Recurring Swelling

[Winston]

Hello

I'm 23 and last week I started to get a dull ache in my right leg and slightly in my right testical. My testical is swollen and heavy and feels like there might be fluid right in the corner touching my leg and it has a lump on top which moves about quite a bit when examined. I am worried but I had the exact same problem 5 years ago which then subsided and so I am telling myself that it can't be TC because if it was the problem wouldn't have gone away but instead would have worsened. My guess is that it is an infection or something.

Am I right in thinking this? If it were TC surely it wouldn't have gone away and then returned? There has been no gain in the size of the swelling since I last had this problem.

This is probably unrelated but just under a year ago I had mumps which ended with me getting seriously swollen testicals. I didn't notice this problem at the time or afterwards.

I've discovered its very easy to get carried away when self diagnosing so I will go and see a doctor in a week or two if the swelling persists. But for the moment I'm just trying to reassure myself everything is ok, hence this post!

Any advice greatly appreciated

[Scott]

It does sound as though it's likely to be an infection, but you really should give your doctor a call tomorrow to make an appointment rather than waiting a couple weeks.

[Winston]

I have made a doctors appointment today but have got to wait 7 days before I can be seen. Thats the UK health service for ya.

The swelling seems to have died down a little and the ache in my leg has stopped but I have now got a bit of discomfort in my back. Not pain as such just stiffness. I had severe swelling and backache when I had mumps last year so I'm just praying this an infection or something. I don't feel ill or have a temperature though so maybe it isn't? I keep examining myself but really don't know what I'm looking for to be honest. Everything just seems to move about all over the place!

Is TC a noticible, solid lump that can be seen clearly through the sack? I can't find anything like that it just feels as though my entire right testical is swollen and there is definitely some sort of fluid on the side.

[ballsup]

Hi Winston

Mate it sounds like you have an infection to me...The cancer I had in my testicle was noticable as a hard lump the size of a marble,no pain or swelling at all so this doesn't have the description of TC.
I'm no expert so please let us know what your doc thinks.
Cheers and good luck
Paul

[Winston]

I've now discovered a small bump that feels like a gland or something on the front side of the swollen testicle but near the bottom. It could be the epididymis but I'm not sure. I only found it when I was in the bath and haven't noticed it before. Its only very small and I can't feel it in the other one. I was lying down when I discovered it. Would that affect its position at all?

I'm going to try and get an urgent docs appointment tomorrow because I'll admit I'm getting very paranoid and freaked out about this.

[Karen]

Anytime you hit the "paranoid and freaked" stage an urgent appointment is in order! Good thing you're getting it checked out, just remember that TC, if deteccted early and even if late stage, is highly curable. A urologist is preferable since a lot of GP's are not very up to speed with TC. Even male docs, which I find so hard to believe. An ultrasound and bloodwork to check for tumor markers as well as a CBC to check for infection, and a urinanalysis, will get the answers you need. I suggest that if they say it's an infection and put you on antbiotics for 2 weeks that's fine, but I would still push hard for the ultrasound and bloodwork just in case it's not an infection. Please let us know what the doc tells you.

[Winston]

Have managed to get an urgent appointment today. I'm really nervous now!

[Scott]

I predict that it won't be nearly as big a deal as you may think now, and that you'll feel very relieved afterward. Good luck, and let us know what you hear!

[Winston]

OK, just got back from my docs appointment. Can't say I'm satisfied to be honest. I was in there less than 10 minutes and he seemed very unresponsive to any of my questions (he seemed in a world of his own!) Anyways, he felt the 'affected area' and said he couldn't find any lumps. Good news there then. I told him the swelling was a lot more noticible when in the bath or shower to which I received no reply. Then when I mentioned the nagging discomfort in my back he dismissed it as pure coincidence saying lots of people have back trouble. He offered no alternative to what the swelling and pain could be other than possible infection. He's the doc so I'll take his word for it.

