Hello everyone! I just had hydrocele surgery Wednesday morning (29APR15) at 730am.
Background- I am 23 years old, athlete, and weight lifter. I had a hydrocele repair at age 14 it was the inguinal repair. It never fully went away and I think I rushed thehealing process with sports. Over the years of sports and stuff it has not changed in size much more but it was a muticoluar hydrocele, so it was hard and thicked walled and more complicated than a simple hydrocele. It was about 2.5x bigger than the left side and it had a few squishy lumps, no girl or any guy in the shower ever commented on it so it must have not looked too bad haha. Well I finally man'd up and decided to have it fixed.
Two days prior: called the hospital monday night and they said to get there at 6am wednesday morning!!! I was a train wreck! Believe me when I tell you the worst part of the whole procedure was Tuesday and tuesday night! I went through that surgery 50000 times in my head going through every possible scenario.
Gameday: Got up at 445am and my mom drove me to the hospital, I was actually suprisingly calm and had somewhat accepted my fate. Got to the hospital around 605am signed some papers and put on the gown and laid down in the bed-cart at about 630am. At 7 am some guy wheeled me off and my mom said her good-byes. I was being wheeled into a holding area I think with all the other unlucky victims waiting for ther surgery. I signed more papers, talked to my surgeon, and then the anastesiologist put in the IV. This was kind of crappy cause we all were waiting there with our IVs just waiting to get pulled into the operating room. I had no drugs or anything in me. Finally at about 740 it was my time 
. They wheeled me in the operating room and put in some stuff to make me feel pretty good. I then was told to go onto the operating table, I had about 75% consciousness. they then put a gas mask on me and told me to take 5 breaths, I did that and then they said they were adding some sedative. Next thing I knew I was chatting up the nurse and I think getting on her nerves haha. It was like a mixture of the drugs and euphoria of it being done. Soon after I was wheeled back to my mom, I had to pee and then they took out the IV, no problem with urination. Dont worry boys, no catheter. We finally got discharged at about 1230pm.
Recovery/Pain- Yes, they cut open you sac, it sounds worse than it is. I am on day 3 and only take half doses of the pill so I think I have taken 2 pain pills this whole time. It is very swollen and I think it is deffinitely improving, but I am trying not to look down there cause it does make me kinda sad. Get stool softners ie. mira-lax and plenty of ice. I made that mistake the first surgery. Any questions let me know I will be happy to help, I read some horror reviews here and was terrified so I am letting you know it will be okay and for me pain was very minimal.
Im curious after your first operation did the dr's tell you that everything was ok or that you would need a second surgery? The reason I ask is I have had 2 surgeries in a span of about 5 months but I am now on my 4th month after my second surgery and my nut is still 2 times the size it should be. I had an ultrasound done 3 and a half months after the 1st surgery as my testicle was still swollen and they said that there was a little fluid that returned so I had a second surgery. Upon waking from the second surgery my dr said that he was surprised as the testicle had very little fluid around it and that my testice was actually that size. Well I explained to him that it wasnt before the hydrocele so how did it "grow" but he had no answer for me. Im going to wait a few more months in hopes maybe it is just residual swelling as the epidytimis is still large as well but if nothing changes I am going to get a second opinion because I have lost faith in this guy.
Glad you got over your nerves, Mike. Hospitals can be scary places. Why do you have swelling already? You were supposed to have just had that fixed!
Since you're not needing much pain medicine you shouldn't need much stool softener either. The constipation problem is a side reaction of the pain medicine.
Hope icing helps. It doesn't for a hydrocele but it does help for the inflamation from the incision. Good luck, stay well.
Your story makes me feel like I will be able to handle it like you. the antipation is always the worse. Be well, Boces
I had the incision in my abdomen the first time instead of down south. So I do not remember my boys being anywhere near as swollen as they are after this one. However, I do not remember them shrinking much and I went for an ultrasound a few months later and I still had fluid. At this time, I said screw it and went on living life because they had gone down considerably after the 1st surgery. They deemed it successful and they said I didnt wait long enough before I was out doing sports again. I think a second opinion would be wise, I heard it can take up to 6 months for the swelling to 100% subside.
Thanks yeah I was terrified. Yeah its just really swollen cause they had to cut into the scrotum and it has actually gone down some in the past 2 days. Yep I have not had too many issues with using the bathroom fortunately.
