Adult Phimosis - My Story…
So there I was, sat with my operating gown on, rear end on display making my way to the obligatory wheelchair to whisk me off to the operating theatre. My ‘procedure’ as they like to call it - adult circumision at 42 years old (what was I doing !!!) .As this was such a major milestone in my life I thought I should document my story to partly educate other adult males (or concerned partners) who will recognise the symptons but may not know what causes it or what it is called or how to fix it.
Let me point out from the outset, I am just a regular family guy - I am not writing this in any medical capacity whatsoever. These are just my personal experiences and my opinions which you can read lightheartedley for guidance or carry on go back to Google. I think the easiest way to outline this story is to mix it with a chronological timeline and common questions I asked myself which I have sought and found the answers to.
So, born with a healthy uncircumcised penis, everything worked as it should have done throughout early teenage life even though on reflection now, I already had a young tight foreskin- so, happy days as I knew no different. As I got older into my late teens, I began to notice a gradual increase in pain after normal sex with a tight foreskin - the effects were ‘chapping’ on the foreskin rim which was definately starting to become tight. I thought nothing of this and ignored it for a couple of years, I did eventually have to ask myself the question
‘why is my foreskin tight and ripped’? The result of the constant ripping led to open wounds which then led to light scarring around the top - ouch - time to seek out help.
It got to such a point at aged 19 that I had to seek medical advice and was reffered to a specialist. After further inspection I opted for what I now understand to technically be cosmetic surgery. The outcome turned out to be a ‘dorsal slit’ which was the removal a v shape piece of of skin on the top of the foreskin. In essence this ‘relaxed’ the pressure of the tightness and opened up the internal diameter.
One drawback of this procedure was the location of the stitches which were affected by urinating for several weeks. Believe me when I say this is very very painful, an agonising sting like you have never known! One thing you also become aware of is the 3am erections you have absolutely no control over which places enormous pressure on the healing stitches. You wake up fearing that something is going to split!
Additionally with the dorsal slit came a partial removal of the frenulum which lies beneath the glans which as you may know is highly sensitive. The key factor for this was increased free moevment of the foreskin without limitations.Throughout my twenties I got married and enjoyed normal mens health, everything working fine and on all cylinders so happy days again ! As I entered my thirties trouble was afoot. As much as I tried to ignore it I was slowly experiencing the same symptoms from 10 years previous.
This time aged 32 armed with a dorsal slit (sometimes reffred to as a semi circumsion), I was starting to get stretch marks after sex which gradually turned into open wounds, very much like fine paper cuts.
A quick google search revealed that I suffered from adult phimosis. Fearing that one day I might have to undergo phimosis treatment I soldiered on as long as possible to avoid it and went into classic denial mode. I should have been in ‘treating phimosis mode’ and saved myself alot of pain and aggravation.
This time round however the effects on the foreskin were much more obvious. These mutliple cuts caused by years of over stretching a tightening foreskin, eventually turned into scar tissue. The scar tissue eventually turned into a white ring on about 30% of the foreskin and as the years went by slowly turned into 70%.
As with all scar tissue you lose skin elasticity which means that your already tight skin becomes even tighter thereby taking you into ever decreasing circles with only one way out.
As I turned 40, still in denial, thinking one day it would sort itself out, I started to face upto the facts. At this point I even struggled peeling back the foreskin when the penis was flacid. With an erection, well, there was now no vertical movement possible at all so when undertaking any sexual activity there was limited sensation.
One last measure I took was to purchase a foreskin expander. These come in two main packages, one in a reverse scissor motion constructed from metal, the other a rubber balloon you could insert into the rim of the foreskin and pump ! Nice idea but no success for me…
Time to face the music and go see a specialist again.
As I lay on the couch, it takes just one experienced look and a knowing nod from the consultant and adult phimosis is promtly diagnosed with the resulting cure - I needed circumcising! News I dreaded to hear but at the same time relief in knowing my personal little problem could be fixed.
So, 2 months later and a day in hospital I find my self at home. Strict instructions to rest for the first week and to take time off work. As I look down to urinate for the first time, I see my pride of joy looking like something out of a Frankenstein movie. All swollen and bruised with stitches this time around the whole shaft. I gritted my teeth and began to pee only this time no pain whatsoever as the stitches were well away from the tip.
Once again, baggy pants were the order of the day and I just knew at 3am every morning over the next few weeks it would remind me that it was still there albeit a little lighter of skin.
Three months on I have to say for me it was the best thing I did and wish I had the circumcision first time around. Personally if you read this and it rings some major bells with you and your condition, go and do something about it. Dont suffer in interim agony like I did because it really isnt that bad once you are through the other end….