He has prescribed me antibiotics (ciprofloxacin) he said to take em for 2 weeks and if theres still swelling and discomfort in my back he'll consider sending me for an ultrasound. Didn't even ask if I was on any other medication! Have read the side effects etc and there can be some nasty results if interacting with other medicines. What a tosser!

I'm relieved slightly but still a bit unsure. We'll see what happens.

My main concern now is the back pain. Its not pain as such more a stiffness and dull sensation. Maybe I'm dwelling on this too much after reading its a possible sign of spreading and this could be making it seem worse. I've been examining myself A LOT these past few days. Could the consistent poking and prodding enhance the discomfort in my back?

Sorry for this long winded post but I'm just after a bit of reassurrance as I didn't get much from the quack!

[Karen]

Winston,
My faith in the knowledge of most doctors with regard to TC is approaching rock bottom. Did he even collect a urine sample to check for infection? Can you go to another doc, preferably a urologist?? Two GPs, a urologist and my husband were NEVER able to feel a lump....but it was there and 2cm big and cancer. Your case may very well be nothing, but you should not have to wait 2 weeks for him to "consider" an ultrasound, while you continue to worry. Good luck!

[Winston]

He never even mentioned a urine sample! I'm gonna give these antibiotics a go and see what happens. Like I say, its not pain as such more general discomfort in my back. I'm trying to keep calm I think I might have been panicking a bit too much. I'm gonna try and get straight to a urologist if these antibiotics have no effect although I am unsure how to arrange an appointment with one in the UK. Do I just phone my local hospital or what?

[Karen]

Afraid I can't help you on that process. In the US, depending on your insurance paln, you either need a referral from your GP or can just call a specialist directly. The backache could be for the infection going to your kidneys as well, if that's the culprit. If you don't notice improvement in a week I'd suggest you pursue another opinion.

[Winston]

OK, I've been doing some research on the net and I'm fairly convinced now that I've got a varicocele and that that is the 'swelling' I spoke of. It is very noticible when I'm in the bath: a squashy, stringy kind of mess. Only thing is, its on the right side of my right testicle. I was under the impression that you can usually only get it on the left testicle? Anyway I think that could be the cause of my discomfort but I still want an ultrasound to put my mind at ease once and for all!

If it is a varicocele, would that likely be the cause of the occasional aches and shooting pains in my balls? And is it harmful?

Also just to add, I think my useless doctor may actually have been right when he said my back ache was coincidence. It certainly feels like a muscular strain as oppossed to a glandular pain or anything like that. Pretty cruel coincidence though if that is the case as I've been worrying about it quite a lot.

Sorry to be a pain with this. Its just really frightening when you think you might have a serious problem. Hopefully I was just jumping to conclusions!

[Karen]

Winston,
You are certainly not a pain, you are worried and that is normal. If you are losing sleep over this you should push for a doppler ultrasound, which is a definitive test for show if it's a varicocele. They are not uncommon, 85% occur on the left side, and can be a cause of reduced fertility and/or testicular atrophy. If it is large and causes you pain then it can be surgically corrected. So did your doc suspect a variocele? From what I've read they are very distinct upon examination...the bag of worms feel. I'm assuming if your doc gave you antibiotics he did not mention variocele. Again, if after a week or 10 days on the antibiotics you do not notice an improvement then it's most likely not an infection and I suggest the urologist for the next step. Try to relax a little and vent here anytime you need!

[Winston]

It isn't painful as such, the odd twinge but nothing serious. Its just uncomfortable. Its not really noticible unless in the bath or shower when it is very noticible. The doc never mentioned it but then again he didn't mention anything to be honest! I said it felt like fluid and he just said he couldn't feel any lumps but that it was swollen.

I don't think this is an infection anymore. My back definitely feels like I've strained it. Its always worse when I get up in the morning but eases up throughout the day. I'm gonna carry on taking the antibiotics just in case but then return to the docs in a week or two and tell him I want an ultrasound done.