Maybe an urban legend?

[pranava]

Everybody seems to know someone who had a friend, uncle, whoever that had to be circ'ed as an adult due to infection.  And they always say " It was so not good for a man age XX to have to go through that!"  (like it's any better for a baby! but anyway)  I've begun wondering if this is just an urban legend.  Sure it has happened to some adult men, but could everyone really know someone that this has happened to?  Maybe there are a handful of guys that are just really famous?  Or maybe it's just not ture?

My response is always, well at least as an adult he didnt' have an open wound that then gets covered in poop multiple times a day and has to be scrubbed clean.

[LonelyPageTurnr]

I suspect it's a mixture of both.  I do believe there are a lot of elderly men who are getting poorly cleaned in nursing homes. Women, too.  So they (the men) 'need' circumcision (as opposed to better healthcare providers??? Uh ok.).  I think there are probably a good portion of people who know of that happening to a family member or a friend's family member, but I also don't think it's quite as prevalent as made out, either.  Otherwise we'd be overrun by all the elderly foreskins.
 

Originally Posted by pranava 

Everybody seems to know someone who had a friend, uncle, whoever that had to be circ'ed as an adult due to infection.  And they always say " It was so not good for a man age XX to have to go through that!"  (like it's any better for a baby! but anyway)  I've begun wondering if this is just an urban legend.  Sure it has happened to some adult men, but could everyone really know someone that this has happened to?  Maybe there are a handful of guys that are just really famous?  Or maybe it's just not ture?

My response is always, well at least as an adult he didnt' have an open wound that then gets covered in poop multiple times a day and has to be scrubbed clean.

[Imakcerka]

Well... I know lots of women who have had hysterectomies in their 40's... I wonder if they had all that removed as babies if they would be in the situation they're in now... and people that had their tonsils removed or teeth pulled... or appendix taken out.  All adults.  Crap we should just remove all parts just in case!

[hildare]

i know of someone to whom this happened.

i think some of the issue is that in an older generation when there were problems with a penis, the "easiest" thing to do was circ the older kid/adult.   now we have better treatments, steroid cream, etc.  i think that the remedy for whatever problem that happened back then might have been just to circ. 

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Considering how circ happy Dr's can be I have no doubt there is a lot of adults who are circed for no real reason. My dh had an uncle who was circed in his 60's I dont know what the reason was but I do know that the Dr. took so much off that he ended up having to go back to get a skin graft.

I have heard of circ's happening due to yeast, phimosis (without ever trying any other non invasive treatment) I have yet to hear of a truly medical reason for circ in older boys/men.

[ma2two]

I think it was and probably still is very common for doctors to look for any excuse to circumcise.  I also think that the majority of problems are caused by repeated forced retractions in infancy and young childhood.

So I don't think it's an urban legend, unfortunately.

But I think it's extremely rare for someone who wasn't repeatedly forcibly retracted to have a problem that actually requires circumcision. And even for those with problems caused by retraction, I'm sure the vast majority can be treated in other ways besides circumcision.

[Night_Nurse]

I've been a nurse for over 17 years and I was a nurse's aide several years before that. Before that even I worked in medical records, mainly filing surgical and lab reports. So...22+ years in the medical profession. I've worked in home health (bathed lots of old men), adult medical/surgical hospital nurse, a step-down unit (think "nursing home" in a hosp. setting), a doctor's office, pediatrics, maternity/OB nurse in a hospital. I did an entire summer clinical rotation in a nursing home. During all that time, I never once saw any male, newborn, 50, 70 or 100 with any kind of foreskin problem whatsoever. I never once filed a surgical report for an adult circ. I never saw a foreskin infection or met any male who *wanted* to get a circ. I never talked to any doctors or nurses on the job that talked about foreskin problems. One older nurse did mention that her father in law got circed as an adult but I don't know if it was needed or just desired. I didn't ask about the details. So I guess that could be counted as possibly one. You'd think if foreskins were causing problems I would have seen it first hand once or twice in Texas. I'm always truly amazed when I read all these stories from SuzyQ's neighbor's uncle, who is a doctor/nurse/paramedic, sees infected foreskins ALL THE TIME!

Keeping in mind that in the U.S., where surgeries bring doctors income and where the public always wants a quick fix, I'm sure circumcisions do happen more than necessary. Part of me believes that what many people honestly thing is infection in a toddler or younger boy is actually normal separation process.  I wonder how many times grown men "needed" circs because of yeast, maybe a yeast infection given to them by their wives and they just didn't know how to get rid of it. It's so easy to blame the man and his foreskin, especially if society has taught you it's dirty and unnecessary.

