Orchi and depression

[Maggie Kay]

I am scheduled for an orchi on Friday and my spouse says she has researched transsexual sites who say that I can expect to be depressed and lethargic for years afterwards. She is really against me doing this procedure but is going to help me with recovery. However, with a week to go she comes up with this chestnut. She likes to view me as mentally ill or depressed and has come up with several diagnoses for me in the past to explain my emotional state. She tried to get my therapists to go along with her diagnosis too. I had four of them and they all say I am trans.
Now, I have been on these forums for a long time and I have not read that this happens. So I am asking the folks here if depression and lethargy are a certainty after an orchi? A bit of background, I have been on HRT for upwards of seven years and have considerably atrophied parts. I think that they are not producing much Testosterone so even if there is a change, it will be negligible.

Your thoughts?

Maggie

[Maggie Kay]

Wow, 120 views and no responses. I guess this topic is not well known. OK, no info is no info. Thanks for reading.

[AllieSF]

Hi Maggie,

I have no info on this. However, it seems that if you have already thought seriously about this and have talked with doctors and therapists, you should really just call them and ask. They should know about the results, especially the Therapists who deal with the before and after emotional issues.

If you have any doubt at all, just postpone the surgery until you are sure. If they are already shriveled up and non-functioning as you say, waiting won't change anything and may even avoid a potential future issues. Good luck.

[Shelly Preston]

Maggie

You should maybe have done a little more searching

http://www.answers.com/orchiectomy?gwp=11&ver=2.0.1.458&method=3

This link has a comment on depression but there must be more

[Maggie Kay]

Thanks, I am not having second thoughts only to find what she was referring to. I felt that she was really trying to get me to stop but I have no intention of doing this even if she is right. However, I don't think she is. I know that going under can cause depression but I am doing a local.

I did get a lot of information on another trans site. It seems that she is exaggerating.

[Jenna1561]

While it's not clinical results, I know 3 girls who have had an orchiectomy. None ever expressed a bout of depression associated with the orchi. I know it's a possibility, but I'm still planning on one, hopefully this year. My friends have said it was one of the best things they've done and would do it again.


Jenna

[JennMW]

The girls at Trans-Ponder had some podcasts about their experience.

http://trans-ponder.com/transponderblog/?s=Orchi should find them.

[gagirl1]

Wow, 120 views and no responses. I guess this topic is not well known. OK, no info is no info. Thanks for reading.

sorry, wanted to chime in but was also curious myself and didn't want to give misinformation

[Rachel E]

I had my Orchie on the 30th of Octobrt last year and i have not experienced any depression as of yet. Altho i do have hot flashes and they only last a couple of minutes each time and happen several times a day. My Dr said that haveing an Orchie you decrease you chances of getting prostate cancer. You will be suseptible to having weaker bones later on and may have to take a calcium tablet a day to help keep stronger bones.
Best of luck and i do not miss those dangly things.
Rachel E, Spokane Wa:)

[helenr]

Please contact Teresa Amina who recently went to Phila for her orchi. She says she is very content. I am sure she would be glad to visit with you and your concerns.I am surprised she didn't spot your post as she frequents the serious side of Crossdressers.com .
I know that you-and I if I get the opportunity for an orchi-curious where you are getting yours?- have our special reasons (transgenderism) but so many 'normal' males endure prostate cancer, all sorts of related problems, when a simple castration (orchi if you prefer) would eliminate a host of problems and they would live longer and be happier. There is a book I read about Castration I bought on Amazon-Victor something wrote it expressing a zillion good healtn reasons to have an orchi. Good luck! Helen

[Mean Green Irene]

I had my orchi Dec 3 just over a year ago. I had been on HRT for over two years at that time.
I found that the orchi lifted much of my depression and imeadiately gave me a feeling of peace. That is still true a year later.
On a side note (I am sure results will vary) even now a year later, with Viagra or Cialis I have been able to have an erection and satisfy my wife. I even enjoy it. Yes the equipment shrunk under HRT and also after the Orchi, it still works.
I had Dr Marci Bowers perform my surgery. I had plenty of pain but I am absolutly certain that it was the right thing to do for me.

