Sunday morning I woke up with excruciating pain in my left testicle. Barely able to move I resigned to take it easy and wait till I see my doctor on Monday at 3:20 p.m. for a previously scheduled appointment.
When I informed my doctor, he had me drop my pants and after gingerly examining my nut, immediately went to the phone to call up the head of radiology at the local hospital. In no uncertain terms he asked for an immediate ultrasound. He was worried that I might lose my testicle.
As soon as I got to the hospital, I was rushed right through to the ultrasound room whereupon I was poked with a transducer for about 15 minutes by this head of radiology.
I was asked to stick around for another opinion. During the next hour I was examined by two more doctors. Finally they got this urologist to come to the hospital to examine me.
Well, after getting felt up by 5 doctors, the urologist who froze my nut for a vigorous feel determined that I did not have testicular torsion (which if I did would mean my nut was dead anyway because I waited to long) but an infection treatable by antibiotics and pain killers.
I’m 54 years old. Let me tell you that it feels good to know that the medical profession largely supported by my province is willing to go to such lengths to preserve 50% of my reproductive capacity.
Public* Service Announcement - excruciating pain should be taken to a doctor asap. It’s our body’s way of telling us, “HEY! SOMETHING’S WRONG!” Seriously, what were you thinking, waiting for an appointment? “Well, I’ve got this vise of pain clamped around my heart, and shooting pains down my arm and shortness of breath, but I’ve got an appointment in a few days - I can wait it out.”
I haven’t been able to figure out if grienspace is being sincere or sarcastic with that last line in the OP, about the medical profession in BC being willing
That being said, they definitely were doing the right thing. Guys, while you as a group seem to worry about your external genitalia more, those ovoid sperm and hormone factories are much more fragile and any swellings, discolorations, significant pain, lumps and what-not should be treated by you as high-priority complaints. Wolfian - That link was priceless. Who says medical education can’t be fun? No nuts to bust, but I think I bust a gut instead, laughing.
I was being very serious. I’m very proud of the medical profession and the overall health care system here in British Columbia and very grateful.
Upon the initial response by my family doctor, I quickly resigned myself to the possibility that I might lose a testicle. After all, I had read many years ago that one could function quite effectively on one testicle alone. Besides, I’m 54 years old and my days of siring children are over. I was actually more concerned with the possibility of an operation. In any event, it impressed me that although I was not faced with a life threatening situation, considerable resources were being utilized out of concern for one little old testicle. Considering that all the doctors were male, and I’ve read many times how the general medical profession is male oriented, I pondered that this situation might very well be evidence of that impression.
As I was going through the process of examinations by numerous doctors I was amusing myself with the thought that these doctors were having a bit of a lark like “hey Jack, have a look at these balls ! Wow!”
Anyway I’m on antibiotics and I can already tell that the pain has significantly reduced.
There’s lots of things that were I to imagine what it would feel like, my perception probably would pretty closely mirror reality.
But I’m trying to imagine what it would feel like to know a large number of people were in detailed discussions about my testicles and, you know, I don’t think I could have any freakin’ idea of what feeling such a notion would conjure up.
Did Microsoft Calender Invitations go out to meet about your balls?
Btw, glad to hear they’re back in the swing of things.
