Life Goes On With Vasectomy Pain

What can I say, you either crawl in a hole and give up or move forward with the realization you'll never be 100% again. That's kind of where I've been the last month. After having no many great months or rather blocks of weeks with little pain, the last month has been a challenge. This hernia pain which I posted about last time continues to rear its ugly head. It seems to worsen with physical activity, either long hours at work or when I try to actually run/playing basketball. It seems that running and jumping are bad for my with regards to my pain.

It seems like walking or hiking is all my nether area can tolerate. This makes me think that something is anatomically wrong down there on my left side. My right side has been relatively pain free, with the exception of an occasional twinge here and there. I'd like to get a sonogram of my left side to see if everything looks as it is supposed to, but I know that would be an out of pocket expense that likely wouldn't pay off, since most ultrasounds of the testes don't show very much. Maybe a CT scan would be better, but then the expense might be cost prohibitive since they cost roughly $1200.

So here I am, stuck between a rock and a you know what. Just living with this pain with no real future. It kind of stinks because the pain is significant enough to keep me from the activities I love to do most. Not to mention I need these aerobic outlets for my heart so it can stay in shape. Walking on a treadmill just doesn't give me the aerobic workout I'm looking for, when compared to playing basketball or going for a light jog.

So am I better since my vasectomy reversal? Prior to reversal my scrotum was constantly swollen and in pain. Since the reversal, the swelling is gone, but it is replaced with this terrible, intermittent nerve pain which makes my left testicle feel like it's about to explode from within.

It's kind of a toss up. One thing is for sure though, I'll never be back to 100% and that kind of sucks. I'd put myself at about 70% of what I used to be before I had my vasectomy, about 7 years ago. Some guys feel worse, other people suffer from other terrible diseases and situations. I guess I should count myself fortunate and blessed. Honestly though, it's hard to view it that way. But I know it's the approach I should take.

The good Lord has seen me this far, I know he'll see me the rest of the way. So be thankful for good days. This is the motto we should all be sticking to, even when we don't feel like it.

Walking on Trails Helps Vasectomy Pain

So yesterday I was recovering from a flare up of pain. The pain was some of the worst that I've had in quite some time. Thank the Lord, the pain didn't really return, but I also made sure I stayed off the computer and any prolonged sitting. Since my kids had the day off from school, I decided to take a little walk with them.

We walked about 2 miles or so. There is a concrete path/trail next to our house that leads to a fun little park by a river. It's one of my favorite little places up here in Washington. Anyway, we had a great walk. It was sunny and about 48 degrees.

The walk was not aerobic in nature, just a fun little walk at a relaxed slow pace. When I returned home, I felt much better. It continues to amaze me how exercise, especially relaxed trail walking/hiking, seems to help my pain.

I haven't spent the money on a gym membership yet, and I don't think I will. Not as long as the weather holds and I can access this trail. Granted, it is November, so the sunny days may not last much longer, but if I can save some money and walk in nature, that's what I'll do.

Fishing season is open now, so I've also been kicking around the idea of getting a fishing license. I figured, I could get some exercise by walking around the rivers, lakes and bays around here. Maybe I could bring home some dinner as well.

No real pain today. But like I said, I didn't sit around much yesterday. The game plan will be the same for today and tomorrow.

Also, thanks to all those who downloaded my ebook yesterday during the free promotion on Amazon.com. You can still download it today, but at the retail price of $2.99 - still a bargain. I am thinking about turning it into a hardbound book also. But will have to get more details before heading down that trail.

Vasectomy Pain

I can't imagine people actually think that vasectomy pain is imagined. Again, it goes to people who do not have the pain syndrome thinking they are the only example of what happens after a vasectomy. Well, I'm here to tell you, there are tons of people who have vasectomy pain.

For some reason, people search 'vasectomy pain 2011'. I'm not sure what they're looking for, but they end up reading my blog. I'm amazed at how many people end up on my blog after searching something to do with 'vasectomy pain'. That should tell everyone right there, that it's not in our heads. We're not making this thing up. The pain is real.

After about a full week of being pain free, I've had little twinges lately. I think it's because I've been a little less active and sitting down at the computer more. I believe sitting places an undo amount of pressure on the nerves which increases their irritation levels. It's amazing how most everyone feels better after a good night's sleep, but then quickly notes the return of pain after driving to work and sitting behind a desk.

So if you're wondering if vasectomy pain is real. It certainly is. Don't let anyone tell you that it's in your head. If your doctor won't help you, then find one who will. You're not alone. Check out the forum link. There is a tremendous amount of information there and people who are willing to stand beside you while you battle this thing.

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.

