Gettin' Embolized

[donstore]

Saw an interventional radiologist at UCSF last Friday and he has pretty much agreed to embolize the bilateral varicoceles that Dr. Potter said were impinging on my ilioinguinal nerves. He said that MRI was not the best test for varicoceles and that a scrotal ultrasound would be more diagnostic and he would order one up for me. FYI - varicoceles are similar to varices but are specific to the scrotum and swell due to backflow from defective valves. He told me that if the veins were large enough to embolize that he would go ahead and do so. He initially was of the opinion that varices could not impinge on nerves (a view also held by the urologist who referred me) but I pressed my case and he eventually came around. For me, this is just another example of how you have to constantly sell your point of view with this condition. And of course I had Dr. Potter's report to back me up. This won't address the scar tissue around my rt STL that is surely the culprit in my sitting pain but who knows, it may help out with the scrotal aching.

Don

[helenlegs 11]

Hope it works out,don. There is so much about varices etc on scans it seems they have to have an involvement.When will you have the procedure for that? Fantastic that you stuck to your guns and persuaded the doctor to your way of thinking, it's all a bit of a learning curve for everyone so it's good that he listened. This could be another option for treatment for others too. Everything crossed for you.

[Violet M]

Good luck with this procedure, Don. I hope you are on the right track and will receive some relief soon.

[nyt]

Good luck Don!! Please keep us updated on how you do. Prayers are sent to guide the physician's hands.

[donstore]

Thanks everyone for your good wishes. My ultrasound is on Sept. 30 and I heard today that they wanted to go ahead and schedule the embolization so it looks like things are rolling along in this area. The interventional radiologist told me that if the varicoceles are a component of your pain that post-op relief is usually immediate. We'll see.

Don