I found a doctor who is going to do an orchiectomy for me! Best part is he is doing it based on my recurring testicular pain and so can make my insurance cover it. I've had on again, off again, testicular pains for some years. It spiked bad last year and I saw another urologist with whom I discussed the orchiectomy. That doctor was all for doing it but she said pain wasn't enough of a reason. She would have done it as self pay but I didn't have the cash available. She gave me a older tricyclic antidepressant (amitriptyline) for the pains. It helped make them not so crippling but did not make them go away.
Fortunately today I had my history with me. CD's with sonograms done last year and several years before showing nothing wrong to cause the pains. With that this doctor was willing to do the orchi. His medical reasoning, multiple years of bilateral phantom pains, sonograms with no cause found, previous medication unable to remove pains.
This way there is no gender dysphoria or transgender billing codes involved. He left the exam room to discuss with his office manager about precertification. I was just starting to believe this was actually going to happen when the nurse came in and told me unless something happens that it is scheduled for next week Thursday. I started to cry. The nurse and I talked for like another 20 minutes.
I am still not sure this is really going to happen. So looking forward to being done with those things. :D
Big hug! Congratulations, girl! Keep us posted. :)
Hugs, Devlyn
This is wonderful news :) As I stated on another post. I hope things go smoothly without any insurance 'bumps' involved! It helps to come armed with medical knowledge, though sometimes that is enough to annoy the doc too. Second opinions are always an option thank goodness.
Wow Josie! I am so excited for you.
That is really great news and congratulations on finding a Urologist with a bit of understanding and caring. That's something I couldn't find and I saw several in two different states. My evil twins were horribly painful and miserable for 10 years, so much so I couldn't even sleep. The last Urologist I saw about the pain came into the exam room, sat down and asked what I was there for. I said a lot of pain in my testicles. He stood up, said I don't have time for this sh*t and walked out the door. He also charged my insurance over $200 for that.
I finally got'er did though after a year of counselors, three letters and two strong recommendations from my MD. The Surgeon that finally did the orchi had told me that pain was not a reason to remove them. He said if someone has a painful back you don't remove their spine. I said if you remove someone's spine what you have made is a bowl of jello. If you remove my testicles what you have made is one very happy camper. That didn't impress him though, still took three letters and nearly a year.
Quote from: Chris8080 on April 19, 2018, 08:38:19 AM
That is really great news and congratulations on finding a Urologist with a bit of understanding and caring. That's something I couldn't find and I saw several in two different states. My evil twins were horribly painful and miserable for 10 years, so much so I couldn't even sleep. The last Urologist I saw about the pain came into the exam room, sat down and asked what I was there for. I said a lot of pain in my testicles. He stood up, said I don't have time for this sh*t and walked out the door. He also charged my insurance over $200 for that.
I finally got'er did though after a year of counselors, three letters and two strong recommendations from my MD. The Surgeon that finally did the orchi had told me that pain was not a reason to remove them. He said if someone has a painful back you don't remove their spine. I said if you remove someone's spine what you have made is a bowl of jello. If you remove my testicles what you have made is one very happy camper. That didn't impress him though, still took three letters and nearly a year.
Geez that is awefull! I found 2 urologists in St. Louis who would do it based on one letter per WPATH. My issue was self pay costs. One used the OR in a major hospital and the hospitals best guess was $15k for the OR itself. One uses a surgery center and the total would have been a bit more than $3k. She also told me pain was not a medically necessary reason. She prescribed me the amitriptyline to reduce the pain. This doctor said with my previous history, since I was on hormone therapy under an endocrinologist, and also that shrinkage was extreme, that he could justify medical neccesity. He was a very direct and professional doc.
Thanks everyone. I'm just hoping nothing pops up insurance wise. Fingers crossed.
Congrats on the orchi. Great to not have to fight for what you need.
.
My insurance came through for certain. I got the call for the surgical center telling me what time I need to be there. Its actually going to happen! :D
Congrats! Welcome to the no balls club :D
Quote from: Charlie Nicki on April 24, 2018, 04:04:56 PM
Congrats! Welcome to the no balls club :D
I'll be a full member soon. ;D
Quote from: josie76 on April 24, 2018, 05:28:09 PM
I'll be a full member soon. ;D
No, an empty member with full benefits! ;D :laugh: :)
Hugs, Devlyn
Quote from: josie76 on April 24, 2018, 03:28:12 PM
My insurance came through for certain. I got the call for the surgical center telling me what time I need to be there. Its actually going to happen! :D
What date did they set up. Really happy for you, hoping it will go as smooth for you as it did for me. I had for all practical purposes no recovery time at all. Walked out of the hospital a couple of hours after surgery feeling wonderful. No pain, no bleeding, not enough swelling or bruising to bother mentioning.
