Penis Page 2

PENIS JOURNALS
Adult circumcision for medical reasons ... a case study.

Part Two: Waiting for Kaiser
So here's how it went (mostly excerpted from LiveJournal posts):

June 14, 2002:

On the plus side...

It was a very efficient process. I talked to the doctor for less than a minute.

So: Earlier this week I called Kaiser, explained my problem, got an appointment. Today I went to Kaiser, paid them $15, sat down in the waiting room. Nurse called me in, took my stats, asked me my problem. I mentioned the tight foreskin (which should have been in the records by now, right?), she said, without looking up, "where?"

Pause. Blank stare. She blushed, "Oh, sorry."

So I go wait for Dr. Zahn in her office. At this point I learn that she is a she. If *I* were sending someone to have his peepee examined, I'd have mentioned that fact. It's okay with me, but a lot of men would be uncomfortable. OB GYN patients get to choose the gender of their doctors, right?

Speaking of which -- as I waited in her office, I see *lots* of Gyno stuff, including stirrups on the exam table -- covered in cute flowered/quilted cozies that looked kind of like pot holders.

Eventually, in she walks, introduces herself, stammering and avoiding eye contact. She looks to be about 25, Japanese descent, is wearing open-toed sandals. She interrupts me when I talk, and interrupts herself just as much.

I explain my problem again, when she asks -- she hands me a paper and sends me away. I am given a referral to see a urologist (Couldn't they have done that on the phone???) --and must call back in three days to make an appointment.

...but at least I didn't have to wait long...

Damn, I wasted all that adrenaline...

And for referrence, her name rhymes with "dong", not "wang".

June 24, 2002

HMO says they have no openings for over a month. I'll see what options I have, because I REALLY want this done soon (besides, I need to be healed for 'Con!)

July 19, 2002

The saga continues. Dr. Khaw, my urologist, was MUCH better, and got lots of cool points -- but it will be ANOTHER 6 weeks (or more) before I get the operation (an office procedure).

"Call us if you haven't heard from us by, oh, mid-Spetember."

*cries*

Dr. Khaw was sensitive, understanding, informative. He neither assumed I knew everything nor that I was stupid. He asked if I was married (yes), whether I had kids (no), and STILL used gender neutral language to refer to my "partner".

He was old enough to have laugh lines that make for very sincere facial expressions, managed to be both professional and warm. I felt no embarassment with him, and I'm glad he's going to be performing the procedure. He gave me the risks, and how to minimize them, and answered some fears I didn't have. Also some I did. It's going to be an office visit, and I am certain I can talk to him about anything ("slightly morbid question: what are you going to DO with it?").

But a MINIMUM of another six weeks sucks ASS. Means no getting fixed before Burning Man (I *wanted* to be fixed by our anniversary). *sigh*

August 8, 2002
Ouch! I so did not need to read this.

August 12, 2002
Today I am a woman

Anyone who's been reading my LJ knows I have a tight foreskin -- I'm having surgery to fix that issue ... sometime next month.

Well, it's been getting worse. When I first saw the doctor about it, it was tight, but I could still retract it over an erection. When I saw a urologist TWO MONTHS LATER it had grown tighter -- to the point where it could only be retracted over a flaccid penis.

Well, now I can't even do that. Today I've decided I'm sick of wiping up sprinkles and I pee sitting down.

If this delays much longer, and if it continues to get worse at this rate, I'll be cleaning with a Q-tip by October. I'm SO tired of this.

And so ashamed at how much this is affecting my self-image.

(later)

Funny how my fetish for uncut men has waned....

October 14th, 2002
And tomorrw: THIS.

October 15th, 2002

Oh, hooray.

My body tells me I have ENOUGH Zinc and Vitamin E, thank you very much.

...

Either that or the dollar store is a bad place to buy vitamins. :/

Current Mood: Just-vomited-icky

(later)

Well, shit

Not handling it as well as I thought I was. While in the shower a thousand "what if"s came up that I hadn't even faced...

Doing okay now, I guess, if a bit puffy-eyed.

*pant pant*

Fine? Fine! Why do you ask!

(Later...)

Home again

More-or-less in one piece.

NEXT -- That's Bris, Baby!