Colder Weather Returns

I forgot how much colder it is up here in the pacific NW. But I am adjusting without too much difficulty. I was concerned the cold weather might affect my boys a little bit (boys being a euphemism, not my children). When it's colder, they tend to hug the body a little bit more. Sometimes, the cramped conditions can spur on some racking paid, especially on that left side.

But so far so good. No problems yet with that. However, I still can't bring myself to wear tight fitting trousers. I do have a pair of tighter jeans and the last time I wore them, I must have accidentally racked myself at least two times. So I try to stick with looser slacks, kacki's or sweat pants.

One thing I've learned, once you have PVPS or probably any type of testicular pain, you don't want to crowd them too much.

My pain lately has been improved, since my "Indian-style" sitting mishap. I had a slight twinge of racking pain Saturday morning, but a day of hiking cured that. Like I've said throughout this experience, walking seems to help. Probably a blood flow thing or a nerve entrapment thing. Regardless, walking is good...at least for me it is good.

Interestingly, my lower back has hurt more than anything else lately. Sometimes there seems to be a connection between back pain and PVPS pain. I've heard some guys on the forum relate some type of vague connection. But my PVPS hasn't been anything out of the ordinary, despite the lower back aches.

We're going to join some kind of a gym up here today. In case it gets too cold to get activity outdoors, I'll have some place inside to turn to. They have a gymnasium and the usual treadmills, etc. I'm hoping to mix it up a little bit instead of just getting on the treadmill. We'll see.

It Happened Again in the Cold

I was out in the cold again. And again, my left side started having that racking sensation again. The pain stayed with me until I got the boys warmed up by going inside. So, I think I'll start wearing thermal pants when I go outside. I also think I'm going to get a gym membership somewhere so I can walk on the treadmill and get more reliable exercise/walking.

This cold damp rain of the pacific NW is great for keeping everything green, but it also keeps me from getting outdoors to walk like I should. I suppose I could invest in some warmer clothes or rain gear, but I think I'll just bone up and pay the $32 per month for a membership somewhere. This is a gym close by the house that I could go to.

Walking still seems like an important cog in my coping wheel. Since I've stopped walking (with the colder weather), my legs are pretty tight. My back even hurts more. So I guess my body is telling me something.

So if you wonder if temperature makes a difference in your testicular pain, I think the answer is yes. The colder, the more snug they're up in you and so the more pressure is put on scar tissue, etc. Then those get pushed against nerves and before you know it, you're having pain.

At least, that's my latest theory. Maybe that's another reason why hot baths provide such relief. It allows the boys to hang a little more freely.

Cold Weather Effect on Scrotal Pain

I always wondered if the colder weather of the pacific NW would have an impact on my scrotal pain. Well, last night I started to have a crushing/racking pain on my left side. Now, I'm not sure if the cold weather was the cause of this phenomena or perhaps the sitting I did prior to bed time. But my sitting tolerance has been somewhat improved lately. Although, I still hate to put myself at risk by sitting for long periods of time on my computer chair. But I digress...anyway, like I said, I was having this pain last night prior to going to bed. It was very painful, maybe a 3-4 on a 1-10 pain scale.

I checked out the boys in the bathroom before crawling into bed and they were pulled up extremely high. That is what got me wondering if there is a correlation between them being so high and the racking pain. Then I got under the warm covers and started to feel better after about 5 minutes. Now maybe it was because I was laying down or maybe it was because the warmth of the collected body heat under the covers. I'm not sure.

As usual, that's the thing with post vasectomy pain or reversal pain, you're just not sure what's causing the pain. Could be the cold, could be the sitting. Could also be the fact I haven't walked in several days. Maybe it was just a cycle thing and the pain was going to be there regardless of anything else. But I can't really complain. The pain has been so much better lately.

Now when I get sensations and pain, I'm disappointed because in the back of my mind I keep allowing myself to think the pain will be gone forever. I know those are dangerous thoughts because when I do have pain, I become disappointed. That means I'm putting myself on that emotional roller-coaster again - which isn't very fun. So, I'm trying to keep perspective and not let myself dream too much. Remaining subdued is the best approach. Don't get too high or too low...stay on an even keel.

Anyway, this morning, all seems okay. Just the normal awareness that my scrotum is down there. King of like an upset stomach. It may not necessarily hurt, but you can feel your stomach. Well, that's how my scrotum is most days, no real pain per se', but I know it's there.

The Vasectomy Pain is Back - Sort of

Yesterday was a busy day around the house. I was feeling great though, and I didn't have any pain at all. I painted, I installed a new ceiling light, I drove a few errands in the car, I actually felt normal. That is probably the best day I've had since my vasectomy reversal surgery back in December.

Today I woke up feeling okay. "Wow", I thought. All that work yesterday and I'm waking up feeling just as good. However, I did stretch out pretty hard this morning in bed before I got up. I stretched my legs and arms like I haven't done in quite a while. Then I felt a slight sensation in my groin. Nothing that was painful or even that noticeable, to be honest with you. Just something that reminded me that I probably shouldn't be stretching that aggressively because something bad might happen.

I got dressed, drove us all to church, sat down and then "Wham". A pain came out of nowhere on my left groin side. Then "wham" again and a couple more times. Then we drove home (my wife drove this time) and I made a sandwich. Then my right side started hurting. I was having nerve pain again. In fact, as I type this, the nerve pain is hitting me on the right side.

I took the Rapaflo last night, just like I have the last several nights. But now, the pain is back. However, I think the pain on my left is still related to that pesky spermatocele. Today just happens to be only 54 degrees. When it's cold outside, my scrotum pulls up to my body and pushes that spermatocele into stuff that shouldn't be getting pressed upon. What about the right sided nerve pain? I think that is simply from me over doing it yesterday.

So today, I'm taking it easy. I'm going to help my son with his biography of John Wycliffe for school. Make sure he's ready for his spelling and history test at school tomorrow, and then I'm turning in early. We have almost everything done at our house. Just some packing away stuff for storage, add a touch up of paint here and there, etc. The big projects seem to be done. I have a couple of neighborhood kids taking care of the landscaping, mowing, edging, etc., so hopefully, I can continue to heal up in my pelvic area.

Oh, and not that this has anything to do with vasectomy side effects, but I was asked to teach next week's Sunday School for the 7-10 years olds. That's the first time our church has asked me to do anything like that. I hope I don't let them or the children down. It's quite an honor that I take seriously. Well, that's about it. Until next time, don't get a vasectomy.