Penis Circumcision Booked - Any Before/after Tips Or Advice?
I'm getting circumcised in 2 weeks time. Spare the 'don't do it' because I won't change my mind - sorry! haha. I'm 33 so have thought long and hard enough about it. Unless your in the same position, it's rather hard to understand but I have always felt like I should have been circumcised at birth.
What I was hoping for was to gain some before and after tips from those who have also had it done.
BEFORE
My doc said to not take any fish oil for a few days beforehand because this will increase the blood flow.
Can anyone comment of things which also should not or even should be taken which can decrease the blood flow? I regularly take vitamins, would it be best to cut these out also?
AFTER
Self dissolving stitches are used but I have read to take these out after 10 days to limit 'train track' scarring from appearing.
If there is any excess bleeding, cold compression should be used for 10 minutes every hour to stop.
Wear jocks to have the penis position upwards towards your heart to promote recovery.
Can anyone comment if it's a good idea to use anti scaring creams afterwards? I read Mederma and Vit-E Serum is quite good. Would you use anything directly after surgery, or only when the stitches are out?
So for those who have had it done, any tips or advice to help with a more successful recovery would AWESOME!
Pregnancy :: Tips To Have Shave?
It is near impossible to shave my hoo ha these days. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions? ? I know this is probably a TMI question
View 9 RepliesKnee :: Tips For Walking After TKR?
i was walking outside on 2 crutches, fairly easily, holding them very loosely and walking without a limp. Inside I was using 1 crutch.
last week the physio took one away - tried me on a stick but said I was too wobbly, so left me with one. I was quite happy and confident when I left him, but over the past week I seem to be limping so much more and relying on the crutch more.
Does anyone have any tips please for walking properly?
Pre Hip Replacement Advice / Tips?
My LTHR had been scheduled for next week. During my pre op session last week the dr remarked that the pains down my left leg may be due to a spine issue, while the groin pain would almost certainly would be due to my bad left hip. He is suggesting that I see his spine colleague before he definitely goes ahead with the hip op.
My question to you hippies: before your hip op did you have pains down your leg(s) including ankle? And (this is the important bit) did the hip op get rid of the leg pains? I am thinking that if your answer is yes to both questions then maybe I should get a second opinion from another surgeon.
Pregnancy :: Tips For Body Acne?
I was wondering if anyone has any tips for acne. I broken out pretty much everywhere. Mainly my chest. Does anyone have any tips for body acne?
View 8 RepliesHemorrhoids :: Tips - Creams/ Lignocaine Twice A Day ...
Besides Creams/ Lignocaine twice a day anything else i can do ?...I've brought Prune juice, Husk to put on cereals...even the softest of BM aggravates these things. Sometimes i swear i feel it going down my leg the pain from them and into stomach. Dread what the internal ones look like, I'd think large, can they grow really big?..the pain these cause is just incredible. Least i feel i have company here, most ppl just say oh they are just Hems!....but it's not nice visiting someone and wriggling around in your seat and it consuming your every thought.
View 1 RepliesTips For Conceiving Without Fallopian Tubes?
I need tips to conceive without fallopian tubes.
View 3 RepliesHip Replacement :: Any Tips? Only One Week Post Op
I'm 65 and just had a THR I Live alone and seem to be doing ok just wondering how other people managed or any tips.
View 27 RepliesTips / Experiences - Coming Off Mirtazapine
I have been on 30mg mirtazapine for four years. I tried to come off them a couple of years ago and failed miserably, returning to my full dose after 10 days of awful anxiety and insomnia, as well as migraines and nausea. I had cut my dose to 15mg for a week and then dropped to zero.
This time I read every thread on here about mirtazapine withdrawal and started off really slowly, cutting down by just 3.75mg for two weeks. Then by a further 3.75 mg. At the same time I started taking a lot of inositol. I take a huge heaped teaspoon in my tea every morning. I had only slight nausea when I first started dropping my dose but I think that was me getting used to the inositol. Once I was down to 22.5mg of mirt, with no withdrawal symptoms, I figured I could go a bit faster and dropped my dose down to 15mg. I had no withdrawal symptoms after ten days and so have now dropped my dose to 11.25mg. I use a simple pill cutter from ebay to cut my tablets. So I am now on three quarters of a 15mg tablet. Mirtazapine had pooped out on me and so I already have terrible insomnia. I take temazepam some nights and benadryl on others to help me with that.
