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-   -   Personal Hygene and Circumsision (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/staying-healthy-on-the-road/personal-hygene-and-circumsision-32521)

Septicrat 21 Jan 2008 20:21

Personal Hygene and Circumsision
 
Hello all.
Firstly I'd like to say that this is the best Bike Travel site by far, I've been lurking here and there but keep coming back to this as its the most informative and open, generally just great!

Secondly, may I apologise about the subject of my very first thread, its not meant to be funny or offending, but dead serious.

I've done severaly African trips in the past and am in the process of planning my Big One, 5 year RTW on a one-off Diesel Engined bike. My goal mileage is 200k miles taking in as many countries as possible, what actually happens will probably be totally different, I never really set my plans in stone.

My question about hygene is this.
During my trip there will no doubt be long periods when washing will not be a massive priority or will not be that easy. Through experience of past travels I've easily gone for a good two weeks without a proper Bath oir shower but made do with a "Wipe down"
I was curious if any other fellow travellers out there have considered of even had a Circumsision for hygene purposes.
I am prone to bad bouts of Thrush if I dont keep a strict Bathing regime and am considering circumsicion to ward off the dreaded itch.
I've not done any travelling since I developed this recurring Curse of few years ago.

Any thoughts or experience would be greatly apreciated.

Cheers, and hope to get to know some great people through this site.

Steve

P.s ,sorry is this Thread offends anybody.

Flyingdoctor 21 Jan 2008 20:41

Soap dodgers of the world unite!

Dood, if you can't find the time to wash what by any standards is a small part of your anatomy on a daily basis your going to be in trouble if you get a cut or abrasion to manage in the tropics. Practice at home. Read some army survival manuals online, they have sections on personal hygene. You will be amazed how good a wash you can get with just a mug of water. Think outside the box.

Macp1 21 Jan 2008 21:29

Thrush? If you're prone to this you should look to get the underlying cause sorted :helpsmilie:- at least you'd save yourself the possible discomfort.

Also even having a snip you could still get it and as has been said basic hygine is very important (and easy with practice) as you could end up with all sorts of nasties if you let things slip. just google the subject and see what sor of pics you find :nuke:

:)

juddadredd 21 Jan 2008 21:34

WTF noone is messing with little Lee, well maybe big Lee if he see something he likes, and as for knives going near him your Nutts as well as Dirty.

You never heard of Baby wipes? if your stuck with no places to wash up use two the first cleans your face and neck, then your front bits, then your rear bits, throw that one away.

The second does anywhere else that needs doing, and when your have almost finish redo the back bits again.

Also if you go to the loo wipe with paper, then clean up front bits with baby wipe, and then clean up rear bits with the wipe, otherwise your just a scummy stinking rat biker type.

It also has the benefit of attracting the ladies, as they like the baby like smell, and not of puke or poo so don't even go there Martyn you sicko.


:clap:

oldbmw 21 Jan 2008 21:38

This might help
each time you urinate, pinch the foreskin over the front of the glans to hold back the urine. Then let it out in a big dollop. This will tend to flush or sluice out that area of concern. Healthy urine is sterile and acid, both will help. Eating acid fruits can also help. Check you are not slightly diabetic as sugars will exacerbate the problem. The more (clean liquid) you drink the better it is likely to be for your entire body.

juddadredd 21 Jan 2008 21:39

Sorry I can't stop myself......


NEXT TIME USE A CONDOM

Septicrat 21 Jan 2008 21:58

Lmao!!!
Thanks for some very...honest replies chaps!
I probably made myself sound like a "Dirty Rat Biker type" by not explaining myself better.
I'm generally a Very Hygenic person, being married with two kids has made me a respectable person:cool4:...
I have experience with various "Field" hygene methods but am just worried about that damn Thrush(and also the availability of treatment in remote places), hence the curiosity about a snip. Is having no foreskin more hygenic?? Thats basically the question I'm trying to ask I guess.
I've used Baby wipes in the past, but yep, you guessed it, I got itchy!

juddadredd 21 Jan 2008 22:17

Use the Aloe vera ones, they are really good at keeping the nasties away I mean they are used for nappy rash, also OLDBMW is correct in saying about using urine to flash out an infection as it contains trace amounts of amonia.

I used to be a jobbing jeweler (lost casting) way back when I was a young lad, and I had to pee on my hands to make them hard so that the heat didn't kill my fingers.

