this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2024
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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.

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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.

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[–] bizzle@lemmy.world 27 points 2 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] PraiseTheSoup@lemm.ee 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Agreed, and the shortest trip I've ever had, about 5 minutes from a gravity bong rip of salvia, was also the worst and most terrifying.

[–] bizzle@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

Salvia is a horrifying drug lmfao I hate it

[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] bizzle@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's really intense, so if you're not like 100% it's really easy to have a bad time. It also shows you things human beings aren't supposed to see, in my opinion. Like the way things are connected through space and time. Mrs Bizzle says it sends you to hell but I don't think that's true.

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

DMT and ket are the two things I’ve tried where I saw things humans aren’t suopposed to see.

With DMT it was a profoundly positive experience. I saw a new color. I can still see it.

With ket it was INCREDIBLY TERRIFYING! I don’t regret it but I can still feel it when I think back.

[–] bizzle@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I've never done ket but my cousin did and explained it the same way. I did DMT years ago and loved it but this most recent time it went pretty bad. I had some good experiences and some bad ones, ultimately though I think I'll stick to weed and shrooms

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago

That’s totally fair! I’ve done a bunch of ket in my racing years and my last time was six or so years ago when I had a WAY INTENSE EXPERIENCE.

All of my SMT breakthroughs were positive and I’m happy for that. I’m sorry you had a rough experience. :c