How Bad was it?

[saywhat (imported)]

I am scheduled to have one nut taken off (going the one at a time rout) via the inguinal approach. I'm starting to get the jitters (fear of the unknown). Who here has had that procedure done and what was your experience? How long to recover? How much pain etc. Thanks all.

- Oh also second surgery should have scrotum removal please add your experiences about that as well. Thanks again.

[clysmaniac (imported)]

The imguinal approach is more involved than just having them or one removed thru the scrotum and is less common. I had a biopsy where my left testicle was removed from the scrotum and examined so a piece could be removed and sent to the lab. Then the testicle was sewed up and everything was put back together. And about 4 months later, both were removed thru incisions in the top of my scrotum. I was up and about the next day- not moving fast but moving. Two weeks was plenty to be back to my new normal. I used about 10 Tylenol 3 tablets for pain so it wasn't bad but I'm not sure how much is revelant to your surgery. I think graylayer had his castration done inguinally. I'm guessing that an inguinal castration would be much like a hernia repair and you might have more experiences if you searched for that.

[unencumbered (imported)]

Why only one?

[bobbie (imported)]

Your profile does not give any reason for castration. Having it done by a surgeon this way would indicated a medical problem. Having only one testicle will not give much effect of castration other then the lack of a testicle. You are not telling us much information to give any answers.

[Riverwind (imported)]

Bobbie is correct, please tell us more about yourself then we will know better how to point you in the right direction.

Loosing one testicle is nothing, and will most likely have no effect on your T count or libido.

River

[graylayer02 (imported)]

Honestly, I don't see the point of getting one testicle removed inguinally if there's any way you can get two done. It's pretty horrible, and your reward for going through that? Going through that AGAIN. Just about the only benefit is that the cords are pretty well cleaned out as well.

It took about a month before I could say that I was doing well. The first week was truly awful; the second week was somewhat awful; and the scarring isn't nice.

The scrotum bit is moot for me since that's coming off with some other stuff fairly soon, and I had no way to get it done scrotally. But if you have the option to get done scrotally, I'd recommend that 110%.

[gandalf (imported)]

I am scheduled to have one nut taken off (going the one at a time rout) via the inguinal approach. I'm starting to get the jitters (fear of the unknown). Who here has had that procedure done and what was your experience? How long to recover? How much pain etc. Thanks all.

- Oh also second surgery should have scrotum removal please add your experiences about that as well. Thanks again.

I had mine done that way. I had no problems with it. I did not try to do much for a couple of days but after that I was o.k. I also am one of those people who do not experience a lot of pain unless it is very severe ( like when my nuts acted up). I just followed the Dr.'s orders with ice , etc. and got along fine. I actually kept my scrotum for two years after losing my nots. and then was able yto get the Dr. to remove it. Actuially, what I did was ask my Dr. about a plastic surgeon in order to get it removed. He checked it and said he could remove it, so I let him. Very good job it was too.

Gandalf

[saywhat (imported)]

****Revised**** My story in a Nutshell for those who have not seen my prior posts.

Hi all,

The reasons I am having this done are many. I have never really liked my nuts. They were very large when I was younger and I was very addicted to sex, to the point of masturbating before and or after having sex with my wife. At first she put up with it for a long time so no problems, but then after having children her drive dropped. I found myself so frustrated that I felt I needed to do something. Also I have two beautiful daughters, and though I'm no pedophile my sex drive worried me. I don't believe I am capable of abusing them, but I bet others felt the same way before they crossed the line. Also I don't believe that I would commit adultery, but again most people who do didn't either.

At first I tried crushing my testicles which actually did help a little. My testicles lost half their size and my drive lowered. Then I tried over driving them by using high levels of Hcg. This worked but was only temporary. I had asked my wifes permission to get rid of them but she thought I just needed counseling for my addiction. I went back to crushing... I turned to using a pair of welding c-clamp type vise grips and crush them down to about 5mm (slowly over time). This was very painful but wasn't as effective as I hoped. My T got down to 280 but after few months back up to 421mg/dL, so that's when I approached my wife again and she realized how much it meant to me, and agreed to let me pursue this.

