Hi there, this is my first post on this forum although I have been keeping an eye on it for the past three or four weeks now.
I had an orchiectomy on my right testicle on the 10th of March for suspected testicular cancer (now awaiting results), however I have experienced some complications from the surgery (including coming down with covid in spite of isolating!). The evening of the op I developed substantial swelling which lasted for four or five days. However, after most of this subsided I have been left with a haematoma high up where the testes used to be. It is right now around three to four times the size of a normal size testicle and is semi-hard to the touch. The scar site was initially also very raised but this has reduced slightly over the last few days, mainly I think due to the wound site leaking throughout the night and day. I am still having to take painkillers to deal with the pain nearly two weeks on (I have no idea if this is normal or not).
My initial experience with the NHS in regards to this has been excellent up until the point of post op care, which has been very disappointing. I won't go into too much detail here other than I was seen by a urology registrar when I first reported the swelling (this in itself was an absolute nightmare to be arranged as I had covid). It was arranged for me to go back for a checkup two days later but on turning up to the hospital as arranged, I then wasn't able to be seen on the day due to disagreements between the surgical assessment unit and A&E about who's responsibility it was to house a patient with covid, I was given the advice over the phone of go to A&E if it gets worse.
I would just like some advice on my situation if possible? Should I wait for my urology/oncologists appointment after the results of my op are discussed at MDT or should I push to be seen again before then? Should the area still be very painful and still require co-codamol to cope with? Should I be concerned that I am having to replace wound dressings around three to four times a day due to pink discharge from the wound (no odour)? I wasn't able to ask the registrar this because as the time, the wound wasn't really seeping. What will happen to the hard swellings/haematoma - presumably the body will absorb this? How long does it take and can I do anything to help it along? I should mention I am a Type 1 diabetic so the risk of infection is concerning to me.
Any thoughts, guidance and support would be very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Armless1
