Christopher’s experience: Story of three vasectomies

Well, I just got the big snip done 4 hours ago on 11/10/2000. I made the call for my first appointment a month ago. I was scheduled for the first visit on 11/07/2000. I went and the usual happened. They got all my information and the doctor asked me to drop my pants to check me. He said that everything looked good except I had varicose veins in the one scrotum. He did not act like that would be a problem which I will get to in a little bit.

The night before the surgery I took a shower and shaved my scrotum. Then my wife and I had one last night of fun with everything in tack. On the day of the surgery I was up early and showered (could not sleep, very nervous) We dropped the kids off at their aunt’s then went shopping for a while to distract my thoughts. We arrived 10 minutes before the appointment and had to sit for 55 minutes. They finally took me back and had to wait another 5 minutes. The doctor came in and asked me to take off everything but my shirt and socks (and the room was freezing). He had me lay down and then he sprayed my scrotum with a freezing spray. Then gave me the needle which was hardly felt.

Next, the nurse came in (Robyn was very nice… much more than the doctor) and also a female resident doctor. They began the process. The first side went well except for the high voltage I felt in my testicles from their equipment. The nurse took a hold of my hand to comfort me and calm my nerves. Then they went on to side 2. They worked for over 20 minutes and when he finally finished after sealing off a few veins that he thought were the vas. He said that with varicose veins it is very difficult to find the vas. He said we will have to wait till the 6 and 8-week sperm counts to see if he got them. If not he will have to take me to the hospital and open it up to get it. Hope it is cut now… don’t know if I could go round 2. So far not much pain just in the right testicle that they were working on for so long. I have taken 1 pain pill so far and they gave me so many shots when they were working on the right side the pain has not hit yet.

We went out to eat with the kids afterward and went to pick up some movies to watch. So far it has been ok. Will let you know as things progress.

Few days later

It has been several days since the operation now and it is still very sore. I am glad that I took the whole week off. Since they had been so rough on the one side it still really hurts without the supporter on. My scrotum has turned all black and blue including the whole base of my penis. It finally has stopped bleeding and the stitch came out today.

10 Months Later: The day of the second vasectomy

Well after 5-6 sperm samples there are still live swimmers present. 20 million to be exact. On the low end but way more than there should be. So we set up for round 2. I was scheduled for first thing on a Friday morning in August. I was taken right in and he went to work. He tugged and pulled, cut and snipped for over an hour. When we finished I heard the words that I did not want to hear. “I am not sure” that he got the vas again. He did re-do both sides to make sure but still had trouble on the left testicle because of so many veins. He told me to wait 3 weeks and get one sperm sample done and if it came back with live sperm we would have to be admitted to the hospital for same-day surgery. Well after the results came back there were 6-18 sperm present and 1/2 were still very motile. He said that at this point there should not be any moving ones. So we set up a date for round three. I am the only one he has had to do 3 times in his 26 years of doing this and he has only ever had to do 2 others twice. Can you say I feel special?

The day of Vasectomy # 3

I was scheduled to be at the hospital at 5:45 am. I first went for blood work to make sure I was ok to be operated on. I got that done then were taken up to Same Day Surgery (SDS). Once there I was taken right back and asked to get totally undressed and put on the attractive hospital gown and socks. I was then hooked up to an IV and pumped full of antibiotics. My wife was allowed to be there when they were getting me ready for the big operation. I was actually not too nervous, at least not shaking like I thought I would be. I was then wheeled down to the OR at 7:15 and met with the doctors. I asked him if he was going to get it this time he said definitely. I told him not to bring me out until he was sure he got them. I also had a very attractive female doctor assisting my doctor. The nurses were all very nice.

At 7:30 I was wheeled in and moved to the OR table. I remember moving over because it was heated (the table). That is all I remember. I woke up at 9 am in ICU. I was then wheeled down to the SDS room again where they gave me a drink and some crackers. They also gave me a pain killer. I did not take it because it did not hurt. When I got dressed they said I could walk out but when I stood up I decided a wheelchair would be better. My wife took me out for breakfast. We then took my baby to play at a corn and hay maze place nearby. After that, we went to pick my older son up at school.

We came home I iced it and laid around the rest of the day. I did finally take pain pills that evening. I also had to get up in the middle of the night to get more. This is definitely hurting worse than the other two together. They are the size of a softball. There is a 3 inch cut on the left side because the doctor had to deliver the whole testicle to make sure he got the vas. It hurts just thinking of having your testicle pulled out and plopped on a table to get at the vas. There is also a 1 inch cut on the other side so that he could make sure he got the vas on that side too. I guess he does not want to see me a fourth time. I wonder what the world record for the most vasectomy’s by one person. Well, I should know in 6 weeks if he got it with a sperm sample that I have to provide. I am getting good at shooting in a vial. The doctor has been very sympathetic and calls to check up on me. I wonder if he is concerned about me, his reputation, or getting sued.

Submitted by Christopher