Having Trouble After Vasectomy. Posted: 01-25-04 11:47am
I had a vasectomy performed in early nov.
After a few weeks my one testicle was
still swollen, I called the eurologist,
and was told it was a hemotobin. Blood
that would be absorbed back into my system
in a few weeks. I let it go for a month
without any change in the size of the
swelling. An ultrasound was done, and I
was told I had a hydrocele. The doctor
said I had two choices to try and drain
it, which there would be no guarantee the
fluid would not come back and also there
could be a chance of infection. I chose
the second option which was to have a
hydrocelectomy performed. It has been two
weeks since I had the operation. There is
quiet a bit of pain and the testicle is
still swollen. It feels like it is harder
then it was before. I'am very reluctant
to go back to this doctor, as you can
imagine. My scrotum is starting to look
like its been in a war zone. I don't
think it is infected because I was told
that would be extremely painful. Is this
just my luck or is there something I
should know about? Everyone I tell says
to get a lawyer, but i'am not the suing
type. I just want to get back to normal
as soon as posiable. I hope someone can
help.
|
vitiris
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Texas
Vasectomy Problems Posted: 02-09-04 16:52pm
First, sorry for the long post, but I want
to give you all information i've received
on my situation. I too had a vasectomy
recently (on 12/18/2003). The procedure
went fine, but 2 weeks after that, I had
excruciating pain in my scrotum area. I
saw the doctor that day and he thought it
might be infection. I took 3 weeks worth
of antibiotics for 2 different types of
infection. As I expected, they did not
help at all. I always felt that I didn't
have an infection. My pain is mostly on
the right side (a constant pain). There
is a mass inside the scrotum that swells
sometimes. My urologist finally said
that it might be a sperm granuloma. Now,
he doesn't know what else to do for me and
tells me to just give it time. I've
researched stuff everyday as to what my
problem might be. I'm thinking sperm
granuloma, spermatocele, or congestion in
the epididymus. I have a small amount of
pain in my left testicle, but it doesn't
hurt unless I touch it. Anyway, i'm now
wearing an athletic supporter 24/7. It
has tremendously helped me when i'm
walking. At least now, I can walk a
little more normal. I've also started
taking 600mg of ibuprofen 3 times a day.
I just started that so I don't know if
it'll help yet. Although, i've emailed
some guys and 1 doctor about my problem.
Each of those who replied said to take
ibuprofen. The only guy whose pain has
subsided mentioned acupuncture as well.
His pain finally went away 1 year
post-vas. I'm positive now and hopeful
that my pain will eventually go away. It
has caused strain on the sex life, but so
far, we're managing. I'm surprised
you've already had another surgery for the
hydrocele, but I think if my doctor
diagnosed me with something, I would have
been more than happy for him to go back in
there and fix it. I was constantly
wanting someone to diagnose me with
something so I can focus on that. For
now, i'm focusing in the sperm granuloma.
That's why i'm taking the ibuprofen
(anti-inflammatory). I also found out
that antibiotics would cause the ibuprofen
to not work like it's supposed to, so i'm
glad i'm off those now. From researching
problems that a vasectomy might cause:
1) hydrocele - fluid that forms around the
entire testicle. I don't think I have
that because my pain is at the top of the
testicle except after ejaculation, then
both my testicles feel bruised (especially
the back of each testicle) and are very
tender to the touch.
2) spermatocele - fluid containing sperm
that forms at the head of the epididymus
(top of testicle). This mainly forms on
the left testicle, but can happen on the
right as well. I researched this quite a
bit, and this could still be a possibility
of what my problem is. Since it says the
problem is at the head of the epididymus,
I thought it might be, but since it says
it mostly occurs on the left side, I don't
know about it.
3) sperm granuloma - leakage of sperm from
either the epididymus or the vas deferens
that causes scar tissue to form since your
immune system attacks it. Your body, of
course, doesn't know what sperm is so
it'll attack it. This is a huge
possibility as to what my problem is. I
wasn't told how long to wait to have sex
after the vasectomy. I waited only 2 or
3 days when I should have waited at least
a week. My pain didn't show up for 2
weeks, but still, sex early might be a
good cause as to my pain. For this, you
can either have it surgically removed, or
wait it out by taking anti-inflammatories
(such as ibuprofen).
