What's wrong with my penis?

[john-e]

Hello everyone! My name is John and I am new here. I registered here because I am in desperate need for answers. I'm not sure where to turn anymore.

My problem is that I have developed some kind of hardening of what looks like a string that goes along the left side of the shaft. I suspect I have some kind of problem with my lymph channels. But I am not so sure.

It all started with the appearance of this string. Then I got small round lumps on this string. Web results suggested it could be penile lymphocele. It looked like wild strawberries on a straw! The straw being this string that was clearly visible, especially when erect. These small lumps subsided as time went by and the string became less visible, but I could still feel it when I touch it. I didn't pay any more attention to it. All until it appeared again. That's when I went to the doctor.

It took me several months to see the urologist. By then, it had subsided. Again! So when I saw the doctor there was not much to see. (Pun intended, of course.) It was one of the shortest doctor's visits I have ever been to, and I know how short doctor's... visits can be. He re-assured me that there was nothing wrong, and that I had nothing to worry about it, that it was nothing serious.

Months went by again, and then I developed the wild strawberries again! I immediately went to the ER to have someone competent enough have a look at this before it disappeared again. After consultation with an urologist over the phone, the doctor that was examining me said it could be a clogged blood vessel due to my inguinal hernia. Note that my hernia is relatively small, is asymptomatic, and I have had it for at least 6 years now. The ER doctor made a referral to a general surgeon.

I returned home, disappointed by the reception at the ER. I didn't feel like having a hernia surgery because of my penis problem. I just knew they were barking up against the wrong tree. Consultation over the phone? What kind of consultation is that?! The second doctor's assessment is only going to be as accurate as the first doctor's assessment and his ability to describe the problem. I wanted to see an urologist. But I had to see one whilst the problem was evident, not several months later when it has subsided. I went to see the GP the day after and asked for referral to the urologist. He referred me to the same urologist I saw earlier.

I waited a little less this time, and the problem was more visible this time when I stepped into his office. But it was not as bad as it was originally. It had started to subside again. He examined me and I pinpointed the problem to him. He said it all seemed normal?! But what does he know? Normal is a relative term, and I think I know my own penis and this is nothing close to normal for me.

By now, the lumps are pretty much gone. Again! I can still feel that the string on the side is a bit stiff, but it is smaller in diameter. What I am left with now is a foreskin that appears to be filled with some kind of fluid. Lymph? It forms a sack that makes my shaft look thick, especially when flaccid. When it is erect I can feel a... not exactly pain... but more of a tangling sensation on the left side when a press on it, towards the top where that string seems to branch off.

On the last visit, the urologist told me that some men do get this, and that the skin of the penis is very sensitive and fragile. The lumps would subside he said. (I would have told him that free of charge.) I would have to learn to live with this he said and sent me off home. He didn't think it was a clogged blood artery, nor did he think that my inguinal hernia was causing it. His assessment was basically identical to what I had told him, that I learned on the Internet.

I will be visiting a second urologist soon. This time I will keep my mouth shut and pretend like I know nothing, and see what he thinks it is.

Anyone else here had the same or similar problem? Are there any remedies for this? Abstinence? Herbs? Lubes? Surgery?

On top of my other health problems, this is making me feel depressed. Is there really no hope that this will heal with time, or that it can be treated medically?

To give you a time perspective, I think this string first appeared after having sex about two years ago. I was on top in a missionary position, and as I pulled out to ejaculate I noticed that something was wrong with my penis. That's when I first noticed the hardened string. I didn't give it much thought, thinking it was just a vein that was blood filled from all the activity. It disappeared in a few days.

In January this year, I had some rough sex and that's when I first noticed the small bumps on the string. The wild strawberries! I have not had sex since but I have masturbated regularly. Some time in June this year, the problem returned again, after masturbation. That's when I went to the doctor for the first time. Last visit to the urologist was this year in October.

Note: On the image above I have pulled the skin up to to make the lumps more visible. They are normally on the left side of the shaft.

