A New Normal

I think this title sums everything up rather well. I'm experiencing a new normal in my life with regards to my post vasectomy pain symptoms. The swelling I experienced last month is still present. The random aches and pains continue. Life still revolves, somewhat, around how I'm feeling down there.

Viewpoint has a lot to do with everything. Is your cup half empty or half full. What a difference your approach makes. I believe having 'a new normal' approach is most helpful to me. When I experience a change in my symptoms, I just tell myself, "No big deal, it's just a new normal". For whatever reason, that seems to work for me. It keeps me off the emotional roller-coaster of getting too high when things are great and too low when everything kind of sucks.

So here's my most recent update since last month...I still have swelling on my right side. I'm having inexplicable pains or spasms, radiating out from my right groin area which extend to my right thigh, buttocks, lower back and side. This seems to result from over activity involving too much standing. Tylenol seems to help this pain, as I took 1000 mgs last night with good results.

I have had a change in my cardiac medicine. I'm now off the Coreg, which was an alpha and beta blocker. Now I'm taking Metoprolol, which is only a beta blocker. I'm wondering if removing the 'alpha blocking' component with impact how I feel in my groin, as I think alpha blockers are sometimes prescribed for men with prostate/urine flow issues. We'll see.

Other than that, not much else has changed. For those inclined, here is a link to my book about my vasectomy experience.

Weathering the Storm

Could it be the epididymitis has passed? I'm not really sure. There isn't that nagging pain down there (unless I sit for too long). The swelling is still present, but not as prominent as the last few weeks have been. I hope it is passed. I hope it never comes back. But it will I'm sure. The only question is when. Hopefully it will be a long time, like decades.

In the meantime, things seem to have returned to 'normal', whatever that is. I still get random pains here and there. No real rhyme or reason to them, just 'cause I guess. I have a doctor's appointment with a new cardiologist this week. I pray my heart is in good shape, despite the lack of activity induced by the PVPS.

It seems the older I get, the more unsteady the ground is; the more plates I try to keep spinning in the air at one time. Reminds me that I can't do it by myself. Thank God I have Jesus to get me through. Seriously, how else can I do it. My decisions always stink and mess things up. The more I have tried to control, the more things get turned upside down. But when I wait on the Lord to answer my prayers and provide for me, the better the outcomes. I know that sounds weird, especially if you don't believe like I do, but it's absolutely the truth. I just can't make stuff like this up.

I could tell you story after story, but probably not entirely appropriate for a PVPS blog. Maybe some day though. Who knows, maybe I'll write a book about it.

The Pain Continues

This epididymitis continues on my right side. I've taken a couple of weeks worth of ibuprofen, mixed with some tylenol which has helped the day to day pain. However, I was hoping the swelling would go down a little bit more than it has.

Surprisingly, my wife and I have been intimate a few times since this began. I wasn't sure what would happen if I had an E.J. But, it doesn't appear to have made it worse and perhaps, it has helped a little bit (I'm not really sure, because of all the OTC pain meds I'm taking).

The real problem is when I have a day at work that involves a lot of sitting. Sitting is just a killer for me right now. Then again, so is standing for long periods of time (like when I umpired my son's 2-hr baseball game yesterday).

The pain in my scrotum definitely puts a damper on just about everything in my day. But I think I can tolerate it as long as it doesn't get any worse. Now the likelihood of it not getting worse is pretty slim, I know. But that is my approach now. If other people can live with chronic pain, then so can I. I don't like it, but what are you going to do...it's not like I have a lot of options at this point. More surgery is out of the question and I'm not taking anymore antibiotics or steroids. That just leaves prayer and living with it. Thankfully, Jesus gives me the strength and patience to do that. Again, I don't like this option, but as I said before, my options are pretty few and far between. At least this option has paid dividends and is more reliable than anything I have tried before.

So faith in a loving God and savior, along with my eternal perspective is all I have left. That should be enough for anyone.

Major Disappointment - Vasectomy Reversal Failure

I always knew in the back of my mind that my vasectomy reversal may not work. If the symptoms I am experiencing and visualizing can be believed, than I believe my epididymitis has returned. I really thought the vasectomy reversal was the answer to my problems, but it has caused way more problems that it solved, especially since it seems to not have solved anything.

So I return to square one, chronic epididymitis. I really don't want any more surgery for fear of making the nerve-like pain worse. But then, what do I do about a chronically inflamed epididymis? I guess I return to the old stand-by's: hot soaking baths, ibuprofen and I suppose steroids if it gets too bad.

