Hydrocele Surgery
Posted , 69 users are following.
Hello,
I had my hydrocele surgery on February 15th, 2013 in Houston, Texas. I wanted to share my story as I was terrified before having the surgery from all the posts I read.
Mine was on my left side and was about the size of a small grapefruit. I was living with this hydrocele for about a year, but going to the gym started to get quite uncomfortable. I started to show a bulge even in my dress cloths for work. It was quite embarrassing and all I could think about was people staring at me and mumbling "whats wrong with this guy." I am married with my first child on the way so I wasn't to worried about what some single guys worry about.
The day of the surgery I was pretty terrified, I work in Healthcare so being on the other side of the privacy curtain was pretty dramatic for me. I wasn't as much scared about the surgery as I was being put to sleep. I am 27 years old, live in Texas with my pregnant wife. My entire family all reside in Indiana, as we moved down to Houston 3 years ago. I kept thinking "What if I don't wake up?", "Ill never meet my kid", "I wont get a chance to say goodbye to my family.".... I questioned the anesthesiologist for about 5 straight minutes on what I could expect. They put in an IV and started pumping me full of water to hydrate me. This did calm me down a bit, then they gave me some valium. I highly recommend this before getting put out for anyone, this really calms you down. They rolled me into the surgery part, put a gas mask on me and I was out.
The surgery took about 30 minutes and I woke up about 30 minutes after that. Obviously when you come out of being put to sleep you are very groggy and confused. I couldn't feel any pain. I got dressed and the nurse rolled me to my wifes car and we went home.
I had about 10 stitches (dissolving ones) and a drain tube inserted to help reduce swelling. The first day wasn't bad as everything was numb. When I woke up the second day I had a migraine from hell. Probably from all the drugs the day before. It was hard to walk, but I didn't have any problems peeing.
The third day the pain started to come, honestly the stitches never hurt from beginning to where I am now. The pain I had was from the drain tube. Do not be alarmed when you have a lot of blood from the drain tube for the first 3-4 days, its normal. My surgery was on Friday and the drain tube was removed on Monday.
Swelling. Lots of swelling, expect this. Swelling will most likely be bigger than what the hydrocele was before it was removed. Looked like I was carrying around a softball in my pants. It has been three weeks and the stitches are gone and the drain tube hole is closing. I still have some pain from where the drain tube was, but not to bad. I am walking fine and going back to the gym tomorrow. Swelling has gone down, but still noticable. Feels like a hard rock sitting on top of my testicle. You have to remember, the testicles and sac are very vascular. Lots of tissue and what not so you will have swelling and bruising.
The swelling is smaller now than the original hydrocele and it can take a few months to fully go away. They say people can live with a hydrocele with no long term effects other than it getting bigger, but honestly, why would you want to do this? It's not normal, so why risk anything by just accepting that it is there. Get the surgery done and move on. You will be laid out for about 4 days. I was back to work on Tuesday (Surgery on Friday). Let me know if you have any other questions, don't read into all the horror stories. Everybody's body is different and if you have a solid doctor, they will take care of you.
I was asked about costs. I am on a high deductible plan with my wife to keep our monthly premium low as we are pretty healthy people. The doctor fee was $350. The surgery center is where it gets you. For everything it was $4,900. So in total for me out of pocket was $5,200. Fortuantely I have a HSA account and had the finances in that which are all tax deductible. Just depends on the type of insurance you have. My deductible is now met, so with the little one being born all doctors visits will be paid 100% in full for the rest of the year.
Also- Find a good doctor. It's your body, so always get a second opinion. Make sure you are comfortable with the Urologist
Good luck
Matt
9 likes, 148 replies
mick24946 matt12
Posted
Glad I have found this thread.
From the UK, 67 years old.
I got myself dehydrated a few weeks back (out and about on a hot day), in the days following my flow-rate was low, and I needed to pee more than usual, difficulty starting etc.
