don’t be afraid of a scalpel approach. taking out an inch is good insurance of effectiveness. doesn’t hurt after the anesthetic shot which you would get with any method.
find out about about the methods and effectiveness of each method.
athletic supporter and frozen peas might be all that is needed besides aspirin.
I don’t suppose, given the circumstances, there’s ANY possibility of an embarassing erection.
Edit: See, I’m projecting. Mine would be embarassing. YMMV.
I was able to watch my ex-husband’s vasectomy. Our then 4month old daughter was on my hip while I was wide-eyed and looking at the procedure. I like to watch medical procedures of any kind. He was relaxed when he went in because they gave him a valium to take the morning of. He had a local and did fine apart from the fact that about 24 hours later we discovered that he was allergic to the topical antibiotic cream that was prescribed. Then things got ugly, swollen, pink as a baboons ass and painful. He wasn’t a happy camper. Don’t let this discourage you though :D. If you know that you don’t want anymore kids - get it done. It improved our sex life just a tiny bit for a short time.
They actually use a scalpel in the “no scalpel” approach, at least the one I had which is very common. In both kinds they cut off an inch of tube and cauterize the ends. It’s the initial incision that doesn’t use a scalpel. They make the incisions with a pointy forceps (so it’s a puncture rather than a slice) and then use that to grab the tube for slicing.
Got a local… and two medications: a pain reliever (Percoset maybe?) and an anti-anxiety / muscle relaxant. The second was supposed to counter any autonomic response. Felt real good that day. And went back to work a few days later. It was only about two weeks before things were back in action. Never had any complications or difficulty.
The reversal was much, MUCH worse (and a hell of a lot more expensive), but the initial snipping was no big deal. IIRC, I played volleyball that weekend (I think I got it done on like a Tuesday).
I had to have mine under general anesthesia due to a vericocele (sp?). Sounds like you have the same thing, OP.
I also had to sweet-talk my doc into doing one. I made it a matter of business. I asked him which my HMO (his employer) would rather pay for; a vasectomy, or pregnancy, childbirth, and 18 years of child care? He signed the authorization on the spot.
I’m getting my snip next Friday (fingers crossed!). My husband is surgeryphobic, so after 10 years of marriage, I’m getting myself done because I’m tired of birth control and worrying about babies and all that shit. I’m 45, by the way.
The doctor I was referred to was kind of a pain in the ass - he went on and on about getting a hormonal IUD instead of a permanent snip, but when I made it clear that all I wanted was being permanently sterilized so I never have to worry about birth control again, he was on board with it. At no point was my husband involved - he didn’t even ask why my husband wasn’t the one getting snipped.
I’ve had the laparoscopic surgery before, so I think I know what to expect. I’ll take a full week off of work - general anesthetic really takes it out of you, I’ve found.
Had mine about 12 years ago. Some minor discomfort and a very brief level 7 of pain. It was that tugging that others have mentioned but but more than a little uncomfortable. Not only did he clip the vas on each side, he held up a section maybe 1/4" long and showed it to me. Proof, I guess. I stayed home the next day (Saturday) with a bag of ice in place and watched TV. I was told the ice was key. Went to work on Monday, no problem.
A friend of mine failed to follow the rest and ice procedure. He went out drinking and got loaded. He couldn’t get of bed for two days.
I made a comment to my doctor during my procedure about the oddity of seeing smoke coming from your crotch. He said that he’d once done a fireman, and joked that he had to beg the guy not to jump up and try to put the fire out.
The OP seems to already have made his decision, but I was just going to say from reading the initial post that you ought to find yourself another doctor.
This maybe the hardest thing to do. I dumped the first doctor because it obvious he didn’t think I should do it and he wanted to put me under. I found a second one and he had no problem, no problem until today that is. I was supposed to go in tomorrow to have it done, but it turns out HE wanted to put me under without even telling me this. The anesthesiologist could not make it tomorrow and when I asked why they said they wanted me put under. No reason given.
WTF, no one else I’ve talked to has been put under, why are two doctors wanting to do it. I might have to find yet another doctor. I’d go to the local Planned Parenthood, but none of them do it in the area.
Press your current doctor as to why he needs to put you under - he will be in a better position to tell you than all of us here. Maybe there is something “special” about your ‘boys’. If you decide to seek another doctor, maybe ask him up front about being put under. They should be able to tell you the reason, but if it is “just because”, you can see anecdotally that most of the time men are not put under for this. It is your body - make sure to ask questions, get answers you can accept, and don’t assume.