The challenge is this, I am not supposed to take a lot of NSAIDs (ibuprofen) because of my cardiomyopathy (heart weakness). So I guess I am to suffer my remaining days with a swollen scrotum - by the way, I'm only 45 years old. Kind of sucks, that's true, but what can you do.

I made the decision to have a vasectomy several years ago and now I have to live with the consequences. I feel like I have grown as a person because of the ordeal I've gone through. I also believe my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is much stronger as well. I just wish I didn't have to continue to suffer. But Jesus gives me the strength to continue and he's there when I cry out asking "why" and seeking "help".

So from someone who is in the medical field and wound up suffering this unimaginable fate, please take a word of advice from me - get the facts before you have a vasectomy; ask yourself why you want the vasectomy (is it just for convenience). :Let's face it, if conventional birth control has worked thus far, then why can't it continue to work in your later years? Just something to think about.

Not Sure What Happened Last Night

Last night I went to bed like any other night. I kept waking up having to adjust the pillow between my knees. I vaguely remember having an itch down there when I woke up too, but I can't remember exactly. Anyway, I woke up immediately this morning, briefly, after I had this dream that I got racked. The pillow was still between my knees. I woke up in pain, but it quickly faded, within seconds. So I'm not sure what really transpired. Was it a dream, did I accidentally hit myself in my sleep, did my knees slip briefly, pinching my boys? Honestly, I wish I knew.

Because this morning, I'm having this pain behind and to the right of my right testicle, where the epididymous is. I'd rate it about a 2-3. More nuisance than pain, at this point anyway. I'll probably take some tylenol with lunch to see if it helps. I was on the computer last night for about 2 hours, sitting! But I didn't have any pain at all last night.

I've been walking a lot and stretched out two nights ago, but again, I was pain free yesterday. I am coming up on my 1 year vasectomy reversal anniversary. I really hope nothing bad is happening down there. I'm finally to the point where I feel somewhat normal. Like I could hold down a job without worrying about my physical abilities.

I just pray that the pain is nothing more than pain, rather than a symptom of something bad taking place down there. There was a new person on the forum that I replied to. Her husband had a vasectomy 1 year ago and woke up the other day with epididymitis (presumably). I explained how I had a similar experience and now here I am waking up this morning with this weird pain.

Working Harder and Feeling Better

If anyone thinks that messing with your scrotum with a surgery is a safe and understood practice, I've got a personal experience that will throw you a monkey wrench. I had my vasectomy and then I started having problems. Every six months, I'd have epididymitis. Then in became everyday and I started having epididymitis on the other side.

So I have a vasectomy reversal and took it easy for a few months while I recovered. Then I start having horrible nerve pain in my inguinal area about 1 month after my reversal. I also had a lengthy period of substantial swelling. I took a medicine called rapaflo and it helped the nerve pain. Why? Nobody knows. I stopped taking the medicine and the pain returned. In fact, it returned with a vengence.

The pain was so bad, I was literally, sprawled out on the kitchen table crying and screaming because the pain was so horrible. I took some major pain medication and started wearing an athletic supporter. Why, I don't know. It just seemed like a good idea.

Now, we're trying to sell our house so we can move. I've had to do a lot of hard work, i.e.: lifting boxes, laying down sod, painting, moving furniture, etc. You'd think the pain would get worse, but it has actually improved.

I can't explain it. But here's what I've learned so far. Recovering from a vasectomy or reversal or any other type of surgery down there can be a frustrating to deal with. In fact, frustrating isn't even the right word. Helpless is probably a better description.

I know I haven't blogged in a couple of days, since my computer is in storage. I'm currently at the library typing this. Basically though, I feel better. I'm working harder around the house. I still have the occassional weird sensation down there, but nothing that hurts for very long or has any teeth. I thank God for where I am today. I just pray it will continue to improve.

I can't explain it. Not sure the smartest doctors can explain it. Bottom line - don't mess with your stuff down there. It's just not worth it.

Feeling a little better

Okay, I think I'm getting the hang of this post reversal nerve pain stuff. Here is a list of things that upset my nerves, followed by a list of things that make them feel better. I do have a disclaimer though. The nerve pain has a mind of its own. It doesn't need the rest of me to decide as to whether its going to hurt or not.

