Here's my story...

[Peale]

I'm 33 years old, and otherwise healthy.

About a month and a half ago I experienced a sudden swelling of what I think is my epiditimus (sp). It was rather disturbing. I wanted to go to the doctor, but I had just given notice at my job, and didn't want to look bad by 'going to the doctor'. But within 18 hours the swelling subsided, though I was still a bit tender.

I passed some blood in my semen (brown) but passed that off as the irritation from handling the area as well as the swelling. It went away.

As I was going thru a lot of stress in my final days of work, I had a lot of stress-related things going on: chest pains, upset stomach.

Finally, I was done with the job, and stress free. But I was still experiencing things. First was chest pain in the lower left. I saw my Dr and she put me on some blood tests (for heart attack) and a chest xray.

Finally got the results back a week later, the chest xray showed nothing. I was now having a 'cramping' sensation just below my ribcage, as well as occasional mild pain to the left (and occasionally the right) of my sternum. Dr suggested I take Aleve, she believed whatever I was experiencing to be musculo-skeletal, and it would likely pass on it's own.

It hasn't.

Yesterday I noticed a heavy sensation in my pelvis that has continued into today. I've had some back pain as well. I'm going to call a urologist today and schedule an appointment. I barely slept a wink last night.

Not sure what I'm going to do with my daughter, I'm a stay-at-home dad, guess I'll have to take her with me.

There is one thing I did notice about my left testicle quite a while ago (pre-any of this going on) was a tiny bump. It's never gotten bigger or smaller, but my right testicle doesn't have one. It's been there a long time.

If I believed in God I'd say pray for me, but I don't. I'm just freaked out. I've got three little kids and a wife, I don't want to make things hard on them!

[djmac]

You should see a urologist, but remember a few things. Your symptoms can easily be epididymitis. Still, if you have a bump on your testicle you need to see a urologist and get an ultrasound ASAP. The second thing is that you're under a lot of stress. These can all cause back pain and parasthesis and chest pain and insomnia. Finally, in the worst case you have testicular cancer. If you do, it clearly hasn't spread to the lungs, so you may pretty low stage. Don't miss this wonderful window of opportunity to be cured by not seeing a doctor. If you go a month from now, it may be too late. If you have TC and it hasn't spread, chances are very good (>95%) that you will be cured. So relax, see a uro, get an ultrasound.

Best of luck and keep us updated!

djm

[Margaret]

I am thinking of you and hoping that it is something minor. You have been through so much stress, and stress alone can be harmful. Let us know what the doctor says and there are lots of people here you can lean on for support!

Margaret

[Peale]

Bah...I couldn't remember the name of the urologist that my wife went to. I knew of the one behind my kids' pediatrician, so I walked over there after my two year olds appointment.

Can't get me in for a week.

Called my wife, she filled me in on his name, now I have to wait for him to get back from lunch.

edit: he's booked until mid June. Guess I'll be keeping that appointment.

[dadmo]

The bump certainly needs to be check but don't anticipate disaster. The lump could be nothing and it’s a great sign that it hasn’t changed over the years. Good luck with the doctor and keep us posted.

[Peale]

The heaviness in my pelvis has increased over the last week, so I made a Dr appt. My regular GP was on vacation, so I was referred to the Dr that was taking her calls.

He examined me, including a digital exam, and made his prognosis: "It's prostatitis."

I asked him about the nodule, and he believes it's not serious, due to how long I've had it. He put me on antibiotics. Hopefully it'll clear things up.

I, of course, will continue to monitor this nodule.

[dadmo]

That's certainly better then having cancer but you must still educate yourself to insure you get proper treatment. Follow this link to the Prostatitis Foundation web page. There's lot to read and good luck.

[Peale]

When you guys say pain in the lower back, how low is low? The big reason I saw the Dr was because I've got pain in my mid-back, around ribcage level.

[dadmo]

Lower back for tc would be around the kidney's not the rib cage.