QuoteFor myself though, I am going to have to talk to the doc about this.

Probably the best advise anyone could give.

Steph

Hi Steph:
I don't know the medical point of view, but I've heard from one friend who's had a BO that it's only appropriate if you don't plan to have SRS ever as a BO reduces the patient's estrogen prescription dosage and thus reduces the medical complications related to long term estrogen effects as well. 


tinkerbell

You better ck with the Dr. that is going to do the SRS.  Some will not if an orchi has been done.

Leigh

Quote from: tinkerbell on July 02, 2006, 02:05:26 AM
Hi Steph:
I don't know the medical point of view, but I've heard from one friend who's had a BO that it's only appropriate if you don't plan to have SRS ever as a BO reduces the patient's estrogen prescription dosage and thus reduces the medical complications related to long term estrogen effects as well. 

tinkerbell

Yes that's very true, as Leigh pointed out check with the dr who will do the surgery as once they out they're out.

Steph

Ive been considering this for a while... Due to my financial situation and health it actualy seems a good idea.

Due to all the drugs and alchahol that were in my life I may have damaged my liver (have to retest cuz last check was right after the breakup and yeah...) My Dr perscribed injectons as they dont effect the liver nearly as much as the oral medications would, and I cant afford the patch. She brought it up to me as a "reasonable" option so I skip the years of anti androgens that would be ahead.

I have no ilusions of being able to afford SRS before I turn thirty, and honestly FFS is my main priority anyways  *shrugs*

I had an orchiectomy back in the day, and yes there were advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages:

1. I was able to decrease the dosages of Estrogen I was taking.

2. The masculinizing effects of Testosterone were halted, nipped in the bud as it were There was also a resultant feminizing effect, in the skin, hips, etc.

3. Tucking became so, so, much easier.

4. No more involuntary or early morning erections thus no "sword fights" with my boyfriends.

5. The ability to "have orgasms" multiple times, in a short period of time. How, physiologically, I still don't know. I did not ejaculate though.


6. A sense of accomplishment that I was getting to my goal.


The disadvantages:

1. When I did have my GRS a few years later, my scrotal and penile tissue, had atrophied somewhat, they had shrunk. I was faced with either the sigmoid colon, or penile inversion with grafting techniques for GRS.

For a variety of reasons I went with the penile inversion with grafting. As a result I have quite adequate depth. Now, I dont boink "Long John Holmes , but if I position myself correctly, everybody is happy, not that there are a lot of "everybodys". 

What would I have done differently: I would have had the GRS sooner. And I would have played with myself more to keep the tissue from shrinking. 

What a euphoric sensation, I should explain. Two weeks ago Monday my BF surprised me with a mini vacation Northern California we had a very romantic time tried all kinds of wine and had just a great time, what was supposed to be the last day of the mini vacation my BF asked me about how I felt about an orchi if I was still interested. I told him I was but the money, he smiled and told me we were going to _____ hospital and that my orchi was already paid for I just needed to show up in the morning and that I could not eat anything after midnight. The next morning I checked in, meet the surgeon, he looked over my request supported by my therapist, (my BF had been planning this for some time) a nurse started my IV. when I woke I was in a little pain not bad kinda groggy but aware I moved the sheets to see a cath and bandages, my BF was sleeping in a chair, he woke up smiling and said well miss just one thing left. Well that was a week ago the bandages are off and the sensation of having an almost empty area is amazingly euphoric. I'm just gonna sit her on these clouds for awhile.......

I've commented on this thread back two years ago, and now things are different and I'm seriously thinking about getting a BO done. A few months ago I was talking with Dr. Harold Reed from Miami, Florida and he told me that doing it should be no problem. Just a matter of scheduling the surgery.


Thanks Peggygee. I really enjoyed reading the advantages and disadvantages of having the surgry done. But honestly, I think that the advantages does overweigh the disadvantages.

Hey Sindy! I'm really excitted for you and getting yours done. I'm sure that you were really surprised when your BF announced it to you. Really nice guy!

Gina 

I had a unilateral inguinal orchiectomy (bear with me, I'll explain) last August to cure testicular cancer, and it got me thinking. My understanding of a standard bilateral orchiectomy is that they cut open the scrotum, and that's why it can cause problems if you plan on having SRS later. But for cancer, the procedure is called "inguinal" because instead of cutting open the scrotum, they make an incision in your bikini line and push the offending testicle up through the inguinal canal (that's the place you hide it when you tuck). Then they extract the testicle through the incision. Scarring is minimal if they use glue instead of stitches--I just have a faint white line, and it's in a crease in my skin--and there's no effect on the scrotum at all. It got me wondering why orchiectomies for trans patients aren't done this way.

(Sidebar: My urologist asked me if I wanted to attend any counseling or group sessions to deal with the emotional impact of losing a testicle. I told her, "Counseling? Honey, I'm having a going-away party!")

I was just talking with Dr. Reed, and one thing that I had feared was that I would have to be on hormones before I could have the operation. He told me that it won't be necessary, so I told him that I was seeing my psychiatrist next month  which I should be able to get a letter from him and I can get a letter from my social worker and then we'll plan the surgery time. 

Gina   :

For anyone who is considering a BO, please contact your surgeon via email or telephone to get familiar with the procedure and the requirements established by the SOC (if any).  Since BO is an irreversible procedure, I'd imagine you have to have one or two letters stating you have been on therapy for an X period of time.  Actually I took the liberty to do some research and found this link on Dr. Reed.  And yes, I was right, two letters of therapy clearance are required.


tinkerbell

Quote from: RachelW on February 03, 2007, 04:28:41 PM(Sidebar: My urologist asked me if I wanted to attend any counseling or group sessions to deal with the emotional impact of losing a testicle. I told her, "Counseling? Honey, I'm having a going-away party!")

"A" testicle?  I would have asked 'em, "Gee, while you're at it . . ."

I hope the tumor is completely gone and you won't have to do radiation or chemotherapy.

hugs & smiles
helen

Thanks Tinkerbell for posting your thoughts.

I've been really thinking a lot about getting this operation done and the consequences involved. My BF complains a lot about not having an erection and so he's been talking a lot about getting some Viagra. I'd really hate to disappoint him.

But yes, I had done my research previously as well, and I knew that two letters were required for the surgery by Dr. Reed. But since I have decided against it, I won't need to discuss it with my therapists. So many decisions???

Gina

I have been thinking about this procedure myself since I know that I will never come up with the money required to pay for full SRS, plus the more I think about it the more it freaks me out (the recovery time and all that stuff). Are there any surgeons in the midwestern US that do this procedure? I tried Google but I can not seem to find anything.