[ ARC forum 2 ]

Starting steroid treatment

Written by Val at 22 Nov 2002 03:11:45:

Hi, I'm sorry if I am asking you to repeat things that may already be in the forum archive but it's not so easy to find the specific info I'm looking for.
Basically I have a minor case of phimosis: i can retract my foreskin albeit with a little discomfort when soft but not when erect. After reading some advice on this forum I've asked my doctor to prescribe me some steroids and she prescribed me some hydrocortisone. When I mentioned that more people seemed to be using betamethasone, she insisted on hydrocortisone saying "why make things more complicated when they can be simple". I'm not too sure what she meant. Anyway, I have a couple of questions and I was hoping some of you coud give me some advice.

1. On the leaflet that comes with the cream it reads: do not use the cream on the ano-genital region. I dismissed this advice and used the cream anyway as the doctor seemed to think it was ok and I've also read hydrocortisone was mentioned somewhere on this forum. I hope I am right in my assumption.

2. How long does it normally take for the first results to be noticeable?

3. How should the stretching exercise be performed exactly? I normally try to retract the foreskin and as there seems to be a ring of skin that's a little harder and tight, i apply the cream specifically there and keep the foreskin retracted for some time, generally about a minute. Is this OK or is it not enough? I do this 3 times a day, although I must admit sometimes I only do it twice. I've been doing this for about a week now.

Thank you for any advice you can give.
Val


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