I then started ethanol injections (I didn't tell here what I was doing to kill them or else she would have had me committed). This started out working well, but was getting more and more painful. After 15 cycles I thought for sure I was done (at least I couldn't take the pain anymore). I went to th Urologist complaining of pain and had US done... Despite the fact that they are shriveled up hard nuggets they still had some functional areas which has kept my T level up. They'd were worried about the look of them so they did an open biopsy which just showed the necrosed tissue. The pain from that biopsy was worse than anything I had ever done to myself.

I have had pain from all of my mucking around for 6 months now. My Urologist still does not know why my testicles infarcted but said that it is uncommon but not unheard of (must be others out there). He has seen similar before, and has removed testicles due to pain regularly (about one a week). He has agreed to remove one and see how the pain goes. If I tolerate it well he will do the other since it appears it is not going to work well for too much longer anyway.

He believes that an inguinal approach will lead to less future problems. Since I am still younger it decreases chance of getting cancer in remaining cord, and the higher it is cut the less likely that you will have stump pain.

My ultimate goal is not total "eunuch calm," but to have control of my levels. My wife cycles with her drive and I would like to be more in rhythm with her. Also I have noticed that at lower levels I am much more caring than at higher T. So in a nutshell that's my story. I am a heterosexual male who loves sex with his wife (sometimes too much). I do have at least some level of BDD or else I wouldn't like the clean look. I despise the look of my nut sac hanging between my legs. I believe that many men feel the same way, but just don't admit it. Who didn't tuck their nuts in and pull their nut sac up and over as children? Ok maybe a few, but I think most have. Despite it all I am a Christian who dose not blame God for making me this way, there are many ways to deal with the issues I have. Some may choose to go to counseling some may choose to ignore their desires, I chose this path. I did pray about it, but they didn't just fall off like I had wished they would. Looking back it was a ridiculous prayer.

My advice to those reading this and considering castration... Please don't do what I have done. If you think you need this try chemical first. I am committing myself to a lifetime of meds and tests. That is pretty unnerving.

*************************Revised****************** ****

[Batman (imported)]

I'm not by any means an expert, but since this approach to removal is more invasive, wouldn't it make more sense and be safer to get them both in one surgery rather than two?

[Sweetpickle (imported)]

Just because you have a urologist doesn't mean you have one who knows

a lot about castration.

Sounds like he is uncertain about the results and wants to hesitate.

How angry will he be if you ask for a second opinion on the one-at-a-time-inguinal approach?

[gandalf (imported)]

My urologist did mine one at a time. Primarily, I think it was to be sure I wanted them both removed. He even wanted to try removing the epididymus of the remaining testicle. I reminded him that the right side was the side he tried to deaden with novacain (which didn't work). He also used the inguinal canal route to remove mine. It was very easy, relatively pain free. He gave me pain med but I only used one each time and reverted to ibuprophen because some of the pain med tends to cause constipation in me.

I would think that the urologist who opts for the inguinal route for removal is making sure there are no more complications that necessary. AND after reading some of the horror stories that happened with removal through the scrotum, I can say I am very glad my urologist wanted to use the inguinal canal route.

Hope this helps ease your mind.

Gandalf

[Riverwind (imported)]

I had mine removed one at a time, first the left one then the right one, then I went home. NO regrets.

River

[saywhat (imported)]

revised my last post. My thumbs are big and my iphone is small. Glad you all could understand what I had wrtitten.

[saywhat (imported)]

Anybody else? Thanks for the responses I have gotten. I thought for sure there were more people who had an inguinal approach. I guess I can ask the Urologist if he would consider a scrotal approach. How long was the recovery from that?

[unencumbered (imported)]

Hello saywhat,

From what I have read, testicular cancer patients have their testes removed by the inguinal method. You may want to check some of the sites that are focused on TC to get some feedback on recovery times, etc.

noname

[Riverwind (imported)]

Actually I know of a couple of guys who had that done, their recovery was less and less dangerous than through the scrotum. less chance of infection so if that is the way your doctor wants to go I would recommend it.