Irene

[Maggie Kay]

Thanks all, I really appreciate the feedback. I have been talking to the Trans-ponder gals. I know them personally. I'm going to the same surgeon. Dr.Andrew Epstein of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Palo Alto CA. The facility is spotless, modern and professional. I have complete confidence in the medical side of things.
My question was to get as many experiences of transwomen who have undergone the procedure so I can refute the fear mongering by my spouse. I found her bringing up depression and also bed wetting for that matter, one week before I go in for surgery to be downright cruel. I have to depend on her to drive me to the surgery center so I tolerate this but once I am recovered, things will be different.

[Rachel E]

When i had mine done it was in at 8:00 am and out by no later than 1:00 pm and beingt over 65 yrs old Medi-Care paid for it,
i had to go back to see the Dr after 15 days ans all was OK and i have one more apt on the last of this month. No problems like i said in my earlier post and i wish you all the best. Tell your wife that all's well that will end well. My wife was very much for it if that is what i wanted to do. No we do not hace sex as i have not had an erection for the last 15 rys or so. Yes she is comfortable with my CD'ing an has known about it since we met 3 yrs back. It waas one of the first thing i shared with her and gave her the chance to back out if it was a problem, she told me that it was a part of me, so she stuck around and we got married.
Love to all
Rachel E, Spokane Wa:)

[Maggie Kay]

It is over finally. The surgery under local anesthesia was about as uncomfortable as getting a root canal.The worst part for me was that I came down with a cough the day before that I thought was a stress reaction. I thought it would go away but the night but the night before I was not allowed food or water or even a lozenge. That turned a tickle into a rip roaring sore throat and nagging cough. I was sure my surgeon would talk about canceling so I repressed coughing as much as possible. In surgery, I was OK and didn't cough until the end. The procedure took just under an hour and after a 20 minute period in recovery, I was walked to my van.
Walking was no problem and I had two hours before the anesthetic wore off. I lay down on the bench seat just so I could sleep and woke up at home 90 minutes later. Cheryl was really helpful in spite of her earlier opposition. She has set me up in her room so I am near the bathroom. She is doing a wonderful thing for me to be so supportive. She serves me my meals in bed. She sits with me while I watch/doze in front of the TV playing DVD's. Very nice.
The cough turned into a bad chest cold which is the most uncomfortable thing about this event. It keeps me from resting but on the other hand it kept my mind off the fear I had before surgery and focused my thoughts on battling it.
I do have an aching down there and took vicadin the first night. I took it more to repress my cough than the pain. Now, two mornings later, I have less pain and the cold is getting better. After the first three vicadins, I switched to tylenol. I think I would not have been bedridden if it were not for the cold. I had a bad case if bronchitis many years ago and ever since coughs REALLY bother me. I haven't had a cold in decades but have had two since Chrismas. I think it was stress induced.
I did have a massive night sweat last night, probably from the drop in my T levels. I feel positive and in good spirits.
Oh, on the wound thing and pain, I have no bleeding or oozing. The pain is like I got kicked in the groin a while ago, not the agonizing pain just the after ache. Mostly that is when I walk. Going to the bathroom is not a problem but I was constipated for two days from the no food and vicadin. That resolved painlessly although I think it would have been very painful yesterday.
I have no bandage, just some gause and a medical grade jock strap. This does not allow me to determine how much change there is down there. The Doctor said it will take some weeks for the cords to go back to normal size. I have absorbing stitches that do not need to be removed.
One neat thing, I epilated most of my hair down there and have for years. The surgeon didn't have me shaved! Funny thing is that for almost a decade while I did this, I wondered if I could avoid that discomfort. I have been hoping for an orchi for ten years.
I know that this is more than most ever wanted to hear about the Orchi but I would have really benefited from this level of detail.

BTW, My proof copy of my novel came yesterday which was a huge up for me.

AND I am not Depressed!

[Mean Green Irene]

Hi Maggie
I'm glad it went well, mine did also. Fortunitly I did not have a cold or cough and was able to feel the change in T levels. I still feel great and do not regret the surgery at all. I may never have the chance to go to a full SRS but I am very happy for the Orchi. I had mine in doctor Bowers office and walked to the car afterwards. I took vicodin for a couple of days and walked rather carefully. I went to work after the third day.

I too wanted an Orchi for many years. Enjoy it.

