nghairdontcare]

Thanks for the replies girls

He already had told me to discuss medications with my endo, who I am not telling about the surgery until after. I am afraid if I tell him that he will threaten a cease of treatment since my therapist refused to write a letter at this time. I was going to tell him but I decided after buying the tickets it was not worth the risk and I cannot afford to lose $800 in plane tickets right now.

Plus I am having a hair loss issue and I want to cut my DHT down as much as I can. This will halve it so afterwards only 2.5% DHT will be produced instead of 5% and I will be taking Avodart daily to block that which will hopefully halt my hairloss and hopefully reverse the thinning.

So I do not know what I am going to do. I was thinking of maybe not taking E the day of and the day after and then maybe taking half a dose the following 2 days and then going back to full dose after that. I will have to call my endo the day of or after to be sure.

*sigh* if I didn't notice the hair loss I would have waited, but I cannot afford to lose my hair, and I hope this will stop it.

[Flan]

Just stick with their instructions regarding pre/post op care. The worst part of the local anesthesia is the first needle jab. Don't let the smell  of burning flesh alarm you.

Pain post op is worst for about 48 hours and tapers off after that (a gel cold pack is good for inflammation reduction). The amount of time you'll want (thin) pads to mop up spotting (of blood) depends on how fast your incision heals and if you need to get stitches removed after 10 days.