View Full Version : Post Orchiectomy questions/concerns
Hey guys.
I had my left Orchy on July 7th, 13 days go.
It turns out it was a senoma tumor in the left teste about 1cm in size. The patology said it was upre senoma confined to the teste. I am waiting on a follow up appointment now.
My recover is going good, however over the last couple of days I've had a bit of pain in the left lower abdomen after a day of walking/working. I don't do crazy work, but I'm fairly active and am doing normal activities most of the day. My cut still hurts to touch, but is otherwise ok and very livable with.
Today I've gone a bit further in feeling my left abdomen/teste area (at least where it used to be), and I must say I feel a hard, cord like structure that gets bigger and extends into my abdomen and is fairly hard. Its not like a lump, but rather like a thick cordlike long structure. I don't feel such a thick structure on my right, good side. Just on this left side. I have not done much "feeling" in that are since the orchiectomy, so can't say if its "normal" or how long its been there.
Is this normal? Or could this be a complication like hernia or something?
This really sucks as I was going to go camping this weekend and finally take a breather. Now I'm worried all over again.
Thanks for your help guys. :(
It sounds like you might be feeling the remnants of the spermatic cord. Some guys, myself included, have even felt a blood clot, hard lump, at the end of the cord. It can take several weeks for the swelling to completely subside. The pain could simply be from being too active.
Of course if anything seems to get worse rather than better over time, you should call your doctor and discuss the problem.
best wishes
Ya, that's kind of where the area I am feeling is. But it feels hard/big. It could be just that.
Ras Joe
07-20-06, 11:37 AM
I wish I knew more about that kind of stuff brother, but since I don't I won't even bother to give a guess. I can say I tried to go do some camping over the past weekend myself, before I had my surgery-- and it was ruined b/c my mind was occupied with bad thoughts, too. I feel for you bro' sucks when you feel like something wierd could be going on-- no sense in stressing yourself out -- maybe seeing the doc could put your mind to ease-- praying for you-- Joe
Well I phoned his office and his secretary said it could take upto 6 weeks for the sweeling down there to settle. It makes sence. But what does not make sence is the extra pain over the last 2 days. No bruising or anythign tho.
CanMan,
Could be a hernia...get it checked out before the weekend but don't stess over it.
IowaBrian
07-20-06, 02:27 PM
You need to take it easy 13 days isn't that fair out from surgery. The more activity you do the more pain you will have remember that ICE is you best friend to keep things from swelling up too much. Also you still have your lifting restriction for 4 more weeks. Shouldn't lift much over a 6 pack :) or gallon of milk (we all break the rules but we need to be careful). Take it easy camping sit back in the lawn chair and relax :)
Brian
hahaha, I just pulled a motor out of my car. Using tools of course.
I don't feel I'm pushing it 'cause I don't feel like it hurts doing the work. I go slow of course, take my time. I have used no ice or pain killers. I'm not in major pain by any means, its just that its there and I want to make sure.
I called them and they said some swelling and soreness is normal. They said to watch for brusing, major increase in size, major changes in pain, etc.
I'm not one to sit and its hard for me not to be active. But at the same time, I don't want to over-do-it. I'll let you guys know how it goes.
Back to the garage for me (might as well use this forced "vacation" time to get stuff done at home)
Well the weekend just about passed by, and no change. Pain is not as much, but i've done nothing. I can still feel the swelling where that cord was and goes into the abdomen, and my entire side of that abdomen is sensitive to touch/hurts.
I've been reading about "the grape". What is that? Is it normal for this cord to swell like that and stay swolen past 15-16 days?
I do not think its hernia in any way, I didn't lift anything heavy and it just does not feel like that. Feels like a swollen/inflamed cord/area where they pulled the teste out of.
This does suck in a way though, I was hoping to be better and better, and no leveling off. :(
"The grape" is a hematoma, blood collecting where the spermatic cord was cut. It's normal and goes away within a few weeks.
"The grape" is a hematoma, blood collecting where the spermatic cord was cut. It's normal and goes away within a few weeks.
This this is what I have scott? Its kinda firm, thick cord like, and its thickest near the bottom, but it feels like it goes into the abdomen. It wasn't that noticable the first 10 days.
Thanks.
I can't be sure. It's probably a good idea to give your doctor a call on Monday to ask about it.
Well Ice definitley helps.
Is it only for relif, or would continues icing make the swelling go away sooner?
Thanks.
CanMan:
The ice is great for pain but it won't make the swelling go away. If you have a new injury ice will prevent swelling but usually in a day or so heat will be applied to to increase blood flow and reduce the swelling.
stevenh77
07-25-06, 12:26 AM
I don't know if I'd agree that it's from being too active, I'd need more information to even try to guess, but I know for me personally I was up on my feet and playing my guitar the same day of my orchiectomy (right side).
Within a week after the surgery I was back to my usual routine of walking a quarter mile a day without any problems. After about a week and a half I resumed (almost) normal intercourse with my fiance. I had problems at first with premature ejaculation after the surgery, but that problem seems to be taking care of itself over time, I had my surgery June 28th and I'm almost 100% back to normal now.