If there is a downside to the orchi for me it's that I was expecting huge wonderful feelings being rid of the evil twins. Truth is though that for me it is so natural, so normal that it never enters my mind and if it does it's nothing more than the pain is gone. If it weren't for the pain they caused it would be difficult to remember that they were there.
Chris8080, I am scheduled tomorrow morning!
From what this urologist said it will take about 20 min. Also sounded like he maybe uses local anesteisia instead of general. Not sure about that though. I had a vasectomy years ago that was done with local and in a urologist's office. Should make the removal simpler I think.
I'm hoping to have the choice of local as well. I want to see those nasty things hit the tray and I'm sort of curious as well to see the size of the cyst by then.
Quote from: Donna on April 25, 2018, 10:22:21 AM
I'm hoping to have the choice of local as well. I want to see those nasty things hit the tray and I'm sort of curious as well to see the size of the cyst by then.
I chose general. I did NOT want to be awake for any of it.
That's great news, I'm pondering an Orchie, it's only fear that keeps me back.
Not even in the physical part of it, but the mental side of it and the fatigue you can have if you have two low a T level. I have felt so good throughout my transition I don't wanna throw it out of whack. I never got depressed or had mood swings, none of it.
I'm hoping it might help my boobs grow abit.
Also want to talk to the doctor about what he thinks about Progesterone, and my tiny nothings D:
Quote from: josie76 on April 25, 2018, 07:23:04 AM
Chris8080, I am scheduled tomorrow morning!
Wow, quick for sure. Wish I could say that. For me it was a couple of months from getting the surgery date to having the surgery and the wait and anticipation was painfully horrible.
I opted for a local too, I really wanted to hear the goings on. A local was fine with the surgeon but when they were about to wheel me into the operating room the doc that doesn't get paid unless he puts you under walks into the room and the local was no longer an option. Oh well they're gone and that's the important thing.
Quote from: Rachel_Christina on April 25, 2018, 01:48:02 PM
Also want to talk to the doctor about what he thinks about Progesterone, and my tiny nothings D:
I would be very interested in what your doctor says about progesterone and nipple growth and nipple sensation. I've been on HRT twice, the first time for 6 months back in the early 90's. I had read an article on progesterone and nipples and so started on both estrogen and progesterone at the same time. The second time on HRT started early 2017 and I told my doctor about that article and that I had been on progesterone, she wrote a prescription for both and have been on both ever since.
If there is anything to nipple growth and progesterone I can't really say. My own experience is that before HRT I had nothing for nipples other than small color spots, and I mean nothing. Today I'm not at all displeased with them and their progress but was it the progesterone, the estradiol or a combination of both? I'd really like to hear what your doctor says about this.
Ok, I confess, a little longer would be nice. Geez, just never satisfied huh?
Quote from: Charlie Nicki on April 25, 2018, 01:38:02 PM
I chose general. I did NOT want to be awake for any of it.
I had my carpel tunnels done with a local and an IV block. It was simple and I got up and walked out to the car and drove home.
I've had several bladder neck rescissions done with just local as well.
Quote from: Chris8080 on April 25, 2018, 08:30:24 PM
I would be very interested in what your doctor says about progesterone and nipple growth and nipple sensation. I've been on HRT twice, the first time for 6 months back in the early 90's. I had read an article on progesterone and nipples and so started on both estrogen and progesterone at the same time. The second time on HRT started early 2017 and I told my doctor about that article and that I had been on progesterone, she wrote a prescription for both and have been on both ever since.
If there is anything to nipple growth and progesterone I can't really say. My own experience is that before HRT I had nothing for nipples other than small color spots, and I mean nothing. Today I'm not at all displeased with them and their progress but was it the progesterone, the estradiol or a combination of both? I'd really like to hear what your doctor says about this.
Ok, I confess, a little longer would be nice. Geez, just never satisfied huh?
Ha Jeez I'd say he will just dodge me and avoid the convo. But I'm gonna push hard. I need to try everything to maximize my boobs before I give up on em.
Orchie could be a big advantage to breast growth too. I will mention it too
Well ladies, I'll let you know later. I should be just a bit lighter in a few hours. ;D
Good luck and best wishes. This should be the start of another amazing step for you
Goodluck!!
Good luck Josie!! [emoji173]
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Best wishes Josie!
