Circumcision info plz: Hi I’m getting... - Men's Health Forum

Men's Health Forum

35,995 members4,640 posts

Circumcision info plz

austinmair profile image
82 Replies

Hi I’m getting circumcised after the summer because of pinhole phimosis (tight foreskin)

I just need some info on how to prepare for surgery and how to deal with it after the surgery. And i have diabetes so I don’t know if that will change anything. The thing I’m scared of is IV’s and needles and being gassed/put to sleep

I would like info plz :/

Written by
austinmair profile image
austinmair
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
82 Replies
austinmair profile image
austinmair

Plz help

in reply toaustinmair

Austin, I'm replying to you three separate times now not because I want to be annoying but because I can feel you're very nervous as I was before the surgery. Take a few deep breaths my man, it'll get better. If you have any questions do ask them, I will try to help you. It's gonna be okay. Trust me.

austinmair profile image
austinmair

Is there any tips to tell the doctor so my penis looks nice when it fully heals

in reply toaustinmair

I think the best is to ask your doctor how the procedure is done and let him reassure you about your questions. The best way for a good result is to follow the doctor's instructions on care and how to prevent infections.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Alright thanks

in reply toaustinmair

No problem. I was just as nervous as you before the surgery. I was afraid I was making the wrong choice and was wondering how it would heal. To be honest, one week has gone and I'm not sure how it's gonna heal or if I'm gonna regret it but it's better than having very tight phimosis. It caused me a lot of trouble.

Has your phimosis affected you negatively up until now?

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

I’ve had some trouble with phimosis ever time I urinate it swells up around the size of a grape around the tip/mid section and used to cause a burning sensation but has stopped and would circumcision improve my ‘aiming’?

in reply toaustinmair

I can't tell you that but I will tell you of my experience. Because I had such tight foreskin before pissing in the Mornings standing up was always a mess. I usually had two or three streams, one forward but one was always dripping downwards so I often got my pants wet.

After the surgery the first three days were a mess. It got everywhere. Forget about two streams! This was a water sprinkler. But this was because of swelling. As the swelling has gone down I'm happy to report I only have one stream. It is however like a water cannon. I don't know if this will stop but I think before the foreskin prevented full "speed" but now it's like really hard forward. I'm still learning to control the motion so I'm doing it in the bath tub these two first weeks but at least I'm not gonna piss my pants in the future from the down-ward drip.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

I think the “full blast” will always be there because my dad is circumcised has been for 42 years(phimosis) and he always has the “ full blast”

in reply toaustinmair

Oh okay. It's not really a big problem as I can empty my bladder faster!

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Hahah yeah helpful if you don’t want to miss out at the movies lol

in reply toaustinmair

If only I could get to the cinemas.. I should warn you as you have pinhole phimosis, hypersensitivity is the main obstacle. Your head has never seen the wild. It's gonna be a hard first few weeks.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Oof yeh how do I handle sensitivity? Is it Vaseline??

in reply toaustinmair

Vaseline is gonna be your best friend. The routine for every toilet visit is to clean the penis (water is enough), dab it dry with something clean or let it air dry depending on how sensitive you are and then put a bit of vaseline on everywhere. Sensitivity will die down naturally with time but you can accelerate it by wearing more and more uncomfortable clothes as the days pass. My goal is to wear my normal clothes by day 14 and then just bite through it if I still have issues. Currently I wear boxers somewhere in between tight (most comfortable) and what I would normally wear (very loose).

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Yeah on my op day I’m planning on wearing my joggers which are a bit big for me which will be perfect and do you recommend keeping the frenulum or removing it? Just curious

in reply toaustinmair

Keep it unless necessary to remove it. There is a lot of sensation there and it will be needed after the foreskin is gone. You will appreciate it when you have sex later.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Ok thanks

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply toaustinmair

Is it normal for my phimosis to swell when I piss

in reply toaustinmair

Yes exceptionally tight foreskin will do that. Pinhole phimosis in other words which is what you have. This will stop after surgery.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Alright thanks speak to you later

in reply toaustinmair

Cheers

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Bye

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif in reply toaustinmair

The worst type of circumcision removes all of the inner foreskin, putting the scar right next to the groove. That removes all of the several thousands of erogenous nerves which shaft skin doesn’t have. A better style perserves as much inner foreskin as possible, putting the scar 1/2 way down the shaft. Unfortunately, in all conventional circumcisions, the frenar band is severed. It’s the cause of the tightness, but also the source of the greatest pleasure. Applying tension to that band solves the problem.

