IPP surgical staff

[John609]

I am having anxiety over my scheduled IPP surgery. Most of it stems from PTSD over treatment I’ve had in the past with female nurses involved in previous care. My go to solution to this anxiety is avoidance of intimate medical procedures where I cannot avoid female staff taking part. Sedation just makes things worse for me when I come out of it. Has anyone ever asked for an all male surgical team? If so, did you have any success?

[Valdekio]

I doubt it. I was a little apprehensive at first going into the urologist realizing that any number of people are going to be observing my junk both male and female. I doubt you can pick and choose how that's going to work out honestly. After I get worked on I got past it.

[Thisworld]

I guess you can book various appointments with various surgeon and ask it. If you pay enough, you'll eventually find someone who agree. Knowing tho, that while you are unconscious you can't have the certainty that the deal will be respected.
If you feel confortable sharing I wuold be interested to know more about your past negative esperience

[Desperado]

PTSD sucks. I empathize. On the other hand, I’ve had so many medical people up in my junk, poking, cutting, needling…I just chucked my dignity out the window years ago.

To the OP, just do it. This too shall pass. Step out of your self, let your feet take you where you need to go. You need this done. You got this.

Cheers

[GoodWood]

Speak with your surgeon about this. The likelihood of an all male surgical team is low, but you might feel better about the situation if you feel like you have done what you can, and have been heard.

There is likely to be a minimum of 5 people in the room during the surgery. Your surgeon, his assistant, a scrub nurse (remains sterile), a circulating nurse (not sterile, is able to get supplies and document the procedure), and the anesthesia provider. But there are separate preop nurses and assistants as well as post op nurses and assistants too.

There are going to be women among them.

But if you have told your surgeon about your PTSD and the reasons behind it they may be sympathetic and take steps to make the experience easier.

Speak with him about it.

[UpNorth]

John I feel your dilemma. Many of us have them relatively similar. Mine is the opposite gender of yours. I was always uncomfortable in men’s shower etc. I hate male nurses bad. I had a rough childhood and grew up a homophobe. Gay men just scared the shit out of me terribly. I would even shake when I was propositioned.
So, like any fear that I face I have to come up with a plan to ease it or overcome it.
Drs Nurses; I just tell them what hurts or bothers me and they talk me through it. They are trained to be sympathetic.
Heights; I try not to look certain ways.
Gay Men; I overcame it, Being propositioned happens enough that even at my age it makes me feel like I’m attractive and I treat them like I would expect to be treated when I flirt with a woman and she doesn’t reciprocate. I still don’t understand the vibe that I extrude that makes someone gay think I am. I’m in small tourist town. Population 700.
Moral is, it’s okay to have your feelings, and if you discuss them to your medical team when you call them it will take a lot of tension off of you. And don’t hesitate to create a conversation with them while your being treated it may help.
This isn’t meant to offend anyone, if it does message me and I will delete it.

[easymoney]

Well don't go to my dr. for sure ..lol .. His practice is in a teaching university .. always at least 4 to 5 extra people in the room each time I go .. and since I'm a novelty since they seldom see any MPP's after 90 days he wants everyone to come see and look and feel .. it's a mind set in the end.

[rdnkbiker]

John
i felt the same way as you mostly because ED had shrunk my penis so much i was very embarrassed to show anyone why i waited so long in the first place but after all the nurses in and out looking all very professional nothing they haven't seen i started to relax .... for me it was freeing all the years of worry now i don't really care who sees it lol
not sure this will help but hang in there will all be fine

jim

[Jgoody]

Man I sympathize. I wouldn't say I have PTSD but I certainly wouldn't have a female doc or surgeon. Not because I don't think they can be competent just really don't want a woman feeling/ poking around down there. Also they have no lived experience with a penis.

Think you've got some solid advice & agree with a couple but I would definitely discuss with your urologist/surgeon if u can. You may feel better just hearing what they say (no females on their staff or some accommodation can be made) but you may hear something that eases concern. If it helps at all, I didn't see a woman before my surgery at all until a nurse rated my pain well after I woke up.

Overcoming our fears creates growth in life though, so I try to keep that in mind when it's really uncomfortable, I think that's when the most growth actually happens too. In this case, the end goal is worth all the discomfort I went through & I wish you well man.