How ghastly is a vasectomy?

How ghastly is a vasectomy?

Author
Discussion

henrycrun

2,449 posts

241 months

Thursday 14th February 2019
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As probably already mentioned - don't ride bike home post op.

wiggy001

6,545 posts

272 months

Thursday 14th February 2019
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My experience of my op in October (non-scalpel) is further up this thread but the best advice I can give is, after the op, keep taking nurofen for a few days and don't do anything more than sit with feet up watching TV for 3-4 days.

Mine was done Saturday morning, feet up for the rest of the weekend. I worked at home on Monday as planned and intended to go back to work on Tuesday. Nope. Same wednesday - was just in too much pain to walk further than the kitchen. Struggled in on thursday and had to get my wife to pick me up from the station that evening as there was no way I was doing to 20 minute walk home. Same friday. Feet up the following weekend and was mostly fine by the next week.

I will say though that it's only been the last month where, in general, I don't know I had it done. Until 4 weeks ago I would be aching downstairs most evenings. Still get the odd day like that but nothing too major.

Oh, and did I mention... keep taking the nurofen. Really.

gashead1105

560 posts

154 months

Thursday 21st February 2019
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Agree with the recent posts. Had mine done (no scalpel) a couple of weeks ago now after it took a year or so to get their psychologically even though my wife and I don't want any more kids. Was not a process I would care to repeat ('technically challenging' to quote the doctor who did it, took almost an hour and he couldn't confirm to 100% satisfaction that everything was cauterised, but he thought it should be ok...). The local was wearing off by the end, the last 10 mins or so were pretty painful. I was signed off work all last week, during which I got some time on the Xbox and mainlined paracetamol and ibuprofen like Keith Richards doing smack. So could've been worse. I feel alright now, back at work with no major aches or pains in the relevant area and everything seems to be in working order.

Hopefully, it's short term pain and discomfort for long term gain.

Edited by gashead1105 on Thursday 21st February 14:04

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

118 months

Thursday 21st February 2019
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I had it done in about 1971. No problem. Not pleasant, but not a big deal.

Stupeo

1,343 posts

194 months

Friday 8th March 2019
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Had mine done today. The waiting was the worst part for sure - I’ve been ok until the 2 hour wait today in the day case unit at my local hospital

Got down to theatre and was surprised to see 6 female nurses and the male surgeon waiting for me - seemed a lot of staff, but the care was absolutely spot on.

The anaesthetic injection was really uncomfortable (same feeling as being kicked in the nads) but only last 30s or so each side. Didn’t feel a thing after that, until the sprayed this liquid dressing on the scrotum that burns like hell! Procedure was 25 minutes and I was surprised how big the Vas tubes are!

So far, no pain, just feels slightly uncomfortable - will see how things progress.


Brads67

3,199 posts

99 months

Friday 8th March 2019
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I had mine done when I was 25.

The other guys in the waiting room seemed more worried about me than I was.

Was easy in the end. Chatted to the nurse all the way through.

RC1807

12,555 posts

169 months

Saturday 9th March 2019
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My boss is having it done on 25th. I advised him to invest in some Speedos to wear for the first few days, keep your balls close. Helped me a lot as I recall.

Davey S2

13,097 posts

255 months

Monday 11th March 2019
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Stupeo said:
Had mine done today. The waiting was the worst part for sure - I’ve been ok until the 2 hour wait today in the day case unit at my local hospital

Got down to theatre and was surprised to see 6 female nurses and the male surgeon waiting for me - seemed a lot of staff, but the care was absolutely spot on.

The anaesthetic injection was really uncomfortable (same feeling as being kicked in the nads) but only last 30s or so each side. Didn’t feel a thing after that, until the sprayed this liquid dressing on the scrotum that burns like hell! Procedure was 25 minutes and I was surprised how big the Vas tubes are!

So far, no pain, just feels slightly uncomfortable - will see how things progress.
Had it done last Wednesday.

