The swelling, the swelling
October 26, 2005 12:55 PM Subscribe
I have been diagnosed with Epididymitis [small illustrations, faintly NSFW] which is a swelling of the epididymis above the testicle. I have been given antibiotics and the pain has disappeared but the inflammation continues. I have made a follow up with my urologist but in the meantime I'm curious if anyone else has had experience with this. (I know, I know my MWV.)
For what it's worth, I am a heterosexual married male and can safely assume that I did not contract this sexually.
For what it's worth, I am a heterosexual married male and can safely assume that I did not contract this sexually.
I had a bout of it back in the summer.
It was horribly excruciating, and ranks among the worst illnesses I've e'er suffered. I didn't quite wish for death (so it doesn't rank as #1), but by god it made it into the top five.
You have my commiseration.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:39 PM on October 26, 2005
It was horribly excruciating, and ranks among the worst illnesses I've e'er suffered. I didn't quite wish for death (so it doesn't rank as #1), but by god it made it into the top five.
You have my commiseration.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:39 PM on October 26, 2005
Response by poster: How long after the pain subsided did the inflammation go away?
posted by captainscared at 1:41 PM on October 26, 2005
posted by captainscared at 1:41 PM on October 26, 2005
My balls weren't swollen to the size of cantaloupe, so I really can't recall. I had several days of excruitiating pain as I (a) tried to tough it out; (b) then waited for the meds to kick in. I didn't touch my balls out of fear of causing more pain!
posted by five fresh fish at 2:26 PM on October 26, 2005
posted by five fresh fish at 2:26 PM on October 26, 2005
Had it twice. It was misdiagnosed the first time as extropic epididymitis (in other words, the urologist figured that I was lying when I said I hadn't had anything up my ass), but it was in fact entropic (that is, it was probably because I'm a cyclist). So two months later it came back, on the other side. I was prescribed Cipro the first time and erythomycin the second time.
So: the second-worst pain I've ever experienced*. Twice.
It is normal for the swelling to stick around for several weeks after the pain subsides, even while still taking your antibiotics.
(*after my bout of periorbital cellulitis)
posted by solid-one-love at 2:29 PM on October 26, 2005
So: the second-worst pain I've ever experienced*. Twice.
It is normal for the swelling to stick around for several weeks after the pain subsides, even while still taking your antibiotics.
(*after my bout of periorbital cellulitis)
posted by solid-one-love at 2:29 PM on October 26, 2005
How long have you been having problems? I've heard of it clearing in a matter of days. Then there's my case...
When I was diagnosed with this, they first treated it like it was an STD like gonorrhea or syph or something(it took quite a bit of convincing on my part to assure the doctor that it wasn't). They gave me shots and pills for the pain but the swelling still comes and goes (comes more than goes). It's been...a very long time. It only hurts if hit or tapped now.
posted by geckoinpdx at 2:32 PM on October 26, 2005
When I was diagnosed with this, they first treated it like it was an STD like gonorrhea or syph or something(it took quite a bit of convincing on my part to assure the doctor that it wasn't). They gave me shots and pills for the pain but the swelling still comes and goes (comes more than goes). It's been...a very long time. It only hurts if hit or tapped now.
posted by geckoinpdx at 2:32 PM on October 26, 2005
gecko: has your urologist recommended a having the nerves around your spermatic cord frozen? Or a vasectomy? Those appear to be the two favourite treatments for recurrent, incurable ep'itis.
posted by solid-one-love at 2:51 PM on October 26, 2005
posted by solid-one-love at 2:51 PM on October 26, 2005
neither have been mentioned so far, but I'll take that into consideration, thanks. It's been a very long time now and annoying doesn't begin to cover it.
(didn't mean to take over the thread though, just trying to sympathise with captainscared)
posted by geckoinpdx at 3:01 PM on October 26, 2005
(didn't mean to take over the thread though, just trying to sympathise with captainscared)
posted by geckoinpdx at 3:01 PM on October 26, 2005
I've had a (small) bout of it earlier this year but the pain and swelling concomittantly subsided.
