calling me in

[Karen]

Good luck today JOTA! More tips are: if you feel a laugh, sneeze or cough coming on use the palm of your hand to apply counterpressure against the incision to avoid that "OMG I just ripped my stitches" feeling. Try to minimize the narcotic main meds...they cause constipation.
Let us know how it goes!

[JOTA]

Well it is official. Wednesday the right testicle will be removed. The main problem I am having is my finance and my mother. All this crying and saying I will be fine. /sigh someone needs to tell them that they will be fine. I have always been the type that is the rock and rarely shows emotion. This is not something that I am completely proud of but also something that I can not change.

Plus I guess for me one thing that is holding me together is the fact that it all seems so surreal.

I had blood work drawn today to check cancer markers and so forth and have a baseline for after surgery blood work. Also went in for a cat-scan. Had to drink the barium for a cat scan and then have the dye injected into my veins. Wow that dye sure makes you feel warm, what the heck is up with that. Well anyways there is my update for today. I do not think I will have any more updates until after the surgery. However it may take a day or two after the surgery until I can get online. But I will update everyone as soon as I can.

[Scott]

The main problem I am having is my finance and my mother. All this crying and saying I will be fine. /sigh someone needs to tell them that they will be fine.

In the end, you will all be fine -- but it's no wonder a cancer diagnosis can cause a few emotional reactions. Your fiance and mother are welcome to join us here if they'd like, of course. Hang in there, JOTA, and keep us posted as you get more information.

[Karen]

Hi JOTA!
Sorry, I though it was today! So now I must do my "good luck JOTA dance" again on Wednesday, oh well! The surgery will be fine. Really. Your fiance and mom can come here as well if they need support.

Yes, the CT scan is wild. I have had them too...not for testicles, obviously. Strange feeling after they do the injection. Let us know what the CT and markers are. The surgery will go fine. A month from now you'll be posting to otehr guys not to worry!

[JOTA]

No worries at all. Everything happens for a reason.

[Scott]

Everything happens for a reason.

In my philosophy, everything happens, and it's up to us to provide the reason.

[JOTA]

In my philosophy, everything happens, and it's up to us to provide the reason.

Hmmmm I rather like that.

[MRMRSU]

Hi JOTA: Forgive my mistake on the date too...OK, so on Wednesday we'll be thinking happy thoughts for you!

[MRMRSU]

Hi JOTA: I was just checking on you today...the big day! Hoping your orchiectomy went well. Let us know how what the results are. Hope your mom and fiancee are well too. Please tell them to feel free to drop an email or join us all here.

[JOTA]

Hi JOTA: I was just checking on you today...the big day! Hoping your orchiectomy went well. Let us know how what the results are. Hope your mom and fiancee are well too. Please tell them to feel free to drop an email or join us all here.

Hello I am online just long enough to let a few people know I am ok. I am OK and can be expected. However I am having some odd swelling and might go in tonight to have it looked at if it gets any bigger. Will not know about the Cancer until Monday I think.

[Scott]

Good to hear from you, JOTA. Rest up and recover. You'll be sore for a few days, but it won't be long before you feel much better. Don't forget the bag of frozen peas!

[JOTA]

I will hopefully get some more information from my doctor on the phone on Friday. But maybe someone here can shine some light on this. Why is there swelling my scrotum? Well more exact why is there so much swelling that it feels like I still have 2 testicles? I know swelling can be normal but I am not sure if this much swelling and pain is normal.

[Scott]

You'll want to check with your doctor, but I suspect the swelling you're talking about is a hematoma, blood that collected where the spermatic cord was cut. If so, that's completely normal and will go away over the next several weeks.

[dadmo]

The hematoma Scott is talking about is so common that I'm surprised the doctors don't mention it beforehand.

[JOTA]

Heard from my doctor today. It is cancer. I have a meeting with the doctor on Tuesday to discuss treatment options. I will have a lot of questions for him but one that is on my mind right now is howlong does radiation therapy normally last and is hair loss normally a problem?

I feel prepared for just about anything. Decided if I start losing hair then I am going to shave it and get some Harley Davidson du-rags.