tr_80504 (imported) wrote: Sun May 02, 2010 11:38 am Right now my scrotum looks like a grape fruit that is half black and blue.

Yup. Grapefruit size was about the size it was for me after each individual orchi. When the swelling goes down expect to notice something inside that "feels" like a testicle. Don't worry, the testicle didn't grow back. It is either blood, lymph, fluid, or who knows what that starts to build and then slooooly goes down over a period of weeks.

Keep that supporter on for a while. It is your best friend. I promise it will reduce the swelling and discomfort the fastest. My doc told me I was one of the few that listened to him about the supporter. And it really helped.

We gave up on the athletic supporter stuffed with gauze even before I dressed to go home after my orchiectomy. Of course, we had some preliminary knowledge because I had a surgical biopsy before which in some ways is more traumatic than the orchiectomy. I found the wad of gauze was too insulating so that the coldness of the ice didn't really reach the scrotum and the gauze would get stuck in the oozings from the incision. My wife got some ABD pads (much like a feminine pad) from work and we used a women's control brief to hold it in place. That was much better as it absorbed everything very well, didn't get stuck at all and allowed the ice to function better. The other difference between the surgeries for a biopsy and orchiectomy was that the doctor put a drain in for the orchiectomy. I did have some swelling and bruising after the biopsy but nothing like grapefruit size. However, with the drain in place for a few days after my orchiectomy, there was absolutely no swelling or bruising because all the fluid just drained out the hose. It was kind of interesting to watch it drip out, much more that I would have expected. The hole for the drain was at the bottom of my scrotum and the surgical incisions at the top. Some fluid even drained from the hole for a day or so after the surgical drain was removed.

I do feel better today but will continue to take it easy. I have noticed for several days that the real problem comes from the left side of my scrotum only. The left side contains all the swelling and is the only side that is black and blue all the ways from my penis all along my perineum to my anus. That seems strange to me. It also feels like the blood clot or whatever it is, is also attached to the end of my cords on the left side also.

tr_80504 (imported) wrote: Wed May 05, 2010 9:26 am I do feel better today but will continue to take it easy. I have noticed for several days that the real problem comes from the left side of my scrotum only. The left side contains all the swelling and is the only side that is black and blue all the ways from my penis all along my perineum to my anus. That seems strange to me. It also feels like the blood clot or whatever it is, is also attached to the end of my cords on the left side also.

Inside the scrotum has 2 chambers or inner sacks. That can explain why one side is different then the other. You should over the next days notice the sack area go through a range of colors as the bruising heals. My doctor said to only do light lifting the first week. Wait till the third week before real heavy lifting. Keep the back straight to reduce the strain in your now empty sack/groin.

Good that you are doing good and still happy.

Sorry to jump in late but don't rush your recovery. You may "feel" ok but it maybe the meds and even if not you have had some serious surgery and you need time for all the bits to mend.

Relax and take it easy. Keep your feet elevated and TV or Computer out for a while.

Congratulations!!

All you telling us sound normal. Dr. Spector showed me my testicles because the cords swell making you thing you still have yours. The scrotum also swells from all the old blood that is collected there. I had a local which cause a lot of black and blue all down the inside of my legs and stomach area. The incision will not totally close until all clotted blood drains from the scrotum and this might take 4 to 6 weeks. I also had ghost pains iike I was hit in the balls. Don't use peroxide to clean the area as it will slow down the healing process. My local doctor let me soak in a hot tub after about 5 week to help the scrotum drain but check with your doctor first. It takes awhile but you will be ok.

Eddie (imported) wrote: Thu May 06, 2010 6:22 pm Congratulations!!

All you telling us sound normal. Dr. Spector showed me my testicles because the cords swell making you thing you still have yours. The scrotum also swells from all the old blood that is collected there. I had a local which cause a lot of black and blue all down the inside of my legs and stomach area. The incision will not totally close until all clotted blood drains from the scrotum and this might take 4 to 6 weeks. I also had ghost pains iike I was hit in the balls. Don't use peroxide to clean the area as it will slow down the healing process. My local doctor let me soak in a hot tub after about 5 week to help the scrotum drain but check with your doctor first. It takes awhile but you will be ok.

Spector was a butcher at the end. That kind and extent of hematomae and swelling was not "normative" for the procedure - some, yes, extensively, no. Fortunately, I survived him.

kristoff wrote: Thu May 06, 2010 6:30 pm Spector was a butcher at the end. That kind and extent of hematomae and swelling was not "normative" for the procedure - some, yes, extensively, no. Fortunately, I survived him.

He might have been in his last years but he was not like that in 1998 when he did mine. I have had four surgeries, two were installing and removing a implant, the results are always the same.

Things are getting better every day. The swelling continues to go down and the black and blue is now red and fading. My scrotum is still swollen enough that I can pinch it between my legs and that doesn't feel good, but over all I am recovering and hope to go back to work Sunday.

In speaking with my Doctor about the swelling and bruising he told me he had a case once that the swelling and bruising occurred with one of his patients almost 6 weeks latter. He said it was something to do with something that was tied off coming lose.

It has been 19 days since I was castrated and I am doing well. I still have some swelling on the left side but it is nothing more than a annoyance. I am still wearing the athletic supporter as this does still make it feel better.

I spoke with my end and she is strongly suggesting that I go on some sort of HRT. She wants me to go on androgen 25mg/2.5 gm 1 per day. I really feel good at the level I am at. I just have to push myself sometimes to get things done, otherwise I am not as motivated as I use to be.

I am very happy and glad I have finally made it. I wish I could have gotten my scrotum removed when I had my surgery but I will probably have that done later.