[john-e]

Is it not allowed to post pictures of body parts in question? So much for health "unlocked".

[Motha in reply to john-e]

yes you can

[john-e in reply to john-e]

I thought so too Motha but when I tried to add the picture I got a funny little message saying something like "your picture appears to be inappropriate, contact our support if you think this is an error". I even tried adding the logo of Health Unlocked and it said the same thing, it's "inappropriate". So I gave up. But then after your post I tried to do the same thing again and this time I could add a picture without warning messages. It was probably someone behind the scenes that gave me the green light to add pictures, whoever it was I'm thankful for that.

The picture says a lot, it speaks for itself. The idea behind posting a picture was also to have it serve as a reference for others with same or similar symptoms. That's why we are all here after all... I would imagine.

[Hidden]

Take pictures when it’s bad and show them to your doctor. Simple

[atwaterglen in reply to Hidden]

Which doctor would you show the picture to? They couldn't figure out the problem which was the purpose of posting to the group with the picture.

[john-e in reply to Hidden]

Yeah, that's the advice I was given by the first doctor I met, and the second doctor, i.e. both the GP and the ER doctor. Smartphone to the rescue!

I was going to show the picture to the urologist the first time, but I had just gotten a new phone and was in the process of transferring the data to the new phone. I did not get the time to transfer the select few pictures of the penis to the new phone before the appointment came up. I didn't want to transfer my whole photo collection. So I had the old phone with me at the time for the appointment, and it was already empty because I had moved the pictures to the computer at home.

I don't use cloud services for my photos. It would have helped in this case. But it is what it is now. However! I did have my brand new phone with me on the second and last visit to that same urologist, and I had really nice high-res photos with me that I took with the new phone. It has a superb camera that allows for taking really close-up photos with very nice clarity.

But guess what? That didn't help much! He neither confirmed nor did he dismiss my "lymphocele" diagnosis. At least I had some name for it, he had nothing else to suggest.

It just so happens that I got the notification letter today for the appointment to the second urologist. The appointment is in December. I will report back here after the appointment.

[Roflmao]

Hello John, I have a similar problem like what you have mentioned. But yours is left side. But it lasts for 3 days, with pain while touching it. My strawberries are on the front side of the penis and on the lower shaft (nearer to stomach). I have smaller berries. When browsed in net, I get to know that there is a rare disease known as 'Mondor's Disease" which has similar symptoms that we have with us. My worry is, whether this is dangerous to life and whether it can reduce the erection if left untreated. Or whether this should be treated with surgery, I mean the "mondor's disease"?. Or someone please tell me that this is Lymphocele only and I don't need to worry about this and this is usual only.

[Carl72]

I've had this many times, first time from using a pump, and others from having a prolonged period of erection, be it masturbation, or sex with my other half. They always go away after a day or so if left with no arousal. It's as though it's a string of small pearls under the skin, which I can only put down to overuse of the erectile tissue/ glands that fill with fluid or possibly fats.

I've no bother with it until a heavy session occurs. And if it was permanent I would worry, but years later, having know what happens, one of those things.

I hope this helps your worry issue.

[nobody235]

Hi, I have the same problem. I found this great article with similar picture which suggest it is Nonvenereal Sclerosing Lymphangitis;

pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ba...

There is nothing to help and it is not dangerous, will dissapear and may reapper;

"It is important to reassure the patients that scle-

rosing lymphangitis is a self-limiting disease that

resolves spontaneously within several weeks if they

restrain from vigorous sexual activity until the condi-

tion subsides, but that it may recur after sexual ac-

tivity has been resumed. No treatment is required.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) have

been recommended but without proven benefit. In

recurring cases surgery may be undertaken with ex-

tirpation of the affected vessel (2)."

Even if it would be Mondor's disease;

"Such ex-tensive diagnostic work-up is not necessary because

confined and painless cases of Mondor’s disease that

could be misdiagnosed as sclerosing lymphangitis do

not require treatment and also resolve spontaneous-

ly."