Should I go back?
norther...@my-deja.com
taken a long time for my right testicle to feel "right." I still have
an occasional discomfort, but from what I've read here and other places
on the net, it may take as long as 3 months to return to normal.
That's not really my concern, yet.
I finally decided to have my post-vas screening. I've had about 25
ejaculations and I got an "all-clear." Here's my gripe: I took my
sample to my local hospital since my insurance doesn't cover lab tests
unless they're performed there. I was told that I couldn't call for
the results, I had to call the doctor's office and have them call, or
have them mailed to me. Does this suck or what? It's my body fluid,
what's the freakin' secret? I played the game: I called my
urologist's office in the afternoon. My answer: "Oh, we won't have
that until next week." Hello! Pick up the freakin' phone and call the
lab, you lazy jerk! My ace in the hole: I know someone at the lab and
got the results myself! What a joke. So my question is, do I need to
get a second test done, or am I OK considering the number of
ejaculations I've had?
I may use the opportunity to make an appointment with the doctor if and
when the urologist calls with the results and recommends a second
test. I really just wanted to vent......
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Nikolaus Maack
> Here's my gripe: I took my
> sample to my local hospital since my insurance doesn't cover lab tests
> unless they're performed there. I was told that I couldn't call for
> the results, I had to call the doctor's office and have them call, or
> have them mailed to me. Does this suck or what? It's my body fluid,
> what's the freakin' secret?
I'm in Canada -- not sure where you are -- and I had a sort of similar
experience. I carried my container of sperm in my armpit, for two blocks,
which was fun, and handed it over to the attractive woman working
reception at a nearby lab. Which was sort of embarrassing.
"Uh, here's my uh, my... It's... It was in my armpit and..."
No one had really explained the results part to me, so I was unsure what
to expect. I thought they'd tell me the results in five minutes. Slap
the jizz under a microscope and tell me now, while it's still hot!
No, they had to call me. Only, the lab didn't call me -- the doctor's
office called me. To be specific, the nurse/receptionist of the doctor's
office called to deliver the news.
I thought this was sort of odd. I hand the sperm to the lab, the lab does
the tests, the lab tells the doctor, the doctor tells the receptionist,
who then tells me. Is there anyone in the city not playing with my sperm?
I suppose this chain of communication sense if the results of such a test
are a complicated mess. Say it's a tumour and the doctor had to tell me
if it is cancerous or mailgnant. Let the family doctor break the news --
why should lab workers have to do it?
I'm guessing here, but I figure that must be it. In most cases lab tests
need to be explained in great detail to the patient, and it's considered
to be the doctor's job. He or she sits you down and gently goes over the
results.
With a vasectomy, the results don't generally seem to need explaining.
Yes or no, that's it. Or so it seems.
But if I were you, I'd have gone for the secret sperm-free envelope. It
might be fun to receive some sort of official document you can get framed
of laminated and then pull out at parties.
"That's right, baby -- 100% sperm free!"
My girlfriend says that my inability to get her pregnant is a real turn
on. I imagine other women feel the same way.
> So my question is, do I need to
> get a second test done, or am I OK considering the number of
> ejaculations I've had?
Probably should just play the game -- ask your doctor for the results,
like you don't know them already. That way, if there are complications
down the line, you can at least say you went through all the official
stages of the procedure.
> I really just wanted to vent......
Venting is good.
Nik
--
"I dote on myself. There is a lot of me, and all so luscious." -- Whitman
The Nik Maack Art Gallery
http://www.nikart.com
Nigel McKenzie
>experience. I carried my container of sperm in my armpit, for two blocks,
>which was fun,
Not actually necessary for a post-vasectomy test. I think they just hand
out the same instructions as for fertility testing, which does require
more careful handling.
> and handed it over to the attractive woman working
>reception at a nearby lab. Which was sort of embarrassing.
She was probably thinking, phew, it's only a semen sample.
It is probably for the better if a doctor does explain the result.
In my case, as I had paid for the test I phoned the lab directly and
then had to phone the doctor for an explanation.
Even if you are only talking to the doctors receptionist, they will pass
on any messages from the doctor.
Yes you should get a second test. It will give you more confidence and
it's not that arduous.
--
Nigel McKenzie
tri...@my-deja.com
read the stuff immediately, right in his office (the backroom, actually).
I gave the little container to the nurse (who did *not* hold it three
feet from her, as I half dreaded), she disappeared, and within minutes my
doc. came out with good news (twice!).
One of the irritating things about your story, is that by insisting that
you do tests at the hospital, the insurance company is probably driving
its costs up, since I suspect the test done at the hospital is the more
involved and expensive test, rather than the quick "look-see" under a
microscope that my doctor did himself!
