I just had a varicocele repaired and I have some concerns. My case seems to have different outcomes than I'm reading about elsewhere.
I had my surgery 4 days ago. The pain is pretty bad, and my scrotum is literally the size of an orange. I have penis swelling as well.
My bandage got wet today so I took it off. I saw there was a 5" incision. Isn't 5 inches extreme for this type of surgery?
Additionally, I was given nothing to help the swelling or supporters that I've seen other people received.
I had my surgery 4 days ago. The pain is pretty bad, and my scrotum is literally the size of an orange. I have penis swelling as well.
My bandage got wet today so I took it off. I saw there was a 5" incision. Isn't 5 inches extreme for this type of surgery?
Additionally, I was given nothing to help the swelling or supporters that I've seen other people received.
Did you ASK for a supporter?
Did the doctor discuss post-op care with you or a loved one?
A five inch scar may be right for YOUR circumstances, but others may have required a 7 inch incision... or a 3 inch. YOUR DOCTOR provides your care... your SURGEON decides where to cut and how much to cut.
Perhaps your structures needed more room to be accessed.
Did you have a very large varicocele? I assume that it must have been in order to require surgery. Did it cause you pain? I assume it must have to undergo surgery.
My surgeon has recommended surgery within two months for removal of a varicocele and a hydrocele. However, since I have NO symptoms, NO pain, and NO fertility issues, I have decided against it. Why bother if i'm not in trouble?
Your best source of information about your condition, is your doctor. I would go back to them and ask what can be done about the swelling. Is there any treatment?
Are you using ice packs?
Are you staying prone or seated for the majority of the day?
Have you applied a fresh bandage to keep the incision clean and clear?
Did the doctor discuss post-op care with you or a loved one?
A five inch scar may be right for YOUR circumstances, but others may have required a 7 inch incision... or a 3 inch. YOUR DOCTOR provides your care... your SURGEON decides where to cut and how much to cut.
Perhaps your structures needed more room to be accessed.
Did you have a very large varicocele? I assume that it must have been in order to require surgery. Did it cause you pain? I assume it must have to undergo surgery.
My surgeon has recommended surgery within two months for removal of a varicocele and a hydrocele. However, since I have NO symptoms, NO pain, and NO fertility issues, I have decided against it. Why bother if i'm not in trouble?
Your best source of information about your condition, is your doctor. I would go back to them and ask what can be done about the swelling. Is there any treatment?
Are you using ice packs?
Are you staying prone or seated for the majority of the day?
Have you applied a fresh bandage to keep the incision clean and clear?
Did you ASK for a supporter? No. I wouldn't know to ask for a supporter.
Did the doctor discuss post-op care with you or a loved one? No. Additionally, the nurses were shocked he didn't leave any instructions.
A five inch scar may be right for YOUR circumstances, but others may have required a 7 inch incision... or a 3 inch. YOUR DOCTOR provides your care... your SURGEON decides where to cut and how much to cut.
My doctor and my surgeon are the same person.
Perhaps your structures needed more room to be accessed. Perhaps. I don't know.
Did you have a very large varicocele? I assume that it must have been in order to require surgery. Did it cause you pain? I assume it must have to undergo surgery.
I did have a large varicocele. It caused me no pain, however. I was referred to the urologist by my wife's OBGYN for fertility tests. The urologist suggested I remove the varicocele. I've had, and known about it, since I was a child.
Why bother if i'm not in trouble?
I agree. That's been my thought for 20+ years. However, now that my SA showed abnormal morphology, my urologist suggested reparing the varicocele. I followed his suggestion.
Your best source of information about your condition, is your doctor. I would go back to them and ask what can be done about the swelling. Is there any treatment?
That's what I'm doing tomorrow. He seemed concerned about the swelling.
Are you using ice packs?
I am.
Are you staying prone or seated for the majority of the day? I have been. Moving is quite painful. Once I'm on my feet the pain is minimal and I can move without much difficulty. That's new as of today. I went for a walk today and tried to stay on my feet more.
Have you applied a fresh bandage to keep the incision clean and clear? I was told not to remove or change the bandage. Today, however, I took a shower (the nurse who gave a wellness call today said I could start showering today, since the bandage was waterproof) and the bandage turned out to not be waterproof and water got in. I took the old one off to replace it and that's when I saw the incision that was much larger than I expected it to be. The incision looked clean and clear.
Did the doctor discuss post-op care with you or a loved one? No. Additionally, the nurses were shocked he didn't leave any instructions.
A five inch scar may be right for YOUR circumstances, but others may have required a 7 inch incision... or a 3 inch. YOUR DOCTOR provides your care... your SURGEON decides where to cut and how much to cut.
My doctor and my surgeon are the same person.
Perhaps your structures needed more room to be accessed. Perhaps. I don't know.
Did you have a very large varicocele? I assume that it must have been in order to require surgery. Did it cause you pain? I assume it must have to undergo surgery.
I did have a large varicocele. It caused me no pain, however. I was referred to the urologist by my wife's OBGYN for fertility tests. The urologist suggested I remove the varicocele. I've had, and known about it, since I was a child.
Why bother if i'm not in trouble?
I agree. That's been my thought for 20+ years. However, now that my SA showed abnormal morphology, my urologist suggested reparing the varicocele. I followed his suggestion.
Your best source of information about your condition, is your doctor. I would go back to them and ask what can be done about the swelling. Is there any treatment?
That's what I'm doing tomorrow. He seemed concerned about the swelling.
Are you using ice packs?
I am.
Are you staying prone or seated for the majority of the day? I have been. Moving is quite painful. Once I'm on my feet the pain is minimal and I can move without much difficulty. That's new as of today. I went for a walk today and tried to stay on my feet more.
Have you applied a fresh bandage to keep the incision clean and clear? I was told not to remove or change the bandage. Today, however, I took a shower (the nurse who gave a wellness call today said I could start showering today, since the bandage was waterproof) and the bandage turned out to not be waterproof and water got in. I took the old one off to replace it and that's when I saw the incision that was much larger than I expected it to be. The incision looked clean and clear.
Sorry. I tried to change the fault color of my replies but they didn't seem to stick. I hope you can make it out.
S'alright.
Now that I reread my response, I'm sorry if it seemed less than supportive.
It DOES sound unusual that the Doctor provided NO post-op care advice or instructions.
It does sound like you are getting quality opinions, and that a welness nurse is calling on you. It's too bad that she was wrong about a waterproof bandage.
Do keep it clean and dry. But I would also let your doctor know how distressed you are that you had no post-op instructions.
It does make sense that you had the surgery for fertility issues. If you had a large varicocele, it may have required a larger incision. ALL scars appear to be larger than necessary...especially when it's YOUR scar. 8-|
Now that I reread my response, I'm sorry if it seemed less than supportive.
It DOES sound unusual that the Doctor provided NO post-op care advice or instructions.
It does sound like you are getting quality opinions, and that a welness nurse is calling on you. It's too bad that she was wrong about a waterproof bandage.
Do keep it clean and dry. But I would also let your doctor know how distressed you are that you had no post-op instructions.
It does make sense that you had the surgery for fertility issues. If you had a large varicocele, it may have required a larger incision. ALL scars appear to be larger than necessary...especially when it's YOUR scar. 8-|