[oma to 9]

I worked as an RN in a nursing home in the early 90's.  We had a resident, in his 80's, who had Parkinson's and several other disorders.  One day someone was cleaning him and neglected to return his foreskin to the proper position.  Unfortunately it wasn't noticed by anyone else either.  By the time it was discovered it had formed adhesions and the only way it could be managed was by the doctor doing a circumcision.

This is not a judgement on the caregivers, though it should be said that they were certainly remiss in doing a thorough job.  Most of the men in the nursing home were circumcised so several of the girls had no idea that a foreskin, once pulled back, had to be put back in place....or at least on this gentleman it did. They didn't teach us in nursing school that foreskins had to be replaced and, as a member of a denomination that espouses circumcision (don't bother, please, I've been attacked already for this), I didn't know it was necessary until I learned it from this exact situation.

Instead, it is what you asked about...a real story about a real person in their upper life years who was circumcised for medical necessity. 

[Buzzer Beater]

Originally Posted by oma to 9 

I worked as an RN in a nursing home in the early 90's.  We had a resident, in his 80's, who had Parkinson's and several other disorders.  One day someone was cleaning him and neglected to return his foreskin to the proper position.  Unfortunately it wasn't noticed by anyone else either.  By the time it was discovered it had formed adhesions and the only way it could be managed was by the doctor doing a circumcision.

This is not a judgement on the caregivers, though it should be said that they were certainly remiss in doing a thorough job.  Most of the men in the nursing home were circumcised so several of the girls had no idea that a foreskin, once pulled back, had to be put back in place....or at least on this gentleman it did. They didn't teach us in nursing school that foreskins had to be replaced and, as a member of a denomination that espouses circumcision (don't bother, please, I've been attacked already for this), I didn't know it was necessary until I learned it from this exact situation.

Instead, it is what you asked about...a real story about a real person in their upper life years who was circumcised for medical necessity. 

But it's not like his penis got that way on its own... he was neglected. Normal care doesn't produce those results.

[Mulvah]

Originally Posted by oma to 9 

I worked as an RN in a nursing home in the early 90's.  We had a resident, in his 80's, who had Parkinson's and several other disorders.  One day someone was cleaning him and neglected to return his foreskin to the proper position.  Unfortunately it wasn't noticed by anyone else either.  By the time it was discovered it had formed adhesions and the only way it could be managed was by the doctor doing a circumcision.

This is not a judgement on the caregivers, though it should be said that they were certainly remiss in doing a thorough job.  Most of the men in the nursing home were circumcised so several of the girls had no idea that a foreskin, once pulled back, had to be put back in place....or at least on this gentleman it did. They didn't teach us in nursing school that foreskins had to be replaced and, as a member of a denomination that espouses circumcision (don't bother, please, I've been attacked already for this), I didn't know it was necessary until I learned it from this exact situation.

Instead, it is what you asked about...a real story about a real person in their upper life years who was circumcised for medical necessity. 

Due to negligent care by medical professionals. 

[Adaline'sMama]

Originally Posted by oma to 9 

I worked as an RN in a nursing home in the early 90's.  We had a resident, in his 80's, who had Parkinson's and several other disorders.  One day someone was cleaning him and neglected to return his foreskin to the proper position.  Unfortunately it wasn't noticed by anyone else either.  By the time it was discovered it had formed adhesions and the only way it could be managed was by the doctor doing a circumcision.

This is not a judgement on the caregivers, though it should be said that they were certainly remiss in doing a thorough job.  Most of the men in the nursing home were circumcised so several of the girls had no idea that a foreskin, once pulled back, had to be put back in place....or at least on this gentleman it did. They didn't teach us in nursing school that foreskins had to be replaced and, as a member of a denomination that espouses circumcision (don't bother, please, I've been attacked already for this), I didn't know it was necessary until I learned it from this exact situation.

Instead, it is what you asked about...a real story about a real person in their upper life years who was circumcised for medical necessity. 

How sad. I cant believe that nursing schools dont teach the very people who deal with the human body the most how to care for a body that hasnt been cut up. And then people wonder why some people have such an aversion to nurses and doctors.

[elisheva]

I know three grown men (as in, I know them - they are not faceless individuals to me) who have been circed as adults for medical reasons including phimosis and persistent UTI or other infection. And this wasn't in the US. And it's a big procedure for an adult as general anaesthesia is necessary. I haven't met a doctor who takes this lightly (though bash all you want - THOSE DOCTORS WANT EVERYONE CIRC'ed!!!!!1!!!!11!!). So no, it's not an urban legend. 

