I had mine done almost a full week ago, scalpel variety…I was good about icing and not doing anything for the first few days & the most active thing I’ve done since the procedure is walking up and down the 2 flights of stairs to my office.
Dr told me to take a full week off of lifting anything heavy & most exersise/sports. Told me to take an extra week before getting back on the bike, and to be cautious at first when I do.
FWIW I don’t think getting on the bike now (6 days) after would be a good idea. There’s no pain, but I can still feel that things arent 100% down there. I’m gonna give it another week or until I see that the stitches are gone just to be on the safe side.
I had a no-needle, no-scalpel procedure and after a tiny bit of discomfort after the first day it was no problem going forward. I would recommend anyone to find an experienced dr that uses this newer procedure. It literally took 19 min from the time I walked into the room until I was walking out!!
Numbing the area: Lidocaine or other variation ending in caine burn. Its going to hurt. But for less than 5 seconds. The best way to describe it is if you put your hand on something too hot, that initial feeling but less intense for 3-5 seconds then nothing. Also if you’ve been the dentist and got numbing agents there, same thing. After that you’ll feel things moving down there but you wont feel any pain (assuming they stay within the block).
Recovery: Swelling/ inflammation is the enemy. Go too hard too fast, things swell or worse, recovery takes longer. Stay on top of icing, supporting the boys, NSAIDs (check with your doctor) .
Since this thread is back again I’ll ask those with experience the question I’ve been mulling over.
My first big post-vaccine activity will unfortunately be getting all four of my impacted wisdom teeth removed. I’ve also been wanting to get a vasectomy for a few years and my wife’s IUD is about to expire so I feel it’s my turn.
The question is this: Would it be insane to do both procedures back to back? Probably get the snip first then go in for the dental work. I want to minimize time off the bike for overall wellbeing and training purposes, and if I’ve got to be on pain killers, why not kill two (six?) birds with one stone?
I remember the wisdom teeth removal being much more painful than the vasectomy, although the later is somehow scarier. You might get pain killers for the wisdom teeth, not likely for the vasectomy - ibuprofen usually covers it. Neither of these would keep you off the bike long independently, but talk to your doctors about both and the timing. Me personally, I’d space them out and take the recovery process independently.
I had a vasectomy and based on what I heard didn’t think the recovery would be that long. In fact the doctor/surgeon also said it shouldn’t impact biking at all. But I ended up with a fair bit of swelling and bruising. I remember the first 5-7 days not seeing much improvement, but then things got noticeably better each day after. I think my experience was atypical.
Having gone through it, I wouldn’t worry about taking some time off the bike unless you have races/events.
My experience with vasectomy involved no painkillers, local anesthesia for the procedure and a few bags of frozen peas post op. It felt like I had been kicked in my crotch a little while ago for about 24 hours and then it started to slowly fade. I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything in that 24 hour period, let alone get teeth pulled.
Definitely give yourself a few days without strenuous activity post vasectomy.
My experience was similar to @Juicetin 's. Doctor prescribed a couple things to take beforehand (I think a Xanax or Valium, plus a painkiller), but I didn’t bother. Local anesthetic, and the doc and I had a nice conversation while he did his thing. I was relaxed about the whole thing, which apparently (based on comments from the office staff and nurses) is not typical. Recovery was uneventful, didn’t take painkillers, I relaxed the rest of that afternoon, didn’t go for a run the next day or two, and that’s it.
I did get a few laughs that day though, because it was the absolutely perfect opportunity to wear one of my oddball t-shirts. Gave everyone in the doctor’s office a good laugh.
Having a vasectomy is a minor op and you just have to be sensible and give a sensitive part of your anatomy time to heal. Getting (all four?) wisdom teeth out sounds like a far bigger procedure.
Eh, I had mine pulled and was playing beach volleyball about eight hours later. Not saying that was particularly smart, but comparatively I took several days off the bike after my snipping.
I had the “no needle no scalpel” procedure right after SSBLV2 (by the way I completed Lamarck and Leconte for the first time, thank you very much).
The procedure itself was about the same level of discomfort as getting a cavity filled.
Recovery was surprisingly fine! I was terrified after reading this thread. I spent a day lying around as per the doc’s advice, went to light activity the next day, and basically back to normal after that but trying not to strain the midsection by lifting anything or stretching in a weird way. Never needed ice or pain meds.
To be super careful I took a full week off of any exercise besides gentle yoga and walking.
Then on the day I was going to resume activity, I lucked out into getting dose #1 of the Pfizer COVID vaccine. The next day I felt pretty beat down but not full-on “sick.”
The day after that I did a short ride, then another day off, then Scott Peak, then a ramp test, the Pierce today. I was afraid I’d backslide after the long inactivity but the ramp was only one watt less than my last one and the Pierce felt as it should, quite challenging but never on the verge of quitting or anything.
Great thead! I’m day 9 post vasectomy and still recovering. Day 7, 8 and 9 I’ve done light movements in the weight room, and today was the first day I felt close to no discomfort. (Body weight balance movement and some easy upper body work). I’m tempted to test the trainer tomorrow, but want to make sure I can sleep through the night without any discomfort. Last night was close to a complete night of sleep.
I really appreciate reading everyone’s comments as TR athletes are a different breed of people.
Just throwing in my experience into this thread for the sake of adding one more dude’s experience.
I had my vasectomy last Friday afternoon. It all went very smoothly for me. Mild discomfort at a couple points during the procedure. Felt fine afterwards. Walked over to the pub across the street a grabbed a beer while waiting for my wife to pick me up.
Felt a little uncomfortable on Saturday. Sort of like the feeling of haven gotten sacked 10 minutes ago. Took it pretty easy, but I could walk around just fine. No ice packs or NSAIDs required. No pain around the incision site.
Sunday and Monday - less discomfort each day.
Tuesday - I did a TrainerRoad workout (Sleeping Beauty +3). No pain around the incision site.
I had the no-scalpel procedure last Friday afternoon. Procedure was “fine” as mentioned above, no worse than a trip to the dentist for a filling. I iced the area with frozen peas for the rest of the evening and spent the entire weekend doing almost nothing on the couch. Swelling was minimal, they’re a little bruised but little to no discomfort. I feel like I could get on the bike now (trainer, not outside), I am itching (pardon the pun) to ride. But I’m in two minds. I might give a real gentle spin a try a bit later…(day 5 post op)
It is a quite noticeable lump that comes and goes. Sometimes there is audible gurgling, similar to a digestive sound. For about 6 months, it would be quite painful 1-3 times a week, which ibuprofen would usually resolve.
It hasn’t been painful for a while now (knock on wood) but it is definitely still there. Neither my doctor nor I are worried about it long term. The thing that concerns me the most is whether those symptoms might mask another problem in the same area. So I’ll just continue to monitor and hope for the best.
Tuesday, one painkiller an hour before surgery, just some mild discomfort during. But had some cold sweats, probably from the stress of the situasion. Done in half an hour, had another painkiller before driving home, had two beers an another painkiller before bed.
Yesterday, no pain, some mild discomfort and bruising.
Today, same as yesterday.
Doctors orders are normal activity, but no training or baths (shower is ok) for ten days. Wich I`m fine with.
Recovery was uneventful, didn’t take painkillers, I relaxed the rest of that afternoon, didn’t go for a run the next day or two, and that’s it.