As to a second test, I'm a little surprised your doc. didn't tell you up
front whether he would want two. Some only ask for one, but in the US at
least, two seems more common. (Apparently how long men need to wait, and
how much they have to shoot, before they are cleared out is one of the
few issues doctors say still needs to be researched about vasectomy!)
As to the pain in your right testicle, I think I'd be a bit less
"patient" than you are being, and ask for a follow-up with the doc. at
this point. After my vasectomy I did get occasional soreness the day
after any particularly long sex session--or after a double
ejaculation ;-) --, and that didn't really go away for a year. But if
your testicle is constantly sore, I think you should trot it on down to
the doc. for a look-see. (And maybe he'd be willing to look at a second
gob of goo right in his office, and you can be done with this!)
Good luck, and let us know what happens!
--
Check out the Vasectomy Support webpage:
http://www.vasectomy.fsnet.co.uk (includes survey and survey results)
Nikolaus Maack
> After my vasectomy I did get occasional soreness the day
> after any particularly long sex session--or after a double
> ejaculation ;-) --, and that didn't really go away for a year.
I had my vasectomy done in October -- almost a year ago -- and I've
noticed that I suffer some pain after serious bouts of sex. Like this
weekend for example. My girlfriend and I would have had sex a second
time, I suspect, if my gonads weren't complaining about it.
I'm debating whether or not to contact my doctor about this. I think I've
got one of those sperm blockage lumps above my left testicle, which might
be a contributing factor. I'll probably go see him anyway, but your story
makes me hesitate -- is pain up to a year later considered normal? No one
told me that when I signed up, galdarnit.
tri...@my-deja.com
In article <8p3ahd$m01$1...@freenet9.carleton.ca>,
ac...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Nikolaus Maack) wrote:
> I had my vasectomy done in October -- almost a year ago -- and I've
> noticed that I suffer some pain after serious bouts of sex. Like this
> weekend for example. My girlfriend and I would have had sex a second
> time, I suspect, if my gonads weren't complaining about it.
>
> I'm debating whether or not to contact my doctor about this. I think I've
> got one of those sperm blockage lumps above my left testicle, which might
> be a contributing factor. I'll probably go see him anyway, but your story
> makes me hesitate -- is pain up to a year later considered normal? No one
> told me that when I signed up, galdarnit.
I'd go see him. My "discomfort" (as doctors like to call such things)
was never as serious as yours sounds to be. Nor did it come right after
cumming, so to speak. It was more like a soreness, and the day after.
(I've compared it to a kindof "sex hangover.")
David Brown
>ejaculations and I got an "all-clear." Here's my gripe: I took my
>sample to my local hospital since my insurance doesn't cover lab tests
>unless they're performed there. I was told that I couldn't call for
>the results, I had to call the doctor's office and have them call, or
>have them mailed to me. Does this suck or what? It's my body fluid,
>what's the freakin' secret? I played the game: I called my
>urologist's office in the afternoon. My answer: "Oh, we won't have
>that until next week." Hello! Pick up the freakin' phone and call the
>lab, you lazy jerk! My ace in the hole: I know someone at the lab and
>got the results myself! What a joke. So my question is, do I need to
>get a second test done, or am I OK considering the number of
>ejaculations I've had?
I'd go for the second test just to make sure, and you also have the way of
short-circuiting the system by giving you friend a ring.
Have to say this system is usual in the UK - take your sample to the
pathology lab, they do the business and send the results to your GP. I knew
what the system was as during my consultation it was explained to me, so
maybe the fault is with the pre-op counselling not letting you know what the
procedure is?
--
"Dump the pump" - www.boycott-the-pumps.com
David
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Visit the Vasectomy Information site at http://www.vasectomy-information.com
Please participate in the on-line survey!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nikolaus Maack
> I'd go see him. My "discomfort" (as doctors like to call such things)
> was never as serious as yours sounds to be. Nor did it come right after
> cumming, so to speak. It was more like a soreness, and the day after.
> (I've compared it to a kindof "sex hangover.")
I called to make an appointment with the doctor today. I figured it would
be best to go and see the man who did the original work. The receptionist
said, "You had your vasectomy last October? We ask that you take these
things to your family doctor after such a long time."
"I don't have a family doctor," I said.
That threw her for a loop for some reason. I don't know why, but I just
never got one. Part of it, I suppose, is I don't know HOW to get one.
I've been going to walk-in clinics my whole life. If you want someone to
be your family doctor, do you say, "Y'know, I like the cut of your jib.
Let's you and me go steady!"?