I will post my progress here. Who knows, I may fail miserably, but whatever the outcome, I hope it will help others. I was terrified of coming off mirtazapine, but now I am excited by it. I think the key is to take it really slowly and work out the pace your body can cope with. The smaller your dose goes, thee smaller the decrease in your dose should be. Good luck everyone, and please post your own experiences here. I know some people have really suffered despite coming off mirt very slowly. Everyone is different and I think everyone's experience can be a real help to others.
Hysterectomy :: Any Experiences? Tips / Advice
Having hysterectomy next tuesday. terrified.have no support at all as a bit of a recluse. i keep being told what i can and can't do after op by different medical staff so a bit confused as well. i'm 66.
View 37 RepliesHip Replacement :: Upcoming THR - Advice / Tips?
I am due to have a LTHR on May 11. Just looking for a support group to join because I'm sure I will have post-op issues that are being or have been discussed here.
I do struggle with anxiety in certain situations and I am concerned about waking up intubated (hope I don't have to), the compression hose (getting them on and off and just the restrictive nature of them), and the risk of being on blood thinners for a month (although I prefer that risk over not taking blood thinners and having a higher risk for blood clots).
I am 47 and have had hip issues since I was in high school - though never diagnosed until two years ago, I had a femoral acetabular impingement that, with diagnosis, could have been repaired years ago and I wouldn't be in this situation now, more than likely. So, I'm frustrated that this has to happen now but the impingement has caused arthritis, which is now end stage bone on bone so I need to get this done to lessen my pain and increase my mobility.
Mirtazapine Withdrawal Tips / Advice?
If anyone could share some of their experiences and perhaps advise on when this nightmare is going to end I'd really appreciate it.
I’m 34, otherwise healthy, started Mirtazapine (in some sense against my instincts) about two years ago due to severe anxiety (no depression at all) and panic attacks. My Doctor prescribed Mirtazapine 30mg, to be tapered upwards from 7.5mg.
I remember the first few days I felt a weird sensation when swallowing (simply felt like uncoordinated swallowing, where the food/drink seemed to be going at the wrong velocity towards its target). However, after a while and increasing dosage this symptom vanished more or less.
Fast forward about a year and a half forward, and (apart from helping my IBS by making me numb) - the drug was totally useless anxiety-wise. I was still feeling very bad. True, I had not gotten many panic attacks, but I found that they were just transposed with a very generalized anxiety which I believe (self-diagnosed) had almost become a phobia: I became afraid of trying new things altogether from fear of having e.g., an allergic reaction (never had any of those ever in my life and never feared them before either). I had quit sports because I could not stand the sensations involving an increase in heart rate or blood flow. Done all of the tests and all is fine with my heart and everything else for that matter. It’s all in the head but the head controls your body and your mind.
The Mirtazapine just made me numb; I could feel less love to my fiancée (now wife!) and cared less about the world in general. Realizing that I had just become more anxious (if less panicky) the Doc upped the dosage to 45mg. What a disaster. More than a month afterwards I was just getting more and more anxious on a daily basis.
Eventually, AMA, I decided that going on Mirtazapine was the biggest mistake of my life. I started tapering, very VERY slowly. I think I went from 45 to 15mg with relative ease, taking more than two weeks at a time to decrease the dosage by 3-4mg at a time. Each time, I would feel great for 2 days, then start developing quite severe cramps and feel lousy for another week or so, then I’d get slightly better. Knowing that I am really ultrasensitive to any change in physiological parameters I tapered from 15mg to 3.75mg in a turtle’s pace: 3.75mg at a time, with more than a month (and even two sometimes) between each taper. I have a PhD in Chemistry so I know what I’m doing. Again, every time, after 2-3 victorious days where I’d feel like I’ve conquered mount Everest, I’d then feel lousy for 4-8 days; but then things would seem to be a bit better. Weirdly, at the lower doses of 7.5mg and 3.75mg I started again experiencing swallowing difficulties; I started choking on water and became very mindful of my swallowing dyscoordination. Still I felt altogether quite alright – and I believed that the remainder would be similar.
