Posts
Hear me now and believe me later!
The second hardest part about having a vasectomy is doing what you are supposed to do for the first week afterwards.
(The hardest part is deciding to have it done.)
(Unless you were not the one who made the decision)
But if you do the following things that Dr. Roesel recommends, your recovery will be much smoother than if you insist on "doing it your way".
Dr. Roesel goes over these things with you before you leave, and you also have written instructions that you are given. But when you are in a pleasant Valium haze you may forget what she says or where you put those instructions.
So let's go over them.
1. Wearing supportive underwear for the first week is a MUST.
This is an example of supportive underwear. Yours do not have to be so extreme.
Regular "tighty whities" are fine. Just don't buy them too big. Remember, we are talking support.
Boxers, boxer briefs, sweatpants, pajama bottoms and longjohns are not supportive. Put them back in the drawer.
2. Take it easy for 2-3 days after the procedure
Remember, you have had surgery and things need time to heal.
This means lying around and keeping your scrotum protected from the forces of gravity.
I like to tell my patients to only do things that they can do wearing a pair of bedroom slippers.
I have never seen anyone playing tag football or moving a big screen TV in slippers.
This is a really bad idea on many levels.
3. Use an ice pack as needed for comfort. We give you a gel pack but frozen vegetables work well, too.
4. Do not suffer.
You are not a "girlie man" if you need to take painkillers.
Be careful about taking too many, though.
5. Abstain from ejaculation for the first 7 days. If you have wet dream, you get a pass. You can't help that.
6. Stay out of the pool or the hot tub until your incisions heal.
7. And don't hesitate to CALL with ANY questions or problems.