Well its starting to bug me. First 5-8 days my incission hurt and I took it easy. After that I felt great. I worked away, and had some pain (mostly at the cut) but it was ok. Then after walking a lot one day I started to have pain below the cut on the left side of the groin (where they pulled the teste through). The next day I could feel that "cord" or whatever thickened up and swollen in a way. Its still the same and its been almost a week now. I can't say its much better, or worse. The lower groin on the left side still hurts to touch. When I called the doctors office they told me it could take 6 weeks for this area to get better, but it still bothers me that it was doing so good and now pain. I'm sure some of the lower groin pain was there from the start, but my cut pain was taking over. Now the cut has almost healed 100% and does not hurt, yet the lower groin still does and that thick cord is still there.
I guess I could go to the GP again and wait in line and see what he says.
I have no problems goign to the bathroom, or having intercourse though. All seems to be normal there, short of having to take it easy not to hurt myself.
stevenh77
07-30-06, 06:02 PM
If you're concerned about the pain, by all means go to the doctor, it's best to be safe with any type of surgery.
For me personally, the swelling in that area took a while to go down but there wasn't really a lot of pain there.. just at the incision and the muscles right around it.
Take it easy and try not to hurt yourself, but try to keep the blood flowing so it heals faster too.
If you're concerned about the pain, by all means go to the doctor, it's best to be safe with any type of surgery.
For me personally, the swelling in that area took a while to go down but there wasn't really a lot of pain there.. just at the incision and the muscles right around it.
Take it easy and try not to hurt yourself, but try to keep the blood flowing so it heals faster too.
Thanks for your reply. I'm back at work now (away from town). Things are going ok, still got some pain in the "handled" area, but mostly to touch, or really sudden/hard moves. I think the muscle/incision area is all healed up.
Explain your "swelling" in that area. How did it feel? How long?
Thanks a lot!
My first checkup is on the 15th of august.
stevenh77
07-30-06, 09:25 PM
The swelling lasted longer than the pain around the incision, I'd say it was around 3 weeks. There was visible swelling, but no pain, it actually felt somewhat numb (like when a dentist injects you with novacaine/lidocaine before pulling a tooth).. the swelling and numbness went away within the first 3 weeks after the surgery.
Well in my case the cord feels swollen, but no pain around it really. The area in the abdomen between where the teste was and the incision is still sore. If I streatch a lot it "pulls" and hurts, and if I lift heavy stuff I can feel it, but normal activities are fine. I was doing well but right after the incision healed I could feel this and its been the same since. I had my surgery on the 6th of July.
I'm gonna phone the doctors office tomorrow to ask about this.
P.S. You couldn't see this swelling from the outside.
justaiks
03-16-10, 07:29 PM
It has been 11 days since my left-side orchiectomy due to a dead testicle with a tumor on it.
I am experiencing this same hard, cord like structure that is being spoken about. I realize this post is a few years old, howevever, can anyone with this previous experience tell me if this should be expected? I am quite concerned as well.
Thank you in advance.
Justin
It has been almost 3 years since my surgery and this problem.
I did have this problem and it freaked me out. It was normal tho because the area is disturbed/swollen/swelling.
The swelling and hardness went away. I have since then just been going to checkups with no other issues (knock on wood).
I am sure it will be fine and I would not worry. You can call your doctor just to feel better, but it will go away. It can't be anything else, nothing concerning (like tumors) will grow that fast IMO.
Good luck and let us know, but considering I had this same question 3 years ago, in my case it was just the swelling and it went away.
justaiks
03-17-10, 07:58 AM
CanMan -
Thank you for the quick reply. As strange as it sounds, I took relief in seeing that I was not the only one concerned about this problem. What you described earlier in the thread is EXACTLY what I am experiencing right now.
How long did it take for the swelling and slight pain from this to subside? I am confident in saying that what you describe is the exact same feeling and location that I have.
Thanks for your help!
Justin
Justin,
Sorry I took so long to reply.
It has been a while so its hard to remember, but I think it took a couple of months total.
First couple of weeks was about the same, then it slowly started better. I seam to recall that it maybe got a little worse week 2, then slowly got better and went away.
At the time I have done a lot of reading on this as I am sure you are as well. Think about what they did, and what they disturbed in that area. The actual incision is less dramatic then the surgery really is.
My swelling was triggered after doing a lot of walking too soon after surgery, but its kinda hard not to do anything. Plus I am not too sure if it really did make it worse, or just a coincidence.
Good luck and let us know how it goes for you, but I would not worry too much.
justaiks
03-20-10, 09:35 PM
I'm experiencing the exact same thing you did, CanMan...
I am in my second week, just beginning my third week, actually, and the hard "band-like" cord is sore and uncomfortable.
I have been walking, but still taking it very easy. I am not lifting anything greater than 15lbs, and no kneeling or anything of that nature either.
You are exactly right when you say the incision side is far less painful than the surgery itself. If I could get this spermatic tube (what I believe the pain is in my case as well) to relax and soften up, I feel as if I'd be in good shape.
I guess only time will ease this?
On another note, I did get my full pathology results back. The left testicle had been dead for 30 to 60 days from the time of the surgery. Also, there was a small tumor found on the testicle that tested negative for cancer.
I'm just hoping for a speedy physical... and emotional recovery... I'm 26 years old and absolutely hate this has happened.
I do, however, find our support group here, absolutely fantastic.
Thank you very much.
Justin
Yes, you will see soon it will start to shrink and go away and then be gone for good.
I was about the same age when that happen. Sucks, but, nothing you can do but keep living life!
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