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Question for the Gentlemen...

 Okay fellas, I'm going under the knife on Jan 21st.... big vasectomy!  Anyway, how long will I be out of commission for the run and bike especially?  Thanks.

Dan

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  • I had it done a long time ago 14 years ago and I waited about 1 week before working out again, but it depends if you listen to the DR for the first day.

     

    Stock up on bags of frozen peas

  •  Okay, I do the grocery shopping so no problem!  Usually I listen to surgeons.  Thanks man!!!!!

  • I had the procedure done a number of years ago and remember heading out for a run a couple of days later and instantly knowing that things were not yet right. I walked back to the house and waited a few more days. You will know, and just don't push it.
  • I had mine about 18 months ago. Honestly, for about 3 days it felt as if I had been kicked in the groin. It got better over time, of course. I was down completely for 5 days and didn't run until about 10 days. The bike maybe took a bit longer to back on, but not too much longer. Good luck, the bounce back is pretty quick and the procedure really isn't that bad.
  •  Thanks guys.... I figured it wouldn't be the most pleasant responses, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.  I was actually pretty worried about the bike, I might give that ample time.  A week of nothing for sure.  Of course I'll speak with the Dr. but just wanted to get an idea of everyone's experiences.  Thank you.

    Dan

  • @dan

      I've done about 400 vasectomies over the last 25 years and have had feedback from several athletes. I've been doing the no scalpel single opening technique the last 15 years and it greatly improves recovery.

      You'll do best to follow your doctor's advice especially for the first 12-24 hours- ice bag, rest, tight briefs for good support, minimal walking. If you have the procedure Friday morning it's ok to be up doing household stuff Saturday afternoon. Outdoor home stuff on Sunday. Normal work duties(including significant manual labor for some) on Monday.

       The main cause for prolonged discomfort postvas is extra oozing/bleeding where the vas has been separated, segment removed and inside diameters cauterized to prevent functional reconnection. Your surgeon may cause very little bleeding(usually) but sometimes more oozing is present. If so, he/she will tell you take it easy a bit longer.

       I'd wait until day 5 to restart the run and day 8 to restart the bike but certainly be willing to halt the workout if you're feeling uncomfortable. I would recommend using a saddle with a smaller nose (like Adamo) or larger cutout if you have them and cycling and running shorts with good support(snug) the first 10 days or so. 

    Good luck with the surgery. You'll earn a few SAUs for sure.

    John

  •  Thank you John.  Sounds great.... I have no problem sitting around for a day!

    Dan

  • I ride a Selle SMP....split saddle...zero contact or pressure down the centre. Very comfortable. Might help for this, but is a great ride in any case.
  • I came across the following story which pretty much tracks my experience.

    www.endurancecorner.com/Bob_Albright/vasectomy 

  •  Thanks Al.  Funny thing, I didn't need my wife,I guess in my neck of the woods my boys are still MY boys! and I almost talked my Dr. out of the consult when I called.  He asked "we need you to come in for a consult."  I said, "Dr., I had my third kid, THAT was my consult."  I can appreciate the urge to want to train, I supposed to get this done in Nov but the end of cross country season was there and I really procrastinated on everything, so now the Jan OS will have to be sacrificed a bit.... oh well.   

  • Tip...don't get in a car 48 hours later and drive for 16 hours. Of course if the person you're going to visit is your dad and he happens to be a urologist at least you'll get good advice...and a chuckle...that was my experience! Good luck...and don't wear a good shirt either, they're going to get Betadyne all over it, and your drycleaner/laundry person will NOT be happy.
  • I got done in mid-September and started Nov OS just fine. I was riding (my trainer) in 5 days, running in 7-ish. I wasn't worried about recovery, moreso about the fact they wanted me to go under anaesthesia. No way I opt into that. They were already freaking out that my HR in staging was 34bpms. Not comfy, but it was quick!
  • Holy moley - we have a doc in da Haus who has done over 400 of these?  Amazing the types of folks we have in here.  Very, very cool.

    I had mine a couple of years ago.  What was interesting is my wife was in the room somewhat behind me and we were chatting  the whole time.  No going under anisthesia.  They just numbed me up "down there."  

    I was extra cautious.  I took one solid complete week off.  Then started back as normal, but in a cautious manner.  

     

  • Dan - likely everyone recovers different. I had the Op in Dec 2008 and was fortunate; was back in the saddle within two weeks and running as well.
    Wishing you a speedy recovery!
  •  I'm disappointed that there are no stories of doting wives, feeding of pizza and beer, and absolute control of the remote control....and if that already happens without having this procedure done, I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!F

  • the only discouraging part was the possible things that "could" go wrong! "Swollen grapefruits in your pants would signify a problem and you would need to come back in." Ya, no sh!t, really!!! I get swollen anything down there and you're getting a phone call.
  • I agree with Dr. John... Lay low for about 2 days.

    I had one done Oct. 1st and started the Nov. Outseason fine. I was riding about 7-10 days out. The bag of peas works really well. I used that every evening for a couple hours. I tried to do too much the next day (2 kids, 5 and 14 months). It just made it swell a little more. So, i iced and layed low for the next few days.