It's also a good way to stay off frostbite for a while if you have no other way of warming a body part up, just make sure that after you pee on whatever, you them put the affected part next to your body for core heating.

Pee is your friend.

silver G 21 Jan 2008 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by juddadredd (Post 170034)

I used to be a jobbing jeweler (lost casting) way back when I was a young lad, and I had to pee on my hands to make them hard so that the heat didn't kill my fingers.
Pee is your friend.

That's what we used to tell apprentices too:rofl:

But back to the serious matter in hand. Why not talk to your doctor?

Macp1 21 Jan 2008 22:35

I'm sure there's evidence for each one for as to which one is better - but I think it's not going to stop you getting thush or itching - don't forget there's other places that will get hot and sweaty. Get it checked out - if you sort the cause you stop the problem

Frank Warner 21 Jan 2008 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by juddadredd (Post 170034)
It's also a good way to stay off frostbite for a while if you have no other way of warming a body part up,

A better way - pee into a used drink bottle - you now have a hot water bottle .. not to be confused with an apple juice bottle!

DLbiten 22 Jan 2008 05:31

:welcome:
The baby wipe thing is grate they make bigger wipes as well. While your looking at baby stuff you may find a cram or powder to help you out as well it, drys.

Or you can use antifungal foot cream may be sick to think about but is about the same thing the doc will give you. Your not diabetic are you? May want to have that looked at.

mattcbf600 22 Jan 2008 07:15

Hey chappie - very serious and sensible questions - do not apologise one little bit... okay here's what I remember from my nursing days.

Thursh is caused by a fungal bacteria that gets a bit carried away when not kept in check by the healthy bacteria. The healthy bacteria will not grow properly if you're immune system is low, if you have a poor diet or even if you're just a bit 'low'. Antibiotics can also cause thrush.

Cleanliness doesn't necessarily keep you clear of Thrush - in fact over use of things like wet wipes (which don't see any difference between the good stuff or bad stuff) can actually help the Thrush along.

Sex can help Thrush along (because of the warm wet stuff) but it's not sexually transmitted - too much sex can certainly start it off or bring it back.

It's really important that you go to your doctor about this because re-occurring thrush is an indicator of things like Diabetes. Go get yourself checked out.

As far as the foreskin question goes - it's not that uncommon for men with re-occurring thrush to have a circumcision - the warmth and moisture (not dirt in any way) is what helps the thrush along - so no amount of cleaning will help. Go ask your doctor for advice.

Martynbiker 22 Jan 2008 09:21

and there was me about to agree with every word!
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by juddadredd (Post 170014)
WTF noone is messing with little Lee, well maybe big Lee if he see something he likes, and as for knives going near him your Nutts as well as Dirty.

You never heard of Baby wipes? if your stuck with no places to wash up use two the first cleans your face and neck, then your front bits, then your rear bits, throw that one away.

The second does anywhere else that needs doing, and when your have almost finish redo the back bits again.

Also if you go to the loo wipe with paper, then clean up front bits with baby wipe, and then clean up rear bits with the wipe, otherwise your just a scummy stinking rat biker type.

It also has the benefit of attracting the ladies, as they like the baby like smell, and not of puke or poo so don't even go there Martyn you sicko.


:clap:

:rofl: I was just gonna say as well as the BABY WIPES there is an amazing product out called WATER, with a PINT of it you can wash your entire body ( ok, Face, Pits, Bits,Feet,) and use the baby wipes ad freshen up.

It is copied and pasted from a medical health page.. so if the terms Penis or Vagina frighten or offend you, stop reading NOW.

Some info on THRUSH
Thrush is a yeast infection caused by the Candida species of fungus. Thrush is also called candida or candidosis. It happens when a fungus called candida albicans grows too much.

Candida occurs naturally in the body, especially in warm, moist areas such as the mouth and genitals. It normally doesn't cause any problems because it is kept under control by the immune system and other healthy bacteria in the body. However, some factors can cause the fungus to multiply leading to infection.

Thrush infections usually appear in the mouth or genitals. Candida is commonly found in the vagina, making thrush more likely to develop in women. However, the infection can also appear in men, too. Men with a foreskin are more likely to get thrush because the warmth and moisture underneath encourages the fungus to grow.

