Testicle Pain

[HarryM1BYT]

The hospital have now sent me two new renal appointments..


17th for a Pre-assessment
1st May for a kidney biopsy. They say that is an all day job, something about inserting a long needle through my back, into my kidneys to grab a sample for biopsy, with possible overnight in hospital, depending how it goes


They insist I will need someone to bring me back home and keep an eye on me - already arranged.


Apologies again for stealing the thread!

[Dallas]

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

The hospital have now sent me two new renal appointments..


17th for a Pre-assessment
1st May for a kidney biopsy. They say that is an all day job, something about inserting a long needle through my back, into my kidneys to grab a sample for biopsy, with possible overnight in hospital, depending how it goes


They insist I will need someone to bring me back home and keep an eye on me - already arranged.


Apologies again for stealing the thread!

Not a problem at all Harry, please feel free to post as much as you like. Talking/chatting about a problem with someone else usually makes it seem less daunting or troubling, a problem shared is a problem halved... as they say. hope all goes well.

To give you an update on my situation... My GP has written to the female urologist to confirm whether they will/or will not investigate further, and whether they will/or will not grant me a second opinion with another urologist at the same hospital, otherwise my GP has to send me to a different hospital.

I had an eventful day yesterday, I ended up at Poole Hospital. I had the mother of all headaches with accompanying blurred vision, and to add to the excitement I had a bleeding nose. Thankfully I am still hear, they allowed me to go home with a diagnoses of migraines with aura, they now say I've most probably been suffering these attacks for several years.

A follow up with my GP next week to see if the tablets work, thankfully they are. Then its a case of avoiding stress, how the hell does one do that?

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by Dallas

Not a problem at all Harry, please feel free to post as much as you like. Talking/chatting about a problem with someone else usually makes it seem less daunting or troubling, a problem shared is a problem halved... as they say. hope all goes well.

Thanks..

Originally Posted by Dallas

Thankfully I am still hear, they allowed me to go home with a diagnoses of migraines with aura, they now say I've most probably been suffering these attacks for several years.

I suffered them on and off for 25 years, more as time went on - but only the visual disturbance. Almost a daily event just before I retired and due to stress of the job. After retiring, they began to decline then I was diagnosed with high BP. Either the BP tablets or being under much less stress, but the migraines are no more. I used to know when one was coming on, park up and try to relax for 20 minutes until it passed.


[EDIT] I ought not to have said that - a migraine began to appear around 20 minutes ago, areas of diminished vision, which gradually changed to squiggly rotating lines across my vision - I at the squiggly line stage as I try to type this.

[Dallas]

I had another letter from the urologist arrive, they have now referred me to another specialist to discuss about microscopic cord denervation. Great I thought, but with so many people telling me try to avoid any type of operation when it comes to ones nuts, I'm now having seconds thoughts.

Research shows any type of operation that involves your testicles has a high failure rate, especially if scans don't show enough evidence. I'm caught between a rock and a hard place, as they say. I have always been ready for an operation, but with all these health professionals telling me to avoid one, I'm now pretty much scared to have anything done.

I've been trying some home remedies these past four weeks, turmeric powder, cayenne pepper and ground cumin. They have natural health properties which aid to reduce inflammation etc, its does seem to be helping.

I'm not a big fan of medication, I've had some very strong meds over the years which has given me some kind of phobia to taking pills. Sometimes the side effects are far worst than the original reason for taking them, a case of 'grin and bear it' seems more attractive.

[KLM]

This thread, Eighteen pages.
What a pain in the testicles.
Kev.

[Dallas]

Originally Posted by KLM

This thread, Eighteen pages.
What a pain in the testicles.
Kev.

Most definitely.

[HarryM1BYT]

Yesterday, I attended the biopsy pre-assessment, in readiness for the biopsy on 1st May. The took more blood (a wonder I have any left ), swabs for MRSA, BP and weight, plus a quick chat about it with the consultant. He confirmed they don't know why my kidney figures are below par, because they both look perfectly fine on the scans, so the biopsy to see if that shows up what is going on.



I don't know if they had time to analyse the swabs, but the consultant prescribed a nasal cream and body wash to help kill off any MRSA, to be used for the 5 days prior to the biopsy.



Whilst away yesterday for the assessment, a phone call came through to my landline, from the same hospitals renal department, offering me an rush appointment for something tomorrow at 2pm. I rang them back, to see what it was all about, but they were not able to find out who had rung, or why I had been offered the rush appointment. My best guess is that it was a part of the mass of confused series of renal appointments I received at the beginning of all this - I got a series of four appointments, all for the same thing, but slightly different wording, all at the same hospital, all different dates. It took a lot of untangling and phones calls to sort it out. I'm guessing the phone call yesterday was somehow part of that mess.

[HarryM1BYT]

I went in yesterday for the renal biopsy, collected at 7am by a taxi, in the theatre at 09:30 and I had been told to expect to spend at least the entire day there, but be prepared for an overnight if there were issues.



They usually take two biopsy samples, but they took four kidney samples via the same incision using US scanner to aim the probe. No pain, laid face down, a bit of pushing, just a very odd feeling having something wondering about inside me and clicks as they took the actual samples. They said the consultant had a particular interest in one area of my kidney, so four samples of that area to be sure. A little square plaster slapped over the hole in my back. Moved the half mile through the hospital on a bed, back to the day ward. I then had to spend six hours flat on the bed, not allowed up or to even raise my head.



Not allowed to even get up to go to the toilet - I was supposed to ask for a bottle, which I just didn't think I could use, so instead I 'bottled it up' for the eight hours and tested my prostate



Not allowed to drive for 48 hours, or do very much at all, had to be collected from the ward and taken home by car, then fully supervised at home for 48 hours. They told me to maybe expect some blood, no blood. They told me I might need to take pain killers, no pain at all - just a slight dull ache, as if I have a slight bruise.



Last week they arranged a follow up appointment with the consultant on the 29th, to find out what they have found with the biopsies.

[Dallas]

That's a bit of an ordeal Harry, I bet you are glad that's over. What happens next, are you due any more tests?

Myself, I've had the appointment through for the nerve block, which I believe will be a complete waste of time. I've already been told by the surgeon that this type of procedure will only bring short-term relief, 24 hours to a few days at most.

I've also had the appointment through to see a specialist at Southampton Hospital to discuss micro-surgical spermatic cord denervation, this is an operation where they cut certain cords, veins and nerves. Its meant to be less invasive than having a spermatocelectomy or an orchidectomy, something they dont want to do anyway.

I don't know if any of you guys were watching The Full Monty last night over on ITV, where the fellas raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer. Its certainly a good thing to help us men be aware of what we all should be looking out for when it comes to our bodies.

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by Dallas

That's a bit of an ordeal Harry, I bet you are glad that's over. What happens next, are you due any more tests?

No more tests scheduled, I just have to wait now for the results of the biopsy until my 29th appointment. I'm taking it easy anyway, but I spotted where it suggests I take it easy for 14 days after the biopsy. I still have a dull bit of pain in the area, if I probe for it. The actual hole healed up immediately. It would not bother me much, to have to go through it a second time, armed with my experience.



It wasn't actually that much of an ordeal, the worst bit was the all the anticipation of it going wrong and possible world of pain. I read somewhere that 1/3000 die as a result of the kidney biopsy