My Orchiectomy Adventure

[33Ford]

Thought I might record my orchiectomy experience for anyone that might be considering it. My MO was always open to the idea but not totally supportive of it. After my last lab showed an increasing PSA while on both Eligard and Abiraterone he told me he 100% supported it.

I already had an appointment set up with a urologist because of a lot of discomfort and sometimes pain in my testicles. The urologist agreed to the procedure and said they would set up a date. I received a call Monday saying he could work me in Wednesday, wham-bam on that, LOL.

Arrived at the surgery center at 11:30 for pre-op. The staff was super nice. The doctor came in and talked to me a bit and it was off to the operating room at around 2:00. Next thing I remember is waking up in recovery! There was some pain in the area once occupied by my testicles, but nothing unbearable. I was given a Hydrocodone med and offered Fentanyl IV injections. The effect of each injection lasted around 15 mins, I had three. Was told I could get up to 6 total, but that extends the time to discharge. The Fentanyl was strange, it really helps blocking the pain, but it is very short term. Even that short period of injections seemed to get the pain under control.

Was discharged at 5:00. First stop was to get something to eat!! Then to the pharmacy to pick up two prescriptions, Hydrocodone and Cephalexin (an antibiotic). Took one Hydrocodone as I left the pharmacy (about 5:30) and another one a bedtime (11:00). I really didn't need the second Hydrocodone at bedtime, but thought it might help during the night.

Was up at 6:00 this morning and no pain at all and feeling really great. I will update as things progress of the next few days. So far I think it was a good decision, I feel much better physically and mentally!! Lets hope it stays that way.

[Hidden]

Thanks for sharing.

You said: "After my last lab showed an increasing PSA while on both Eligard and Abiraterone he told me he 100% supported it."

I'm also on ADT plus Abi for over 3 years now.

Did you happen to have a testosterone check at the same time your PSA went up? If so, what was it?

I'm curious, because I'm on Eligard and occasionally my testosterone goes up to around 34-37 and with that a very small rise in PSA (.22 now) which I doubt is a coincidence. This just happened again so I'm planning to discuss with my doctor.

[Shooter1 in reply to Hidden]

Go for it, Worked for me, 33FORD and many others here..... Life is Good, Jelly beans in your sack don't do any good.

[33Ford in reply to Shooter1]

I'm surprised, so far no pain at all and I feel much better! Hope it's not me just mentally convincing myself it much better, LOL. But a happy camper for now.

[Hidden in reply to 33Ford]

If you’re arm as gang green you’d chop it off . No different than trimming dead wood to save the tree itself . 😳

[jbskiatook in reply to 33Ford]

I am one year out and have no pain.

[Hidden in reply to Shooter1]

Shooter1:Do you notice any difference from ADT? A friend of mine says he has more energy.

Thanks,

Tom

[Shooter1 in reply to Hidden]

Can't tell. I was on Lupron only until # 3 shot was due.. Xtandi and Taxetere were pulling me down so far, I didn't notice a difference, except no shot.

[33Ford in reply to Hidden]

Ya the ADT didn't last long for me, I was hoping for much better! 9 months of the Eligard and 7 on Abiraterone. So not so good. No I don't have a testosterone level from my last test, but I'm getting new lab work on the 18th that includes the testosterone level. Hope the orchiectomy keeps the T down!! 😊

[Hidden in reply to 33Ford]

It will Ford! 👏👏

[Hidden]

“ Adventure"? Instead of a long strange trip it was a short clip clip ? This is proactive against APC! IMO ..I’m a orch member myself since 2017. Dropped Lupron then . This spells the end of testosterone for us . Unless we decide to inject.? My doc says “ no way”

I unfortunately read on line before the snip snip that some experienced suicidal ideations after the orch. I was one of those . After a yr the fog cleared and I started running the hurdles . Just kidding. Work out you muscles. If you don’t you’ll go into osteo and cardio issues. The culprit now will be zero t . Mine has been 3 for six years. I had some slight discomforts for a few months. I felt it an affirmation of my desire to live longer . No looking back on this one. 😂😂Recover and love yourself .

[33Ford in reply to Hidden]

I know a lot of men have a big attachment to theirs, LOL. I'm not one of them, they were bothering me and I am glade to see them gone! Totally non-functional anyway because of the ADT (and that was for life for me). I mentally feel great.

[Hidden in reply to 33Ford]

I feel the same Ford!

[spencoid2 in reply to 33Ford]

👏👏👏

[Hidden in reply to 33Ford]

I have a friend that says he could never do it . And he’s had two different kidney transplants .

[Boywonder56]

Since your a ford guy...me too.....were your .balls blue?🤪

[33Ford in reply to Boywonder56]

If I could see them, maybe. I'll have to ask my wife!

[bean1008]

I've been on Lupron and Zytiga for close to a year now. I've had chronic pain in my right testicle for years...even prior to the PC. Lately it hurts when I urinate in the morning...bladder pushing up against a nerve as it empties? I'm wondering if that could be addressed by saying goodbye to the little guys. Not doing me any good anymore anyway!

[spencoid2 in reply to bean1008]

I only had minor occasional ball pain, nothing to be worried about. However after hacking them off I have less pain in other areas which I attribute to "referred" pain. Maybe just trying to justify the whack job

[Hidden in reply to bean1008]

Hey bean . After adt and imrt mine were shrunken and painful . Of no use . Now they’re just a distant afterthought of what used to be important .