Irene

[Maggie Kay]

I'm doing worse with the cold than the recovery. One thing I noticed is I wake up in a soaking sweat almost every time I sleep or doze. The nurse said that it is probably from the loss of T but I am to check in two weeks when I see the Dr. again.

[Julogden]

Hi Maggie,

I've never heard of this, but interestingly, in 1997, I had one testicle removed due to it being undescended. My doctors assured me that it was non-functional, but ever since, I've had no energy, been depressed worse than usual, to the point of often being almost non-functional, and have gained a ton of weight. I'm now wondering if the orchi surgery is at least partially to blame.

Carol

[Mean Green Irene]

After my Orchi I did not have night sweats just some times that I felt hot when others weren't. From my wifes description it was just normal female hot flashes.

[Schatten Lupus]

I'm sure if you have a competent therapist and surgeon, they would have warned you of any such side effects.

[Maggie Kay]

Today, I took my first shower and Cheryl washed/dried my hair. That was a huge up in that I was getting kinda gamy. It must have been really hard for her too because she hasn't seen me naked for some time and I got boobs. After it was over, she left for work as I am that well off. I can sit and type but not much else. She wants me to email her every hour unless I am sleeping.

I stopped having night sweats. I tracked them to eating rich desserts late in the evening and then going to sleep with a down comforter that was so insulating that I basically cooked myself. So last night I went without the comforter and had not problems other than this nasty cough that won't let me sleep. The Dr.'s office said that it might be triggered by the dropping T levels. I have had them in the past when I changed my estrogen does.

One thing that I found really interesting is that when I look at myself in the mirror, I see all woman now and I like what I see. I had some of this when I went full time but there is something different now about me. A different aura. It is a rush and yet feels totally natural.

[Anna the Dub]

Never spotted this thread or I would have commented. I had an orchi years and years ago, and have been on HRT at the same time. I do not suffer from depression (and in fact haven't since the time I was first diagnosed as ts and started treatment), my energy levels are not noticeably or significantly lower than they were before the orchi and I do not, for one second, regret having it done.

[gerdani8]

When i had mine done it was in at 8:00 am and out by no later than 1:00 pm and beingt over 65 yrs old Medi-Care paid for it,
i had to go back to see the Dr after 15 days ans all was OK and i have one more apt on the last of this month. No problems like i said in my earlier post and i wish you all the best. Tell your wife that all's well that will end well. My wife was very much for it if that is what i wanted to do. No we do not hace sex as i have not had an erection for the last 15 rys or so. Yes she is comfortable with my CD'ing an has known about it since we met 3 yrs back. It waas one of the first thing i shared with her and gave her the chance to back out if it was a problem, she told me that it was a part of me, so she stuck around and we got married.
Love to all
Rachel E, Spokane Wa:)

Wow Rachel. Medicare paid for your orchi? That is fantastic and gives me something to look forward to when I turn 65 in less than three years. I will certainly keep that in mind. Did you have to give a "medical" reason for this surgery? Or did you make arrangements with the surgeon and have the bill submitted to Medicare? I do some reading of the boards at "Eunuch Archive", and they do talk about side effects there.
Gerri

[Rachel E]

I am 76 yrs old and had my Orchie last Oct 30th. It was done as I was having trouble with one of my testies and the other one when felt, it did not change in size or even hurt when squeezed between my thumb and a finger. When the other one hurt it was like some one had kicked me in the nuts. Since I have had them removed they have not bothered me in the least. I do get warm or hot flashes and sweat and different times during the day and night. I have not been able to obtain an erection although I was able to masterbaste with a soft penis and all I got was a clear e-jackulation in a small amount. I have not been able to get an erection or have sex with my late wife for the last 10 to 15 yrs. My wife now at the present haas complete knowledge of my CD’ing and did agree when I told her of having my testies removed. All she wanted is for me to not hurt and be comfortable.
Being well over the age of 65yrs Medi-care did foot the bill for my surgery. I also have Tri-care for life being Military retired and I also am 100% VA rated with a service connected injury.

For now… Rachel E :)

[Maggie Kay]

It has been 10 days since the operation. I am not depressed at all. I do feel an increasing sense of calm, like some background static has been stilled. Healing well, almost no discomfort now.

Maggie feels great.