I'm getting a varicocele surgery

[DeNirofan]

    Hello everyone, I'm getting a surgery on July 12 to have my varicocele repaired. I've had it for at least 4 years. I'm 18 years old, that seems pretty early, but I'm going to be applying to the fire academy hopefully sometime next year, so I'm getting this taken care of now because it causes pain when I lift things and I don't want that to interfere with my chances at the academy. I have never had any surgeries before, never even broken a bone, so I am quite scared. I watched about 10 seconds of a varicocele repair video a urologist had online and it terrified me. I've been trying to get some knowledge from people who have had the surgery done and I found this forum, if someone could tell me their story that would be great. I'm also pretty confused, my urologist said they're doing the surgery and not the embolization because there is a higher recurrence rate with the emoblization. But I read with the surgery they tie the veins off, but if they did that wouldn't that be bad? Wouldn't tying off the veins make it so the testicles don't get enough blood? Do they put you asleep or just numb the air? Being put to sleep scares me, but I would much rather be asleep than have to be awake and see everything. Do they give you painkillers afterwards? How bad is the pain? Will I be able to go outside and do things after a couple days (I know nothing strenuous of course) or will I be bed ridden for a couple of weeks? Will the veins go down after the surgery? Because my varicocele is big and I can feel the veins, will that go away after the surgery? If you could enlighten me that would be great. Like I said, this absolutely terrifies me, but I'll probably be glad that I don't have to worry about the varicocele after it's over.

[DeNirofan]

I have a couple other questions. Should I shave my pubic hair the day before? And do they give you painkillers after the surgery?

[Chrisqwerty]

I had Varicocelectomy when I was 19.  I am 31 now, and I'm fine.  In fact, if memory serves me correct, it went pretty smoothly.  I don't know how to answer your question about embolization, whatever that is...but I can tell you it was a pretty run-of-the-mill experience.  It was the first time I had ever been "put under" general anesthesia.  Which means, they put me to sleep.  That was scary going into it, because i was so nervous about never doing that before.  I've done it twice since then (once for dental stuff, and once more for a camera in my stomach procedure...both unrelated(, and it was OK.

My urologist said I needed a varicocelectomy because I always had a "hanging heavy" feeling in my sack.  I couldn't ever wear boxers and it sometimes hurt to lift heavy stuff.  The Doctor said my varicocele was "bunched up" in my scrotum.  So, he needed to cut the cord, take out about and inch or so, and then attach the two loose ends together.  He did all that by making about a 3-inch incision below my belly button where my "panty-line" is (I've never had a chick be weird about the scar).  He took all my "junk" out onto my abdomen and worked on it there.  Of course, I was asleep.  But when I woke up I was sore and tender and worried about future fatherhood.  My girlfriend at the time actually gave me a manual sexual experience during my recovery at the hospital to "make sure everything worked".  Don't make that mistake, because not only was it incredibly stupid after that kind of surgery, but it hurt like hell to *** for a couple weeks...I advise you to pay attention to their "no sexual activity for a while" statement.  Anyway, I had them check my sperm count a couple months later to make sure I had the opportunity to be a father, and they said the tests came back that I was normal and everything.  So, that calmed those fears.  The soreness and tenderness went away after a couple weeks (I think I remember them giving me some meds for pain once I got home from the hospital), and I was up limping around the house after 2 days.  Soon enough, I was running around like normal, and I was back on the baseball field at the start of the season.  

I'm happy to say that (12 years later) other than a little scar, I have no issues with this surgery.  My wife and I actually just had a little baby boy, and everything still runs normally.  It seems to be a pretty simple procedure, and I'd say you have nothing to worry about.  Now, you're experience might be different from mine, but I'm sure it'll be okay because..think about it:  your Doctor does this day-in and day-out...he/she knows what they're doing.  I hope everything goes well for you, and good luck.

[Caryopteris]

This is considered minor surgery.  They don't have to open the abdominal cavity.  You need to read your post-op instructions, and follow them.  If there is heat or redness that increases after surgery instead of gets better, you need to call the doctor, even after it's after hours.  There will be rules about no lifting so your stitches don't rip.  I think you'll be fine.  I've had laparoscopic surgery and foot surgery.  They went great because I had good surgeons and I followed my post-op instructions.  I have also cared for friends after their surgery and they all did great.