Vasectomy Related Pain Starting to Settle Down

I'm still taking the Rapaflo. I received word from my cardiologist that I can take this medicine. I guess that's good. I still had remnants of nerve pain from my overdone weekend yesterday. Last night, I was in a little pain while sitting down in the recliner. Usually, it doesn't hurt when I'm in the recliner, but for some reason, my left side was pretty upset with me and was giving me little sharp nerve pains. Again, nothing I needed pain medicine for. After having those 3-4 good days of no nerve pain, it was a little weird to start having nerve pain again. It brought back a lot of emotion, regret and overall self-pity about my decision to have the vasectomy in the first place.

I did have an E.J. two nights ago, which seems to really make my right side feel a lot better. However, it does seem to make my left side ache a little more. Probably has something to do with that spermatocele. Hopefully, it will go away on its own in the next month or so.

Today though, I feel pretty good. No aches or pain that I can notice, although, it's still early. I have to help the kids with their homework all day today and I'll probably be doing a lot of sitting today. It's also my wife's birthday, so here's a shout out to her.

"I love you honey, thanks for supporting me and trying to make my life easier while I suffer these vasectomy side effects. You are doing just about everything around the house because I can't do much. Thanks for going above and beyond the call of duty. You're the best. Happy birthday."

Back From Camping Weekend

My son and I had a great time camping and fishing. We're very happy that our church was able to put this up as part of their father/son ministry. We basically fished for bass and perch all weekend and mixed in a little s'mores, bonfire, snipe hunt, and the usual stuff that goes with camping.

I did a lot of walking and was surprised that my pain levels were pretty low to non-existent. Until last night, when the nerve pain woke me up out of a peaceful slumber. I don't remember nerve pain waking me up before, so yet another new pain experience to catalog. Then, as I got into the car to make the hour drive home, I had another episode of nerve pain. Both of these pains were on my left side.

Just when I think my left side won't bother me anymore, something like this happens and "pow", the remains of the vasectomy side-effects hit me like a ton of bricks. Someone posted in our group that his post-reversal time seemed like 10-12 months, but it's only been about 8. I can understand his perspective. It seems like my reversal was about 6 months ago, but it was only back in late December (about 3 months ago). I also feel like my vasectomy and subsequent reversal for pain and chronic epididymitis has aged me about 10-15 years.

That might be the lower testosterone levels or it might be because of all the worrying and frustration I've had to endure over the last 5.5 years. I think I have a better handle on what chronic pain people go through, because I've become one. Sometimes it's not always the pain that gets you, but the threat of pain. You're afraid to do stuff because it might result in terrible pain. I was very scared to go on this church campout, for fear of being in a ton of pain afterwards.

So the rest of my day will look like this. Reclining in the chair, walking around the house and fretting about doing anything else that may cause added stress to my already stressed pelvic region. That is the other devastating side effects of vasectomy - the lifestyle changes.

I'll be back tomorrow with another installment of my online post vasectomy side effects journal.

Even Sleeping Hurts

Prior to my vasectomy reversal, I just had epididymitis and very little pain. Now, I've got lots of different pains and no epididymitis. I am still hopeful that I'll improve on the pain front over the course of the next several months.

Okay, today I realized that sleeping is a pain in my ___________ (and I don't mean butt). It seems that my scrotum gets squished and smashed while I'm asleep which causes me to wake up throughout the night to find a comfortable position. This occurs even though I place a thick pillow between my knees. It seems I need to find a thicker pillow. Also, when I sleep in the fetal position, knees up toward my belly, it pinches some kind of nerve in my belly button area. That too is uncomfortable, not painful, just uncomfortable.

So if you're reading this journal post wondering if vasectomies are worth it, my answer is "no". I would rather be using condoms and having an active lifestyle rather than experiencing this PVPS. Even if it meant I might have an extra child or two. I do love my kids and can't imagine my family without them. I'm sure I would have felt the same way if we had more.

It's funny, but getting the vasectomy has made me a cranky old man faster than I should have been. I'm sure my parenting has been very affected by this disorder. So, if I had never had the vasectomy, I'd probably be a better Dad.

PVPS worms its way into so many different aspects of your life. It affects your work life, parenting life, spousal life, sex life, outlook on life, energy level, traveling, driving, sitting, playing, keeping up your home, etc. The list is truly exhausting. Now, I'm not here to say this syndrome is worse than cancer or diabetes or some other debilitating disease, but it is bad in and of itself. I don't envy anyone who has any disease or other health challenge, including PVPS.

So I'm not here to get your sympathy, but rather to help put on paper (figurative) what someone goes through who has PVPS and hopefully convince lots of people not to have it done.

I saw something on a T-shirt recently that put it all together for me. It had a picture of a Squirrel in a defensive stance and it read, "You got to protect your nuts". How true!