Generally uncomfortable rather than painful. I'm back in work today and things are still a little tender and badly bruised.

It was more uncomfortable when they were doing the right hand side than the left and the Doc (female) said that 90% of patients said the same thing. Now though its the other way round. Passenger side is the part that aches and still smarts a bit.



eybic

9,212 posts

175 months

Tuesday 9th April 2019
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All booked in for a non scalpel on the 1st of May eek

toon10

6,194 posts

158 months

Tuesday 9th April 2019
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I've not read the comments in the thread so far so apologies if I go over old ground.

Having had this done in November, I feel qualified to comment. I have heard horror stories from friends and others say it's nothing. My personal experience was mainly nothing with a bit of discomfort thrown in.

On the day, I got wheeled into the op room where they asked if I wanted a cover so I didn't see what was going on. I can't believe anyone wants to see that but I opted for the default, cover it up. The surgeon walks in with another medic (mine was a woman although I don't know if she was a surgeon, nurse, or cleaner.) A nurse comes in and talks (distracts you) by chatting about Christmas shopping, your kids, etc.

The needle going in to administer the anaesthetic was nowhere near as bad as I had built it up to be. My mate said they injected both his testicles and it was the worst pain he's ever had. This wasn't the case!

It's an uncomfortable procedure but not a particularly painful one. You can feel them tugging your sack which is an odd sensation. The worst part about the whole thing for me was the stitches. I couldn't feel any pain however, I did sense the thread going in. It's quite an out of body experience but again, not a painful one.

The next 3 weeks I had pain which was perfectly manageable with paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Keep using the jock strap and follow all of the after care advice and you'll be fine. I'm totally normal now and although I've not had the letter yet, I contacted the lab for my results and I'm officially shooting blanks which is great. Best thing I've done in years.

All in all, your mind will trick you into thinking it will be worse than it is. It's not too bad. A bit like a tattoo in that sense. Afterwards you will feel discomfort and you will need to rest and be cautious of the whole area. Take pain killers when required.

All in all, it's fine.

morrisk1

630 posts

244 months

Tuesday 9th April 2019
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toon10 said:
I've not read the comments in the thread so far so apologies if I go over old ground.

Having had this done in November, I feel qualified to comment. I have heard horror stories from friends and others say it's nothing. My personal experience was mainly nothing with a bit of discomfort thrown in.

On the day, I got wheeled into the op room where they asked if I wanted a cover so I didn't see what was going on. I can't believe anyone wants to see that but I opted for the default, cover it up. The surgeon walks in with another medic (mine was a woman although I don't know if she was a surgeon, nurse, or cleaner.) A nurse comes in and talks (distracts you) by chatting about Christmas shopping, your kids, etc.

The needle going in to administer the anaesthetic was nowhere near as bad as I had built it up to be. My mate said they injected both his testicles and it was the worst pain he's ever had. This wasn't the case!

It's an uncomfortable procedure but not a particularly painful one. You can feel them tugging your sack which is an odd sensation. The worst part about the whole thing for me was the stitches. I couldn't feel any pain however, I did sense the thread going in. It's quite an out of body experience but again, not a painful one.

The next 3 weeks I had pain which was perfectly manageable with paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Keep using the jock strap and follow all of the after care advice and you'll be fine. I'm totally normal now and although I've not had the letter yet, I contacted the lab for my results and I'm officially shooting blanks which is great. Best thing I've done in years.

All in all, your mind will trick you into thinking it will be worse than it is. It's not too bad. A bit like a tattoo in that sense. Afterwards you will feel discomfort and you will need to rest and be cautious of the whole area. Take pain killers when required.

All in all, it's fine.
I had mine done in November too. I'd agree with above, very similar for me and it really wasn't that bad. With a 4 year old and 10 month old I didn't really get much time to rest. Procedure done on the Friday and was back to work on the Monday, just being a bit more careful.

eybic

9,212 posts

175 months

Tuesday 9th April 2019
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I'm fortunate that I'm having it done on a Wednesday and have the rest of the week and the following week already booked off thumbup

toon10

6,194 posts

158 months

Tuesday 9th April 2019
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Like morrisk1, I was in of the Friday and back either Monday or Tuesday (don't recall which.)

