Man amputates penis with an axe after consuming psilocybin mushrooms
Man amputates penis with an axe after consuming psilocybin mushrooms
A 37-year-old man experienced a psychotic episode after consuming psilocybin mushrooms, leading to self-inflicted penile amputation with an axe. The penis was partially replanted.
In an unprecedented case report, doctors in Austria have documented the first known instance of psilocybin-induced penile amputation. After consuming a large quantity of magic mushrooms, a 37-year-old man suffering from depression and alcohol abuse severed his penis with an axe. Fortunately, doctors were able to reattach part of the amputated organ. The unique case is detailed in the Mega Journal of Surgery.
...
The case report published by doctors at Hospital Feldkirch in Austria outlines the shocking details of a 37-year-old man who consumed a large dose of psilocybin and, during a severe psychotic episode, amputated his penis using an axe. The man, who had a history of depression and alcohol abuse, ingested four or five dried psilocybin mushrooms while staying alone in a secluded vacation home.
Not long after consuming the mushrooms, the man began to experience a terrifying hallucination or delusion, which led him to take an axe and sever his penis into multiple pieces. The details of the event are unclear to the patient, as he did not fully remember what had occurred.
The man reportedly tied a piece of cloth around his genital area to control the bleeding and placed the severed parts of his penis in a jar filled with snow. He then left the house, bleeding profusely, in search of help. A passerby found him in a confused state and called for emergency services. The man was transported to a nearby village and later to a hospital, arriving approximately five hours after the amputation.
Upon arrival, the patient was in a critical condition, having lost a significant amount of blood. He was immediately taken into surgery, where doctors worked to stabilize him and control the bleeding. His penis was contaminated with soil and snow, and parts of the organ were severely damaged. Surgeons were able to save the glans (the tip of the penis) and about two centimeters of the penile shaft, but the other sections were too damaged to be repaired.
Remarkably, the replantation was successful, despite the significant challenges posed by the extent of the injury and contamination. Despite initial difficulties, the patient’s condition improved after the surgery, although he continued to suffer from severe psychotic symptoms, including auditory hallucinations and religious delusions. He was placed under psychiatric care, and his treatment included antipsychotic medications to help control the hallucinations. His mental state gradually stabilized, and after a week, he was moved back to the urology department to continue his recovery.
In the weeks following the surgery, the patient experienced some complications. Superficial necrosis (death of skin tissue) developed on the glans of his penis, likely due to the loss of blood flow during the period of ischemia, but this healed over time. Remarkably, the patient was able to regain some erectile function within three months of the surgery, though the overall length of his penis was significantly reduced due to the damage. At his last follow-up visit, he was able to urinate normally while seated, though a minor complication called hypospadias developed, where the urethral opening is located further down the shaft than normal.
While this case is the first documented instance of psilocybin-induced self-amputation, it brings attention to a broader phenomenon of self-mutilation during psychotic episodes, particularly among individuals with underlying mental health conditions. Known as Klingsor syndrome, these rare but extreme events often involve self-inflicted injury to the genitals and can be associated with a range of psychiatric conditions, from schizophrenia to substance-induced psychosis.
Top marks to the surgical team getting some functionality back in such challenging circumstances.
And I read that as 'challenging circumcision.'
I mean, you aren't wrong.
Incredible really, and with minimal draw backs.
Steady on, that's a bit off!
"...thanks to advances in stem cell research and the fine work of Doctors Krinsky and Altschuler, he should regain full reproductive function again."
Well that was a nice horrifying read
Sorry if you found that upsetting, MY_ANUS_IS_BLEEDING.
Solid reference
Have you ever tripped so hard you chopped off your dick?
Not yet but I like to keep an open mind.
No but I've wanted to real bad from gender dysphoria, didn't have it in me to get through to do more than a surface level cut before the blood and pain got to me. For not having one myself I am a pussy when it comes to blood and pain ☹️
Meanwhile 1000s of drunk drivers kill people every day and nobody cares
Two things can be bad at the same time.
It’s just annoying to see articles like this because it scares people into thinking mushrooms should remain illegal. That’s despite the fact that mushrooms are infinitely less harmful than alcohol and this penis chopping guy is an outlier of outliers
That's exactly why it's not as interesting of a story though.
People care. You’re forgetting that there’s money to made on that. Capitalism!