After 5 days, noticed my left testicle and scrotum were swollen, and getting painful. Went to A&E, had bloods, urine sample, and ultrasound (the pain of which made me physically sick).
Diagnosed with epididymitis, discharged with a 2 week course of co-trimoxazole.
No better after 2 weeks, back direct to urology rapid access clinic. Doc initially said to have another course of antibiotic, and take Ibuprofen or Naproxen. Then he examined me......
'We are admitting you, either surgery, or intravenous antibiotics, which probably won't work'.
Decided on surgery, scheduled for later that day. This was cancelled as a higher priority emergency took over the theatre I was booked into (got as far as the lifts!).
Following day the did another ultrasound, and I went to theatre early afternoon. The procedure took about an hour, back on the ward after about 2 1/4 hours. Sore, but otherwise OK.
Stitches plus drain (Penrose drain??)
Kept in overnight, surgeon said it was mainly a hydrocele that they drained and stiched up.
Drain came out the following day, it is still seeping very slightly just over a week later.
Discomfort is much reduced, but testicle feels 'bunched up'.
Wearing snug briefs, couldn't get on with the jock-strap.
Surgeon and consultant are arranging follow-up with urology to investigate my prostate, which they say is 'large, but smooth'.
I had all this done on our wonderful NHS - totally free (apart from the tax I pay, and National Insurance I used to pay when working).
Everyone I interacted with was friendly, polite and professional, a superb bunch of people!
Hope my experience helps someone.
davend86 matt12
Posted
One challenge is the pre-op ultrasound of your scrotum. When the young girl applies the gel it may cause potentially embarrassing arousal; On the other hand, if it does not arouse, the gal may feel offended. It's a sticky wicket.
mick24946 matt12
Posted
First ultrasound was so painful, it didn't cause any reaction in that respect!
The second one (different girl(s) - one sonographer, one junior doc) was far more gentle, but no reaction. I think the swelling was so great that I was unable to get an erection under any circumstances!
mick24946 matt12
Posted
Update:
I'm now almost 4 weeks post op, drain stopped seeping after just under three weeks, all stitches disappeared after about 3.5 weeks.
Left testicle is almost back to normal size, but sits higher and has 'bunching' on top (I assume where they have bunched the sac inside?).
Wound site is fine, no discomfort.
Slight tenderness on the scrotum where the bunching is evident, and this means I have to select my underwear carefully! The briefs that give the best support have quite a hard seam on the front, this rubs on the tender bits! So I have gone for a less snug (slightly) pair with a softer seam.
john6969 mick24946
Posted
im day 11 since my hydrocelectomy, incision stopped all traces of blood spots or discharge, i still use a 4 inch pad in my Reebok active wear boxers. i quit the jock strap 3 nights ago. i know what you mean about the stitching inside the underwear.. my hydrocele was 712 ml or 24 ounces, left side, i had a vasectomy at age 24, then developed epididymis for years after.. now at 68 the coconut hydrocele never hurt. but, i looked like an old porno star in pants. and difficult to sleep at night always flopping over my leg to the mattress. the only pain i feel is left side like a pinching, tuck and pull upper left nut. ice is still my best friend. im not as swollen as before surgery . but, my weiner shrunk more since surgery with scrotal swelling making it difficult to urinate without going all over the incision, so i push down on my sack to get willie out, then use an old plastic sports drink powder mixer cup, works perfect! 4 more weeks till i see my urologist. but glad i did the surgery 11 days ago..i need softer seamless suportive underwear with a large pouch if i ever find any.
mick24946 john6969
Posted
I just couldn't get on with a jock strap, had one immediately after surgery but ditched it the day after (before discharged from hospital). They checked the briefs I was planning to wear and they approved.
My hydrocele developed from epididymitis, and was VERY painful! I was admitted as an emergency to have surgery.
john6969 mick24946
Posted
best of luck to you my friend! glad things are better. i agree jocks were like hanging in a vice grip. ouch...