How wrong was I. I have come off it completely exactly two weeks ago. Again 2-3 days where I felt fine, then a few more days with cramps. Then, good old panic hit, with terrible anxiety that just keeps getting worse and worse. I feel terrible weakness, zero energy, I have withered due to loss of appetite (since when I eat my stomach just cramps a few hours later; actually not so bad since I had put on some weight during my time on Mirtazapine). I feel completely overwhelmed by the symptoms: every time there is something new. I feel weird tingling sensations and I have strange feelings of pressure in my stomach. I get dizzy a lot and then just feel weak. My muscles are sore without any reason. I was certain that these issues would resolve in a few days; Mirtazapine’s half-life is quite long and I know that receptors can take 2-3 weeks to get re-modulated (actually that’s why they always say that the beneficial effects of Mirtazapine will take around 2-3 weeks to become effective when you go on it). But I did not expect this gradual and horrible worsening of symptoms over the last 14 days. I have had to start treatment with Benzo’s (as needed, I try to avoid them but sometimes there’s just no way around it) and they seem to help in some instances, whereas in others they only seem to do a moderate/poor job at managing the symptoms. For the first time in my life yesterday I suffered from ED. Never happened to me before and despite a very supporting and loving wife, I felt that was yet another crushing blow. The weird thing is that all these things are not getting me depressed – just really anxious.
I can only hope that things will start to get better. I have no idea when these things would begin to get back on track. Doctors seem to be quite oblivious to my suffering, not really believing that withdrawal could be so powerful yet not finding ANYTHING else wrong. The situation is really frustrating.
One thing is clear to me: I’m never, EVER going back on this horrendous drug. It was a huge mistake beginning with it, and for all of you who need these kind of drugs: ask your GP or Psychiatrist what are the withdrawal difficulties expected for the medication. I know I sure wish I had asked it.
Having My First Colonoscopy - Experience / Tips / Advice?
Chances are you are having your first colonoscopy too like me. I have decided to stop reading everyones stories about their colonoscopy experiences and to write about mine, mainly to stop myself freaking out. So hear goes, today I went to the hospital to collect my bowel prep, 'moviprep' pretty sure someone with a great sense of humour decided to call it that, good old bowel prep or perhaps 'bog hugger' might be more apt. Somehow I don't think a movie with the popcorn will ever be the same for me now. Anyway, spoke to a lovely nurse, who explained how to take the stuff, what I couldn't eat etc and about the procedure, and she didn't sugar coat it. So as I have to be at the hospital for 7.30am on Wednesday, I am allowed breakfast tomorrow before 9am. I can drink clear fluids all day. I have decided to stock up on energy drinks to take throughout the day, nurse said it was ok. I then start the moviprep between 5pm and 7pm, I have to mix a and b sachet in a litre of fluid and drink it, and drink 500ml of clear fluid after. Then I wait or maybe hug the loo, will let you know, loo permitting. Then the leaflet says rest for 2 hours, not sure if their interpretation of rest is the same as mine lol. Anyhow between 9pm and 11pm I have to mix another two sachets in 1 litre of water along with 500ml clear fluid to wash it down. It then says at 11pm or when you stop going to the toilet you can go to bed. MMMh. Well the nurse said as she went through the leaflet with me, "you might find you actually don't stop going to the loo". She then asked me if I had any worries. I said I was worried that I might poop my pants on the way to the hospital, (sorry a bit graphic, but do we all not feel that way). She did say some people do do, and suggested I wear a sanitary pad or the like. I also said I was worried it would hurt, whilst she didn't say it would or wouldn't, she said it could be very uncomfortable and for a few days afterwards too, but it affects everyone differently and that things settle once you get back eating and using the toilet normally again.