4) congestion of the epididymus - from
what I understand this could be caused by
a number of factors, but mostly due to
sperm buildup with nowhere to go. I
thought this was my problem at first, and
it still could be, but like I said, i'm
focusing on sperm granuloma.
I'm guessing since you had your hydrocele
removed, then your doctor was sure that
that's what your pain was from. Also, I
guess he/she would be able to tell if
something else was in there when he/she
operated on that.
Do you remember where your pain was
exactly within the scrotum?
Does it hurt more or less after
ejaculation?
What have you taken for pain?
Have your symptoms changed any since you
posted?
I too wanted to look into getting a
lawyer, but I don't think i'd have a case
unless I could prove the doctor did
something wrong (although, there is a vas
that goes up to the op site and it seems
stuck there). I've tried to get in to
see another doctor, but it seems like they
don't want to see me.
Good luck!
|
vitiris
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Texas
Vasectomy Info Posted: 02-09-04 16:55pm
I forgot one more thing. I've received a
ton of information by reading the
alt.Support.Vasectomy newsgroup.
You can find this newsgroup at
groups.Google.Com (or with any other
newsgroup reader). Google will let you
post for free. My name is darrel and my
post on the forum is titled "excruciating
pain after ejaculation". I would suggest
posting there as you might be able to get
information quickly. There are several
people that read the posts daily.
|
hurtinginnnj
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 2 Location: New Jeresy
Thanks Vitiris! Posted: 02-09-04 18:38pm
Thank you for your informative reply. It
does'nt sound as though we have the same
symptoms. My pain is in the lower and
upper right testicle. I do have minor
pain after ejaculation, but I can deal
with it. I saw the urologist 2 weeks ago
and he says the swelling is normal. He
said your body doesn't like empty spaces
so it compensates with swelling. He said
to come back in 6 to 8 weeks to make him
feel better about the situation. Lol.
Anyway i'am feeling better but not 100%.
Thanks again for your reply. I hope you
are doing better to. Keep me informed on
how you are doing and if you find out
anything new. No one should have to go
through what we are for a simple
procedure. Its been a real pain in my
b----! No other dr is going to take you
on, because he or she is'nt going to burn
the one you used. Maybe for fear it could
happen to them someday. It is a sad
situation, when you can't find the truth.
I opted for the hydrocele as soon as I
did, hoping for some relief. But I ended
up out of work for 2 weeks. Very
painful!!! Jon
|
vitiris
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Texas
Update Posted: 02-24-04 09:54am
Hello again. I wanted to post an update
on my situation. First of all, how are
you doing? Have you been diagnosed with
something else? Have you seen a doctor
again? Are you painfree yet? Hope so.
I finally got fed up with my pain and
called my general doctor. I had to
explain my situation over the phone to the
nurse, and luckily he saw me that same
day. He ordered an ultrasound (which is
what I wanted). He also did a urine test
(came back negative) and put me back on
cipro (10 days @ $100.00). I went to the
hospital for the ultrasound the next day
(saturday 02/24/04). I'm afraid there is
no blood flow on the right side. Left
side seemed ok. I hurt a little on the
left side, but constantly on the right.
The x-ray tech that did the ultrasound
didn't say anything to me. I called my
doctor's office on monday morning and told
them that I feared there was no blood
flow. They haven't called back yet. I
called them at 3:00 that same day and they
said they usually get back to patients
about test results after 4:00. Still no
call. I'll probably call them again
today (tuesday). I hate harrassing them,
but I need to know what is going on with
me. I'm pretty much scared and my heart
races everytime the phone rings. We
talked about lawyers in our previous
posts. Depending upon my results, i'll
have to look into whether I have a case of
negligence and/or misdiagnosis. Good
luck and I hope your pain is gone.
