[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Pete at 05 Jun 2003 11:29:05: Re: OK, Practicalities
As an answer to: Re: OK, Practicalities written by Ivan at 03 Jun 2003 18:55:57:
>>At 46, I'd really appreciate your help on taking some action soonish on phimosis:
>>a) If I go for stretching, any new techniques or creams or advice on keeping
>>the wide opening once achieved?
>>b) If I go for dorsal slit, is there anyone out there who's had it done, any
>>good experienced surgeons, any special techniques I should be aware of? Are the
>>French doctors better, more experienced?
>>c) Recently got new girlfriend - how to break news that the sex might be
>>limited i.e. explain current problem?
>>Thanks so much,
>>Pete
>This sounds like a new development. If so, it is probably due to an infection, most likely yeast. Try not washing with soap (just rinse throughly with water - soap kills the natural microbes that keep the yeasts in check), use a genital antifungal (Lotrimin in the States, I don't know what you've got there, but whatever they sell for women's yeast infections), and try regular stretching, perhaps with the assistance of betamethasone. It's still the best combination of safety and effectiveness. If you get the infection cleared up, the phimosis won't recur.
NO ITS NOT an infection, I've had it all my life - couldn't retract at 13, could have been caused by bubble-baths when small child but always had it.
Sorry this wasn't clear.
>As for dorsal slit, you really shouldn't need it if you clear up the cause and then stretch. AJ has had it done, and would love to tell you about it *ad nauseum* or you can visit his webaite (check out links under his name). I personally don't care which you do, but if you don't take care of the underlying cause you are almost certain to have continuing problems, so I'd suggest you address your needs in the proper order.
>It doesn't much matter what country you go to - dorsal slit is not so common that you can say any nation's doctors necessarily have experience with it. You have to check on the individual surgeon's experience.
>As for your girlfriend, if she learns that you probably have a yeast infection, she'll probably require a clean bill of health before you go delving anyway. It's kind of unfair, not because you may have caught it from her, but because you both almost certainly have a small population of yeast in your knickers anyway - it just needs a chance to multiply to cause an infection. We are all almost always 'infected,' as almost all of ius are with chicken pox - it's just not usually active.
>Good luck. Write back soon.
As stated no yeast - but plenty of embarassment when starting. Cheers.