Makes pain worse:

1. A lot of driving
2. A lot of sitting on a harder surface
3. Sitting upright for a moderate period of time (like at the computer)
4. Sitting forward for about 15 seconds
5. Lots of standing
6. Lots of activity
7. Lifting heavy objects, like my kids
8. Any abdominal straining
9. Tight pants (like jeans)
10. Yard work (digging flower beds - straining)


Makes pain better:

1. Mixing up my standing, sitting, reclining, walking
2. Moderate activity, with no lifting
3. Laying flat on back
4. Tylenol
5. Ibuprofen
6. Staying off computer
7. Keeping legs uncrossed
8. Sleeping on back with pillow under knees
9. Cruise control when driving
10. Wearing basketball shorts

This is not a comprehensive list, but I'm starting to get the idea. It is surprising that sitting upright would cause me pain, but it does. Maybe I need to lose some of my belly fat. I'm not that fat to begin with (I wear a size 33 waist pants), but my belly could use some exercise. After all, I haven't been able to exercise since last August because of the chronic epididymitis and then reversal surgery.

I haven't had any more pain while urinating, since my last mention. Interesting, but as a general rule, I can tell what kind of day its going to be when I first wake up. But remember, the above disclaimer does still apply.

Journal Entry

So much for the 80 degree weather. Back in the low 50's and I think I've discovered a pattern. It seems like when it's cold, my testicles move up into my body and that creates a "racking" sensation on my left side. You see, since my vasectomy reversal in December of 2010, I've had this little puffy thing on top of my left testicle. Some have described it as a spermatocele. If it is a spermatocele, then it may go away on its own, or it may not. Crazy isn't it?

Anyway, this used to be soft and squishy. When my urologist would examine me, he could squeeze it without hurting it. Of course, then it would ache for the next two days. Well, now it isn't nearly as squishy. It's kind of becoming hardened and when it moves up inside of me (on colder days) I notice the pain. I'm also having some referred pain behind my left kidney that moves from my left hip. That's new.

My right side kind of aches a little bit and then it doesn't. It is being very fickle today. I did a lot of yard work yesterday, so maybe it's just reacting to the increased activity.

I also have a lot of questions about epididymitis and why mine manifested the way it did. I've asked the group one of my questions. Hopefully, I'll get some feedback from them. I guess that's it for today. I wonder what crazy new pain or sensation I'll have to write about tomorrow.

Vasectomy Side Effects First Blog

Welcome to my first blog about vasectomy side effects. I know, you thought there weren't any side effects, right? You thought a vasectomy is no big deal; everyone else in the office has had one; your wife might even be pressuring you to get one. Well, there is a little dirty secret that nobody talks about when it comes to vasectomies.

The secret is called Post Vasectomy Pain Syndrome or PVPS for short. It usually takes on two forms.

1. Varying degrees of nerve pain - from debilitating to inconvenient.

2. Epididymitis (epi-did-i-my-tus). I know, that's a mouth full.

I will start by telling you my story. I had a vasectomy 5.5 years ago. Six months later, I had swelling in my scrotum which was not very comfortable. After a scrotal ultrasound - yep, I didn't know they could do that either - I was diagnosed with epididymitis. No big deal my uro doc told me, just take some antibiotics and a steroid dose pack and I should be ship shape in no time. Then every 6 months, this pattern would repeat.

It turns out, somewhere between 7-15% of all men who have a vasectomy end up with some sort of pain syndrome. That's 1 out of every 10 guys that have a vasectomy. Lucky me I guess.

Okay, now I've had a reversal to see if that will fix my problem. Now since the reversal, I have a nerve pain that feels like a dull ache on the right side of my scrotum. I also have a flash of pain that hits me out of the blue in various places between my belly button and groin. I would rate it a 7 on a 1-10 pain scale where 10 is the most intolerant pain you could imagine.

So basically, there is no simple fix to this problem. Once you have it, you have it. Sometimes the surgical treatments work, sometimes they don't, sometimes they make it worse. Sometimes leaving it alone and treating it conservatively it the right thing and sometimes it's the wrong thing.

This is a very insidious syndrome because it is so poorly understood. Most urologists who perform vasectomies never experience patients with this problem.

Because vasectomies are such a big business, very little information gets out about this syndrome, but believe me, it's very real. I joined a support group a couple of weeks ago and now I am trying to do my part to get the word out, about what many of us suffer from. Post vasectomy pain syndrome can be just as debilitating as any other disease you can think of. It may not cause death, but I'm certain many men would have preferred it.

Please visit the forum's link if you want to get real information about this painful phenomena. I will invite others to post their stories here as well as provide information about this dreaded problem.