My hydrocelectomy

I wanted to start a hydrocele thread for 2015 as it seems to be a pretty common operation.  This medical forum for the patients' side of things is a great idea.

My hydrocele was really big and was actually getting bigger so it had to be stopped.  If not, it was nice having along on long bike rides, like a built-in pillow.

I'm in the States so maybe the hydrocelectomy procedures differ but mine didnt require a drain tube.  The doc said he would make a large cut in the scrotum, get the liquid out, and remove the lining that contained the hydrocele so it wouldn't come back.  That's the best explanation I have.  Whether or not it makes sense, it worked out real well.

The operation was done in Feb, 2015.  That was 6 weeks ago.  There was no swelling or discoloration.  I must've had a mild hydrocele most of my life because I haven't seen my scrotum this small in years and years.  It was only in the last year or two that it started to balloon up after I took up bicycling as my fulltime exercise.

My doctor had me wear a support for two weeks, which I was glad to have, and it held the dressing in place.  He also prescribed antibiotics as a precaution for the first ten days.

Pain was moderate the first day or two, mostly from the incision, and quickly got better.  I was able to go to the gym and do some light exercise after just four days, although the doctor advised me to wait a full month to exercise.  Just was so bored sitting in the chair at home.  I was careful not to stress that area with my exercises: lifted weights while seated, did sit-ups on the slant board, and walked on the TM.  It went fine.  On day five, went back to work.

Can't say why my op was so uneventful, don't really have any bad things to say about it.  Hard part for me is getting back to my routine of pretty rigorous exercise.  I've only been doing light and moderate stuff for six weeks and I've put on a few pounds.

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