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Feeling self conscious about losing both testicles
hello, I lost a testicle at 17years old and now I'm 22. Now it seems I will be losing my other testicle. I live in America so it isn't going to be cheap to do in the first place and I got over the loss of my first testicle so easily but this time I am so stressed about losing my testicle. I have nerve damage to it and its made me bedridden the past month so I can't work to pay my own bills. Is there anyone else out there thats gone through something similar?
Yes, I'd wonder if this is from cancer or something?
Do you qualify for any kind of assistance programs? Ask your doctor about those.
If it's cancer, maybe knowing about others that have gone through it will help? Don't know if you're a sports fan, but google Phil Kessel, Shea Theodore, Lance Armstrong, Scott Hamilton. Comedian Tom Green had it, too. Taboo, from Black Eyed Peas, is another.
I get it, though - you're 22, and wondering what this will mean for your future. Medically, I don't know - your doctor can help answer those questions. Sexually, you'll probably find that most people won't care nearly as much as you do. They'll care about your health, and your well-being, but we all come in different shapes and appearances, and kindness and considerate lovers are sexier than shapes, right?
But you'll get there. Like GR said above, just take it a day at a time. Get through the medical part first. Pay attention to how you are talking about yourself. "Bedridden" is one term, but "healing" and "self care" are others. They may be essentially the same thing, but they sound really different. And you won't be healing forever, right? One day at a time. :)
Do you qualify for any kind of assistance programs? Ask your doctor about those.
If it's cancer, maybe knowing about others that have gone through it will help? Don't know if you're a sports fan, but google Phil Kessel, Shea Theodore, Lance Armstrong, Scott Hamilton. Comedian Tom Green had it, too. Taboo, from Black Eyed Peas, is another.
I get it, though - you're 22, and wondering what this will mean for your future. Medically, I don't know - your doctor can help answer those questions. Sexually, you'll probably find that most people won't care nearly as much as you do. They'll care about your health, and your well-being, but we all come in different shapes and appearances, and kindness and considerate lovers are sexier than shapes, right?
But you'll get there. Like GR said above, just take it a day at a time. Get through the medical part first. Pay attention to how you are talking about yourself. "Bedridden" is one term, but "healing" and "self care" are others. They may be essentially the same thing, but they sound really different. And you won't be healing forever, right? One day at a time. :)
Wow, you are a very young man to have both testicles removed. What exactly is the reason you removed the first and am now considering removing the remaining testicle? This is recommended by your doctor? There are things to consider like loss of testosterone and making sure you balance your hormones back out. But more information would be helpful. Being bedridden would be extremely difficult for anyone and looming bills and expenses are also stressful. I feel for you. When something seems overwhelming to me, I think if micro steps I can take to make it better. Then I do those. Little things that contribute to moving myself out of the 'bad place'. Are you saying you have such pain and nerve damage in your testicle that you are bedridden? What's going on?
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I say nerve damage because its the most logical explanation for the pain. That said I've gone to 13 urologists and specialists the first time this started happening and no one had a clue as to what could be causing the pain. I say bedridden because if I were to leave my bed and try to do anything for more than 30 minutes it starts hurting enough to make me nauseous- sometimes I don't even have to leave my bed for something like this to happen. There's no worry of cancer as I've already had an unremarkable ultrasound. The last time this happened it occurred slowly and at most it was 5/10 in pain measurement but this one crept up on me over three days and through three harsh trials of antibiotics, 800mg of ibuprobem 3x a da, constant bedrest and a very healthy diet its constantly at 7. Its gotten to the point that id be begging them to take it out if they were in front of me. It took 4 surgeries last time to get it right and that was the removal. I also want to mention that I've lost 10 lbs in a month over this- I only weighed 130 lbs standing at 5ft 10" .