Glad I can help, let me know if you any questions. You are right scheduling the appointment and waiting is the worst. You will be fine bro.
Thanks for the info, yeah my doc said 4 weeks no gym I went back after 2 and 1/2 maybe it slowed recovery down.
I will try and give periodical updates.....Day4(Saturday)- No pain pills at all today. I am now able to walk slowly, dress, sit down, and lay down with no help and minimal pain. Zero bleeding from the wound and the swelling has decreased. I spend my entire day either at my computer doing work or sitting down, I am still icing it a lot, and sometimes I take everything off when I lay down to let it get some air.
Thankyou for sharing. Its helpful to others. My son who is 19 and elite sportsperson was diagnosed with very large hydrocele 8 weeks ago. Two weeks ago after sourcing a good urologist he had surgery. He was given panadol forte but only used panadol for first 5 days. We avoided shower for 2 days and on third and fourth day had luke warm showers. Fifth day he introduced a bath with a little dettol to clean the wound. Also we bought secure/firm undies (he put a non-stick wound pad next to wound for extra support and to grab any wound debris for 3 days) to support stiches and wore them up till now which is the third week. No need for any ice but replaced panadol with ibuprofen by day 4. We didn't use ibuprofen before then because the of the anaesthetic. Its important to ensure wound doesn't bleed too much and is not infected. It should be more a stinging pain rather than a throbbing pain. Stay off the exercise and lifting for four weeks post but you should check with surgeon for follow up about 2 weeks after surgery. After two weeks and upon seeing surgeon he said my sons testicle is apparently back to normal size but could have had some swelling and bruising still and he should expect testicle to be even smaller in next two weeks. He said he could return to full time sport 4 weeks post surgery. He said the wound had healed perfectly. Hope this helps anyone who is considering hydrocele surgery. It is important to find a Urologist who has a good reputation and I also think its important to use the anaesthetist that normally would work alongside that urologist. I also think that good diet (no smoking) and lots of OJ (Vit C) to heal wound cant hurt. I'm not an expert but I hope I have helped anyone considering this surgery. A hydrocele is harmless and is just fluid leaking from the abdomen and is caused from either a big knock or it's usually just how you were born. Only very small percentage of hydroceles come back but my son has been told his wont return. Oh yes I bought a rubber ring for my son to sit on and it helped a lot in first 5 days. Just picked up from chemist for around $12.00 AUS. So just thought this might help someone else.
Thankyou for sharing. Its helpful to others. My son who is 19 and elite sportsperson was diagnosed with very large hydrocele 8 weeks ago. Two weeks ago after sourcing a good urologist he had surgery. He was given panadol forte but only used panadol for first 5 days. We avoided shower for 2 days and on third and fourth day had luke warm showers. Fifth day he introduced a bath with a little dettol to clean the wound. Also we bought secure/firm undies (he put a non-stick wound pad next to wound for extra support and to grab any wound debris for 3 days) to support stiches and wore them up till now which is the third week. No need for any ice but replaced panadol with ibuprofen by day 4. We didn't use ibuprofen before then because the of the anaesthetic. Its important to ensure wound doesn't bleed too much and is not infected. It should be more a stinging pain rather than a throbbing pain. Stay off the exercise and lifting for four weeks post but you should check with surgeon for follow up about 2 weeks after surgery. After two weeks and upon seeing surgeon he said my sons testicle is apparently back to normal size but could have had some swelling and bruising still and he should expect testicle to be even smaller in next two weeks. He said he could return to full time sport 4 weeks post surgery. He said the wound had healed perfectly. Hope this helps anyone who is considering hydrocele surgery. It is important to find a Urologist who has a good reputation and I also think its important to use the anaesthetist that normally would work alongside that urologist. I also think that good diet (no smoking) and lots of OJ (Vit C) to heal wound cant hurt. I'm not an expert but I hope I have helped anyone considering this surgery. A hydrocele is harmless and is just fluid leaking from the abdomen and is caused from either a big knock or it's usually just how you were born. Only very small percentage of hydroceles come back but my son has been told his wont return. Oh yes I bought a rubber ring for my son to sit on and it helped a lot in first 5 days. Just picked up from chemist for around $12.00 AUS. So just thought this might help someone else. Also used flaxseed oil in milk shakes to loosen stools.