Hello Austin, don't worry. Your doctor will help you with your questions. You don't need to be sleeping, you can have local anesthesia which means they inject a local numbing solution into the base of the penis. This will be uncomfortable for two minutes but then you won't feel a thing.

You will receive information from your doctor about pre-care and post-care. Generally you need to keep it clean for two, three, four or perhaps five weeks until it's healed. You should not masturbate the first 3-5 weeks.

Make sure you tell your doctor about the diabetes. Tightening of the foreskin is a side effect of diabetes, is your diabetes under control? Has this helped the condition? Have you tried stretching?

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Thanks my diabetes is under control and I’ve tried creams that haven’t worked and stretching only causes rips and tears in my foreskin which is quite painful. And I spoke to my doctor and he told that circumcision is the only way

in reply toaustinmair

Okay. I'm glad to hear your diabetes is under control. I assume it's type 1? Did you tell your doctor about the insulin?

Do you have any specific concerns about the surgery?

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Yes my diabetes is type 1 and I haven’t yet told my doctor about the insulin but I am going to tell him on my next appointment. And one concern is do I have to not eat before the surgery for like 4 hours? Because that could cause low blood sugars. And during the surgery would they put a sugar drip into my IV to stop me having a low during the surgery. And is there away to stop yourself from getting an erection?

in reply toaustinmair

Okay so for local anesthesia you can't eat for a couple of hours, not too many though. It's for general anesthesia (when they put you to sleep which you don't want) you have to fast a few more hours. Sugar drip is usually not needed, I have never heard of being given it during local anesthesia.

I think mentioning the diabetes type 1 is the most important thing. Write it down and bring it to your appointment and tell him. It is the most important think you can do. The doctor will then consult the anesthesiologist (an expert in pain relief) and they will know what to do. Make sure you mention it at the surgery too so you are sure they heard it.

For erections it's gonna be hard during the nights, there's no way around it. It happens naturally. When it happens and you wake up from it there are several things you can do. You can try to curl up into the fetal position. This means lying on your side, bring your knees up to the chest. I do this and then think of something in my room. Yesterday I focused on my fan spinning. A lot of night erections are caused by an urge to pee, so make sure you stop drinking water at least 1 to 2 hours before sleeping and make sure you go to the toilet before sleeping. If you wake up and feel the need to pee, go immediately. This should relieve the erection. A lot of people also just stand up immediately and walk around the room thinking of something else. The final solution, most drastic one is to pinch your glans. Since it will be so so sensitive in the first weeks you will kill the erection immediately. I haven't tried it since I'm so sensitive still and wouldn't want to experience that.

For erections during the day you'll have to make the days pass by watching TV or something and making sure there aren't any sexy scenes in it. I look away whenever I know one is coming up. Pretty funny.

Are you from the UK?

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Thanks for the info and yes I’m from the uk I don’t think I can last 4 or 5 weeks without pleasuring lol

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply toaustinmair

And do you have to keep your penis upright and if you do how do you do that?

in reply toaustinmair

Look, this is not what your doctor is gonna tell you but from what I have seen in this forum and in others is that uh.. masturbating.. finds a way. I've seen people doing it 5 days post operation (waaay to early), 7 days, 9 days, 13, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and so on. The main concern is especially at the beginning because you can rip the stitches. I'm 7 days in and while I used to do it 1-4 times a day previously I haven't had the urge at all. I just look down on the stitched down Frankenstein and I lose the urge. I read about a guy who did at day 2, that had to be a literal bloody mess.