I'm glad you say there is no worry of cancer! They have no explanation for the pain? You are asking to have your testicle removed or are they suggesting it? I do understand that being in unrelenting pain is not sustainable. What about a pain clinic. I knew someone that had a botched surgery leaving a nerve issue in their groin that caused debilitating pain. Being on pain meds the rest of his life was difficult as he couldn't function. He went to a pain clinic where they inserted a pulsing device that distracts from the nerve pain. It got him going again in life. No doctor has any explanation for why you feel pain? Antibiotics help or don't help? Again, glad cancer has been ruled out. My fear is that removing your testicle will not solve the pain issue and then you just live with no testicles. That's rough.
Its been suggested and brought up by me and two doctors- once they removed the testicle last time it took a couple of weeks for the pain to go away but sometimes, especially when there's inclimate weather, it acts up and I have to take some ibuprofen- no problem.
I've gone to a couple pain specialists and both want me on narcotics. I personally cannot handle narcotics; medications like that have an increased affect on me, not to mention my family has a history of narcotic addictions. I get very addicted very quickly and im not going to put myself in that situation. They do have a stimulator but the chances of them messing with the nerves that control erections and orgasm is extremely concerning for someone of my age lol. There's no sign of infection, I've been on three different antibiotics. We think it runs in our family because all of the women have reproductive pain issues- my twin doesn't have this issue and the only difference between us is that I'm circumcised and he isn't as well as he smokes and I don't. We both have the same sexual history- no stds, both very active people and we eat right. Its pretty frustrating to know the exact copy of yourself isn't having the same issues or that I'm the unlucky one. I guess I can always get him to knock up my wife if I ever needed it lol
I've gone to a couple pain specialists and both want me on narcotics. I personally cannot handle narcotics; medications like that have an increased affect on me, not to mention my family has a history of narcotic addictions. I get very addicted very quickly and im not going to put myself in that situation. They do have a stimulator but the chances of them messing with the nerves that control erections and orgasm is extremely concerning for someone of my age lol. There's no sign of infection, I've been on three different antibiotics. We think it runs in our family because all of the women have reproductive pain issues- my twin doesn't have this issue and the only difference between us is that I'm circumcised and he isn't as well as he smokes and I don't. We both have the same sexual history- no stds, both very active people and we eat right. Its pretty frustrating to know the exact copy of yourself isn't having the same issues or that I'm the unlucky one. I guess I can always get him to knock up my wife if I ever needed it lol
You sound close to your brother. lol But yes, you have close to your dna that you can borrow if necessary. This definitely sounds frustrating. This article is on neuropathic testicular pain. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482481/ I don't know where you live but one thing I read that can be associated with chronic testicular pain is pelvic floor issues. And some physical therapists can help with that. I would guess that is a bit specialized so you'd want to ask about it. But have you ever considered a physical therapist or do you have access to that specialty in your locale? Up to 50% of men who work on pelvic floor see improvement in pain. Some doctors will use tricyclic agents (old style antidepressants) for this believe it or not. I whole heartedly understand not wanting to go down the road of narcotics. That is a slippery slope and very wise of you to just not go there. Respect that completely!
Let me know what you think about finding physical therapy for your pelvic floor.
Let me know what you think about finding physical therapy for your pelvic floor.
Thats another therapy I've gone through i forgot to mention.. I've gone through pelvic floor therapy for about a year and a half- they basically said that my pelvic floor seems to be very healthy during my imaging and even asked to take pictures of it to show what a healthy image looks like. Ive just continued the exercises and come back about once every three months about it but it hasn't really helped me in any way. The only thing I could think of about that would be that I'm missing like one small muscle group and it somehow relates to the fact that I have an extra vertebrae (I'm not sure how that works but thats what I got from that conversation). I have urethral strictures, meatal stenosis and have had all my hernias repaired so thats why every doctor I've gone through seems to be just as clueless.
Man, you have definitely tried a lot of things. So frustrating, I'm sure. Being bedridden though is taking a toll too. Do you have pain free periods? Or is this never ending?
Its never ending unfortunately but its definitely less pain if I try not to move around but getting up to eat or go to the bathroom can make it worse. I recently had someone pick up the pain meds my Dr prescribed and they definitely help! I can get up and move around relatively pain free for a couple hours but then again once it wears off it comes back with a vengeance. Thanks for chatting with me! I appreciate it!
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