    People want stories... So, 1/2 way through mine, I was like... um. I can feal that... One side didn't get numbed enough. So, that kinda sucked. Oh, and my wife was right there, cause she wanted to see.

    Sorry #2... I just got back from a Christmas party for my wife's work (shes a dermatologist), and guess who i got to talk to for a while... yeah. the urologist who did the vasectomy. That was kinda weird. Nice guy. It was just weird talking to the guy who sliced your nads.

    Dan- I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just use the bag of peas A LOT and lay low for a day or two.
  • Bag o peas. Enough said.
  • "I'm disappointed that there are no stories of doting wives,...."

    Wait until you are fully recovered and get the "all clear" report from your doc. Then you will get to experience how happy your wife is about having it done.
  • I have been needing to get this done for a couple of years now but have been putting it off.  I haven't taken a week off from training, well, ever so I'm not looking forward to that part.  Thanks for the great advice here.  

  • Definitely worth it, take a couple days and like someone else said....bag o peas!

    Ok, so I want to convey a funny story. During my procedure my beeper went off and it was my boss who sent a text half way through the procedure........"snip, snip, snip"........the doctor lost it! He laughed so hard. Then three days after the procedure I had to dive at work to help catch beluga whales. I was the lead diver with the net and when I got done (water was 55 so pretty cold) I felt some discomfort........I popped a stich......so take note of the others that say rest......take it from me.........rest! My buddies and I laugh about it even today. 

    Greg

  • Guys- help me with some advice.

    Does this have to be the man's idea?

    I won't go into detail, suffice it to say- he has an adult daughter already. So I asked him to go in and save me some money and hassle. He said "No" (and he is a doc, so he knows what it entails)
  •  @Michele: It was my idea, but if suggested to me, I wouldn't have questioned it.  After watching my wife go thru 3 births, it is the least I can do!  Some men that I've talked to seem reluctant, but no real reason was given except I could sense it was a "macho" thing that they thought they would lose some kind of "manhood".  I'm too old to care!  I love my children and do not plan on having more and this takes the "work" out of it.  Good luck!

  • @ Michelle,

    No, it does not have to be man's idea or self prompted. I would say that it should be consensual to avoid conflicts in the future should one of you want more children. This would avoid "nasty discussions" and possibly reversing the procedure. My POV is that the woman has far more physiological and physcological stress imposed upon them due to pregnancy and if there is discussion about doing something permanent, they guy should be willing to do something. Its so simple with minor discomfort for a short period of time in comparison to what women go through. I will be honest, it took me over a year to gather up the courage and the injections hurt like crazy. Its worth it for "quality" of life after the procedure and trying to help out the wife and take control and contribute. It is an awesome alternative to oral prophylactics as well and the wife can stop taking daily meds. My two cents worth............good luck! Not sure this helps or what you were looking for!

     

    Cheers,

    Greg

  • BTW, I kept using "wife"..........no meaning or implication there. Didn't want to type wife, sig other, etc........please keep in mind I am being "politically" correct and non judgemental.

    Thanks

    Greg

  • Thanks for the honest replies. Perhaps it was timing. It was over a year ago. I will try again.
  • Back to the original question, I'm sorry to say that I had a much worse experience than most...  No anesthesia and the actual process and following day was uncomfortable, but manageable.   However, it took me many weeks before I was back to normal working out. Something about the "gravity" pulling down on my boys with no tube to hold them in place caused some serious aching.  I wasn't a triathlete back then, but I imagine I would have been kind of okay being on the bike in a week or so (no bouncing), but it literally took me 3-4 weeks before I could even think about running.  I realize most guys are good to go within several days, but I was definitely not one of those guys.  As I sit here typing almost 2 yrs later, I'm getting an ache just thinking about it.  With all that negativity I just layed out there, I would still do it again, just be prepared that if you're one of the unlucky few (like I was) then you might not be running for a month...

    @Michele--  It's okay to suggest and give the facts and benefits, but demanding it will NEVER work.  It can be your idea, but ultimately must be his decision.  I can tell you for one that my wife is much more successful with promising me certain "benefits" if I see things her way instead of "punishments" if I don't...  Even if I know that she'll eventually reneg on most of those promised "benefits" anyways...

  • No John- we don't do threats or promises here. I made an observation that it would be nice for me if he would. He declined. End of subject. I was just wondering if it was worth mentioning again. But obviously if I let several years go by, I am not upset.
  •  Procedure done.  Not nearly as bad as I'd thought it would be.  Just a quick pinch, and no pain since... except day 2.5.  A little ache in the gonads, but very very bearable.  Dr. said I could hit the streets running in a week, but to wait a bit longer for the bike.  Funny, I don't feel like less of a man!!!  Extremely happy with that!

    Dan

  •  Hey boys.  Had the "procedure" done last Friday.  Went back to workouts yesterday with the bike and z1 running; everything went well.  Today I did the z4 run work with no issues BUT was peeing red afterwards.  It's gone now but should I just chill for awhile with the z4 run work to avoid any jostling?

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