Anything that destroys the good bacteria in your body that keeps candida under control can lead to thrush. For example, if you are taking antibiotics for an infection the antibiotics won't know the difference between good and bad bacteria and will fight off both types. If you are run down and your immune system is weak, the bacteria that cause thrush may also multiply.
Candida tends to grow in warm, moist conditions. Thrush can sometimes develop if you don't dry your penis carefully after washing. Candida also thrives on skin that is already damaged. Using perfumed shower gels and soaps can irritate the penis, making thrush more likely to develop.
Men who have HIV, diabetes or other conditions that cause a weakened immune system, are more at risk of getting Candida. This is because the infection develops very quickly and the weakened immune system is not strong enough to fight it off.
If your diabetes is uncontrolled (usually because you don't realise you have the condition) you are more likely to developing thrush. Typical signs of diabetes include; excessive thirst, lots of trips to the toilet to pass urine and weight loss. See your GP if you have these symptoms, and if thrush keeps coming back even after treatment.

Thrush, men

Diagnosis

The medical name for redness and soreness of the glans is balanitis. Balanitis is usually caused by thrush, particularly if you notice it after sex. However, the symptoms could also be a sign of something else.
If you've had thrush before and recognise what it is, you can buy over the counter treatments from your pharmacist to clear up the infection.
If you're not sure what is causing the symptoms, you should see your GP or go to your local sexual health (GUM) clinic for tests. If you go to your GUM clinic, you will be seen in complete confidence and your GP won't be told. You will probably have swab taken from the head of the penis or just under the foreskin to be looked at under a microscope - results are usually available straightaway. A doctor or nurse may also examine your genitals.
If you keep getting thrush, or it doesn't clear up with treatment, your GP may test you for diabetes, as thrush in men can be the first sign of diabetes.
If you are a heterosexual man and have thrush, it is likely that your partner may also be carrying it in her vagina. This is because the candida fungus commonly lives in the vaginal area. It is a good idea for both of you to get treatment to stop the infection being passed back and forth between you.

Treatment

If you've had thrush before and you know what it is then you can get anti-fungal creams or a single dose pill (fluconazole) from your pharmacist without a prescription. Follow the directions on the packet, and see your GP if the infection doesn't seem to be improving.
Your GP may suggest using a steroid cream as well as the anti-fungal medication to reduce the symptoms of the infection. If there is infection of the glans (head of the penis) then a steroid cream should not be used by itself because steroids can make the infection worse.
Good hygiene can help to clear up the infection. Wash the affected area carefully with warm water. Showers tend to be better than baths. Dry your penis carefully after washing as the candida fungus thrives in damp conditions. Wear cotton underwear that fits loosely. Don't use perfumed shower gels or soaps on your genitals, as they can irritate them.
Some heterosexual men get a mild form of balanitis after having sex. This is probably caused by an allergy to thrush in your partner's vagina. If your partner gets treatment, it will usually clear up. Gay men can also get thrush by having unprotected sexual intercourse. Again, if you and your partner get treatment, it will usually clear up.

Try to avoid having sex, or at least use a condom, while you are being treated for thrush, so that the infection doesn't pass back to your partner.





Prevention

A balanced diet that is low in fat and sugar, along with regular exercise and not letting yourself get run-down can help to stop thrush coming back.

JoeSheffer 22 Jan 2008 22:29

I don't suppose its a bad idea at all. Alot of the US troops have it done before they head out to the middle east and their is a reason...it is more hygeinic.

If you are willing to...go for it.

Caminando 23 Jan 2008 16:38

Jeez! thats like asking if you should cut your ears off in case they get dirty. Just wash yourself man!

Walkabout 23 Jan 2008 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattcbf600 (Post 170088)
Hey chappie - very serious and sensible questions - do not apologise one little bit... okay here's what I remember from my nursing days.

Thursh is caused by a fungal bacteria that gets a bit carried away when not kept in check by the healthy bacteria. The healthy bacteria will not grow properly if you're immune system is low, if you have a poor diet or even if you're just a bit 'low'. Antibiotics can also cause thrush.

Cleanliness doesn't necessarily keep you clear of Thrush - in fact over use of things like wet wipes (which don't see any difference between the good stuff or bad stuff) can actually help the Thrush along.

Sex can help Thrush along (because of the warm wet stuff) but it's not sexually transmitted - too much sex can certainly start it off or bring it back.

It's really important that you go to your doctor about this because re-occurring thrush is an indicator of things like Diabetes. Go get yourself checked out.