Hey everyone, now we can point to this article and say Magic Mushrooms are soooo dangerous that we need to call everyone that uses them terrorists and organized crime and throw them all in prison for enjoying a natural theraputic vision quest
Not to say that psychedelics can't cause psychotic states. I'm not going to say that, because it's not true. I'm writing this at the start so no-one gets the wrong idea.
The syndrome is known, "Klingsor syndrome". Usually (read: "always") those self-injury inflicting patients have a long history of mental illness.
This man had a history of depression and alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse and delirium tremens are more likely to induce violent psychotic episodes than mushrooms.
I mean, granted dude took a heroic dose. I'm not saying the mushrooms had nothing to do with it, obviously they did.
I'm just saying the title very much reads in a "don't do shrooms you'll cut your dick off" kind of way, which is very much not the case here. If any substance had most to do with this, it's probably alcohol, which is known to cause a lot of mental issues, especially depression and psychosis. As in dudes probably been drinking his whole life, or years at least, which probably had more influence on the person than one (heroic) dose if shrooms.
I used to really really struggle with alcohol abuse problems, I'm sober now, I've also done shrooms a bunch. In my experience you are definitely right. The drinking would cause crazy delusions and thoughts, it was fucking wild man. Being on a bender for 5 or 6 days. Getting horrible sleep. Eating nothing. Your body revolts against you and everything starts to fail. Your mind doesn't function properly anymore and time is fucked and you think everyone is against you and come up with these crazy near impossible theories and plans. Sweating and shaking even though youre still drinking you just can't stomach enough to get the shakes away. I would do crazy things during these times I'm not proud of. Never had any of that with shrooms lol
Holy fucking shit!
Summed up beautifully.
Man, this is why I've always been willing to trip sit anyone I care about that wants to try a new-to-them substance. You can't always tell how someone is going to react to something new. If that something is hallucinogenic, if something does go wrong with the trip, you really want a sober buddy to keep things from going wrong outside the trip.
Hell, I've been known to sit with someone that's used hallucinogens before, just to be safe, if I can.
It isn't just hallucinogens though. I've known people that had bad reactions to not just heavier shit, but stuff that's as mild as weed. Somebody gets hit by the weed fairy wrong, they can get into a panic and end up doing stuff that could hurt them, especially if it's their first few times trying it.
Mind you, if it's something smokable, I won't be present for the smoking because fuck that shit. But I've done it for meth and crack too. Tried my damndest to talk him out of it, and it was only one person with those two. But he was one of those folks that wants to try everything mind altering at least once. I would not likely repeat that for anyone else tbh.
But damn, folks; if you aren't already familiar with a substance, find someone you can trust to keep you safe. Even the mildest things out there can cause problems, and you can't always be sure it's unadulterated. Accidents happen, allergic reactions can happen, dosing can go wrong. So be safe. Find a buddy.
This is the first thing that went through my mind. Dude really needed a sitter.
I tried mushrooms on my own, but it was at home and it was me taking very small amounts cause I didn't want to over do it. I liked it. I didn't let myself get too high but I got to the point where the sound of my music was causing the walls and the lines on the floor to rumble with the sound. I could feel everything moving like the floor was water and my sofa was just floating there. It was nice.
This is why they need to fucking legalise it for psychiatric treatment. Otherwise people with depression are just going to medicate themselves and fuck up.
Thought you meant the penile amputation lol.
... New bottom surgery just dropped?
Talk about an axe wound
She even started her first period!
Sometimes when dysphoria is really bad and access to gender affirming care is denied, there isn't much choice. It's sad and scary that for some of us this is how it must be but that's just the way things are sometimes.
Was looking for that comment :P
Penile amputations while on mushrooms: 1
Penile amputations while Austrian: probably more than 1
I think we know what the real cause was here.
That sucks, and folks should do their research and have trip sitters.
It's the first known instance, though - this is not worth changing your behavior over, something that's never been known to happen after humans have been tripping on the things forever.
From the write-up by the urologist:
Urologic examination showed an impressive bulging over the penile stump, and after removing the ligating cord, 800 ml of blood and clots discharged from the wound
No fuck you.
At this point, everything that happens in my life is after consuming psilocybin mushrooms
Whoah.
although he continued to suffer from severe psychotic symptoms, including auditory hallucinations and religious delusions.
I gotta move to Austria
Anyone remember that guy on reddit who did the same but with a gun? I can't remember if it was mushrooms or acid but he had several psychotic episodes
This shit is why I haven't tried shrooms. I know it's incredibly unlikely, but it's just enough to scare the shit out me. I didn't need my egg cracking during a trip and I try to do an at home, diy surgical transition.