Are you keeping the area cool and dry?
Going commando/loose boxers/loose pants/kilt may help, and keep your legs uncrossed. Maybe sit like Al Bundy (hand action optional) to keep the area cool, dry, and unrestricted.
If it's still a problem, the urologist may prescribe a steroid but it may interfere with the antibiotic. Also, if the antibiotic that you're on is bacteristatic, you might ask if your urologist can prescribe something stronger or something bactericidal.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 3:23 PM on October 26, 2005
Are you keeping the area cool and dry?
Going commando/loose boxers/loose pants/kilt may help, and keep your legs uncrossed. Maybe sit like Al Bundy (hand action optional) to keep the area cool, dry, and unrestricted.
If it's still a problem, the urologist may prescribe a steroid but it may interfere with the antibiotic. Also, if the antibiotic that you're on is bacteristatic, you might ask if your urologist can prescribe something stronger or something bactericidal.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 3:23 PM on October 26, 2005
I had it about twenty years ago, and the swelling never really went away. My right item is still about the size of a golf ball while the left is substantially smaller. Makes for interesting pillow talk.
I had the same experience as geckolnpdx - the doctor immediately assumed it was an STD when, young geek that I was, I hadn't had a GalPal in about two years.
FWIW, I've never had a recurrance thank The Lord, 'cause once was enough!
posted by Mutant at 5:08 PM on October 26, 2005
I had the same experience as geckolnpdx - the doctor immediately assumed it was an STD when, young geek that I was, I hadn't had a GalPal in about two years.
FWIW, I've never had a recurrance thank The Lord, 'cause once was enough!
posted by Mutant at 5:08 PM on October 26, 2005
had it. sukt. totally.
i too was put on antibiotics... actually called the doctor back after reading online somewhere that such were prescribed for the STD variety, "doc, i did not contract this fooling around." his explanation was that the standard of care was to always toss antibiotics at epididymitis.
you will never be the same. it changes you, some; that's for sure.
i worked in a bike shop, and was riding a lot, at the time of my injury and, man, the epididymitis stories my customers and i exhanged! turns out, it's a common complaint among cyclists... point-in-fact (recalled from his autobiography): lance armstrong thot he had it, again, when he began to experience pain that turned out to be his testicular cancer... this is why he didn't seek medical attention for his cancer immediately. epididymitis goes away eventually. not so with cancer, of course...
the cure is good. my uro told me regularly evacuating the inflamed epididymus was the best treatment available :)
posted by RockyChrysler at 5:23 PM on October 26, 2005
i too was put on antibiotics... actually called the doctor back after reading online somewhere that such were prescribed for the STD variety, "doc, i did not contract this fooling around." his explanation was that the standard of care was to always toss antibiotics at epididymitis.
you will never be the same. it changes you, some; that's for sure.
i worked in a bike shop, and was riding a lot, at the time of my injury and, man, the epididymitis stories my customers and i exhanged! turns out, it's a common complaint among cyclists... point-in-fact (recalled from his autobiography): lance armstrong thot he had it, again, when he began to experience pain that turned out to be his testicular cancer... this is why he didn't seek medical attention for his cancer immediately. epididymitis goes away eventually. not so with cancer, of course...
the cure is good. my uro told me regularly evacuating the inflamed epididymus was the best treatment available :)
posted by RockyChrysler at 5:23 PM on October 26, 2005
My god. I got away easy, then. All of you have my deepest, danglest sympathies. I cringe reading all this.
Or a vasectomy? ...favourite treatments for recurrent, incurable ep'itis.
Excellent.
posted by five fresh fish at 5:32 PM on October 26, 2005
Or a vasectomy? ...favourite treatments for recurrent, incurable ep'itis.
Excellent.
posted by five fresh fish at 5:32 PM on October 26, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
Epididymitis
is an inflammation of the epididymis, the tubular structure that connects the testicle with the vas deferens.
Epididymitis usually resolves with appropriate antibiotic therapy, without any damage to prior sexual or reproductive abilities. Recurrence is fairly common.
posted by zouhair at 1:11 PM on October 26, 2005