[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Paul B. at 14 Feb 2003 14:11:22: Wrong category?
As an answer to: Please Help! written by Carl at 14 Feb 2003 05:39:33:
Bummer, eh?
Sounds as if you have had a rough trot.
It seems you went to the wrong doctor - a urologist - they have virtually no competence in regard to foreskins, they can only do one thing with them, which is cut them off - just imagine if eye surgeons worked that way!
So you had the wrong treatment - surgery. I mean, your foreskin becomes tight, so a doctor cuts it off. Hello! Does that make sense? As they often say here - you have a broken finger - do they cut it off? Isn't there a clue here? The normal medical approach to something that changes its nature is to make a diagnosis as to why the change is happening, and treat the cause. Sure, there are exceptions, such as cancer, but this obviously wasn't cancer and they apparently did this without even knowing what it was.
Now, what was the histopathology report on the foreskin when they removed it? Did they tell you? Did they do it? I'll bet they thought it was "not necessary". Where else does a doctor cut out a diseased part of the body, and not send it for full examination?
So, now the condition has come back. Presumably, it's LSA of the penis (Lichen Sclerosis et Atrophicus, in the past called "BXO" which I won't grace with an explanation). So the first "attempt" at treating this appears to be ineffective, at least beyond the short term. No problem, presumably the "urologist" will simply do the same as last time - cut off the diseased part. And if it comes back after that - he'll just cut some more off.
I mean, it stands to reason, why would he do the one thing in the first place, and do something different later? If there was a different cure, then whatever it it was, should have been done instead of the first operation.
Tried a topical steroid? Which one? Oils ain't oils - it is important to know which one was tried. If it was the wrong one, then you wouldn't expect it to work. And I do presume you have been tested for diabetes and treated for "thrush", "on spec" with at least a topical antifungal.
It may not be stunningly obvious, but urologists are trained to treat problems in the urinary tract. It's a big ask to expect them to be competent in skin conditions, and that is what the foreskin is, as well. Some are (competent), but many are not, and a "quick and dirty" approach here does have nasty long-term consequences.
The "bottom line" is, unless you want them to cut your penis off piece by piece (and it is so described in the literature as a treatment for LSA), then don't go to surgeons, "plastic" or "solid" - go to a dermatologist who knows about this condition, and the only surgery you actually need is a (punch) biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.