Post Orchiectomy

[MDdad]

Hello all. I started a thread in another area (Do I Have Testicular Cancer) a few days ago. Just had my orchiectomy yesterday afternoon. Feeling decent today, sore in the obvious areas, but for some odd reason the back of my calves are very sore -- any thoughts?

I've scanned a number of posts and I have a few questions. I noticed a sac like ballon in my scrotum where the removed testicle was. Is this what you all refer to as the "grape"? Is it just a blood sac that will disappear and if so how long before it does?

I had no follow up after the operation by the doctor. This concerned me a bit (or maybe that is good news -- who knows). I did get a list of do's and dont's upon check out. No advice on ice or not, don't really feel that I need it. I was also told I could shower 48 hours after the surgery with no dressing on the incision.

Changed the dressing today and I was surprised by the size of the incision. It was about 4 1/2", is this normal?

I am also slightly constipated, but no pain. Is it OK to take a laxative?

I have my follow up appointment next Tuesday at which time I should have the results of the biopsy.

I know I told some folks I'd post my marker info (which was nothing out of the ordinary) but I'm still trying to get it and will post as soon as I can.

As always, thanks for your input.

[alamike]

My incision was about the same, maybe 4 inches. Any swelling will slowly go away. My scrotum got quite swollen over the first few days after the orchiectomy and I felt more pain beginning on about day 3 or 4. Some people have worse than others though. I didn't see my doc after surgery. I think that's normal. Ice definitely helps, you might want to try it if you feel pain or discomfort.

[dadmo]

MDdad:
The incesion size is about right and the swelling is a blood clot that will go away in time. It's ok take a laxative, the constipation is caused by the pain meds. The shower will be fine and not having an immediate follow up with the doctors is ok to. It sounds like everything is going just as you would expect. As fo the calf pain my guess is that your standing a bit differently becuase of discomfort from the I/O.

[Scott]

Is it just a blood sac that will disappear and if so how long before it does?

It can take several weeks for the body to absorb the hematoma.

[Karen]

All good advice! Lay off the pain meds if you can and that will go a long way with constipation. I'd suggest stool softeners, warm prune juice, and loads of fiber before the laxitive....which may cause cramping and if your stools have hardened it will be an "uncomfortable" experience. You need to judge that based on how stopped up you are...

[Fed]

MDDad,
All you are mentioning sounds like par for the course. The grape will fade away, and do as Karen says as far as the constipation is concerned. The last thing you want is to strain and possibly get hemorrhoids . Let us know how the pathology works out.

[alamike]

I wonder if the soreness in your calves could be a result of dehydration caused by the pain meds. Just a theory, I could be wrong. You could try drinking more water.

[fuse929]

The sourness in your calves may also be from stretching while you are asleep. Many nights I wake up with huge cramps in my calves from stretching (dreams about running maybe?) and then they hurt in the morning. Just a guess.

[etim]

First, I had orchiectomy on August 9 this year, so it is pretty fresh.

Hello all. I started a thread in another area (Do I Have Testicular Cancer) a few days ago. Just had my orchiectomy yesterday afternoon. Feeling decent today, sore in the obvious areas, but for some odd reason the back of my calves are very sore -- any thoughts?

I had soreness in one buttock. I attribute it to laying on it still while under anestesia. They are supposed to pad contact points, but may have missed some.

I've scanned a number of posts and I have a few questions. I noticed a sac like ballon in my scrotum where the removed testicle was. Is this what you all refer to as the "grape"? Is it just a blood sac that will disappear and if so how long before it does?

They told me to keep the side of the scrotum padded to prevent blood from collecting. All I had was a mild bruse along the middle of the scrotum.

Also I had pretty big swelling in the pubic area, almost made me suspect a hernia. That swelling is going away pretty slowly and some is still left.

The first day or two I could not walk without help from my wife. I only took Percocet for the night post op. After that no pain while laying down.

I had no follow up after the operation by the doctor. This concerned me a bit (or maybe that is good news -- who knows). I did get a list of do's and dont's upon check out. No advice on ice or not, don't really feel that I need it. I was also told I could shower 48 hours after the surgery with no dressing on the incision.

Changed the dressing today and I was surprised by the size of the incision. It was about 4 1/2", is this normal?

Same here, now follow up immediately post op. You are just too groggy at this point. I asked doctor to talk to my wife which she did.

I am also slightly constipated, but no pain. Is it OK to take a laxative?

I did not have bowel movement for a couple of days, which I was quite glad for (I did not think I could handle the straining). On the day three I had diahrrea, which was easier. All went normal after that. Give it time I guess.

I have my follow up appointment next Tuesday at which time I should have the results of the biopsy.

I know I told some folks I'd post my marker info (which was nothing out of the ordinary) but I'm still trying to get it and will post as soon as I can.

As always, thanks for your input.

Good luck to you.

My progression after suregry was:

1. Day 5 went to work

2. 2 weeks started running 1 mile (slowly)

3. 2 weeks + a few days some push ups

4. 4 weeks running 1 mile normally, 3 series of 25 push ups, 6 chin ups

The only issue I have left is a piece of suture sticking out of the incision

My incision size is ~2.5 inches. There are also some thick scar under the skin above the incision and some scarring under the skin in the pubic area.

Also, a warning: this whole thing takes a heavy mental toll. It takes a few weeks to get better psychologically. I suspect, your hormonal system has to adjust to having just one testicle.

[MDdad]

Thanks for all the info! This board and the members are great! I will post on another thread -- just diagnosed with cancer -- it looks pretty mild, so I'm up for the challenge!

[Vinny]

I highly recommend bags of frozen peas or corn to put on the incision site (use a towel in between to keep the ice off the skin).

I take it you didn't get staples? Lucky so-and-so.

[MDdad]

vinny: Sorry for the late response, been busy getting CT scans and trying to get back to work! I did have staples. They cam eout last week. Didn;t hurt, much to my surprise. However, my incision feels itchy from the inside if that makes sense? I also seem to have a long "lump" behind the incison, will this eventually go away? Is it scar tissue?

I posted this great news earlier today on another thread I started under "Just Diagnosed":

Been a while since I posted. Things are looking great so far. I was off on my tumor markers in my original post. They were not as high as I had posted, they were "spot on" as my English friend says! I read and translated the results wrong, I posted the accepted high end on both numbers.

Also, my CT scan showed no signs of the cancer spreading (just got the results this past Tuesday ---- major relief)!

I discussed 3 options with my oncologist:

1. Surveillance (with a rigid check up schedule with CT's) She said there was a 20% chance of cancer ever reoccurring with this method.

2. Radiation for 3 weeks (M-F) -- a 5% chance of cancer reoccurring.

3. A one time mega dose of chemo that she said was equivalent to 3 weeks of radiation. A relatively new method that has proven effective, but she felt that there was not enough history for her to give me her total backing on this treatment.

After talking with several folks who have sought radiation and surveillance and after some careful thought and reflection of the advice given by the members of this board, I decided that radiation is the best option for me. I start it the second week of October.