River

[saywhat (imported)]

Thanks for the responses y'all. I did chicken out of the inguinal approach and got him to do the scrotal approach instead. I am very happy that I did. I have very little pain from the procedure. One down one to go.

Now, one more question... For those of you who have had your scrotum removed, once again how bad was it?? Should I wait and have it done separately? Or is it tolerable to have the second one and scrotum removed at the same time?

[unencumbered (imported)]

Best of luck on your recovery and keep us informed.

[Toni (imported)]

Hi Saywhat . I have had my testicles removed, via the inguinal approach, and like yourself one at a time. The surgery went very smooth, not much post pain, and "off the shelf" pain killers was all I needed. Within ten days I was back to my normal self. The stitches did seem a little tight for the first few days. I am now left with two diagonal scar's, slightly purple in colour, about 10cm in length and 3mm wide. It's now been several years, and no complications to date.

Hope everything goes well for you.

Toni x

PS: I did have the most gorgeous anaethetist both times, and went under the knife with a big smile on my face and pleasant thoughts in mind lol.

[saywhat (imported)]

Thanks Toni! I am very pleased with the results of the first side so far. I hope the second goes as well. I may have the inguinal approach for this one since my pain is mainly on that side and goes up into my groin. If not then I will have the scrotal approach again.

Anybody have experience to share with scrotectomy (scrotal removal)? How bad was it, did you recover quickly? Should I wait or have it done at the same time?

Thanks

[mrt (imported)]

I had mine done by inguinal and I do suggest it for pain. Its hard to follow where your at but the approach that I think is best is to have them removed though an inguinal incision then fish out the cords and cut as high as possible. Scrotal orchiectomy often causes pain further down the line. Its possible the cord will try to reattach to the scrotum (ouch!) or some other place because its not cut high enough. *Unless they use special tools to go up inside you.

As to "matching" your wifes sex drive. Sheesh... I've heard this before and my suggestion is that you might have understood that people are different and its unlikely even with HRT that your going to be able to closely match drives. You also have signed up for a lifetime of treatment and depending on your insurance could be a serious issue money wise and doctors visit wise. Your also signing up for a yearly physical, PSA, DRE to be sure you don't grow cancer with the Hormones you take. "if" you ever do get cancer you can expect to be denied HRT and be pretty miserable. Like doing the high wire without a net.

Anyhow, its too late to change your mind since you took this into your own hands. I would for one not BS your doctor. He/She is probably spending time trying to figure out how you got this way and its pointless having them try to understand or "fix" what you did. Going on HRT will be complicated as it always seems to take some fiddling to get a dose that works right and you should keep it in mind that this may change. And that you may not be aware that your changing for the worse. Keep you wife in "observe" mode and don't be surprised if your sex drive goes to zero and you don't notice (And she does, and feels anger and rejection)

[saywhat (imported)]

Hi MrT,

Thanks for your input. As I wrote before it is much more than just the matching to my wifes drive. I have always hated the look of them. I always fantisized about not having them. So this decision was not taken lightly. First one is gone and I am looking forward to the second.

The only "BS" my doctor has is that he does not know what the cause of the damage was, but he is not making a big deal of it either. I half think he knows that it was intentional.

************************************************** ********

For anyone who is using alcohol injections.

My pathology report came back and it showed 70% involvement (meaning dead) of the testicular tissue and punctate areas of hemorrhage.

[unencumbered (imported)]

Does the insurance company typically see the pathology report? Wouldn't they refuse to pay if it was shown that the cause was intentional?

[saywhat (imported)]

Does the insurance company typically see the pathology report? Wouldn't they refuse to pay if it was shown that the cause was intentional?

I'm not sure, I don't have conventional insurance. The path report did not suggest intentional, the only "diagnosis" was idiopathic infarction.

Idiopathic = Idio=Unknown or naturally caused Pathic(pathos)disease

or as is taught in med school Idio=Idiot(Dr.) cant find pathos=disease

or in my case more like Idio=Idiot(Me) pathos=caused