Post Orchiectomy - Question

[ahote]

Hello all,

I only discovered this forum yesterday unfortunately but this has all been rather a new experience for me. I was diagnosed on 9/11 with TC and had the surgery perfomed last Monday (9/24). I actuall wrote an off topic piece on my blog describing my current state here:

http://politicalnecropsy.blogspot.com/2007/09/off-topic-orchiectomy.html

I wrote this partly because this is a subject that needs to be more talked about in general and partly to get it off my chest. A couple of my friends reported various forms of discomfort in the testicular region after I was diagnosed, but generally it's something men seem reluctant to go to the doctor for and I've been urging them to go and get checked up.

As I wrote elsewhere here (and sorry for the repeat - but being new at this I can't even locate my own post) I actually went to my GP in march 2007 only to be rebuffed. I was diagnosed after I switched doctors seven months later and the second one finally scheduled me to see a urologist who diagnosed me within like five minutes.....

However (and after that rather lengthy and long-winded introduction), the reason I am posting is this: I was released on the same day as my operation and all went very well. I actually stopped the pain meds yesterday I was so comfortable and have been taking it pretty easy. I did walk a little yesterday after checking in with my doctor, but no lifting of anything as such. I did have to strain a little on the toilet as a result of some constipation which was due to the pain medication though. (Boy it's tough writing about all this personal stuff I tell ya!)

Today however I've noticed a purplish discoloration or bruise around the scrotum right side and base of the penis. Anyone else had similar symptoms? Is it normal? I feel it is, as I have no pain accompanying this and it is a pretty big incision that they make but I might be wrong. I have got a prosthetic. I don't yet understand all the numbers that people write here but I expect I will in the near future but it was a right side orchiectomy.

Thanks.

[Fish]

Hi Ahote and welcome.

Bruising is common. I had bruising along the entire side of my penis for several days. The key is does it tend to get better over time. If it seems to get worse, call the surgeons office.

Incision lengths can vary, I think mine was about 6".

Let us know when you get the results of the pathology, blood tests, and CT scans.

Congratulations on being persistant enough to get the correct diagnosis. Some guys have been mis-diagnosed for even longer.

Best wishes

[ahote]

Hi Ahote and welcome.

Bruising is common. I had bruising along the entire side of my penis for several days. The key is does it tend to get better over time. If it seems to get worse, call the surgeons office.

Thanks Fish, feel better already

I'll keep an eye on it.

[Fed]

Hey dude,

Welcome to the Forum. Everything you have described so far is mostly par for the course. Just don't do any heavy lifting for 4-6 weeks. The swelling and bruising should diminish within 2 weeks after surgery. It's great that you are off the pain meds, as well... constipation can definitely be an issue.

Do post when you have the pathology ready. That, alongside the CT scans, chest X-ray and blood markers will dictate the path of your future treatment. I read in your blog that there are two suspicious lung nodules. You may want to get detailed confirmation on that (make sure you get copies of all your labs and radiology).

Take it easy during the recovery, and don't hesitate to post any questions you may have. Cheers,

[ahote]

Do post when you have the pathology ready. That, alongside the CT scans, chest X-ray and blood markers will dictate the path of your future treatment. I read in your blog that there are two suspicious lung nodules. You may want to get detailed confirmation on that (make sure you get copies of all your labs and radiology).

Take it easy during the recovery, and don't hesitate to post any questions you may have. Cheers,

Hello Fed,

Thanks too for the welcome. I will post the results here because I have very little idea of what this all means. A couple of weeks ago cancer was something othr people got. I have got some very good medical back up in Europe (great friend of mine who is a radiologist and who has access to an excellent oncologist) so I feel that I am in good hands, but I have to tell you all what a good feeling it is to find people with similar issues who are knowledgeable on this subject.

I keep thinking how hard this must have been before the internet.

Best to you all

Andrew

[MRMRSU]

Hi Andrew: (Great name by the way!) Sorry to have to welcome you to this very undiscriminating club with high membership dues. My Andy was diagnosed in February, and we were shocked when we found out that he would get to go home the same day after the orchiectomy. The bruising is normal...Andy's lasted for a while but finally did subside. But I wouldn't let him lift a thing (which he loved!) for fear of busting out of his staples.

No doubt your head must be spinning, but try your best to keep yourself composed because there is so much to learn. And one thing that is very important for you to know is that you must be your best advocate. Read and absorb like a sponge as much as you can. There are so many good and caring people on this forum, so don't hesitate to ask any questions.

So Andrew, best wishes from Southern Cali! And post your results when you can.

[CharlieFL]

Hey Ahote,

Welcome to the forum...you'll find yourself coming back frequently - these people are awesome! I had my I/O the day you were diagnosed (9/11), so after two weeks and three days, the bruising is indeed subsiding and the incision is healing nicely. I walk normally now and feel so "normal" that I tend to do things I shouldn't - so when you feel better..HEED THE WARNING - NO HEAVY LIFTING. I only used my pain meds twice to help me sleep at night and that was it but they do constipate you...that too will go away. My incision is only about 3 inches long but I suspect yours is longer because of the prosthetic implant which they needed to attach to the scrotum. Anyway, welcome again and post your path reports when you get them!

[ahote]

Hi Maria, hello Charlie....

Actually maria, my head has been very clear up till this point - everyone around me, family and friends were disturbed, but maybe I'm slow on the uptake or maybe it's the way I grew up and I just figured I'd deal with this. My wife is now pregnant with twins after IVF which we had to do because of my sperm quality (although no one thought of looking for a growth) and we just bought a house which we are renovating (I'm a contractor) so we have a lot on our plate, but I think so far I've been extremely lucky that there has been (till now) no major signs of spreading to any of the other organs. My markers are normal and so I feel like I dodged a bullet, but I will take your advice and post here.

Thanks for the input Charlie - I've been told not to lift for two weeks by my doctor (I was haggling with him over the weight of a sheet of wallboard) and I've been very careful till now - haven't even picked the cat (15lb) or our dog (v.small 9 lb or so) up so I feel like I've been angelic about this. I did walk about on Wednesday and yesterday a bit but everything seemed fine. I was just a little concerned about the bruising because it wasn't there on day 1 or 2 but appeared Wednesday evening and I thought maybe the walk had been a mistake (I had checked in with my doc first and didn't take pain meds so I wouldn't overdo it). But it seems to be fine - no pain and actually, all things considered, v. little discomfort and above all, thanks to all you people here, I feel suddenly that I have support and information beyond my wildest dreams.

Thanks again to all of you.

I'll be back with my Histology and questions about whether to do chemo or radiation (which are being reccomended) or observation.

Andrew

[Margaret]

Hello Andrew. Great news about your babies coming!! TC can damage sperm quality and likely the cause of your issue. Like you, my husband had trouble with his sperm quality and we never suspected cancer either.

You are doing well by taking it easy, but the walking is good for you. I think you will find this forum to be one of the most accepting and helpful places on the planet...this is a family that really sticks together!

Oh and praise god that you changed doctors! What a lifesaver that was.

Welcome.

[Scott]

Another welcome, Andrew. I have to chuckle about your cat who's bigger than your dog.

[ahote]

Another welcome, Andrew. I have to chuckle about your cat who's bigger than your dog.

Oh my god yes - the cat isn't even fat at 15lbs, whilst our dog Fay, a Chihuahua / Fox Terrier mix does her best to become overweight is still only a bit more than half that. They pretend to ignore each other and cuddle secretly.

Thanks to you and Margaret for the welcome

Best wishes and good luck to all of you / us