Increased Activity

Let's face it. It can get a little chilly up here in the pacific NW. The enjoyable summer is now a distant memory for locals and a steady stream of rainy and cold days has become what seems like the permanent forecast. But we did have some breaks here and there. We finally got outside and hiked around a bit. It felt great to stretch the legs and get some activity outside the house.

Meanwhile, I had something interesting happen after my wife and I shared some intimate time. I began having pain in my "you know what". It started a few hours afterward. Thank goodness it didn't occur while we were together. I hear from some men who experience that. I just can't imagine (and don't want to imagine) how that must be. I'd say this was just about the most significant pain I've had in my Johnson. I remember having twinges and little sensations that came and went, but this was ever present, ever painful and wasn't going away.

I figured it to be some kind of nerve pain. So when I have nerve-like pain, I reach for the Tylenol. I took 1000 mgs and hoped for the best. About an hour later, the pain was gone and hasn't returned. I also haven't had anymore E.J.'s since then. I'll be curious if this is going to be a regular occurrence or just a one time deal. I'm obviously hoping for the one time deal.

Outside of that little experience, things are pretty stable. An ache here and there, but nothing to write home about.

Regarding my big announcement: I've just about got the final touches done. One more little thing to finish and then I'll be able to tell you all what is going on, so stay posted. There will be a nice little companion to the Vasectomy Side Effects blog which I think everyone will enjoy.

Interestingly, some other man on the PVPS forum started a website/blog to help get the word out. So far, he's had quite a few visitors too. It seems like more people are coming out of the closet with their vasectomy pain and side effects. That's good to hear. I think there is a silent minority of people out there who suffer everyday and just don't know where to turn. Now there are several resources available to get your questions answered. I just hope I can help you in some way as well.

Good luck.

Treating the Prostate - Holistic Approach

Having PVPS wreaks havoc with your sex life. There I said it. Part of it is because your wife is afraid to touch you because you're in so much pain. She wonders if she'll make things worse. I can appreciate that fact. I also know that taking things into my own hands is probably not an option. I just don't roll that way... well, not anymore anyway.

So there I am with a prostate that is probably the size of a grapefruit, because of lack of use. It's been a long time since my wife and I have been together, probably two months. I was reading how some men on the forum are taking a prostate formula with saw palmetto to help with the prostate size issue or more specifically, the prostatitis that seems quite rampant in the PVPS group.

I broke down yesterday and bought some Saw Palmetto with Pygeum (some kind of tree bark). This supplement is supposed to help with the prostatitis. Not sure if there is anything to it, but why not make the investment? I took my first prostate pill last night and again today. They say it takes a while before you notice any change.

As it stands now, I have tons of dribbling after I pee. I don't get up out of bed anymore, which is good, but this dribbling has been getting worse since my reversal.

I also have had a lot of nerve pain in the tip of my penis. Yep, it's not very comfortable. This is a very annoying side effect of PVPS. I believe the pain is present because of my prostate. I took some tylenol yesterday, which seemed to help that pain.

I haven't been back to the treadmill since the last fiasco with the racking pain. But I feel this need to get up and walk. Our hiking excursion over the weekend went well, so maybe that's an indication that I should get back on that horse.

I continue to wear an athletic supporter everyday and night. I'm kind of scared not to wear one.

I also continue to thank God for all he does for me. I feel a lot more peace about life these days, and it has a lot to do with my faith in him and Jesus. After 40 years of claiming to be a christian, I think I'm just now getting what it means to be a follow of Christ. I think there's a difference between the two. But this is a walk I'm still on. Have a long way to go to be sure.

I guess that's about it for now. Here's praying your pain resolves. God bless you.

Mr. Johnson's Pain Is Gone, For Now

Thank goodness the pain in my...you know what (johnson), is finally gone. I had it for about 3-4 days. It wasn't bighting pain, but it was disturbing and uncomfortable. Enough that I took tylenol a couple of times to try to get rid of it. Now I've been essentially pain free for 2 days. I have little twinges in my right inguinal area for very brief periods, but that is it. I know I'm not out of the woods, probably just going through a good cycle. The pain in my penis may return at any moment as well.

My wife and I haven't been together at all since I last mentioned it, seems like several weeks ago. But when the weather is cold and the house is cold, there isn't a lot of lovin' going on in the house. It's like a hibernation period for her. I can't complain though, with all the aches and pains, it's hard for me to be in the mood too.

This is Crazy

Well, the last thing I expected to happen (and one of my worst fears), has happened. I went from having congestion pain, to nerve pain, to this new thing that has happened. I hate to even discuss it because it just hurts and is embarrassing.

So this new pain is a sharp pain in the tip of my "johnson". It comes in waves. It hurts in a pulsating way for about an hour until I go to the bathroom. Then it goes away for about an hour and the whole cycle starts over again. Very weird. It's also weird because this pain has started 11 months after my vasectomy reversal. Now why is that? I just don't know.