As far as the foreskin question goes - it's not that uncommon for men with re-occurring thrush to have a circumcision - the warmth and moisture (not dirt in any way) is what helps the thrush along - so no amount of cleaning will help. Go ask your doctor for advice.


Good stuff Matt, et al.

This is getting as good as the thread that was entitled along the lines of "all the questions the girls did not want to ask", or something like that - it went on for ages, and, yes, I reckon half those reading it were male; same in this case? (1/2 the readership is female?).

I can't think of any particular personal or hygiene questions at present, but one never knows, and I'll stay tuned in the meantime.

mattcbf600 23 Jan 2008 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caminando (Post 170436)
Jeez! thats like asking if you should cut your ears off in case they get dirty. Just wash yourself man!

seriously dude... Thrush isn't caused by being dirty or not washing yourself... it's down to warmth and moisture allowing bad bacteria to grow and the good bacteria not having the chance to tackle it... due mainly to low immunity, antibiotics or over use of things like anti-bacterial wet wipes.

chris gale 29 Jan 2008 15:04

Nearly had to have that done a few years back - my Dr winced at the thought and said he was glad it wasnt him . The trouble is the recovery time after such an Op . I was in my late 30 s then and when i eventually saw a specialist we were talking of a number of weeks to recover :( Cant comment on the hygene bit but i understand the way forward is now having it done by cold laser - sooner you then me :welcome:

Dodger 30 Jan 2008 19:55

Does it help if you stir your yogurt with it ?

[ I only asked !!!!]

Sjoerd Bakker 31 Jan 2008 18:22

circumderision ?
 
Hoooo-haawww....er ... did you just recently aquire the appendage that the proposed operation is being contemplated for, and , you haven't yet become familiar with its care. =) ? Surely you get to see willy several times a day , no?
In truth said operation has only a very rare occurrance of being medically necessary .I t is predominantly driven by ignorance of proper hygiene and religious mythology no different than which drives the horrendous equivalent of female circumcision. Males of homo sapiens during millions of years of evolution have not gone extinct without this "operation".
Please, back to motorcycle topics !!!

mattcbf600 31 Jan 2008 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sjoerd Bakker (Post 171985)
Hoooo-haawww....er ... did you just recently aquire the appendage that the proposed operation is being contemplated for, and , you haven't yet become familiar with its care. =) ? Surely you get to see willy several times a day , no?
In truth said operation has only a very rare occurrance of being medically necessary .I t is predominantly driven by ignorance of proper hygiene and religious mythology no different than which drives the horrendous equivalent of female circumcision. Males of homo sapiens during millions of years of evolution have not gone extinct without this "operation".
Please, back to motorcycle topics !!!

I think this is a very important topic and quite rightly in place on a travel forum where such things can be a problem on the road.

While I was a nurse you'd be amazed at the number of men who had to have this done - for quite good medical reasons... including..

* Foreskin too tight - this can develop in later age
* Recursive infection
* Pain during inter-course

all of these can develop later on in life and don't neccessarly occur during childhood.

I had mine done when I was 11... I used to get really bad infections and such - down to it being a bit warm down there - after the operation no such trouble.

m

*Touring Ted* 31 Jan 2008 20:03

Gentlemen.... Line up in an orderly fashion for your injections, malarial pills and circumcision....

http://www-sop.inria.fr/meije/person...Guillotine.jpg

dmotorider 8 Feb 2008 19:38

I believe this is a very good place to discuss this and glad that it's possible here, because it ain't anywhere else - except maybe the Drs office - which will cost you (or our healthcare system) money, their time and probably yield even more bizarre and unrealistic answers than you'll find here!

Anyone who's ever traveled by bike in the tropics know it's IMPOSSIBLE to stay dry down there, and when it's not possible to take a shower (those of you who haven't traveled to 3rd world countries have no real excuse), then it's nice to hear alternatives to staying clean.

I don't have any problems with infections or otherwise, but I do get damn hot and sweaty some days. When it's hot I wear only boxers under my vented riding pants, and all of my boxers are of the moisture wicking type fabric (Helly Hansen, etc...). When I'm stopped somewhere and the heat and humidity are unbearable, I go commando style (no underwear) in swimming shorts or otherwise. Everyone knows that's one of the reasons women wear skirts/dresses is to stay cool.