[ChiaraRose]

My brother, in Europe, 1 year ago, 30 years old after many, many years of suffering quietly and being in a lot of pain.  I am very much against infant circumcision,my boy is not circed neither will any subsequent boys, but bashing everyone who as an adult decided this is their way out of many years of misery is not the way to go. And he was taught to clean himself properly, yada, yada, yada.

[MyBoysBlue]

I think a lot of later circs are done in boys not men.  If a boy isn't retractable by what ever age the doctor thinks they should be they recommend circ.  At least that's what happened to my little brother.  Circ is just not done in our family as in unheard of.  So this was a big deal.  He was my parents only boy and he wasn't retractable at 6 years old so my Mom took him to see the doctor.  No other reason.  No infections or anything.  Though as a toddler he had squished himself with the toilet seat.  So when the doctors told my Mom that he needed to be circed she didn't question them.  She thought it was a result of the earlier injury.  I suppose there was a possibility of an adhesion from the injury but I believe it was more likely that he just wasn't retractable yet.  In any case it wasn't like waiting would have been a problem.  But this doc made it seem like it had to be done immediately.  So my little brother was robbed of his foreskin at the age of 6.

[japonica]

I don't know anyone personally who had to have it done as an adult and all of the males on my father's side of the family, as well as my brother, are/were intact.

Not to say that it doesn't happen but it reminds me of the snake bite stories here in Australia that make all tourists think we're over run: "Oh, my cousin's friend's sister got bitten by a snake and almost died so it must be hell on earth to live there, those poor people."

[LessTraveledBy]

I live in a country where no one is circed. I have NEVER heard of man who had to have it done. I am sure there must be some, but at least here it seems to be extremely rare.

[sosurreal09]

I worked in nursing homes (5 years just 2 years ago) and I didn't retract men to clean them except on shower days. I always found intact men to be much cleaner b/c if they got poop on their penis I could just wipe it off the outside. When a circ'ed man got poop on his penis (b/c these guys all wear diapers) I always felt REALLY uncomfortable cleaning around their head and their wrinkly crevices that had formed and they probably did too ad many would become erect or semi erect and it made for a very awkward situation...especially when they had Alzheimer's and didn't know I wasn't their wife or whoever!

None of my PT's got infections but I also actually showered them weekly or more so yes neglect would be the only reason I see and there is a LOT of neglect going on in nursing homes! It is absolutely sickening...

[Buzzer Beater]

Originally Posted by ChiaraRose 

My brother, in Europe, 1 year ago, 30 years old after many, many years of suffering quietly and being in a lot of pain.  I am very much against infant circumcision,my boy is not circed neither will any subsequent boys, but bashing everyone who as an adult decided this is their way out of many years of misery is not the way to go. And he was taught to clean himself properly, yada, yada, yada.

I don't think anyone here is bashing an adult who makes a painful decision about his own health. Things are rarely bound to go wrong and it sounds like your brother was unfortunate and made a choice for himself.

[madis81]

My mom told me I needed to circ my son so he wouldn't have to get circed as an elderly patient at a nursing home. She's worked as CNA for 20 years in this setting and it's happened "because the older men can't clean themselves well enough". Really? Pissed me off. I reminded her that someone should be HELPING them if necessary.

[bandgeek]

Wanna hear something funny (well, not funny, but you know...kinda ironic)?  According to a nurse friend I have (who has worked in several nursing homes) she said the OPPOSITE is true.  The men who are intact are taken care of very well.  The nurses know you BETTER clean it...or else.  The thing about elderly men (she says anyway, I've never seen and old man that up close and personal) is that everything gets kind of saggy.  Yes, even penis skin.  So they have all these crevices and folds they didn't used to have.  And since the nurses know the guys are circ'ed, they don't bother to clean them as well, and they'd get all kinds of build-up in their "extra" skin.  She said it was the circ'ed guys getting infections.  I said it was ironic didn't I? LOL

I've never known anyone who needed circ'ed for medical reasons.  My step-dad's father requested to be circ'ed when he was like 70, because he was going under for another procedure and wanted to know what all the fuss over being circ'ed was about. LOL  I didn't know of this until years after he passed away.  So I asked my step-dad what the verdict was...is it better to be cut or not?  He said he didn't know.  His dad never brought it up after it was done.  I guess there wasn't much to comment on?

My little sister knows a guy who chose to have it done at 18 for cosmetic reasons.  He said it wasn't that big of a deal, not very painful, and he was getting it on a mere 2 weeks later.

I take that back, I do know someone who had it done for "medical reasons" at age 5, but I knew right away it wasn't a "real" reason so dismissed it from my mind.  Family was jewish anyway and wanted it done but the kid was a micropreemie.