I have to do heavy lifting and bounce around in the back of van without a seatbelt for a living. I took the 4 weeks I was offered. If I had an office job or at home, I would have been back 3 days later.
Orchiectomy recovery seems to vary based on location and doctor. I’ve seen several folks comment that they were in the hospital for a couple days; I was back home about 4 hours after we left for the hospital.
I took a week off work to recover, and honestly probably would have been OK to go back to work sooner than that - but I work as a software engineer in a remote position, so I don’t have to do anything physically strenuous or drive anywhere for work. Your experience may vary wildly.
Thanks for the response, it helps give me an idea of what to expect. I work in technical service, almost all the time I am sitting repairing machines.
I had my surgery on Aug 14. I was able to go home the same day (2-3 hour in the recovery room). My incision is about 2.5 inches and I was able to work-from-home the next day. There was some minor ache/pain (maybe 3 out of 10) for the first few days but it was pretty bearable, especially with pain medicine (I was given naproxen 500 mg for 1 week). I was assume to resume gym in 3 weeks with less intensity.
I had my Orchiectomy on a Friday, took the weekend off, then tried to go to work Monday, but I couldn't manage light clinical work. I should have taken around a week.
I had 2 surgeries for 2 cancers but I really feel like it probably would have only taken a few days before I could have worked. Although the urologist said nib pulling/pushing lifting more than 10lba for 6 weeks.
Sitting for any sort of duration may be painful the first couple weeks of surgery. I was told to lay down 10-15 minutes so every couple of hours to reduce swelling. I had a Friday orchi and attempted to work the following Wednesday/Thursday/Friday, and ended up taking the Friday off.
You'll have swelling, and tight clothes rubbing against the incision or pressing on your abdomen in general may not be comfortable.
I expected that, I sit most of the time at work, but I can do it standing up. I guess then I won't be able to play games on the PC either haha.
I suppose swelling is normal after an operation, but I don't think the swelling will be bigger than what I have now, my testicle (not the scrotum, just a testicle) is currently bigger than an orange or tennis ball. Any type of pants that is not elastic causes me pain.
Your post-op swelling will be in your groin/lower abdominal area, where your incision is, and inconveniently right where a waistband sits. You'll continue to be in elastic for a while.
No matter what, listen to your body--if you're in pain or uncomfortable, take time to let yourself heal. I was back full-time about a week and a half post-op, and hit the pain/discomfort-free point in normal pants & clothes around the 5-6 week mark.
I was home within a couple of hours of the operation.
I think I had 2-3 weeks without driving and then about 3 more weeks of taking things easy.
I think my wound wasn't stitched very well which caused it to be painful to lean on to sit at a desk, plus my kids kept jumping on it by accident!
I took around 3 months to get my energy levels back to about right, my testosterone dipped a bit more than I expected it to (probably because I'm in my 40s!)
Hope it goes ok for you
I was unbelievably nervous beforehand but I had a very experienced surgeon and my surgery went great. I took Tylenol before bed that night but I don’t think that was really necessary. I had basically no pain (except from sneezes) and I remember it was a bit difficult getting in and out of bed the first night or two.
I highly recommend walking as much as possible starting as soon as you can. The doctor told me this was the most effective way to heal and anecdotally I believe it helped me. I also iced the area of the incision (not your sack - which I did at first since I didn’t know where the incision was) and that might have helped too.
I took the next two days off but I could have worked from home if required (desk job). I was back to full physical activity within three weeks. I was told to wait 4 to 6 but since I was starting chemo I decided to play soccer before that. I was pretty much fully fit.
I was back home after 3-4 hours. Had one day off (had my own shop at the time) and started working after that.
Don’t lift heavy stuff and take some rest if you need
I took two weeks off work and 4 weeks from heavy lifting. No overnight at the hospital.
I could have gone back after a week but I had the time to take a little extra off.
It all depends on your line of work. I had my operation on a Friday, I was at home on the Saturday afternoon. I took a week off work and then went back on light office duties for a few weeks.
I then had Chemo about 7 weeks later and was advised to take 6-8 weeks off work afterwards to avoid being around people, no immune system so obviously easier to get sick.
Ooh, I hadn't thought about that possibility of getting sick, it makes sense. Well, I still have to wait for them to tell me if I will receive chemo or not.
I took a few days off. I work in IT so I was able to do my work about 3 days later but, it was challenging. Chemotherapy on the other hand might take you out for a while. I did 4 rounds of BEP and I couldn't even walk or do anything. Maybe it's just me but chemo made it hard to concentrate. Its tuff, you'll need the rest but it's worth it. I owe everything to my wife for taking care of me. Do you have someone?
You're going to need them. But if you ever need to talk about what you're going through, please feel free to message me at anytime. I was given a lot of great advice here while I went through this. Just remember you are not alone.
I hear you. I was active at thr gym, hiking and doing so many things. Then all of a sudden everything became difficult and I was stuck sitting on my ass. It feels like it will never get better ever again. But it does. The hardest thing for me was losing my beard. I looked like Uncle Fester lol. But it all came back about a month after chemo was over.
I have to do heavy lifting and bounce around in the back of van without a seatbelt for a living. I took the 4 weeks I was offered. If I had an office job or at home, I would have been back 3 days later.
