Hydrocele - surgery worthwhile?

"Ricardo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a swollen testicle that was diagnosed by my doctor
as a hydrocele. He suggest he could arrange for surgery,
but there was no guarantee it wouldn't come by (likely
related to a hernia I had as a child). It wasn't bothering
me at the time and the surgery sounded rather
intimidating, so I decided to hold off.

Now, for whatever reason, I find I have high sensitivity
and slight pain in my lower abdomen and testicle. I'm
considering getting the surgery, but wanted some thoughts
on those with the condition and those who may have had the
surgery:

- Is the surgery relatively simple? I.e. could I just make
things worse? Would you "do it again?"
- What is the likelihood of reoccurrence?

Rick

You say you had a hernia as a child. Did you have an
operation for that? Was that hernia repaired?

HMc

[email hidden] (Ricardo) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I have a swollen testicle that was diagnosed by my doctor
as a hydrocele. He suggest he could arrange for surgery,
but there was no guarantee it wouldn't come by (likely
related to a hernia I had as a child). It wasn't bothering
me at the time and the surgery sounded rather
intimidating, so I decided to hold off.

Now, for whatever reason, I find I have high sensitivity
and slight pain in my lower abdomen and testicle. I'm
considering getting the surgery, but wanted some thoughts
on those with the condition and those who may have had the
surgery:

- Is the surgery relatively simple? I.e. could I just make
things worse? Would you "do it again?"
- What is the likelihood of reoccurrence?

Rick

SG's opinion on hydroceles:

If they're not bothering you, don't bother them.

Recurrence rates ~10%. Pain/discomfort not _always_ helped,
but may be.

One thing to try is an aspiration (i.e. have the doc put a
needle in it and drain it--it will likely recur). However,
when the hydrocele is deflated, you may have a 'trial
period' without its presence to see if your symptoms go
away...just a thought.

Glad you guys all got to say Hi to your old buddy Sven,

SG

"Howard McCollister" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

You say you had a hernia as a child. Did you have an
operation for that? Was that hernia repaired?

HMc

Yup, I did have surgery for that and it was repaired (at
birth, basically). The hydrocele developed about 5-6 years
ago (at age 20 or so).

Rick

"Ricardo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Howard McCollister" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You say you had a hernia as a child. Did you have an
operation for that?

Was

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that hernia repaired?

HMc

Yup, I did have surgery for that and it was repaired (at
birth, basically). The hydrocele developed about 5-6 years
ago (at age 20 or so).

The surgeon that fixed your hernia didn't do a complete job
of removing the hernia sac. Had that operation been done
correctly, you wouldn't have develp\oped the hydrocele.

If the hydrocele bothers you, your surgeon can attempt
aspiration (withdrawing fluid with a needle). It probably
won't resolve the problem for long, but it's a simple office
procedure. OTOH, a definitive approach would by the
hysdrocelectomy. An incision is made in the scrotum to the
hydrocele sac, the testicle with hydrocele brought out of
the scrotum and the hydrocele sac excised from around the
testicle. It should take about 15 minutes, outpatient
surgery. You will likely get a lot of swelling in the
scrotum on that side, which will resolve over a couple of
weeks. Ice bag will be your best friend. Generally, not too
painful, should be well controlled with mild oral narcotics.

Not doing anything about the hydrocele will not create any
risk, but you may want to have it fixed if it bothers you
in any way.

HMc

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yup, I did have surgery for that and it was repaired (at
birth, basically). The hydrocele developed about 5-6
years ago (at age 20 or so).

The surgeon that fixed your hernia didn't do a complete
job of removing the hernia sac. Had that operation been
done correctly, you wouldn't have develp\oped the
hydrocele.

HMc

Hi Howard,

Thanks for your great advice. That's interesting you mention
that it was the hernia operation itself that initiall was
not done correctly. I've also heard horror stories of
unintended vasectomies from a botched hernia operation.

It's borderline on how seriously it bothers me - and varies
from day to day, as well. I think I'll go for a
consultation to at least get some thoughts with my specific
case scenario.

Thanks again,

Rick

"Ricardo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your great advice. That's interesting you
mention that it was the hernia operation itself that
initiall was not done correctly. I've also heard horror
stories of unintended vasectomies from a botched hernia
operation.

The vas deferens is very tiny in an infant, and an uwary
surgeon can cut it while dissecting the hernia sac from the
spermatic cord. The more you dissect out the hernia sac, the
more at-risk the vas deferens is. Hydrocele in later life is
a definite consequence of bailing out of dissecting the
hernia sac properly.

HMc

On 5/5/04 9:16 AM, in article [email hidden],

Howard McCollister said:

"Ricardo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Howard McCollister" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You say you had a hernia as a child. Did you have an
operation for that?

Was

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that hernia repaired?

HMc

Yup, I did have surgery for that and it was repaired (at
birth, basically). The hydrocele developed about 5-6
years ago (at age 20 or so).

The surgeon that fixed your hernia didn't do a complete
job of removing the hernia sac. Had that operation been
done correctly, you wouldn't have develp\oped the
hydrocele.

If the hydrocele bothers you, your surgeon can attempt
aspiration (withdrawing fluid with a needle). It probably
won't resolve the problem for long, but it's a simple
office procedure.

Probably about a 20% chance of making it go away and
stay away.

OTOH, a definitive approach would

Quoted message said:

by the hysdrocelectomy. An incision is made in the scrotum
to the hydrocele sac, the testicle with hydrocele brought
out of the scrotum and the hydrocele sac excised from
around the testicle. It should take about 15 minutes,
outpatient surgery. You will likely get a lot of swelling
in the scrotum on that side, which will resolve over a
couple of weeks. Ice bag will be your best friend.
Generally, not too painful, should be well controlled with
mild oral narcotics.

15 minutes. Boy, you are quick. :-) Takes me about 30 min.
People do swell up after this procedure for a few weeks that
is for sure. Most people are happy the took care of it.

Quoted message said:

Not doing anything about the hydrocele will not create any
risk, but you may want to have it fixed if it bothers you
in any way.

HMc