‘Twas the night before the Strava Rapha Rising challenge (13th July) weeks of training saw me in good shape to complete the challenge alongside my friends and other local riders, idrycles was even going to come along and show me up! But before the hill climbing commenced I had to appease the minister of war and finance (Pam) and do a social ride, so the MTB’s were loaded in the car along with other biking paraphernalia, for an early morning Parklands trail ride when suddenly sudden pain in the testis had me feeling rather unwell.
Thinking I may have bumped them when loading the car I waited about three hours before I finally gave up and went to the local ER. I was rushed straight from triage to the ER for immediate assessment. This was fortunate as I did not wish to be sitting amongst people who are allegedly ill, but well enough to be tucked into pizzas, curries and other take away food, what’s wrong with these people, honestly. I know I would not be eating in an emergency room, who knows what others are coughing up or have left behind, I digress.
Initial thoughts went to a twisted testis and they wanted to operate straight away and I had to sign a permission form and initial next to what was literally a release form, as they may have needed to turn me into a Womble! (That’s phonetically spelt)
Luckily for me an ultrasound specialist was on her way home after sorting out an earlier emergency and stayed behind to have a look. It seemed my testicle thankfully was not twisted, but it had developed a case of acute epididymo-orchitis http://goo.gl/s81KZS . Now I have had epididymitis five times in the last seven years, my GP thinks its caused by back pressure due to my vasectomy, whatever that means. The main causes of my condition per the article (the sexual ones) have been scrubbed off the list, I don’t partake in one and the other has been tested for and cleared. The infection is normally treated by strong antibiotics for about ten days and it all goes away, normally permanently, but for me only for about 12-14 months.
After spending the weekend in hospital with IV drips and other things the Hospital urologist did his walk around on the Monday and got quite concerned that after four other attacks this had not been addressed before and suggested an epididymectomy and to be further consulted after discharge. I was sent home Monday 15th on something called open leave as they needed the bed, just returning for the next two nights for more IV anti-biotic. Prescribed oral AB’s twice daily for the next four weeks and a told to abstain from any exercise cycling or otherwise and alcohol for four weeks. This was not good news particularly the cycling bit.
I had a place in the Tour De Cure 4 day QLD leg, a once in a lifetime opportunity this has had to be cancelled along with Tough Mudder, Sunshine Coast 10k charity run and as mentioned earlier Rapha Rising. Several events coming up, including wild horse mountain, the Ewen Maddock adventure race and some mini triathlons (my first attempts) I have been told to cancel / not register for too. Not happy.
My GP wanted me to give up cycling and find another hobby and thought that castration was the only option
, thankfully I had read about what happened and learned a bit from DR Google and mentioned what the hospital urologist had said too, he just signed me fit for work and said that after the AB’s if it was not better to go back and see him. After about seven days I was feeling awful and cold/flu symptoms and my body was clicking and popping at the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and ankles. Spoke to the Dr and hurrah, a drug side effect, you now have tendonitis too!
So the AB’s were changed to a new drug, the tablets are that big (1000mg) I seriously wondered which end to put them in. Thankfully all seems to be ok with these drugs, but here I am nearly three weeks on and still in a two to four pain level zone, no exercise, no nookie, I have a sit down desk job and yet still it throbs. I have been taking anti-inflammatories and pain killers (I am not a pill popper, but this is crazy) I am re-appointed today at my own request with the doctor to be referred to a specialist to get this fixed once and for all.
I have pre-empted the wait in the Medicare system and been quoted operation prices and thankfully if as suspected the procedure will be about $1000, affordable. (Rather spend it on a CX bike to be honest)
I think most jokes about swelling and balls have been made, but happy to hear more! Good for the spirit. But in all seriousness has anyone else had/ suffers with this? PM if you want, I understand if you don’t want it public. Anyone had the op, what was recovery time?
Apologies for the long winded opening, but at least, when you have finished wincing you can smile and think, phew glad it’s not me!
Is anyone interested in progress or should we just leave it at that…..