I am going to drink plenty of water and have a light diet of toast and eggs for lunch and some plain white rice and chicken tonight as although I wasn't advised to it seems it is better to avoid foods with any fibre in them. Probably have egg and toast for breakfast in the morning, then I am going to keep really busy till 5pm 'D' (for diarrhoea) Day as I am calling it.
I sincerely hope that I am sounding upbeat and chilled about this whole experience, that's my aim. In reality I am scared senseless, (poo less!!! - hopefully I will be by 11pm tomorrow night ha ha).
Because like everyone else not only is there the worry of the procedure there is the worry of what might be found.
Omeprazole :: Weaning Off Tips And Advice?
I need help in weaning of Omeprazole. I have been a 20Mg a day user since 2002 and the last 5 years have been hell. I am now at the point that I really need to get off this drug, whatever my GP is saying. Does anyone have any tips and suggestions on how they got off the pills. The daily symptoms I'm having is terrible.
View 31 RepliesPregnancy :: Stretch Marks - Tips To Avoid?
I'm almost 24 weeks with my first baby :) Although it hasn't happened yet, I was wondering if any of you other expecting mothers have found something that makes you not get bad stretch marks?
View 1 RepliesBroken Tibia And Fibula Survival Tips?
I broke my Tib and Fib near the ankle on January 18 (two days before this post) and it's been ok. When it itches I use a blow dryer in cool setting to blow it, and apply ice to it every few hours. I'm trying to keep it above my heart, but it is very uncomfortable and I can't find a proper position. It's a little tight around my ankle, but it's manageable. Any tips for me guys?
View 1 RepliesWomen :: Good Masturbation Tips And Techniques?
I'm a fourteen year old girl and I have just recently started to masturbate. I use the shower head, but it's a quick and not very strong orgasm. I have also tried fingering but I can't seem to get off on that. Porn helps a bit but not as much as I would like. I don't have access to a vibrator/dildo.
View 13 RepliesHeart Rhythm :: Tips To Reduce PACs?
I've been experiencing PACs for the last 5 months, they seem to happen a lot when I am standing up, bending down or when I'm concentrating on something.
Does anyone have any tips or can recommend a supplement that helps reduce them? They seem to happen everyday and are driving me insane. They sometimes can make me feel dizzy and lightheaded.
Substance Abuse :: 19 - Tips For Opiate Withdrawal?
I have been taking them for about 3 months, and my doctor has been rotating between norco and oxy during that time. I was either taking 4-8 per day of 10/375 norcos or 4-8 5mg oxy per day. While being out of pain felt fantastic, I felt like hell when I wasn't on them because of the sense of euphoria I was given. Being so dependent on these meds for my sheer happiness made me ask my Dr for another pain management medicine (non-narcotic, opiate, etc) - which I have, and are working in a decent manner.
To top it off, I have another medical issue which will (2-3 times a month) get triggered. I'll end up taking 2 norco for it and it will be gone for a while until it gets triggered again. I've had this nearly all my life and it's the only drug, outside of an intense hospitalization where I'm on an IV 24/7, which works.
I'm on day 3 of withdrawal! Great! I've been through the restless leg syndrome phase, and have been on a ton of sleeping meds to get me through the worst of it thus far. I can now sit still, and other than the first night, I haven't been struggling too badly to get to sleep. I have a fantastic network of family who know about my issue and are helping me get through it, which has been a lifesaver.
So what else should I expect? How long will the physical side of this last? More importantly, how long will the mental part last?
I'm currently exhausted 24/7 (prob an effect of the sleep meds), not eating or drinking much, and I have waves of anxiety that make my heart pound out of my chest, but I'm alive and while I'm not super happy, I'm not depressed either. I've never gone through withdrawal before, and I feel like I haven't had as rough of a time as 90% of the posts I've read. It's mainly the feeling like I need to take another pill.
One of the toughest parts is that I am living alone with a bottle full of norco for my other medical issue. When this other issue comes about, I will need to take 2... I can't just uproot my life for quite a few days of the month to stay in the hospital. I'm just afraid of relapsing and having a lot of my progress thus far erased. Any tips?