I have been on HRT for nearly 10 months now. The new SOC says that the requirements for an orchiectomy are a psych write off and 12 months HRT. I would like to know who I can look for to do the orchi. Also, what is the usual recovery time for the procedure? Any other details would be great.

Do you want to insist on a hospital or outpatient?  That will help narrow it down a lot.

My endo was going to get me in to see someone local, but it was going to be around twice as much as I paid Dr Arnkoff.  Personally I think he was very professional and he was very helpful with his surgical letter wording.

As far as recovery, it isn't a big deal at all.  Don't over do it or you will be sorry.  Once the cords swell try not to bend ways that squish them because it will hurt and delay the swelling reduction.  I rapidly walked from gate to gate in both Detroit and Atlanta 2 days afterward and then drove myself home.  Total and complete healing took me 7 weeks or so, but it stopped oozing very quickly (1-2 weeks at most).

I don't care, anybody with a tool that will do it for under 3 grand will do. What kind of professional will do it? I think my endo wants to look for a doctor for me, she asked me if I prefer male or female. But maybe I should be sorting it out and trying to find 1 myself too.

Quote from: Jeneva on April 04, 2012, 07:46:09 PM
So final costs are going to be:
2300 - Dr Arnkoff's fee
305 - Delta (I HATE flying into Charlotte)
37 - Alamo compact
120 - Marriott  (Southfield)

$2770 + food and gas + airport parking at TRI

I wouldn't be doing this if I could afford GCS soon, but for under $3k I will at least be able to change my federal gender markers.  I MAY be able to change my drivers license (even if they don't like my letter I wonder if I can show my corrected passport).  And I can stop taking Spiro and maybe even Finasteride.

And if you talk to him and explain your situation, he may not require letters.  My endo did ask me to remove them when I was able, but I actually am only on month 10ish in my RLT.  I'm still doing the RLT therapy visits even after my orchi because I DO want full surgery when I'm able to afford it, but the orchi has helped tons.  I'm about to drop out of IT after 21 years (6 for BS and MS and 15 work), and if I hadn't had a orchi I'd be way more worried about the huge income drop and when I could manage to have GCS once I start back to college (5 year MS/PhD/internship in Psych).

Thank you SO much for the info I'll definitely keep it in mind!! Did you have to go off of HRT at all?

No HRT stoppage, just had to stop aspirin (which I just take as a preventative - not even prescribed).

His website is http://www.myorchie.com/

BTW I don't know if you noticed, but if you click on my quote header in my last post, it takes you to the full thread I made to document the decision process and the after results.

I read your thread.... were you able to get your gender marker changed? Louisiana has a similar law which requires "surgery to alter the sexual characteristics" for gender marker change. They aren't specific as to what that is either...

I've got a F on my drivers license and a F on a 10 year permanent passport (not the restricted 2 year they will grant before surgery).  TN is the only state that will NEVER amend my birth certificate by law (Ohio doesn't by court policy, but we have a LAW against it specifically).

I've not made it over to the SSA place because they have odd hours and it can't out me since they stopped no match letters.  I almost stopped today after my breast/underarm laser session and dropping off name change paperwork at the university I went to 15 years ago so I can reapply in the correct name, but didn't have the surgery letter.

The drivers license was a HUGE relief because I hated getting carded and having to show the M (not that I drink much, but still...).

The gender marker on my license isn't a HUGE deal to me because it's in an obscure place on our ID.  But I do want it changed so when I'm filling out paperwork I can legally put F instead. Plus until I show that I had the gender marker change, my schools policy is not *obligated* to refer to me as female, the staff is only going along if they choose to (respect me). But... to those that do not want to, they're embarassing me in front of clients who see me as female, and I hate that.

I want to switch schools but I'd end up losing 250+ clinical hours.

Had mine done locally, by Dr. Nguyen in Portland, for $1500.  Change SSA to female, along with drivers license.  Still need to do birth cert.  But that takes a court order.  Not super worried about that one.

Took a week to be back to normal.