Day 6: (Surgery last Wednesday tos Tuesday).... Scrotum finally starting to resemble a normal ball sack but still large obviously. Everyday swelling noticeably decreases. Very minimal pain and I can finally start walking around without any pain or help. Continuing to ice like nobody's business. I have been sleeping naked every night to let it get some air and to get a break from briefs all day, Im telling you this has made a huge difference. I tried to wear the scrotal support a few times but it was making things much more uncomfortable down there.
Day 12: Noticeably better than before surgery. About the size of an egg but decreasing. No pain and stitches are starting to dissolve. I feel like I could do pretty much anything but I am still refraining from any physical activity. Im using hot compresses as well.
Mike, Congratulations on your sucess!
Are you in the UK? Did you have a choice of surgeon, or just get assigned to one? I'm in the U.S. I'm having a heck of a time finding a uro / surgeion I am confident in. I do not want the surgery,anyway, but if I ever do get it done, would like to have "the best" hydrocele surgeon available, if you know what I mean.
I can research the uro's in my area on doctor rating websites, but still don't feel comfortable with any.
How did you decide which surgeon to use? Or did you just take whoever was on hand? Were all those other guys with the IV's also waiting for hydrocele surgery?
Thanks
Thanks!! Both testicles are almost identical now 17 days post op.Im from the US too and had my surgery done in NY, but I basically used the guy the doctors office provided me and he seemed to do an excellent job. Nope all the people that were in the room getting the IVs were other people being prepped for their surgery as well, but of course there was a curtain between us and I couldnt see them.
.Are you getting it done soon? You will be glad you did it.
Not getting it done soon, if I can postpone it! Afraid of the whole ordeal, naturally. If it stays same size, I will live with it. Still trying to find a uro I'm confident in. So far only my family doctor has examined it. He recommended the urologist group in his hospital, which has 3 urologists. 2 of them have some nasty things written about them on a review website, the third one has nothing but glowing reviews. But the one with the glowing reviews doesn't list hydrocelectomy as one of his practices. I don't even want to phone them up and ask any questions, since that would move me one step closer to the scalpel !
Good to hear that the surgeon your doc recommended worked out well.
Thanks for posting here and relating.
6.5 weeks post op.... Both testicles are same size you can't tell a difference, but if I examine very closely there is residual swelling above my right nut about the size of a marble but it is decreasing... Loose skin starting to tighten up... Resumed physical activities a few weeks ago.. Wound completely healed and I have had no pain for weeks.. I would say another 6 weeks and everything will be 100% like I never had a hydrocele
It's a hematoma it's just blood build up they say it will eventually be reabsorbed by the body which is why it's getting smaller.Your lucky my nut is still the size of an egg and im almost 6 months post op now im friggin p*ssed, im just waiting a few more weeks then going to visit a different urologist. Im sure I will be told there is nothing they can do as it is the actual nut that is big but I want to know why this happened as my original doc did 2 of these operations on it and cant tell my why my nut stayed so big and he had 35 years experience and said he had done thousands of hydrocelectomy's.
Hey Mike,
I have followed your posts. Glad to hear you are back to normal. I have a scheduled surgery for July 31. I have have trouble sleeping due to the size, which is the size of a baseball. Mine is from prostrate surgery, All we can do is to encourage others and you are proof of success.
Be well
Hi Mike. Your posts have been so helpful. I just found this site, and was reading up on your progress. It is nice to hear that things are going in a positive direction. Keep the posts coming as there are probably more people following this than you can imagine.
My story is somewhat simple for now. About six months ago I went to a urologist here in NYC and was diagnosed with hydrocele. I never heard of it before, but was somewhat relieved that it was not something much worse. Doctor told me to follow up in a month and told me to wear support in the meantime. After the next follow up, we discussed how I was feeling and I said greatly improved since wearing the support. He told me to follow up in four months with him. My next follow up is in about two weeks from now and I am noticing that the hydrocele (left side) is larger in size and more noticeable than before. Since I am beyond scared (terrified is more like it) of any type of surgery, I may inquire about the aspiration. But for now I will just wait. I understand that waiting is an option, but for how long?
Again, much thanks for your comments and my best to you for a speedy and heathy recovery. You are very brave.
Regards, Jay.