Steve’s experience: A difficult procedure with complications

I had a vasectomy two days ago. It did not go well, and I still am not entirely sure what to make of what happened.

The doctor was an older urologist who has done thousands of them. He was a very kind man, who seemed intelligent and had a good sense of humor. During the initial consultation, he inspired confidence.

The procedure, the no-scalpel method was done in his office. No Valium, but I would have refused it if he had suggested it anyway. The room was a little cool, and laying on the table, I was downright cold.

He began having trouble on the right side, which he did first. He had trouble getting the vas out. I think this may have been at least in part due to the fact the room was so cold and my sack was thick and shriveled. At one point he mentioned there was a “bleeder” he couldn’t get to, and he spent some time searching for it before he found it. But more importantly, the local anesthetic was not working well. He gave me repeated injections, but every time he used the electric gizmo for cauterizing, it was like someone kicked me in the groin. This happened several times. He muttered about calling in an anesthesiologist. I wish he had. It was excruciating at points.

During all this, the doctor mentioned he had a bit of the flu. I noticed he was perspiring heavily, to the point I was worried it would drip off his face onto me. (He did not have a hat on.) Because there was no nurse in the room, I reached over and grabbed a paper towel and attempted to mop his brow for him. He left and came back in the surgical cap on and with a nurse with a cold wet towel. He improved after that, and eventually got the right side done, and the left went quickly after that. The actual surgery took about 45 minutes. His comment when it was done as if they were all that difficult, he would stop doing them. He looked absolutely exhausted.

I can’t figure whether the poor man really had the flu and went ahead because he knew I had taken the day off work, and then he just ran into some nonstandard plumbing on my right side, or if he has some sort of physical problem or panic attacks, and shouldn’t be performing surgery. I’m going to assume it was the flu because it has been going around recently, he has a good reputation and really does inspire confidence generally. It was weird, though.

I must say however if I had known the procedure could be as painful as it was, I would not have had it done, although everything seems fine now. There was minimal pain afterward, and the Lortabs he prescribed were unnecessary. Regular Tylenol was adequate, and I only took it a few times.

January 4, 2003

Things are much better one month later. I must admit that at the time, I regretted the vasectomy because it was so painful. Now a month later, I have absolutely no side effects. Everything works normally. By the way, thanks for a great website. It helped me a lot in my decision.

February 7, 2003

I’ve been slow getting around to taking the semen samples in. I must say, I wish the urologist’s office would handle this differently.

So I take the first one in. It’s a fairly small waiting room where anyone can hear anything said. The only other patient in the waiting room is a woman in her 60s who is reading a magazine. I tell the woman at the desk I have “a sample” to be checked and hand her specimen cup. She asks, “Is this for a vasectomy or something else?” I hear a magazine crumple in the back of the waiting room.

The receptionist tells me I can wait for the results. I sit. About 5 minutes later, a nurse walks into the waiting room and says, again loudly enough for the older woman who is no longer reading a magazine to hear, “this one’s all clear; bring back another sample after another 8 to 10 ejaculations.”

My wife is taking the next one in if she wants final results.

Submitted by Steve, Kansas – USA