Thanks everyone. It seemed pretty anti-climactic. Everyone at the surgical center called me by my legal name and he / him, but for today I didn't care. I'm pretty sure the ladies up front figured out quickly I am trans and were all super nice. The nurses were nice too but I think it took them a bit longer to figure it out. lol. Walking back the nurse asked if I needed to stop at the bathroom. When I came out with my hair up in a ponytail she looked kinda shocked. She was being real nice as they double checked all my forms and took vitals. She was happy to find I was already clean shaven down below. She said she wished all patients did that. I think she finally understood when placing heart monitor electrodes and she needed to place one on my side. She pulled my gown open enough to see down to place it and again had a look of realization when she saw my boob. :D
They brought a shot with anti-anxiety meds to put in the IV. I said I wasn't having any anxiety. They were surprised how little worry I was having. Guess with a bilateral orchi they expect men to be feeling bad about getting them cut out. Little did they know lol. So they did do general anesthesia. After they started the IV I took a nap for like another hour before they came and woke me up to take me to the OR. The urologist had said it was like a 20 min procedure. After I went to sleep on the table I woke up sometime later, perhaps another hour in a recovery room with my wife sitting by me and a different nurse. Today's anesthesia meds wear off so easy. Once you wake up you come to it doesn't take very long and you are fully awake. The nurse offered me something to drink. I had a couple of cups of coffee before getting dressed to leave.
Overall very little pain or swelling so far. I think having had a vasectomy long ago makes the cord healing issue non existant so hopefully things heal quickly.
As a surgical procedure goes, it was no big deal at all. 8)
I'm happy as can be right now. :D
That's really great it went so well. You sound so chill, go you.
I'd be bricking it,even if I do want rid of em D:
Nice!! Glad it all sent smoothly
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Excellent news and glad you are feeling good about it all.
Congratulations! We made you an ice cream sundae......with no nuts! :laugh:
Hugs, Devlyn
😂😂😂😂😂 too funny Devlyn.
Congratulations ! I'm glad this went so smoothly for you.
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Quote from: Rachel_Christina on April 26, 2018, 03:34:59 PM
That's really great it went so well. You sound so chill, go you.
I'd be bricking it,even if I do want rid of em D:
Rachel it's really not that bad. Right now I'm sitting in a recliner just watching movies on Netflix. I am taking a pain med, tylanol with hydrocodone, but the pain is just around the incision. I think having the cords cut in the past is a help. I remember with the vasectomy that the ends of the cords that were stitched and burnt formed hard scar tissue inside for a while. The swelling is no bigger than before they were cut out. So far so good.
Dylvan, you are too funny! :D
For me the thought of never having to even think about T in my body again makes me so happy!
Thanks everyone.
Well atleast it's a little inspiring for someone like me who is a real nervous reckon with things like this, to hear your story and how it went down
Recovery update:
I have not taken any pain meds since 8:00 last night. I feel only a minor irritation from the incision and stitches. A bit more if I bump the bandage. I won't be crossing my legs for a few days. :D I keep reminding myself not to, the hard way. lol.
I can say for certain that recovery from the vasectomy years ago was much worse. There was a great deal of swelling in the testes themselves back then. It took several days of frozen vegetables used as ice packs for that to go away. Way better recovery this time for certain. ;)
That's great news Josie, I'm really happy for you. Yep, the meds they use these days to knock you out are far better than just a few years ago. Wake up feeling fine, no groggy or anything, what's not to love? I hope your recovery continues as much of a non issue as mine was. Keep us posted, curious minds want to know.
Congrats!!
Congratulations Josie! I'm glad to hear it went well.
I moved around too much today. A little more swelling and a bit of pain extending up the inguinal canal a bit. Taking a prescription pain pill tonight. Didn't take one all day until now.
I'd say you still have to take it chill alright, think it feels all fine and dandy and you want to go wandering,but probably best staying pretty stationary. I wouldn't risk it too much now
Quote from: Donna on April 25, 2018, 10:22:21 AM
I'm hoping to have the choice of local as well. I want to see those nasty things hit the tray and I'm sort of curious as well to see the size of the cyst by then.
You would NOT want to go with local. There's a human reaction of fainting due to the surgeon pulling on those vas deferens so that he gets as much as possible. I think the fainting is called vasovagal syncope. Your blood pressure drops off severely (as does heart rate) and it's quite a problem for your anesthesiologist. My surgeon won't even take the patient risk messing with a local. He did give me the choice of doing a spinal; with me understanding that vasovagal syncope can occur during spinal and that he'd have to go general at that time since the surgery was already in process. The spinal was painless; and they had me take valium before I reached the hospital (5mg) and they gave me 10 mg once I got to my room and got undressed. I remember them sitting me up for the spinal; and then I blinked and when my eyes were done blinking I was in recovery 3 hours later. They did end up having to stick a tube down my throat because my snoring had them worried about it triggering my paroxismal atrial fibrillation. Spinal was fine if you are afraid of general; which I was. I always had an unreasonable fear of not waking up. Somehow I could come to terms with spinal.
Thanks, I do the vasovagal very well already. Once I came to flat on my back legs being held up in the air by nurses and the crash cart beside me. Don't want that twice.
Unfortunately due to a lower spinal cord injury they won't do a spinal block. I have no issue with general. I had carpal tunnel done with local iv block and loved it. I'll see what the surgeon says and go with that