And surprised nobody mentioned using that liquid hand sanitizer (with alcohol, that doesn't require water) in a pinch. I love it for my hands but never tried it down there!

mattcbf600 8 Feb 2008 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmotorider (Post 173492)

And surprised nobody mentioned using that liquid hand sanitizer (with alcohol, that doesn't require water) in a pinch. I love it for my hands but never tried it down there!

Good points there - but remember you shouldn't use the liquid sanitizers down there... they kill off everything... including the bacteria which help fight off things like thrush and other infections.

mistress-kate 9 Feb 2008 18:49

I would like to add something to this interesting discussion even though I don't have the appropriate parts!!

As a girly who likes to keep clean but often finds myself a day or so away from a shower when travelling the world I use feminine wipes rather than baby wipes for 'down there'. As a girl I am more likely to develop thrush and I find baby wipes actually increase the chance of me getting it rather than keeping it at bay - this is because baby wipes have various chemicals that react to my sensitive areas! A definate no to wet wipes which have all sorts of nasties in them, they would be ok for face, pits etc.

I would recommend feminine wipes (perhaps you could ask your wife to purchase them for you!) - these are especially designed to be used in such areas and if you are prone to thrush then I can recommend Natracare Certified Organic Cotton feminine wipes which are organic and chemical free - buy from a health shop or on-line.

Good luck!
Kate

Flyingdoctor 9 Feb 2008 19:30

If only they did them in "commando wipes" or maybe "Adventure wipes" then maybe we'd buy them. It's always worth having a chat with a local pharmasist as they'll know what the active ingredient is and maybe could advise a manly product!

Dodger 9 Feb 2008 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyingdoctor (Post 173623)
If only they did them in "Caminando wipes" or maybe "Africa Twin Rider wipes" then maybe we'd buy them. It's always worth having a chat with a local pharmasist as they'll know what the active ingredient is and maybe could advise a manly product!


The manly way is a good scrub with carbolic soap and a swift ride on a frosty morning.

Rebaseonu 9 Feb 2008 22:05

If you don't have a lot of water to make proper full body wash, it is very easy to wash your strategic locations with just a few handfuls of water. Actually I can't see where is the problem here (except if it is medical). With 2 liters of water you can make full body wash in the bush. If you have only little water left, wash only strategic locations. Even if I'm washing only strategic locations before going to sleep I feel much better, almost clean. :thumbup1:

maria41 10 Feb 2008 00:58

Kate is right.
Baby wipes are good but can cause irritation down there.
Feminine wipes can be found almost in all south american countries. DonĀ“t know about Africa though but should be available in major towns.
I have used both feminines wipes and baby wipes and never had problem with feminine wipes (got very sensitive skin) while baby wipes can actually cause rashes.... so, no need for surgery!

mistress-kate 10 Feb 2008 08:51

I understand about the name problem - commando wipes would be a better name! Perhaps this is a new business opportunity for someone.

The ones I use - Natracare Certified Organic Cotton - are in neutral packaging and don't have the word 'feminine' anywhere on them!! Try googling it.

I give them to my boyfriend when he goes away but I decant them into a small ziplock bag and tell him they are baby wipes! Don't tell him will you!!

Kate

Flyingdoctor 10 Feb 2008 10:14

If they printed them in camoflage I think you could sell them to the MOD!
They take "crotch rot" seriously, It's hard to concentrate on killing people when you're in pain. That's why issue Y fronts are like string vests, plenty of air in there is good. There's a good reason they're known as "shreddies" ha ha.

Extremist 2 Jun 2008 10:52

Holy Hell! Just stumbled across this thread and thought WTF????? To the OP, think before you submit to this procedure, and then have another good think.
Ignore anything any quack tells you about it being a minor op, it is not, especially at your age. It hurts like a MF. I know, due to a banjo-string incident some years ago, so I had to be "done". It took weeks of salt baths and loose clothing before I was ready to dip Him somewhere else warm and wet, and I'll say it again, IT HURTS.

However, leaving the op aside, the thing I think you need to consider is how Kojak will react after you have dispensed with his roll-neck, then after a few months stuff him inside some sweaty pants and crush him against a bike seat for long miles. He will be quite a bit more sensitive anyway, having spent the previous part of his life hiding away, and becoming a Roundhead will take some getting used to day-to-day, without a long trip on a bike. You may be setting yourself up for more problems down there!

Good luck.

Alexlebrit 2 Jun 2008 17:24

Feminine wipes - I can thoroughly recommend them, I've used them plenty of times when cycling, and they're much better for your nethers than baby wipes.

