Getting a sonogram, possible bilateral varicocele

tacoma13 · Post by **tacoma13** » Mon May 05, 2003 2:06 pm

Part 1. I've had a sonogram before and I know they are not pleasant, especially when your nuts feel like a boxer has been using them for a punching bag. However, I have some questions. My Uro....my 5th Uro, by the way, says he can see a left varicocele through the skin. He however did not see one on the right side and I do have pain on both sides. So, tomorrow I go in for yet another sonogram. He also ordered something called a Dopplar if the sonogram didn't get a good enough view. My question is...should I make them to the Dopplar instead? Is it less painful?

Part 2. This Uro also is putting me on Elavil and Elmiron and taking me off Wellburtrin and Neuontin. He said we'd try this first and then if that didn't help, and there was evidence of a varicocele, he would want to operate. For those that have had this operation, did it help you at all? Did it make things worse? I know all about the "operate for pain, you get more pain" adage and I don't want this to happen to me.

Supposedly this Uro is one of the "CP/CPPS" friendly ones on the East Coast and has been written up in several publications concerning men with IC and CPPS. If you live around NC and want to see him, his name is Tortora.

Post by **webslave** » Mon May 05, 2003 2:20 pm

Here is an excellent page on varicoceles:
http://www.malereproduction.com/14_varicocele.html

It explains how a left-sided varic. can affect both sides.

Success rate for varicocele surgery is close to 95%.

Doppler vs sonogram - who cares, as long as the diagnosis is right

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Mon May 05, 2003 9:45 pm

A Doppler is a type of sonogram (ultrasound). The Doppler can detect flowing blood as in arteries and viens. The ultasound and Doppler are done at the same time and you, as the patient, should be unaware that it is taking place. A varicacole should be easily seen with Doppler. The tech will probably ask you to take in a deep breath and bare down. This will cause the varicocele to fill with blood and make it easier to see with the Doppler/ultrasound. The scan should not be painful at all unless you have pain when slight pressure is applied.

tacoma13 · Post by **tacoma13** » Tue May 06, 2003 4:10 pm

Unfortunately, I have pain when the teeny tiniest amount of pressure is applied. I can't even take a shower because the water pressure hurts me. I had a testcular ultrasound done two years ago to rule out cancer and the proceedure was rather excrutiating. My thinking here is that if 2 years ago they found no evidence of a varicocele and I had pain like that then, just like now, that even if I have a varicocele now it is more than likely not what is causing me pain. As a radiologist, what are the odds that something as obvious as a varicocele could have not shown up on my last ultrasound?

Post by **webslave** » Tue May 06, 2003 4:37 pm

I don't want to answer for Ralph, and I'm sure he will answer too, but my comment on this pain during exam issue is: can't you go for the test while doped to the gills with Ultram? And stay on it solidly for a few days after so that the pain is not an issue?

tacoma13 · Post by **tacoma13** » Tue May 06, 2003 5:01 pm

I would LOVE to be able to do this, but I can't take Ultram, or any other opioid, anymore. I've got IBS as well and my stomach just rebells in a big way when I take them. I guess I'll make the call the day of the exam...whether to have sore nuts for a week or be violently ill for a few days. It's not the best of trade-offs either way.

Post by **webslave** » Tue May 06, 2003 5:18 pm

Last I heard from you, you hadn't tried Ultram. Have you tried it yet?

tacoma13 · Post by **tacoma13** » Tue May 06, 2003 6:05 pm

webslave wrote:Last I heard from you, you hadn't tried Ultram. Have you tried it yet?

Maybe you've got me confused with someone else. I've tried Ultram, Ulracet, Vicodin, Darvocet...I think that's it, besides over the counter stuff. This stuff worked great for me up until October of last year. Then my stomach said " NO MORE!" in a rather emphatic way. I tried taking half pills, quarter pills, pills with lots of food, pills with lots of water, pills with zantac, pills with bendryl...no success thus far. I miss the good old days of being drugged silly:) My current method of pain control is neurontin, but I'm going off that in favor of Elmiron and Amitryp. Supposedly Amitryptalene also works well for IBS pain, so maybe I can kill two birds with one stone.

Post by **webslave** » Tue May 06, 2003 6:47 pm

No, I'm not confusing you with someone else. In this thread:
viewtopic.php?t=291

you were advised to try Ultram. Did you? It is not a true opioid, does not contain acetaminophen either, and should not have the same effects on your stomach.

tacoma13 · Post by **tacoma13** » Tue May 06, 2003 9:25 pm

Yeah, that was me alright. Notice the time of day I posted that. I was a little out of it. I did try Ultram, same thing happened. I can take Tylenol just fine and I can take Advil just fine...but something about adding in those Opioids and my stomach just doesn't like it...and Tramadol is indeed an opioid derivative. I'm not quite sure why you are calling me out on this fact when I was just looking for advice on an entirely different topic. I really wish I could take Ultram, but I can't...at least until my IBS dies down again. Besides, from what I've read, one is not advised to take Amitryptalene and Ultram at the same time anyway.

Post by **webslave** » Tue May 06, 2003 10:06 pm

Not calling you out, just trying to get an answer consistent with your previous statements.

I haven't heard of such a wide-ranging intolerance of painkillers before ...

Post by **webslave** » Wed May 07, 2003 12:54 am

Have you tried Prelief? I use it all the time. I genuinely find it very useful for substances that irritate the stomach, bladder and bowel. You can get a free sample (click link below).

tacoma13 · Post by **tacoma13** » Wed May 07, 2003 3:07 am

Actually, I've got some Prelief already. I hadn't thought to try it with a pain killer, but it couldn't hurt. Maybe it would cut down the acidity of the drug being taken...if that is what exactly irritates my stomach. I'll give it a shot, thanks.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Wed May 07, 2003 3:12 am

As a radiologist, what are the odds that something as obvious as a varicocele could have not shown up on my last ultrasound?

A varicocele is not always obvious. You may need to valsalva (take a breath and bear down) in order to make it "pop out". Some varicoceles are easily seen by looking at the patient, but some can be small and expand when blood pools within the dilated viens. The pain you are having sounds unusual for just a varicocele. As you describe it, your skin sounds as if it is hypersensitive to tough. This could be a sign of inflammation/infection or another abnormality associated with pain sensation. Herpes Zoster or Shingels can produce a similar problem. The ultrasound probably will be painful if simply light touch causes you pain. Sorry, no way around that.

tacoma13 · Post by **tacoma13** » Tue May 13, 2003 7:56 pm

Got the ultrasound done about an hour ago. Well, as expected it was excrutiating. The tech just couldn't comprehend how or why being touched that lightly would cause as much pain as it was causing me. She wouldn't give me much details, as they can get sued and what not, but I got the "impression" that she didn't find abnormalities on the right side. The left side being the more painful she spent more time on, but as I can't read Ultrasound film I have no idea what I would be looking for. I see the uro on Thursday, so I guess I'll have to wait until then. Right now I'm sitting on ice to try and prevent any swelling that may occur from this trauma, as slight as it was. I just started taking Elmiron and Amitrip yesterday. I'm praying that it provides some relief. I'll let you guys know how the Uro visit goes. Thanks for the advice thus far.

UCPPS - Prostatitis, Interstitial Cystitis Forum

UCPPS - Prostatitis, Interstitial Cystitis Forum

Getting a sonogram, possible bilateral varicocele

Getting a sonogram, possible bilateral varicocele