Inguinal hernia? WORRIED!

[Moedig]

I know many doctors and health professionals have a sceptical view on people who self diagnose, but I'm slightly embarrassed about this issue and it's beginning to cause me some problems.

Anyway, I remember when I was young being very upset when I noticed one of my testicles appearing to be lower than the other, my dad told me it was normal so I ignored it and presumed it was normal, however when I got a bit older and learnt a bit more I kind of realised that it might not be so normal having a large lump of tissue behind my left testicle (painless and squishy). I then became very scared and paranoid I had some form of cancer and then being a typical man decided to just ignore it...

After about 2-3 years (I know...) I finally plucked up the courage to go and see my doctor, who then decided that it was probably just a hydrocele (she rushed through the examination and I wasn't really happy with it, I would of had a second opinion but I was happy with the harmless outcome..). That was maybe 6 months ago possibly longer, but I recently noticed the lump behind the back of testicle had become larger. I'm now in complete panic mode and have been looking stuff up and came across this image:

http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/articles/images/anatomy_Inguinal_Hernia.jpg

And this seems to fit the bill for what I think I have/what it feels like/positioning (although its on the back of the testicle not the front like in the picture).

Is it likely that I have this? if so, what, realistically would be the treatment for it, I have heard surgery, what are the implications of this? what's the likely time in hospital/recovery limitations etc... Please help it's worrying me, and for a while has made me very insecure about myself in the bedroom... I need to get this sorted but I'm scared.

Thanks..

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament, but please don't worry. The testicular lump could be due to epididymitis. It could also be a tumor or hydrocele or hernia. Ultrasonography may be needed to diagnose the cause. Consult your primary care physician for therapy. If the need arises he may refer you to a urologist.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[imastranger]

Does the squishy lump become harder on some days?