Anyway what I want to get at is that at roughly 2 weeks you can probably be very, very gentle just touching the bottom of the shaft and just that will cause some relief because of how long it has been. You will know when you think you are ready. Just be 100% sure the stitches won't break too early. And that your hands are clean.

Make sure you do some shopping before the surgery. Obviously food because you won't be able to move the first days because of sensitivity, but also some medical supplies. White Vaseline in a tube, buy at least 2 packages of that. Buy some gauze. Some compresses made of non-woven material. Hand desinfectant, you want to use it everytime you do anything down there.

Also as I like to warn everyone. You will need lube for masturbating after circumcision. Some doctors leave a bit of skin enough to pull forward and back but most guys need lube for the future. This is why American movies mention hand lotion all the time since they're circumcised over there. Even if you have enough skin to masturbate without lube you will find that it will be gentler with it the first few months.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Alright thanks are from the uk? And do I have to keep my penis upright and how do I keep it upright?

in reply toaustinmair

No I'm from Sweden. For the swelling the doctor will probably recommend it to keep it upright. Honestly I don't know how as I haven't done it. I read that putting it up between the band of your boxers can work. Some wrap it in gauze and tape it up to the skin. I'm maybe gonna do it in a couple of days when the sensitivity has gone down but I can't imagine doing it now and I don't have troubles with swelling.

You can combat swelling in several ways. You can ice it down there with an ice pack (wear something in between, like a layer of clothes) for 20 minutes at a time, a couple of times a day.

Something my doc showed me is buying small vials of saline solutions and chilling them in the fridge. Then get some compresses, put it around the penis and drench it in the solution. Let it be there for twenty minutes. It's honestly an awesome feeling and it feels like a spa treatment for the penis. Wish I had tried it before I got the surgery. Like a treat to my foreskin before saying goodbye.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Yeah I might send you a picture of my penis before the op and after

in reply toaustinmair

Hey, I don't know what prompted you to say that lol. But I can take a look if there is something you're wondering about.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Idk it might give you a better idea of what I’m looking at and what things I need to tackle

in reply toaustinmair

Sure mate. I'm happy to help. Do you have any more concerns? Also make sure to stock up on things to entertain you for the first two weeks. Things to eat will help but you know your diabetes best. I know I could barely eat the first few days, I don't know why I just couldn't I think it was because of the relaxant I was given so I was happy to have foods at home with high energy density.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Yeah how much scarring will there be when it’s fully healed and if I can stop scarring as much as possible how do I do it ?

in reply toaustinmair

Scarring is natural after such a procedure. I don't know enough to recommend anything. I hear some people apply Vitamin E creams or various oils. This should be thought of after initial healing is done, like 3-4 weeks after. I'm gonna think about it when I'm there. Remember the scarring will go away much slower than everything else. After 1 month you will have 90% healed, 6 months is 98% so at 6 months you will have what it will look like for the rest of your life. The final 2% can take 1-2 years and is probably minor color changes and scarring differences. Eventually it will look like you had it done as a child but for the first year or half year it can look more recent.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Ok thanks I’m going to go off now I’ll speak to you tomorrow or later if I have anymore questions hope we stay in touch bye

in reply toaustinmair

Okay man, I hope I calmed you down a bit. Any questions, any time, feel free to ask. I wish I had someone to talk to before I got mine, I found this forum a day or two after I got the operation.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Yeah bye

Chris3108 profile image
Chris3108

Hi mate I had mine 13 days ago it’s been hard but on the up, mate I’m the same as you I worry about anything, but I used Emla cream which is numbing cream which you can get from chemist pharmacy, or freeze spray works literally they put the canular in and literally put a dose of something which makes you go dizzy and then the anesetic and literally your asleep and then wake up and it’s all over ... then the recovery is what you need to keep an eye on

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply toChris3108

Yeah it’s just it’s really weird how you can just be forced to sleep like that and it’s my first time so it’s even scarier hope you heal ok and I’m the meantime I’m going to say bye to my foreskin

Chris3108 profile image
Chris3108 in reply toaustinmair

I was the same as you mate trust me, look through my post ops and that on my wall ... your be ok if I’m ok your be ok coz your be exactly

Like me aha , you from UK ?