[33Ford]

Todays update: Dr's office called to set up a follow up appt. I have started to notice an increase in the pain level, nothing unbearable, but noticeable for sure. Turns out they gave me an extended pain killer after surgery and it is starting to ware off. That explains the almost total lack of pain yesterday, thought that was too good to be true. I'm also having a discharge of blood for the incision, again was told that is totally normal.

[addicted2cycling in reply to 33Ford]

33Ford wrote --- " ...I already had an appointment set up with a urologist because of a lot of discomfort and sometimes pain in my testicles. The urologist agreed to the procedure and said they would set up a date. I received a call Monday saying he could work me in Wednesday, wham-bam on that, LOL.... "

LOL, if yours's was wham-bam then back in 2015 mine was WHAM-BAM!!! Had meet with Uro following the biopsy/scans report for treatment planning and he said ADT plus blah-blah -- where I stopped him before 3rd blah. Told him I wanted the Orchiectomy, he ? the choice, I said NOW and the boys were out of town less than 24 hours later. Sorry about your pain as I didn't even need acetaminophen. Tight stitches had no bleeding but itched a bit and dragged on my undies so I clipped off the excess. Like it smooth like my shaved scalp.

Good luck after lightening the load. You'll experience more spring in your steps and be able to jump higher. 😀

[Hidden in reply to addicted2cycling]

And leap high buildings! 🏋🏽‍♂️

[spencoid2]

Your experience is virtually the same as mine especially the hospital staff. They were super caring and did everything right. I felt like royalty. I had very little pain and think it is time that I can start biking again. Look forward to not having to deal with those balls and the bike saddle. I have absolutely no regrets. I am glad to be able to eliminate one drug and traveling 8 hours once a month to get the Firmagon injection. Unless thre is a cure in the future I see no reason to keep getting Firmagon or Lupron. There are certain to be side effects caused by the drug in addition to those from lack of testosterone.

[Atlpapa]

Thanks for the update, I remember your post from a couple months ago on the subject and was wondering what you did. I've been on ADT+ for 20 months and it's working well but am considering getting them chopped because I know I'll be on ADT for life so what's the point of having them. Keep us posted.

[Hidden]

33FordPlease keep us updated on your progress. I am 90% sure I am going to do it. I have had the beast for 20 years - see in profile. Lupron for 3 years. Tired of the injections.

Thanks,

Tom

[j-o-h-n]

You should have asked the doctor for them...... they make a great soup..

*** just click on play youtube ***

youtube.com/watch?v=x3ch91V...(Not working as expected?)

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 11/05/2021 8:46 PM DST

[addicted2cycling in reply to j-o-h-n]

Rocky Mountain Oysters make far tastier soup DUE TO THEIR LARGER SIZE. The soup I made was far-FAR better tasting, thank you very much. 😀

[j-o-h-n in reply to addicted2cycling]

That's a lot of bull...............

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 11/05/2021 10:01 PM DST

[Shooter1 in reply to j-o-h-n]

I asked. No go. Hosp. insisted on biopsy of all removed tissue. Darn.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Shooter1]

After the biopsy you should have asked them to plump them with the syringe before cooking them...for you.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Saturday 11/06/2021 7:21 PM DST

[Spyder54]

I too have had painful testicles. You are the first I hv heard bring this up. My URO did not know why but said he did not feel lumps or nodules. I thought because of shrinkage? My boys are now just small jelly beans. He thought possible. It has now been 6 months, and not getting worse. Still tender to touch. I’m optimistic enough to think curative changes are coming, so I avoid the Orchiectomy. I know too long on ADT, and it wont matter. Seems like a lot of progress w BAT & mBat that may give durable extension of Castrate Sensitivity, with improved QOL. So I remain an optimist.

Glad you had a good outcome to surgery. Please keep us posted on PSA & Scans.

Thanks, Mike

[33Ford]

An update: Not much to report. Only issue is still a bit of blood seepage, which I understand is normal. Still feeling great and don't even notice that much difference in the appearance of the testicles (what remains, LOL). Now, that may be related to swelling in the area or they may shrink up more over time, no idea on that one.

[bean1008 in reply to 33Ford]

Thanks for the update!

[anothercyclist]

I would be curious to hear about your PSA decline. Eight days after having a bilateral orchiectomy last March my PSA had dropped from 248 to 34.5. Within 3 months it was below 1.0. Now it is 0.57 and continuing to drop slowly. My oncologist says he would like to see it lower but I cannot find a database that indicates what is "normal" for this situation. It may well be that there is no real database but I would be curious to hear from anyone else who has taken this approach to mPCA.

[33Ford in reply to anothercyclist]

I'm no help on the PSA question, so far mine is still increasing!

[33Ford]

Been a while since my last update. Visit with Urologist went well, he says incision is healing as expected. There is still some drainage, but Dr says that is normal at this stage. Still no pain, in fact much better than before removal. No mental issues, feeling great. Still believe it was a good decision.

[33Ford]

Time for an update (maybe the last one). Everything is great, nice to be off of the Eligard. Also stopped Abiraterone, but that was because it was no longer working. My only regret is that I didn't have the orchiectomy sooner! The only discomfort was the drainage, which I believe was related to the self-dissolving stitches. Still have the low testosterone fatigue, but better than the Eligard (I think, LOL).