It's mainly the length of time. It lasts so long, tons of time for me to do something crazy. DMT seems safer from a totally underinformed position, just because it doesn't last as long, and I think my buddy can restrain me for 15 minutes better than he can for 8 hours. Lol
I'm a "drugs head" and you're way off the mark. Take a reasonable amount of shrooms by themselves in a good head space, you'll be fine. DMT gave me existential madness for like months lmfao
I REALLY don’t think it was the shrooms that were the main issue. It sounds like he was self medicating for something and didn’t have a sitter.
It's mainly an issue for people already predisposed to psychosis. If you don't have that in your family history, then start with a low dose and have a trip sitter. It can be an incredibly positive experience if done safely.
And do research. Psyconaut Wiki is pretty good.
This shit is why I haven’t tried shrooms. I know it’s incredibly unlikely, but it’s just enough to scare the shit out me. I didn’t need my egg cracking during a trip and I try to do an at home, diy surgical transition.
I don't think it's likely unless you have really bad penis dysphoria already, believe me, you'll know if you do. Though your egg cracking on a trip is still possible even if you don't hate your penis, and that can be scary and uncomfortable. IMO best to do it while not tripping.
This is why I only do LSD, I've never even thought of cutting off my dick on acid.
And shrooms are milder than acid in many ways. I don't touch acid anymore.
It all depends on the dose.
It's likely they had strong genital dysphoria or other issues surrounding their penis. Most people don't have the desire to cut off their penis, mushrooms or no mushrooms. I've had friends with bad dysphoria who did it, no mushrooms needed, but I can imagine someone also doing it while they're high.
I knew we were in trouble when that damn... that egg commercial. That guy. I knew that was... the government's take on drugs, you know, were fucked. Believe me. "Here's your brain."
I've seen a lot of weird shit on drugs. I've never ever ever EVER EVER looked at an egg and thought it was a fuckin' brain. Not once. Alright? I have seen UFOs split the sky like a sheet, but I have never, ever, ever looked at an egg and thought it was a fuckin' brain... NOT ONCE. I have had seven balls of light come off of a UFO, lead me onto their ship, explain to me -telepathically - that we are all one and there is no such thing as death, but I have never ever ever ever looked at an egg... and thought it was a fuckin' brain.
Now... Maybe I wasn't getting good shit.
Bill Hicks
Type O Negative "angry inch" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QgZBE9I8UrA
Ever hear that old George Carlin bit?
"I'm going to string words in a sentence that's never been uttered before! Ready? Here we go...
As soon as I stick this hot poker up your ass, I'm going to chop my dick off!
There! I did it! I put words together in an order that's never been done before, in the entire history of mankind!"(thunderous applause)
I'm incredibly impressed at the recovery. While it sucks to lose length and have the urethra open in an odd location they saved the glans. Hopefully some feeling is still there.
So they saved the mushroom tip :D
egg_irl ?
This is 100% my suspicion. Mushrooms have never made me even think about my genitals.
My thoughts exactly, I'd have to guess they had severe bottom dysphoria, I've had friends who did it for the same reason, no mushrooms though, they just did it out of their sheer desire to no longer have a penis attached to them. Gender dysphoria is no joke and really sucks. I probably would've done it too if the Estrogen hadn't shrunken it so much (and the fact that I'm a wuss when it comes to blood and pain).
Psychedelics are the shit and everybody should consider doing them, responsibly. Make sure you're in a relatively good headspace, have someone you trust to quietly watch over you and comfort you if things get scary, and go do 5 years of therapy in a few hours.
Protip: you won't have a bad trip if you unless you try to be in control. If it gets upsetting, that's your cue you're holding on to something and need to let go.
Sounds like they had really bad gender dysphoria if they resorted to cutting off their penis. I'll admit I've wanted to do it myself many times, but was never able to go through with it physically. I still occasionally have weak desires to do it but my dysphoria is much better these days due to how much it has shrank on estrogen.
Drugs are bad, m'kay?
Permanently Deleted
That's not what that word means.
And then there are people trying to convince others that those mushrooms are not as bad as other drugs...
They aren't. This man had severe psychological issues, was an alcoholic, and he took them alone.
As a rule if you hear it on the news, then it's incredibly rare. The research coming out on psilocybin treatment for things like PTSD is incredible, and that alone shows how backwards our drug policies are.
Here y'all talking about drugs being dangerous, meanwhile consuming water is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death in the world. /S