HELP surgery yesterday just discharged.. scrotum swollen?

As to color, can't say. But at 4 days out from surgery, mine were the size of ruby red grapfruit. My cath tube exited from a place that couldn't be found. I freaked out, and called the surgeon's on call, and got an "it's normal".

However, you are much closer to surgery, so I would insist that the surgeon be called and consulted.

But yes, swelling is expected, and they don't tell you that. But call the doc again anyway and ask what to do.

Thanks we are calling again. His cath seems backed up too. Not very much output since we left hospital it is also bloody too. not ketsup red more like v8 orange. Wish they would have kept us longer in hospital!!

Dame Goodeview,

A bit of swelling and discoloration of the scrotum is fairly common. Mine was three or four times the normal size and rather purpleish and bruised looking when I called my surgeon's office. His nurse told me I had been on my feet too much and needed more time laid out in my recliner. She turned out to be right.

That soon after surgery some blood in the catheter bag is normal. Have you compared the amount you drain from the bag with the amount he has been drinking?

DGV/damgoodview said...
Just a little worried. Husband had open surgery yesterday. Got discharged from hospital a couple of hours ago. We got a room as we live 4 hours from here. I called the hospital an hour ago as my husband has had some swelling or thickening in his scrotum he felt that it was from blood being backed up. The oncall urologist called back and said he wasn't sure what it could be other than trauma. Now his scrotum is definitely larger and darker bluish feels full. Anyone had similar symptoms...not sure what to do. Thanks

As the others have noted, it is not uncommon for the scrotum to be a bit swollen after a prostatectomy. Remember that the "equipment" is all involved in the surgery. Perhaps it could be even more pronounced with an open procedure as opposed to robotic.

I don't recall being too swollen after my da Vinci procedure -- but I do recall being a bit chagrined at seeing how purple & black it was. But that is all normal and the natural color will return in a couple weeks or less.

Also, however, as others have noted -- if you think it could be something more than this, it's always best to call the doctor or hospital.

Here's hoping that the going gets smoother as the next couple days unfold.

Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, PSA <0.1.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & slowly getting a bit stronger.

Thank you thank you. If it weren't for your post last night I would have ended up taking back to hospital in the middle of the night. It is sooooo true the things that they do not tell you. His cath did kick in and began to flow. Scrotum still swollen but I got him more support n he feels much better. Yes I was shocked too at how soon then kicked us out of there...less than 24 he's. It was an open surg the surgeons staff told us two to three nights hospital stay. So I was a little worried. We have great insurance so u think they would like to bill for another night. We even asked n they said no. We heard staff say several times that they havent seen anyeone this young 42 and doing so well maybe they were too optimistic. We r home now and he is doing well that's sooooo much everyone.

DGV - 24 hours after open surgery, that is way too soon in my opinion, especially if you had insurance to cover the extra days. My surgeon would have never let me go that soon.

david

I had my DaVinci surgery nearly 4 years ago in Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge, England. I had very little pain, no bleeding, no bruising, catheter clear, etc post op. I suppose I was very lucky with the recovery side of things, but I am sure if any problems had occured I would have contacted the hospital asap.
Bad reports abound about the NHS, but my experience with them was very good.

All the best from England.

Scrotum very swollen after prostate surgery. Should I continue to walk a lot. I was walking a couple of hours a day the first four days. Now the swelling makes walking just a bit problematic, but I don't want to quit walking unless it presents a problem.

Suth,

I started a new thread for you so folks can say hello and answer your questions.

It's here- www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2864991