[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Dave at 11 Mar 2001 17:18:37: Re: Thanks
As an answer to: Thanks written by Phimosis sufferer at 07 Mar 2001 05:08:14:
>I remember at the age of around 14 or 15 I developed a urinary tract infection that made urination extremely painful. After this, I was no longer able to retract my foreskin - I had developed what I now realise to be phimosis thanks to the various literature I have found recently on websites such as this. I am now 27, and have lived with the problem ever since. My mother took me to the doctor at the time to treat the infection, who said that I would need to stretch my foreskin to try and rectify the problem. No amount of stretching has been successful - I can still only reveal about a 10mm diameter portion of the glans when erect.
>I have been too afraid and shy to visit the doctor for a full examination and cure. I have also tended to reject girlfriends as I have been afraid of getting intimate due to my problem. However I have never experienced any pain during masturbation and quite likely won't during intercourse - it is just the psychological factor of not being normal that causes the most distress. I am certain that I will continue to be sexually inactive as long as my problem persists.
>At least now, thanks to reading this forum and it's associated websites, I know that there are many more men in my situation and I am not so hesitant in visiting a urologist once and for all. I have read about the betamethasone treatment and would be willing to trial it. I really do not fancy the prospect of circumcision or any other surgical procedures which involve scalpels. I actually feel some relief in knowing that my problem even has a name! I hope to post another "thank you" message once my problem has been fixed and I'm enjoying life again.Glad to see that you are looking at the cures available and taking steps to find a permanent solution for your phimosis. It does help to give it a name and have knowledge about your condition.
Number 1 thing to remember is that you are normal. Your condition has / is causing you psychological problems, but at the end of the day you are a normal 27 year old man with a tight foreskin that you are going to get fixed.
Number 2 is to take your time. You have waited a long time, so what is another couple of months to decide what you are going to do about something that is so large in your mind and make the right decision. Doctors can help or hinder, but be sure that you want to change things. The scalpel is scary, as can hospitals and clinics, but consider what you want, how badly you want it and what you will have to do to get there.
Which is the more agonising ? To continue hiding the part of you that is sexual and wonder what you are missing or to perhaps have surgery on your foreskin - whether circumcision or slit. Please don't be afraid of the cure.
Good Luck.