As for buying them, suck it up, be a man and just go ask for some, after all you're travelling, by the time the word has spread of the guy on a bike with the "problem" you'll be long gone. It's infinitely easier to ask for feminine wipes in your 30's that to ask for that first packet of condoms when you're 14.

dpdaniel 3 Jun 2008 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Extremist (Post 192507)
Holy Hell! Just stumbled across this thread and thought WTF????? To the OP, think before you submit to this procedure, and then have another good think.
Ignore anything any quack tells you about it being a minor op, it is not, especially at your age. It hurts like a MF. I know, due to a banjo-string incident some years ago, so I had to be "done". It took weeks of salt baths and loose clothing before I was ready to dip Him somewhere else warm and wet, and I'll say it again, IT HURTS.

However, leaving the op aside, the thing I think you need to consider is how Kojak will react after you have dispensed with his roll-neck, then after a few months stuff him inside some sweaty pants and crush him against a bike seat for long miles. He will be quite a bit more sensitive anyway, having spent the previous part of his life hiding away, and becoming a Roundhead will take some getting used to day-to-day, without a long trip on a bike. You may be setting yourself up for more problems down there!

Good luck.

Interesting to hear a previous experience. I rely on them a lot on this site for things outside my area of expertise (and there are many!) but this one may just touch upon my arena. I have never had the op myself but have seen a number as the doctor doing the anaesthetic, and I think Extremist raises some good points. There are genuine reasons for circumcision but they are rare and there is a reality to the surgery not be ignored (as above). I do respect that recurrent thrush is not a trivial issue, but I would recommend a very considered decision in regard to surgery.

Personally I wouldn't be going off to get any operation unless I absolutely had to. These days surgery is so commonplace in many of our lives (and on TV) the perception in the public domain is that it's like a trip to the dentist. It isn't. It is a serious undertaking, with risks. These risks may be small for most healthy people, but they exist. Plus the pain, the recovery time, etc...and the result may not be what you wanted. Terms like "getting the snip" fool people into thinking circumcision is as easy as getting a haircut (sorry for the imagery).

For example, one of the Urologists I have worked with said that he would never get his own children circumcised unless there was a very, very, very good medical reason, and no other option.

That said, there are genuine indications for circumcision - as some people have noted already, and yours may be one of them - if it is serious enough. Talk to a Urologist (who do circumcisions in adults). Weigh up the risks and benefits (of the surgery and the anaesthetic). Use surgery as a last resort.

Sorry if I sounded a bit scary there - don't want to scare people off from getting the best treatment, but just because we can perform a lot more surgery these days for a lot more things is not a reason that we should.

Lots of good advice on "cleaning strategies" here that I'm sure you can test out before you leave to find out what works for you.

Finally, as mattcbf600 and others have noted - I agree that this is a genuine reason to post a question that most would shy away from, and the fact that it provides an invitation to the comedians amongst us - all the better!

Cheers,
Damien

kevinhancock750 4 Jun 2008 07:05

here's hoping!
 
and here's me hoping that matchf600 does'nt do a video review on the subject! :rofl:

if all else fail's you can wipe it in the curtain's...:innocent:

Dodger 4 Jun 2008 16:55

An WW2 Artillery captain that I used to know , had a very novel treatment for gunners with sore parts .
He would make them lie face down on a wooden board with a knothole in it for 30 minutes .
Their John Thomas would poke through the knot hole and dangle in a jamjar containing Dettol .

I asked him if it worked , replied that he didn't have a bloody clue but that it would make them much more careful about where they put it in future .

desert dweller 5 Jun 2008 03:20

while they're down there...
 
septicrat, mate, here's the go:

while the surgeon's got his knives to you, get him to sew up your arse as well. this will alleviate any concerns you might have had regarding anal hygiene.

besides, you'll be able to offload any bogroll you might otherwise have packed, further reducing the weight of your cykel.

good luck. next post from the recovery room, please.

mattcbf600 6 Jun 2008 08:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinhancock750 (Post 192795)
and here's me hoping that matchf600 does'nt do a video review on the subject! :rofl:

Oh dear.... that would be a video nasty!

teflon 6 Jun 2008 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Septicrat (Post 169996)
...I was curious if any other fellow travellers out there have considered of even had a Circumsision for hygene purposes...