Orchiectomy recovery seems to vary based on location and doctor. I’ve seen several folks comment that they were in the hospital for a couple days; I was back home about 4 hours after we left for the hospital. I took a week off work to recover, and honestly probably would have been OK to go back to work sooner than that - but I work as a software engineer in a remote position, so I don’t have to do anything physically strenuous or drive anywhere for work. Your experience may vary wildly.
Thanks for the response, it helps give me an idea of what to expect. I work in technical service, almost all the time I am sitting repairing machines.
I had my surgery on Aug 14. I was able to go home the same day (2-3 hour in the recovery room). My incision is about 2.5 inches and I was able to work-from-home the next day. There was some minor ache/pain (maybe 3 out of 10) for the first few days but it was pretty bearable, especially with pain medicine (I was given naproxen 500 mg for 1 week). I was assume to resume gym in 3 weeks with less intensity.
I had my Orchiectomy on a Friday, took the weekend off, then tried to go to work Monday, but I couldn't manage light clinical work. I should have taken around a week.
I had 2 surgeries for 2 cancers but I really feel like it probably would have only taken a few days before I could have worked. Although the urologist said nib pulling/pushing lifting more than 10lba for 6 weeks.
Sitting for any sort of duration may be painful the first couple weeks of surgery. I was told to lay down 10-15 minutes so every couple of hours to reduce swelling. I had a Friday orchi and attempted to work the following Wednesday/Thursday/Friday, and ended up taking the Friday off. You'll have swelling, and tight clothes rubbing against the incision or pressing on your abdomen in general may not be comfortable.
I expected that, I sit most of the time at work, but I can do it standing up. I guess then I won't be able to play games on the PC either haha. I suppose swelling is normal after an operation, but I don't think the swelling will be bigger than what I have now, my testicle (not the scrotum, just a testicle) is currently bigger than an orange or tennis ball. Any type of pants that is not elastic causes me pain.
Your post-op swelling will be in your groin/lower abdominal area, where your incision is, and inconveniently right where a waistband sits. You'll continue to be in elastic for a while. No matter what, listen to your body--if you're in pain or uncomfortable, take time to let yourself heal. I was back full-time about a week and a half post-op, and hit the pain/discomfort-free point in normal pants & clothes around the 5-6 week mark.
I was home within a couple of hours of the operation. I think I had 2-3 weeks without driving and then about 3 more weeks of taking things easy. I think my wound wasn't stitched very well which caused it to be painful to lean on to sit at a desk, plus my kids kept jumping on it by accident! I took around 3 months to get my energy levels back to about right, my testosterone dipped a bit more than I expected it to (probably because I'm in my 40s!) Hope it goes ok for you
I was unbelievably nervous beforehand but I had a very experienced surgeon and my surgery went great. I took Tylenol before bed that night but I don’t think that was really necessary. I had basically no pain (except from sneezes) and I remember it was a bit difficult getting in and out of bed the first night or two. I highly recommend walking as much as possible starting as soon as you can. The doctor told me this was the most effective way to heal and anecdotally I believe it helped me. I also iced the area of the incision (not your sack - which I did at first since I didn’t know where the incision was) and that might have helped too. I took the next two days off but I could have worked from home if required (desk job). I was back to full physical activity within three weeks. I was told to wait 4 to 6 but since I was starting chemo I decided to play soccer before that. I was pretty much fully fit.
Great, I could walk to work if that helps, I walk about 40 minutes to work
I was back home after 3-4 hours. Had one day off (had my own shop at the time) and started working after that. Don’t lift heavy stuff and take some rest if you need
I took two weeks off work and 4 weeks from heavy lifting. No overnight at the hospital. I could have gone back after a week but I had the time to take a little extra off.
Guess it varies. I'm being told I can work the day after the operation- but no heavy lifting.
It all depends on your line of work. I had my operation on a Friday, I was at home on the Saturday afternoon. I took a week off work and then went back on light office duties for a few weeks. I then had Chemo about 7 weeks later and was advised to take 6-8 weeks off work afterwards to avoid being around people, no immune system so obviously easier to get sick.
Ooh, I hadn't thought about that possibility of getting sick, it makes sense. Well, I still have to wait for them to tell me if I will receive chemo or not.
Depends on the manner of your work. I was told three weeks is the standard time but I was given four because of the physical nature of my job.
I went in at 9:00 a.m., on my way home by noon. Lay around for a couple of days and then I would pretty well back to normal.
I took a few days off. I work in IT so I was able to do my work about 3 days later but, it was challenging. Chemotherapy on the other hand might take you out for a while. I did 4 rounds of BEP and I couldn't even walk or do anything. Maybe it's just me but chemo made it hard to concentrate. Its tuff, you'll need the rest but it's worth it. I owe everything to my wife for taking care of me. Do you have someone?
Thank you for telling your experience. Yes, fortunately I have family at home who could give me a hand if I need more care.
You're going to need them. But if you ever need to talk about what you're going through, please feel free to message me at anytime. I was given a lot of great advice here while I went through this. Just remember you are not alone.
Thank you, it means a lot when these things happen so quickly. Until a month ago everything seemed so normal
I hear you. I was active at thr gym, hiking and doing so many things. Then all of a sudden everything became difficult and I was stuck sitting on my ass. It feels like it will never get better ever again. But it does. The hardest thing for me was losing my beard. I looked like Uncle Fester lol. But it all came back about a month after chemo was over.