Hi all
I hope you don't mind me jumping on here to ask a question but not sure where else to go.
I'm 32 and live in Warwickshire. I'm generally lucky enough to be healthy and haven't been to the doctors for years before this. Just after Christmas I started to get a dull ache in my right testicle, the approximately 2 weeks ago noticed a very small bump appear immediately next to the epididymis on the top. The bump felt hard but I would describe as being  a small as a grain of rice and was hard to find, particularly if it was cold when checking!Â
I went to the GP who examined me and said that  he wasn't too concerned - it was likely to be an infection and prescribed me a week of Doxycycline. He couldn't feel the bump at this point.Â
After the week had gone by there was no change, apart from now the bump had grown bigger. I also noticed a reduced sensation on my right testicle compared to my left (as in you could squeeze much harder). Went back to the GP (a different one) who said she still wasn't too worried, still couldn't feel the lump (it was very cold in there!) but she would refer for ultrasound to be on the safe side. She also gave me another 7 days of Doxycycline. This appointment was last Friday.
As of today, there is still no reduction in the ache, which also now has occasional shooting pain into my side (much like when you are hit I the groin). The bump also still small, certainly feels bigger (I can find without any effort now) and it feels like the top of my epididymis has become harder / thicker.
I called the GP surgery again yesterday to seek advice around further medication as another physical examination seemed to be excessive if an ultrasound was imminent. Â However I have spoken to the hospital today above the waiting time for the ultrasound and they have said 6 to 8 weeks.
I am not panicking about cancer yet, I appreciate that in all likelyhood that this is an stubborn infection, albeit I am a little concerned that it appear to be getting worse despite the anti-biotics. I also understand there are a number of potential causes for the bump.Â
That said, I would feel reassured far more reassured by the ultrasound, and I wondered if 6 to 8 weeks seemed typical / reasonable in the circumstances? Is this kind of wait what others have experienced? I know how busy the hospitals are at the moment, but it does seem to me to be quite a long time.
I also note that the causes of epididymitus is normally either a STD (unlikely, been monogamous with my wife for 10 years) or a UTI (I have no other symptoms). A urine same has been sent to the lab but I've not had the result yet.
I'd welcome any thoughts that you have, particularly around whether I should be pushing back a little around the ultrasound.
Thanks
Jon
No problem posting we are here to help everybody.
So I have not had TC, but I have done epididymitis, cysts and even a hydrocele big time.
The first time I noticed anything "odd" I wondered at first if I was imagining things, never totally sure so was really grateful when I did go to the GP and he thought he felt something too and sent me for an ultrasound. I don't know if there are national standards on this but I don't recall it being so long down here. Probably the quickest test I have ever had, it was and indeed it still is a cyst in my epidimus clear of my testicle. Later I got full blown epididymitis - it hurt like owwwwww but anti-biotics did the trick, I have been monogamous with my wife for 24 years so chances of STD were rather low. I went on the have recurrent bursts of epididymitis and sometimes they have had to try a couple of different anti-bugs until they found the right one. Once in really bad pain I rang the out of hours doctor and he was concerned I might have torsion and recommended A+E but said I must not drive as I was in too much pain, as this was about 2 in the morning asked how to get to the hospital then and he said 999, still a more interesting experience. Then waiting in a cubicle in A+E for 16 hours for an ultrasound.
When I got the hydrocele (collection of fluid round the testicle) finally got an appointment with urology, after some tests it turns out I have a benign enlarged prostrate so difficult to fully empty the bladder, so great way of breeding UTI. Now on tablets for that and bliss get to spend longer in bed between getting up for a pee.
Do you know when you get the results back from your urine sample? They don't normally take very long and if they show you do have a UTI that would be a good start. I would be asking about the ultrasound but I know in the past my previous GP has been less than optimistic that anything better can be done. Do you have a contract number for the ultrasound people it might be possible to call them and see if anything better can be done or you might like to contact the patient advice and liaison service (PALS) who might be able to help too.
<<hugs>>
Steve
Hi again,
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Just spoke to GP, he's changing the antibiotics, and upping the ultrasound request to urgent. Urine results were normal - no sign of infection.
Thanks again for your help and replies 
Jon