Stupeo

1,343 posts

194 months

Tuesday 9th April 2019
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So, 4 weeks and 1 day since I had mine. I must say, absolutely no regrets. I have not taken a single painkiller and a couple of days after was playing table tennis (with extra support, ofcourse).

I'm back to normal now.

One thing I do not advise - scratching your stitch. About 3 days after the op, I had this urge to scratch and I managed to catch my stitch and it felt like I'd somehow pulled it tighter!

PistonBroker

2,422 posts

227 months

Tuesday 9th April 2019
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Had mine done in 2012 I think. Might have been 2013.

The thing that always makes me chuckle is that a Utility Warehouse guy I knew through networking had finally managed to convince me to have the pitch. He had to cancel last minute and I saw my lucky escape - sorry John, that's the week I'll be laid-up after my snip.

'Oh, that's no problem, I don't mind.'

So, to make things worse, I had to lie prone on the sofa in my too-tight cycling shorts whilst he pitched the whole UW thing to me.

Network marketers - nothing stops them!

covmutley

3,028 posts

191 months

Wednesday 10th April 2019
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I guess every case is different, but I'm really surprised by some of the comments- my experience was so straight forward.

How can they 'not be sure' its done? Surely the pipes are either cut or not?

I'm a big baby with medical type stuff (passed out at sons birth) and found the initial injection a little painfull. Felt nothing painful during the procedure, although internal tugging sensation was properly weird.

Tight pants and did very little for 2 days, then back to normal ish routine (still with tight pants) but no proper exercise for about a week. Then back to normal.
And best of all, no more kids since!!!!!!

wiggy001

6,545 posts

272 months

Wednesday 10th April 2019
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covmutley said:
I guess every case is different, but I'm really surprised by some of the comments- my experience was so straight forward.

How can they 'not be sure' its done? Surely the pipes are either cut or not?

I'm a big baby with medical type stuff (passed out at sons birth) and found the initial injection a little painfull. Felt nothing painful during the procedure, although internal tugging sensation was properly weird.

Tight pants and did very little for 2 days, then back to normal ish routine (still with tight pants) but no proper exercise for about a week. Then back to normal.
And best of all, no more kids since!!!!!!
Seeing this thread pop up has reminded me I need to pick up another specimen pot so I can give a second sample as the first showed "some" sperm still present.

I've no idea how many "some" is but I hope it is "none" after the next test.

toon10

6,194 posts

158 months

Thursday 11th April 2019
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wiggy001 said:
Seeing this thread pop up has reminded me I need to pick up another specimen pot so I can give a second sample as the first showed "some" sperm still present.

I've no idea how many "some" is but I hope it is "none" after the next test.
I provided the two samples as required and told on the phone that I'm all clear but until I get the bloody letter with confirmation, I'm still a bit nervous. Hoping it wasn't some jobsworth on the phone saying I'm all clear to get me off the line as they were not happy at taking the call. I'll give the hospital another ring when I'm back in the UK to request they chase up the letter.

eybic

9,212 posts

175 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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I had my scalpel free procedure done a couple of weeks ago and I have to say that it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. I didn't even feel the local going in. I had a couple of twinges when one of the tubes was being Cauterised but they stopped immediately, added more local and all was well. From entering the hospital to leaving again took 1 hour.

Recovery so far has been straightforward with an occasional dull ache but apart form that all is good, no regrets etc. etc.

RC1807

12,555 posts

169 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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RC1807 said:
My boss is having it done on 25th. I advised him to invest in some Speedos to wear for the first few days, keep your balls close. Helped me a lot as I recall.
Ah, yes .... I bought him a couple of Jaffa oranges and left them on his desk for the following morning. laugh
(Fortunately for me he saw the funny side, too!)