7000th post - My Story

[Vivasanti]

To celebrate my 7000th post id like to share my story with you all - its changed me and made me stronger.

15th of December , i decided it was the final straw - i needed to see a Doctor...

I had pain in my Testicle, a dull horrible pain, throbbing and sore, it has been nearly 3 weeks, id been putting it off, i was sure it was gona go away.

It was getting worse and i had pain in my groin/lower stomach and some times my lower back - all the symptoms of Testicular Cancer.

I went to the Doctor and dropped trousers, he thoroughly checked me, my glands were not swollen, and i had no lumps - but my left nut was slightly swollen.

He diagnosed me with a mild infection and was given a strong weeks course of
antibiotics

I neared the end of the antibiotics, id never felt worse, after the AB's i was left feeling sick with stomach cramps - and i still has pains... down there.

Made another appointment to see the doctor - who explained to me it didnt sound good and would need an Ultrasound on my testicles :|

with a 2 week wait (i tried to get into a private hospital but they didnt do scans) it was a horrible christmas.

Everyday i felt horrid - waiting to get the scan - my life flashed before my eyes - my wife, my child, my family - was i gona get my nuts removed?
was i gona DIE?

Ive never had a heath scare before - i was expecting the worst.

31st of December the scan rolled round, all i wanted was a clean bill of health to start the new year.

I went into the waiting room with a dull horrible pain in my stomach - much like waiting outside the principles office or getting some bad bad news, the pain in my nut/groin has been coming and going.

I put on a gown and went to the scan room - got some warm gel on my balls (oh yea) and the scan started, the nurse was extremely thorough, she could see nothing wrong with my testes bar some extra skin on my left nut, which she explained could be from a previous infection.

I was told to take the idea that i had cancer OUT OF MY MIND, and go back to the doctor.

I was pretty much crying taking off the gown - so relieved.

Went back to the doctor and was given a more mild longer dose of antibiotics, half way through i felt great - no pain anymore.

The secondary diagnoses was - an infection, or congestion of the epididymis which is highly common in men.

After i had been through all this, i vowed to start the year in, not taking people for granted, and to be nicer to people, so far i have stuck to this.

Thanks for listening.....

Anyone else got any health scares they want to share, feel free

Nick

[MinoXXide]

That's a ballsy post...........

[Vivasanti]

Tis, shows my softer side eh

Men dont like talking about this thing though.

[FaceAche]

Bro, seriously bold of you to share a story like that - takes guts to put something that personal out there like you have done. I am in awe of your courage.

I had something kind of similar not so long ago; blood where there shouldn't have been blood, but was nothing serious in the end. Still scary though, and certainly does remind you of your own mortality.

[Vivasanti]

Thanks Face, yep none of us have been promised a day on this earth.

chur bro.

[Mriceguy]

Wow, thanks for sharing Viva.

I'm glad you're okay & taking something positive from the experience.

As an aside, grats on your 7000 posts.

[Newsboy]

Thanks for sharing dude. If it helps, I've had a finger up my ass before.

[captain x]

I reserve the right to make a crack at Newsy's post with a future edit.

However, awesome post Nick, there's a few of us wearing this kind of t-shirt.

After being declared 5 years cancer free in November I thought I had shrugged those demons, but your emotions remind me that there are a few hiding in the corners, at least you came through it well and have a new focus.

It also proves what an awesome community this place is when we feel close enough to share these things.

[nzBrowncoat]

What a post Viv. Power to ya for being brave on both counts (illness and posting on it) Really pleased it all worked out ok, sounds damn scary.

Originally Posted by Vivasanti

After i had been through all this, i vowed to start the year in, not taking people for granted, and to be nicer to people, so far i have stuck to this.

^ Awesome.

I'm kinda lucky in a weird way. In my job I get into some scary situations or see death regularly and it give perspective. Too many people forget that 'the reaper' can happen at anytime to anyone. Live for your family and for the moment.

[Vivasanti]

;D thanks man

Just remember when I'm tea bagging on the battlefield, there's a healthy set of nads in your face.

P's, I would never tea bag a masher.

Keen to hear some other people's story's, Captain, you beat Cancer?
And BC your a police man?

[FaceAche]

Beat cancer? That mofo wrote the book on beating cancer!

[accidental]

Choice post Viva, good on ya!

A few years ago I had a similar scare. Anything going wrong with your baby maker is scary stuff. Mine turned out to be a low hernia and a clump of varicose veins. Piece of cake surgery and I'm all good, no ill effects apparently as far as fertility goes. I'll find out soon enough, though :P

[Newsboy]

Hernia is why I had the finger up the bum. None of that entire experience was nice, especially the doctor I saw saying "hrmmm, not sure what that lump is, could be serious". He thought it was a tumour of some sort. Idiot.

Went to a proper doctor (specialist) and he knew it was a hernia right away. What sucks is that after the surgery scar tissue grew to exactly the same shaped lump, so I (and the doctor's) thought the surgery hadn't worked and had a second operation. Opened me up, saw it was just scar tissue, removed a bunch of it and sewed me up. Scar tissue grew right back. Stupid thing.

[Tel Prydain]

These terrifying stories reinforce my desire to never find out what the odd lump on my toe is.

[jman]

Originally Posted by Vivasanti

Just remember when I'm tea bagging on the battlefield, there's a healthy set of nads in your face.

Well said!

Thanks for sharing your post Viv. Must not must of been the easiest thing to do. I can't imagine the mental suffering you would have gone throughout that period of uncertainty and not knowing. Its great to hear you came out of the tunnel on the right side.

As most of us have stated, these events can shake you to the core and really change your perspective on your life and how you view it.

I work in the police comms centre (where you answer 111 calls and dispatch the police units via radio). So my experience dealing with traumatic events is limited to hearing it on the phone, rather than seeing and dealing with it in person as BC does. While I don't actually "see" what is happening, hearing all the trauma that is happening 24/7/365 is my timely reminder to make sure I live to the fullest.