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply toChris3108

Yeh I’m from uk

in reply toChris3108

Hiya Chris the something they put in that makes you go dizzy is fentanyl they put that in just before the anesthetic. ment to be a pain medication

Chris3108 profile image
Chris3108 in reply to

That’s the one ahaha didn’t remember the name hope all is well mate

Anon20 profile image
Anon20

Hwhhffhyyf gave you the best advice!:) me and him are on the exact same day post surgery so I basically agree with what he’s saying haha

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply toAnon20

Haha yeah I’m just nervous about night erections how gas can just force you to sleep and washing myself

Anon20 profile image
Anon20 in reply toaustinmair

Honestly night erections are awful, but they’re much better now even just a week on, so it’s only a week you have to deal with it, just try and distract yourself when you do get erect!

And I hate needles and stuff but I dealt with it because I knew it was something I needed and I was happy to deal with an injection for the benefits, and the gas is fine! Within 5 seconds it’s done haha

Washing yourself is scary at first, especially if sensitive which I still am, but I can wash fine now, after a few days it’s fine! Just bathe in salt water, it promotes healing and just have short baths and let the water just wash it

austinmair profile image
austinmair

Haha yeah but do you cover your penis for the first couple of days or do you go straight to nude washing??

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif

Are you open to solving your problem non-surgically? willywellbeing.com

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply tojimfromcalif

I’ve tried stretching and cream but don’t work

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif in reply toaustinmair

It will always work when done correctly.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply tojimfromcalif

Well the doctor says circumcision is the only option

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif in reply toaustinmair

No surprise. He’s also quite aware of the process of mitosis and how it is employed successly for breast reconstruction and skin grafting, thus making him a liar.

in reply tojimfromcalif

Sorry, but that is a very misleading comment and quite frankly it is just untrue. All the research suggests that although the success rates for treatment of phimosis with the use of topical corticosteroids and stretching is around 80%, none of the subjects were adults. This also means in approx 20% of subjects, it is unsuccessful.

There is literally no robust research in to the most successful way of treating phimosis in adults, all conclusions are drawn from paediatric populations. This is a problem as it is very difficult for clinicians to tell beforehand whether the phimosis they are treating is physiological (i.e. normal adhesion of the foreskin to the glans in children) or pathological (i.e. caused by some other pathological process). Physiological phimosis is much more likely to respond to conservative non-surgical management as there is no scar tissue/pathological processes involved.

Also, most studies are of very small populations which reduces the validity of the results in itself. There is one meta-analysis, but once again it uses paediatric populations in comparing steroid treatment with placebo.

Phimosis in adults is almost always pathological, therefore non-surgical treatments work less often.

I agree that non-surgical interventions should definitely be tried first, but you are just downright wrong when you claim stretching always works to treat phimosis. It does not always work, and telling someone that it does “when done properly”, who is really anxious about an impending circumcision (and has already tried other methods), is irresponsible and unfair. Anecdotal accounts on Internet forums do not count as evidence of the efficacy of treatments.

I’m happy to discuss any of the points I have raised.

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif in reply to

You are wrong. The body is controlled by the laws of nature which dictate that tissue under tension will grow. Anyone not getting results from stretching is doing something wrong or has a disease which must be brought under control first.

in reply tojimfromcalif

Citation needed Jimfromcalif. Show me some robust evidence to back up that statement and I’ll consider it. Otherwise, I’m comfortable to use the current research (or lack thereof in an adult population) in order to come to a conclusion. Which I have already pointed out to you.

As I said, anecdotal stories from guys on Internet forums does not equal evidence.

Regardless of what you are determined to believe, I stand by my assertion that your pushing of an agenda is unhelpful to people that have tried all methods and are having to undergo a surgical procedure to correct a medical issue.

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif in reply to

You’re full of bovine excrement. My firsthand experince of 30 years backs up my claim. You have a questionable survey. I really don’t care if you believe or not, for I’m confident in method which work.

in reply tojimfromcalif

I was wondering when you would resort to personal insults. I find it’s usually when someone feels as though their beliefs are being threatened, but they don’t understand how to defend them using a logical, evidence based approach.

