[ ARC forum 2 ]

Re: UPDATE..on surgery

Written by Mom at 13 Sep 2000 05:27:52:

As an answer to: Re: Son 18...surgery tomorrow....HELP!!! written by R J Knight at 12 Sep 2000 23:21:09:

>It's good to hear your son is somewhat more confident about his prospects. I hope everything goes well and he's soon happily over the whole problem. If I could talk to him personally I would try to reassure him that this is the right course of action and, once everything's healed, he will be able to forget the entire incident and turn his attention to getting on with a normal life. Again, best wishes! RJK.
>>>>Although you don't say so, I assume the surgery you are referring to is circumcision. If that is indeed the case, there is no reason whatever for your son to be terrified. Circumcision beyond infancy no particular picnic, but in the hands of a competent practitioner it heals within 2 or 3 weeks--is totally over with within a month--and puts an end to any foreskin problems such as those you describe. The penis is sore for a few days, but pain can be controlled with ordinary drugs (even aspirin or Tylenol after the first few hours) and the total elimination of phimosis and retraction problems is ample justification for the surgery in the eyes of most men who've undergone it. Also, enjoyment of sexual activity will not be reduced significantly, judging from the experience of most circumcised men. Some 90 million males in the United States have been circumcised (most as infants, of course), and most appear totally content with their condition. It seems foolish to advocate routine circumcision of all men and boys, but when a chronic conditxion has not yielded to other efforts to control it, this procedure serves a wholly useful purpose. I hope everything goes well with the boy, and he soon realizes that being terrified isn't necessary. Best wishes, RJK.
>>>>Please.....are we doing the right thing???? Our son, 18, has had problems retracting since the day he was born. The first step was to have the foreskin "ripped" a small amount. Then at the age of 14, he had a dorsal slit. Now...at 18....he is scheduled for surgery tomorrow...Sept.12. He is terrified.....and quite frankly...so am I. Is there anything else he can try first??? What can we expect regarding post surgery care. He's asking me questions and I don't know the answers. PLEASE HELP !!!
>>>So sorry....yes he is having a circumcision done. Do you think that the cream I've been reading about in this forum, betamethasome...would be worth trying? I do have a call into our physician, but have not as yet heard from him. All I do know is that if this surgery can be avoided....this is what our son would prefer. Of course....he more simply wants to "get it fixed"....one way or another..thanks!
>>I would Like to thank you, RJK,...and this forum. Our Doctor has called back and our son WILL have his surgery tomorrow. The Doc says there is too much scarring and he has no choice...but to circumsize. I am grateful that there is a place for people to go...concerning this issue.....and it was certainly encouraging to know that there are others with the same problem. Our son was feeling like "the odd man out"....and this site has made him much more confident. Thanks again to you all!!!
I thought it may help others in the same boat as our son...so I'm pleased to let you all know that the surgery went really well. He has some pain....but as RJK said....easily controlled with Tylenol. There is a fair bit of swelling but we expect that to go down within a few days. Thank you all again....and keep smiling!

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