Anyhow, the receptionist caved in and made an appointment for me. Which
was awfully decent of her, I guess.
My aching left nut is slightly worse than a "sex hangover". I can feel
the sperm granuloma in there -- if that's what the lump is -- and touching
it makes it sore. It also feels slightly bigger than it used to. Oh boy,
what fun. If I remember my literature correctly, granulomas can be taken
out if they are painful, which means I might be looking at a second round
under the no-scalpel.
I'll post to let people know, because I'm an exhibitionist and I enjoy
sharing my pain with others.
tri...@my-deja.com
norther...@my-deja.com wrote:
> Well, I called the doctor's office yesterday to get the official
> results and to see if I should schedule another screening. I also
> mentioned the irritation. She (the same girl I talked to last week,
> who is a nurse not a receptionist) wasn't sure about coming in for a
> second test. After pausing, she suggested to drop off another in three
> months. *sigh* (<-- at her ineptitude)
Yikes! Are you really going to wait another three months? That's really
outrageous, especially if you are using rubbers. The ususal is two tests
after the first month, about two weeks apart. If both are clear, you are
free to rumble. No way you should have to go another 3 months!
As for the "discomfort," advil is worth a try.
--
Check out the Vasectomy Support webpage:
http://www.vasectomy.fsnet.co.uk (includes survey and survey results)
Nikolaus Maack
> The ususal is two tests
> after the first month, about two weeks apart. If both are clear, you are
> free to rumble.
Here in Canada, at least with my doctor, there was only one single sperm
test after the operation. If I recall correctly, you're supposed to bring
in a sample after one month, and during that month you have to have
ejaculated a certain number of times. I just thought this difference in
approach was interesting.
norther...@my-deja.com
back in another week. Thanks for the advice!
tri...@my-deja.com
ac...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Nikolaus Maack) wrote:
> Here in Canada, at least with my doctor, there was only one single sperm
> test after the operation. If I recall correctly, you're supposed to bring
> in a sample after one month, and during that month you have to have
> ejaculated a certain number of times. I just thought this difference in
> approach was interesting.
Yeah, I think this is how they do it in Australia, too. Then again,
there are places where testing is impracticable, and they just tell men
to wait or use protection for three months. It's all a question of
playing the odds. Maybe the difference in procedure is dictated as much
by the consequences (to the doctor) of being unlucky: in litigious
societies (like the US, where I live), doctors may want the extra
certainty of two negatives.
tri...@my-deja.com
norther...@my-deja.com wrote:
> I stopped using condoms after I got the first all clear. Maybe I'll go
> back in another week.
Ummm. . .If you are already going bareback, what's the point of going
back? On the other hand, if you are worried enough to go back, shouldn't
you still be wearing rubbers?
--
Check out the Vasectomy Support webpage:
http://www.vasectomy.fsnet.co.uk (includes survey and survey results)
David Brown
>> back in another week.
>
>Ummm. . .If you are already going bareback, what's the point of going
>back? On the other hand, if you are worried enough to go back, shouldn't
>you still be wearing rubbers?
What was that old '70s chinese type martial arts mystical soap - Kung Fu, I
do believe Grasshopper (who writes this stuff).
I'd go back and be sure - we do seem to hear the odd tale about not having a
second test and regretting it. It's also the only thing that the medical
profession are currently researching seriously on vasectomy - how long sperm
stay in the system. It seems to be longer than they thought......
David Brown
>> test after the operation. If I recall correctly, you're supposed to
bring
>> in a sample after one month, and during that month you have to have
>> ejaculated a certain number of times. I just thought this difference in
>> approach was interesting.
>
>Yeah, I think this is how they do it in Australia, too. Then again,
>there are places where testing is impracticable, and they just tell men
>to wait or use protection for three months. It's all a question of
>playing the odds. Maybe the difference in procedure is dictated as much
>by the consequences (to the doctor) of being unlucky: in litigious
>societies (like the US, where I live), doctors may want the extra
>certainty of two negatives.
The UK, which is not as litigious as the US by some way has two tests as
standard. Not sure of the reason, but it's interesting to note that a lot of
the research into how long the wigglies can live is being done over here.
Probably no connection - just interesting.
norther...@my-deja.com
tri...@my-deja.com wrote:
> In article <8paoid$iq4$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> norther...@my-deja.com wrote:
> > I stopped using condoms after I got the first all clear. Maybe
I'll go
> > back in another week.
>
> Ummm. . .If you are already going bareback, what's the point of going
> back? On the other hand, if you are worried enough to go back,
shouldn't
> you still be wearing rubbers?
>
LOL - There's no going back now!!!!!! :)