Go for it. So you'll walk around like John Wayne for a couple of weeks...:cowboy:

Caminando 23 Jun 2008 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpdaniel (Post 192665)
Interesting to hear a previous experience. I rely on them a lot on this site for things outside my area of expertise (and there are many!) but this one may just touch upon my arena. I have never had the op myself but have seen a number as the doctor doing the anaesthetic, and I think Extremist raises some good points. There are genuine reasons for circumcision but they are rare and there is a reality to the surgery not be ignored (as above). I do respect that recurrent thrush is not a trivial issue, but I would recommend a very considered decision in regard to surgery.

Personally I wouldn't be going off to get any operation unless I absolutely had to. These days surgery is so commonplace in many of our lives (and on TV) the perception in the public domain is that it's like a trip to the dentist. It isn't. It is a serious undertaking, with risks. These risks may be small for most healthy people, but they exist. Plus the pain, the recovery time, etc...and the result may not be what you wanted. Terms like "getting the snip" fool people into thinking circumcision is as easy as getting a haircut (sorry for the imagery).

For example, one of the Urologists I have worked with said that he would never get his own children circumcised unless there was a very, very, very good medical reason, and no other option.

That said, there are genuine indications for circumcision - as some people have noted already, and yours may be one of them - if it is serious enough. Talk to a Urologist (who do circumcisions in adults). Weigh up the risks and benefits (of the surgery and the anaesthetic). Use surgery as a last resort.

Sorry if I sounded a bit scary there - don't want to scare people off from getting the best treatment, but just because we can perform a lot more surgery these days for a lot more things is not a reason that we should.

Lots of good advice on "cleaning strategies" here that I'm sure you can test out before you leave to find out what works for you.

Finally, as mattcbf600 and others have noted - I agree that this is a genuine reason to post a question that most would shy away from, and the fact that it provides an invitation to the comedians amongst us - all the better!

Cheers,
Damien


Hi D

Thanks for your rational, informative post, confirming all I suspected.

Septicrat 2 Jul 2008 19:37

Wow, cant believe this post is still alive.
Firstly, thanks to the few that gave constructive replies.
Secondly, Bollocks to the rest who gave sarcastic dumbphukk replies. I dont recall saying I was going to avoid cleaning myself at all during the trip, just wont be able to have a strict routine like at home. I did mention having "Wipe Downs" which would include pots of water to clean daily.
My thrush problem flairs up very easily if I dont stick to a strict routine, can you honestly tell me some of you "Perfect" travellers have a Strict routine??? Fine, so you can wash yer knob off in a cup daily and give it a wipe with a non perfumed baby wipe, but the sweat build up and lack of Proper cleaning has caused problems for me in the past, I was not asking cos I'm some crusty arsed dirtbag, but someone with a annoying sensitive problem wanting advice.
Anyway, I had the snip and it worked a treat, I've not had a bout in over three months. Within that three month period I;ve done a 3 week trip thorugh Spain and Portugal living remotly and washing in a cup pretty often, and no problems......so thanks to those with decent replies, and again, Bollocks to the rest, learn to read before coming up with insulting shit!

Flyingdoctor 2 Jul 2008 20:47

Well I had some fun even if you didn't. I'm glad you're surgery went well and thanks for not posting pictures!!

Knob washers of the world unite...

Extremist 3 Jul 2008 12:39

And was it a tad sore for a while?

Septicrat 3 Jul 2008 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Extremist (Post 197091)
And was it a tad sore for a while?

Boy was it?!? Took about a month to feel normal, but its all good now.
Still feels a little weird, and looks like someone elses lol. Glad I've done it, seems to have helped with the Thrush problem and have also had some medication which probably helped aswell.
So far so good.

teflon 7 Jul 2008 15:25

I remember the daily dabbing with salt water and trying to pull out what was left of my stitches. The worst bit was forgetting not to move suddenly at work and then having to shuffle to the toilets to see what I'd done.:eek3:

Also, seeing my girlfriend was very risky. Still, no regrets.

Septicrat 8 Jul 2008 08:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by teflon (Post 197515)
I remember the daily dabbing with salt water and trying to pull out what was left of my stitches. The worst bit was forgetting not to move suddenly at work and then having to shuffle to the toilets to see what I'd done.:eek3:

Also, seeing my girlfriend was very risky. Still, no regrets.

Lol, yeah. My doctor gave me some meds to stop my little fella getting up before me in the morning, cant imagine that being much fun:frown:.... I used Sudacrem and healed up real fast.


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