This is TFK equivalent of a Facebook Karen/Mary/Nuala checking in from the hospital postā¦
ā¦but I had some planned surgery today. Although I need to respect patient confidentiality Iām thrilled and relieved to report that my balls are now the same size.
I had a hydrocele, which is when fluid gets trapped in the ball and it causes the testicle to become enlarged. Too much information? Apparently about 1 in 20 people who identify as men can get them but they usually present like a lump so you need to get them checked out.
I had my big ball for years and the initial advice was to leave it. A friend has one too (modern men talk about our feelings and balls and feeling our balls) and his consultant said something likeā¦Iām loathe to do anything with hydroceles unless youāre bringing your testicle into me in a wheelbarrow for review.
I noticed my one had gotten even bigger late last year so made a GP appointment, he arranged an ultrasound to make sure it was just more fluid and not a tumour, and a referral to the consultant for a bit of a look and fondle. The latest growth and bigger size could have led to complications with the kidneys or resulted in other general infections so urologist recommendation was to operate. A day case surgery today under general anaesthetic where they made a tasteful incision in the scrotum and drained out the excess fluid.
I was much obliged that the medics and @fenwaypark were able agree the procedure timing around my upcoming Wexford half marathon and Cork City marathon commitments, and I should be back in training in 2 weeks.
Overall, the entire process took 2-3 months and it cost a mere ā¬125 - the excess on my VHI policy for todayās procedure. It drove home to me again how important it is to have private health insurance, if you can afford it at all. Obviously better still if you have it as part of your employment package.
I got over some anaesthetic related nausea/vomiting in the afternoon (I saw the post op tea & toast again quite soon after having it and the wine gums were a bad idea too) and Iām home since early evening. Iām taking plenty of painkillers and monitoring my sack wound closely. I have to keep a drain on until early next week to allow more blood, gunk & goo to seep into it. Lovely.
Iād just woken up after a snooze a while ago when I noticed @Thomas_Brady had specifically set up a āremember whenā thread to abuse me. I burst out crying when faced with that
unprovoked attack, but possibly more so due to the sheer emotional rollercoaster of my testicle reconfiguration journey. I will try to get some sleep now but, before that, I will listen to some Alt-J.
I forgave him as I would have done the same. As I came round after that the TV was on āThe Snapperā was being shown on BBC2 I think and I was nearly in worst pain from laughing, from what I can recall it was one of the rare productions that started on TV and then went to the cinema after. Anyway after that ramble my ball was saved and despite the lads wondering howā:rofl: here I am years later after siring 2 children.