I'm becoming more and more convinced that you just shouldn't ever mess with your "junk". Too many strange things can happen. Too much sensitive plumbing. Just isn't worth it.

So if you've thought about having a vasectomy, just don't. Too much at risk.

Getting Over a Cold

As if nerve pain, lower back pain, chest palpitations wasn't enough, now I've still got this cold. I've been so tired and my activity level has been in the pits. Today though, I'm doing better. Still tired, but no constant coughing, sniffling, nose blowing, etc. It seems like my body tries to give me a break and only allows one set of symptoms at a time.

For example, this weekend, my cold dominated and I didn't really have nerve pain. My lower back was pretty good too. Now today, my cold is better, but my left inguinal nerve pain has made its presence felt a couple of times. On Sunday, my cold was getting a little better, but to compensate, I started having nerve pain in my "johnson". It was very disturbing. I hate that pain a lot. Luckily, it doesn't last very long and isn't too severe, but disturbing, none-the-less. Interesting, I had a nocturnal emission last night (although I don't remember, which is unusual, because I always remember). I'll be curious to see what happens to my symptoms because of it.

So, here I am, a shambles of a man, but joyful. Joyful, I still have my God watching over me. Joyful that he continues to bless me. Joyful that he helps me with my pain. Read the story of Job sometime. I could never identify with that story before this whole post vasectomy symptoms started. Now, I kind of get it. No matter what happens, we need to trust God. For only the good and perfect gifts we receive come from him. I'm not saying our faith won't be tested from time to time, but we must remain steadfast in our faith and understand that he loves us no matter what.

That gives me comfort and peace, that is, when I actually stop to think about it. The problem is, I don't stop to think about it as much as I should. There's a lesson in there somewhere for all of us.

No New is Good News

Today is over half way done and I've got nothing to blog about. Although, I was on the computer for a long time last night and I don't seem to be suffering any ill-effects. I guess that's good news. I know that during the summer, a couple hours of sitting would have killed me for a day or two, minimum.

So, no news is good news. Feeling okay. I did have a slight bit of nerve pain in my johnson yesterday, but it abated when I "repositioned" myself. It wasn't super painful, just uncomfortable, like a prostate exam, if you know what I mean.

I hope my future posts are as boring as this one. Then I'll know I would be making some progress.

Are There Side Effects to Vasectomies

With blogger, you can see what people are searching for that brings them to your blog. A common search phrase is "are there side effects to vasectomies". Another one is "are vasectomies dangerous". I actually read an answer by someone who said that there were no vasectomy side effects. He called them "urban legends".

Well, I'm one of lots of people who have to live with this urban legend. I hate it when people talk out of ignorance. Just because it didn't happen to him, he's talking like an expert. There are a lot of men in our support group who are just suffering and aren't getting any better.

I wish there was more that could be done. I know the easiest thing to do is to not have the vasectomy in the first place. I hope people who read this vasectomy side effects blog will see that point. I only hope they don't come to the blog too late.

As far as how I'm doing...I feel okay. No real projects to do so I'm sitting a little bit more. As a result, the tingling in my right inguinal area seems to be a little more prominent. Like I said yesterday, there's no figuring this thing out. Sometimes activity hurts and sometimes it helps. Sometimes sitting is better, other times it makes it worse. Sometimes having sex helps the pain, while other times you're just too afraid to have sex because you fear it might make the pain worse. I've also noticed a little bit of nerve pain in my johnson. It doesn't last for very long and it's more irritating, weird, or un-nerving than terribly painful. But I can see where it wouldn't take much for the pain to ramp up to a 5 on a scale of 1 - 10. Obviously, a very sensitive area.

This vasectomy pain syndrome messes with your mind as much as it messes with your scrotum. That is what makes syndromes so crappy, they involve every part of your life. Well, time to get up and moving around before I start to experience the very REAL side effects of vasectomies.

Saturday and All's Well, So Far

I just dropped the kids off at their uncle and aunt's house so my wife and I can get the last projects done today. Nothing strenuous, just replacing a light and some electrical outlets. I had a great night's sleep. I really feel rested now. I still have that right inguinal ache but much less intense than earlier this week. My left side feels "normal". I did have some nerve pain at the tip of my "johnson". I haven't had that for a long time. It only lasted about 2 minutes. But it was an uncomfortable 2 minutes.

Still debating over whether I should try the 4 mg rapaflo or just take tylenol every couple of days. They both provide the same thing, which is nerve pain relief. However, one positive side effect of the rapaflo is a stronger erection. Not sure if that's the best way to describe it, but it seemed more like when I was in my twenties. Since my vasectomy it is guessed that I can a comcommitant reduction in my testosterone levels. As a result, my erections have been less than desirable. Lots of men with PVPS describe decreased libido, performance and not coincidentally, testosterone. But while I was on the rapaflo, it was like my honeymoon 17 years ago. No problems. So maybe I will call the uro and get the script - wink!

Well, I guess I better get back to work. Outlets to change out you know.