This is about 2 medical problems, inguinal hernia and repair and varicocele, that others may have and would like clarification.
I first discovered something in my scrotum when I was 16 years old. My primary care physician diagnosed it then as a varicocele.
"A varicocele (VAR-ih-koe-seel) is an enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that holds the testicles (scrotum). These veins transport oxygen-depleted blood from the testicles. A varicocele occurs when blood pools in the veins rather than circulating efficiently out of the scrotum.
Varicoceles usually form during puberty and develop over time. They may cause some discomfort or pain, but they often result in no symptoms or complications.
A varicocele may cause poor development of a testicle, low sperm production or other problems that may lead to infertility. Surgery to treat varicocele may be recommended to address these complications."
From time to time it caused some pain, particularly if I stood for a long time. I did have a procedure to repair it in my thirties, along with a vasectomy. The surgeon remarked that he had never before returned someone's fertility, since as the definition states varicoceles can lead to sterility, and then taken it away with the vasectomy.
Fast forward to the last 5-10 years. With several other urological problems, kidney stones particularly, i was regularly seeing a urologist, and complained from time to time of pain in the left scrotum. Because of the anatomy of how the veins from the testes return to the inferior vena cava, the left at a right angle to the renal vein, the right at an acute angle to the vena cava itself, neither of the returning veins have valves, so standing does tend to pool blood in the vein, into the dependent portion. I hope I haven't lost you so far. My urologist just suggested wearing an athletic supporter or tighter underwear. I accepted that for years. But I also complained of pain at every visit.
During a recent river cruise, i did feel a bulge in my groin and had difficulty walking. I discovered that if I reached down and pushed the bulge in, the pain relieved and I could walk. I then knew it was a hernia. When my primary care physician agreed with the diagnosis i was referred to a robotic surgeon specialist who scheduled the surgery which I underwent on July 1. The hernia is gone, but there is still pain in the left scrotum, and I recently underwent a scan and allegedly there was nothing found. I have an appointment next week with the urologist. I will have him discuss with me what the next step in the scrotum will be,
I rebounded from the surgery well, except for the scars. As I stated they are strategically placed in a way they give me trouble. Looking at the images I took of the area when the outer bandages came off, you can get a better idea of the location of the incision wounds. I am okay with sharing sequential images if you like, but I am completely exposed in them. You may have seen other images of my body in my art, so I will share these images in PMs if you care to see them. I know what curiosity about these things can be.
I need to now see the actual procedure done, since I was under general anesthesia and did not. I need to know why the incisions were made where they were, etc. So I do understand your curiosity, and am glad to help you understand through images, I have looked via google searches and cannot find any that compare.
The other thing anyone going for this surgery should know, apparently before surgery, you will have your public hair shaved a bit, to keep it out of the surgical field. That surprised me a bit, since it was not explained to me prior to surgery.
"A varicocele (VAR-ih-koe-seel) is an enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that holds the testicles (scrotum). These veins transport oxygen-depleted blood from the testicles. A varicocele occurs when blood pools in the veins rather than circulating efficiently out of the scrotum.
Varicoceles usually form during puberty and develop over time. They may cause some discomfort or pain, but they often result in no symptoms or complications.
A varicocele may cause poor development of a testicle, low sperm production or other problems that may lead to infertility. Surgery to treat varicocele may be recommended to address these complications."
From time to time it caused some pain, particularly if I stood for a long time. I did have a procedure to repair it in my thirties, along with a vasectomy. The surgeon remarked that he had never before returned someone's fertility, since as the definition states varicoceles can lead to sterility, and then taken it away with the vasectomy.
Fast forward to the last 5-10 years. With several other urological problems, kidney stones particularly, i was regularly seeing a urologist, and complained from time to time of pain in the left scrotum. Because of the anatomy of how the veins from the testes return to the inferior vena cava, the left at a right angle to the renal vein, the right at an acute angle to the vena cava itself, neither of the returning veins have valves, so standing does tend to pool blood in the vein, into the dependent portion. I hope I haven't lost you so far. My urologist just suggested wearing an athletic supporter or tighter underwear. I accepted that for years. But I also complained of pain at every visit.
During a recent river cruise, i did feel a bulge in my groin and had difficulty walking. I discovered that if I reached down and pushed the bulge in, the pain relieved and I could walk. I then knew it was a hernia. When my primary care physician agreed with the diagnosis i was referred to a robotic surgeon specialist who scheduled the surgery which I underwent on July 1. The hernia is gone, but there is still pain in the left scrotum, and I recently underwent a scan and allegedly there was nothing found. I have an appointment next week with the urologist. I will have him discuss with me what the next step in the scrotum will be,
I rebounded from the surgery well, except for the scars. As I stated they are strategically placed in a way they give me trouble. Looking at the images I took of the area when the outer bandages came off, you can get a better idea of the location of the incision wounds. I am okay with sharing sequential images if you like, but I am completely exposed in them. You may have seen other images of my body in my art, so I will share these images in PMs if you care to see them. I know what curiosity about these things can be.
I need to now see the actual procedure done, since I was under general anesthesia and did not. I need to know why the incisions were made where they were, etc. So I do understand your curiosity, and am glad to help you understand through images, I have looked via google searches and cannot find any that compare.
The other thing anyone going for this surgery should know, apparently before surgery, you will have your public hair shaved a bit, to keep it out of the surgical field. That surprised me a bit, since it was not explained to me prior to surgery.
80-89, M
