I had the following conversation with my male patient
Patient; Doc please help me oooo
Doc: Good day sir, do sit down please.
Patient: Ah I can't sit down oo. This thing is so painful. I have been standing out there waiting to see the doctor.
Doc; You should have told the nurse so that you will be managed at the A and E unit ( Accident and Emergency)
Patient:I have finally seen you so let me tell you my problem. My 'thing' no fit come down again ooo.
Doc; Do you mean your Pe--s?
Patient; Yes doc
Doc ; when did this happen ?
Patient; 2 days ago
Doc ; 2 days ago ?. How could you have managed with this pain for complete 2 days. Are you a known sickler? Are you on any drug? Are you......
Patient: No doc
Doc; Did you smoke something?
Patient; No doc
Doc; Talk true oo make I know how I go help you oo
Patient: ok doc I took 1 wrap
Doc; Are you sure is only 1?
Patient ; I think is 2
Doc; Did you mix it with any other thing?
patient: Yes , I also had spirits that evening
Doc ; so what happened next?
Patient; I got home after that and met my wife and since then the thing no gree come down.
While this history taking was going on patient was already in A & E and the urology team invited to handle the case.
This is a case of Priapism.
What is Priapism ?
This can be defined as an abnormal persistent erection of the phallus.It is expected that the phallus becomes flaccid after sexual activity. For those that do not arise as a medical condition. It could be seen as a result of complication of pharmacologic agents ( recreational drugs also)
Priapism lasting for more than 4 hrs could have long term complications.
My patient waited for 48 hrs before presenting to the hospital, after all they tried at home failed to restore his phallus .
Complications like erectile dysfunction can occur leading to infertility.
Please never be ashamed of presenting to the hospital and don't start tying out what friends and neighbours are telling you if they are not doctors. The more time you waste trying out the solutions they have given ,the more chances of you getting a poor prognosis of your disease.
Feel free to ask questions.
Thank you for visiting and do visit next time.
Dr Stella, nice post. Apart from recreational drugs, what other things can cause priapism? I believe overdoses of Viagra(R) as well as sickle cell crises can also cause priapism.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dr Edoga for your contribution.Viagra is part of the pharmacologic agents that I mentioned while sickle cell crises was part of the medical conditions and it was also asked as a question to the patient. Thanks for the support.
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