[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Stef at 19 May 2005 19:41:35: A very gradual onset of pinhole phimosis due to BXO
I'm 47 and live in London, England, & have recently undergone a partial circ. I aim to submit a few separate postings on this forum describing my experiences pre & post op, and I hope they will help others get through this unpleasant & sometimes worrying operation in the same way that other peoples postings, and the answers given by the board, helped me through mine.
At age 16 I first noticed white skin patches on my glans, and about 2 years later visited what was then called a VD clinic(STD clinic) to see if I had caught a venereal disease. I hadn't, but was told I had something with an instantly forgetable long latin name! Presumably I was told I had BXO. The white skin patches continued to be present, coming & going in various places on my glans, and later my foreskin, but it wasn't until I was in my mid to late 30's that my foreskin began to get a little tight, with a loose phimosis forming. I then visited my GP, who had a special interest in dermatology, & was again diagnosed with something with a long latin name! He said that I would probably need a circ, which I said I didn't fancy, and he gave me some topical steroid cream to apply to try to stretch the tightening skin. This worked to some extent, but needed applying twice daily, which wasn't always possible, and became arduous, and I often let the applications lapse somewhat.
About 5 years ago I returned to my GP & of course got the same diagnosis. I said I still didn't fancy a circ, & was given some stronger betamethasone cream to try! I went away & did the same again! The foreskin continued to tighten, & eventually formed into a full pinhole phimosis. The problems caused by this were minimal;- There was no pain with it, urine 'sprayed' a bit, small splits occured on the foreskin at the tip during sex, which were a little sore especially when acidy urine got into them, and cleaning was awkward, but quite manageable by allowing water from the shower spray to enter between the glans & foreskin, applying soap, working that round the glans with a finger, then rinsing out. The main problem though was the BXO, which is of course a fungal skin disorder. I was keen to get rid of this BXO, it didn't look great, & my girlfriend wasn't too keen on it, especially when giving oral, understandably! So I reluctantly decided that I would need to get a circ done.
On my last visit to my GP I had got part of the name of my disorder, and had done a fair bit of research on it, & on this website & others I had found that I may be able to get a partial circ, which I thought would suit me better than a full circ. So in mid-2003, with now a full pinhole phimosis I returned again to my GP, told him that the creams had not worked for me, & said I would like to try to get a partial circ. He said he had never heard of a 'partial' circ (!!), but anyway sent off a referal for me to see a urologist at my local hospital........more later.