I would be interested to read the research you have published during your 30 years of personal experience in to the area of non-surgical treatment of adult phimosis, can you point me in the right direction?

I’m not sure what you mean about a “questionable survey”? If you are referring to the research that currently exists in to non-surgical treatment of adult phimosis, then I would agree that it is questionable/non-existant.

I don’t think there is much point in arguing this point as you are satisfied with your own anecdotal evidence and I’m more interested in actual scientific data and results. That’s not how scientific debate works, plus the burden of proof is on you as you made the initial claim. I haven’t seen your robust scientific proof, so I’ll assume you don’t have any.

Nice chatting.

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif in reply to

Was your calling me a liar not meant to be insulting? Whatever you seek is embedded in theses treads.

in reply tojimfromcalif

Show me where I called you a liar?

I’m not sure what you mean by embedded in treads.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Plz stop fighting

in reply toaustinmair

It’s not fighting bro, it’s debating an issue. I was actually trying to defend you and your decision.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply to

Oh alright thanks

austinmair profile image
austinmair

So I think surgery is the only option

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif

If your mind is closed, you are right.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply tojimfromcalif

I’m going with the surgery

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply toaustinmair

Stretching just ripped the skin

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif in reply toaustinmair

If you had proper advice, you would have been told to treat your skin condition before stretching. Diabetics often are afflicted with yeast infections. The yeast causes the skin to be more fragile. The doctor would know that.

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif in reply toaustinmair

phimosisjourney.wordpress.com/

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply tojimfromcalif

There’s no point showing me stretching stuff I’m doing the surgery 100%

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif in reply toaustinmair

It’s your penis. It’s also a loss for a lifetime. Right after its done and healed, you’ll brag about having made a good decision. After a few years, as keritinization takes its toll, come back for a progress report. Good luck.

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply tojimfromcalif

Thanks for the luck but don’t that kind of weight on me please I understand that your just explaining things I will inform you lot about the surgery.

jimfromcalif profile image
jimfromcalif in reply toaustinmair

My intention is that you have full disclosure. Circumcision removes a highly complex inervated structure which gives a unique pleasure which cut men can’t understand. I recommend that you di more investigation before going ahead. norm.org. noharmm.org.

doctorsopposingcircumcision...

austinmair profile image
austinmair in reply tojimfromcalif

Ok thank you for your info. I will probably still have the op but I will do some research.

Take care.

austinmair profile image
austinmair

I’m going with circumcision

timmyboy20 profile image
timmyboy20 in reply toaustinmair

I think it's the best decision. I did it too a few years ago at 17 and I'm very glad I did it. It's one of the best decisions I made.

austinmair profile image
austinmair

Could you not use this chat for arguments please. Message each other Privately if you wish to continue arguing.

Thank you.

SteamingRampage profile image
SteamingRampage

Its gonna suck for the first 4-5 days, but it does get better. I was wearing clothes by the first day and after I removed the dressing, I got a womans pad, rubbed petroleum jelly on it, and just slip it on some tight underwear, and Im good to go. Expect bleeding, and burning piss but just keep it clean and prevent infection and you will be ok.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Circumcision

I’ve recently got circumcised probably about 5 days again, I get the odd pain here and there but it...

Circumcision Experiences

Hii, I'm 18 years old and next tuesday (april 10th) i'm getting circumcised for medical reasons....
Dylan_C profile image

Circumcision

Hi guys I’m 25 and been told I need to have a circumcision due to tight foreskin I had my pre op...
Steve93 profile image

Circumcision recovery

Hey guys I got circumcised 6 days ago and the bandaged dropped after two days. I feel a lot of pain...
Jalal123 profile image

Partial/loose Circumcision

So I’m just over 4weeks post partial circ, can’t really seem to find anything online about a...
IB1990 profile image

Moderation team

See all
Norwich1 profile image
Norwich1Moderator
jimpollard profile image
jimpollardPartner
mpntod profile image
mpntodPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.