It had been over a month since my last visit to the urologist at Kuang Tien Hospital, and I noticed some slight improvement in my right testicle, so I thought it was time to go back and report this.

When I arrived, the doctor was busy with other patients, so I chatted with the chairman in the waiting room while I waited.

We discussed how there seem to be two types of people: those who become disabled and those who can accept their situation and adapt. It really seems to come down to a mental state.

Once the doctor was available, I explained that I had noticed some improvement in the elasticity of the spermatic cord in the atrophied testicle. Previously, when I held the testicle in place and sucked in my belly, I could feel a pulling sensation with no elasticity. Now, there’s just a slight tugging feeling. The left, unatrophied testicle didn’t have any tugging sensation at all.

I mentioned that my left testicle is still larger than it was before surgery and painful when standing, especially on hot days. With the current heat wave in Taiwan, it’s quite uncomfortable to be outside, and I expressed my eagerness for the cooler winter months.

I asked whether it was still okay to gently pull on the testicle to see if the spermatic cord would eventually lengthen and allow the testicle to return to its normal position. I mentioned that after pulling, the area felt more tender, and the mesh site and spermatic tube were sore. The doctor reassured me that the testicle area is quite resilient, so I shouldn’t worry if it’s sore and that I can continue to pull.

I pulled out the medication I had been taking and began discussing the half dose I was currently on. The doctor interrupted, suggesting that I didn’t need to continue the medication. I was actually about to say that I wasn’t experiencing any side effects and would be glad to return to the full dosage, as it seemed my body had adjusted to it. The doctor then confirmed that it was still beneficial for me to take the medication and prescribed the full dosage as before.

I also told the doctor that I had stopped taking tramadol for pain, as I wanted to try an antidepressant instead to see if it could help improve my mood and allow me to manage the pain better. I can’t take both medications together, so I wanted to give this a shot.

I shared my thoughts on whether hernia operations are often performed on elderly patients who might be less concerned about chronic pain and changes to their sex life. I wondered if patients typically wait until the hernia is severe before opting for surgery, which could make even chronic pain and the loss of a testicle feel like an improvement.

I questioned whether I should have undergone the hernia repair surgery at all, as I felt much more comfortable before. The doctor reassured me that hernias only worsen over time and that surgery is the only solution for repair.

After leaving the doctor’s office, I was taken to the hospital waiting area, where the director kindly requested a nurse to bring me my medication while I waited.

The medication prescribed: SANDEL (antiplatelet agent), HARNALIDGE (prostate medicine)