It's me again....
Complications, or minor ones are common. Persistent pain that doesn't go away is as high as 1 in 10 - NHS figures and research (this they don't tell you about).
Haematomas are common, painful but go down after 2-3 weeks. Infection common, as is severed blood vessels (1 in 5).
I think I ended up with just about everything.
Make sure the surgeon/GP is experienced - I got a GP that was training.
Surgery was fine, no pain... for the first half. Second ball, anaesthetic didn't take, so all three zaps to cut the vas could be felt. GP then severed a blood vessel, that then had to be stitched up. Didn't feel that bit after about 4 more shots !
Ended up with 2 haematomas the size of each ball, ended up in A&E with pain, wound got infected and ended up off work for 3 weeks - I was expecting to be back in work after the weekend.
I thought of driving, but glad my wife took me, no way could I have driven back - the GP made a right mess.
It's now 7 months post op and I am in continuous pain. On top of that, both plumbs keep swelling up like hard boiled eggs. It's had a very bad effect on our sex life - not what either of us expected. Very effective contraception.
I've had to postpone one operation to remove all my plumbing off one ball as I think everything will need to go as both are causing me so much pain. I've asked to be referred back sooner than planned but don't think this will happen.
We've discussed reversal, but the NHS won't pay for it, and the GP made a mess of one of my pipes anyway, so doubt that would work. Next option is complete removal of my epididymus (pipes) from both, but no guarantee this will work (50% chance). Nasty operation where the pipes are cut off the testicle bit by bit, then the vas is 'carefully removed from the blood vessels and nerves.
Really considering having both balls removed ! No joke !
It's a real risk that is covered up. You don't know about it till it goes wrong. You'll then find out that the 'experts' really don't know how to help as no-one knows the cause. It's a 1 in 10 pot luck.
If all goes well he should have no more than discomfort for a few days and be back in work. If not right as rain in two weeks then he may be one of the buggers that get problems.
My GP has offered to give me amitriptyline, gabapentin and pregablin - tried them for something else - never ever again.
Sorry to put a downer on this thread, but the 'rare' problems are actually quite common - just hushed up until something goes wrong. I even asked the GP what happens if something does go wrong - he just said you'd have to discuss that with your Urologist - 'What F'ing Urologist ?' I didn't have one, I do now !
1 in 10 is all I would say. Good Luck ! It is a simple operation, BUT...
I personally know of a few that have had issues - one took months and months to heal, one took over 12 months to get an 'all clear', and he felt the entire operation - pain relief didn't work.