Now That You Know

[jmfargo]

I don't want children. It's not that I hate them; I find them cute when they're not mine. I just don't want any. Pretty simple.

Maria, because of the TTP, shouldn't have children. It could kill her. She also can't go on most birth controls, for the same reason. Pretty simple.

We talked it over. Pretty simple solution.

I'm getting a vasectomy. This is something I think most men kind of try to hide, or at least don't bring up, but it's there, it's happening, and this blog is mostly about what's happening in my life.

I go under the knife on 6/6. I'll be up and fine supposedly by 6/10 at the latest, and they said that if I wanted to I could even drive myself home from the procedure.

Geesh. No thanks.

Now, I tell you that, to tell you this:

I went in for an assessment. Anyone going in for this procedure needs to meet the doctor, answer their questions, and have a quick check up. I thought this would be the time when the doctor would say things like "Do you have any questions?" "Are you sure you want to do this?" etc.

He came in within half a minute of me entering the room, and handed me a pamphlet. He introduced himself, and asked me to drop my drawers. He felt me up, asked me to cough, and left.

I paid $25 for what, exactly? Bastard didn't even buy me lunch.

EDIT: As an aside, I couldn't remember the term "vasectomy" when I was calling to schedule for this appointment, so I tried looking it. I jokingly put in "The male snip-snip," and wouldn't you know it? The first Google result was exactly the word I was trying to find.

Comments

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Twenty-five bucks and you didn't even get a reacharound? That's poor form. ;-)

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

A reach-around when the doctor was in front of him fondling his family jewels?

I'd say no thank you to that! :-)

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

I paid $25 for what, exactly?

Well, you did say that he felt you up. :-D

[kauricat.livejournal.com]

Wow. I think it's very brave of you and it's great that you're taking this responsibility.

Sorry the doctor was brusque. I hope the procedure goes really well; sometimes excellent surgeons have really poor bedside manners.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I'll take the praise for the responsibility, so thank you. The brave part I have to kind of shrug at. When Maria read over the procedure details, she raised an eyebrow and said "They treat it like you're just going in to get a tooth out."

It's actually a very simple process, and the only big problem is that in about 1 out of every 500, the snipped bits grow back together, so for 2 months I still have to go back for checkups for a while.

But thank you, I appreciate it. :)

[radioactiveart.livejournal.com]

I had one several years ago for medical reasons -- a genetic condition I didn't want to pass on. Children would have been nice, but I'm fine with the decision I reached.

Mine was done as part of a larger surgical procedure, so I can't offer much useful insight on the process for you, but good luck.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Glad I'm not alone.

[(Anonymous)]

I know a few people who have had that done. Not a problem, nothing to worry about (which you're not, so that's good :) ).

While we were down in Florida last week, we saw a HUGE billboard that read:

"vasectomy.com
It's easier than you think"

We found that ever so amusing (what, you have little diagrams and instructions for me to follow at your website? :) ).

-tt

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

*laughs* That's one thing I think should be left well out of the "do it yourself" category. :)

[drgnflydreaming.livejournal.com]

My husband had it done several years ago.

It did not go as planned, and he was in agony for *weeks*.

But, now he's all sperm free, so it's a good thing!

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

That's, um, well, thank you. You know, for making me worry? Where I wasn't worried at all?

That's..great...

[drgnflydreaming.livejournal.com]

Hah. Sorry. Just wanted to let you know that it *can* be less than simple.

It was just that they got one side all done and cut and what not, but when they went to the other side, they, uh, couldn't find the other vas deferens and spent about 45 minutes rooting around in there.
The incision healed nicely, and other than one side being very bruised, it went well.

Of the more than a dozen men I've known had it done, he's the only one that had any issue whatsoever. And I think much of that had to do with the valium wearing off a little early, so he got tense and anxious.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Still breathing a little hard over here. I appreciate knowing it can go wrong, and I DID know, but knowing theory and knowing in practice are two different things.

But...if it's a chance of weeks of agony I have to take, then I will. *shrugs*

[drgnflydreaming.livejournal.com]

Uh, sorry.

This would be one of those times where I just don't think before I type.

Sorry 'bout that.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

S'okay. No worries, seriously. I did know there are possible issues that come along with the surgery, but I never heard it from someone who (essentially) experienced it.

I'll be fine, and I'm not worried. As long as it works, I'm okay with it.

[desta.livejournal.com]

Its okay Uncle Miah. If I can get a Bilateral Tubilgation, you'll be okay with a vasectomy. :) I think its really great that you're doing this, for both you and Maria.

Mike and I had been talking it over when we finally decided what was going to be done. He was gonna get it done first because the proceedure for me was so risky and what not, but they had a six month waiting list blah blah blah. I was in and out in a month. :)

Love you!

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Waiting list? Wow. Here, it's literally like popping a tooth out. "Okay, we've got something in two weeks, sound good?"

[desta.livejournal.com]

Yea apparently out here they "really want you to think about it" which is kinda dumb. Seriously, what kind of man on a whim says "I want a vasectomy, slice me Doctor!" ...No one that I know of. Same with women.

[serene-orange.livejournal.com]

My friend had it done a few years ago. poor baby. it does hurt. but less than it would hurt a woman

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

*nods* I figured it'd hurt, and I'll have to be icing *ahem* for a few days. I'm taking Friday and Monday off work, and enjoying my bed rest.

I'm going to be bored out of my mind.

[serene-orange.livejournal.com]

pfft.. surf the internet until you reach the end of it.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Done (http://www.shibumi.org/eoti.htm).

Or, I like the old joke better:

"Last night, I beat the internet. The last guy was really hard."

[epiclevelregina.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the procedure!

I'm also planning to not have children, but I'm definitely putting off a tubal for a while. I don't have the money, and I would be hard pressed to find a doctor who would do one on a 23-year-old woman.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Thankfully my insurance covers the procedure 100%. It's like they seem to realize that children and child birth cost a hell of a lot more to an insurance company than something as simple as prevention. :)

You're of legal age to make your own decisions, and doctors should have no say in that, unless you were previously found mentally unfit to make your own choices.

Bah. Sometimes I hate the medical field practitioners. I mean, not all of them, but the self-important ones that think they know what's best, beyond the medical side of things.

Oh, and thanks. Heh.

[mediefal.livejournal.com]

Moron-in-law Kevin had his done on a Thursday, and was out playing NERO the next day... He had a Dodge for the 'stupid should hurt' rule.

So, there are wide ranges of recovery. Good luck, and be glad they didn't call it Micro surgery! ;)

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Thanks.

I've only ever really seen vasectomies openly discussed on television, when the man is trying to hide it, so I guess that's not exactly "open." I don't know if it's verboten or not in real life to talk about, so I figured I'd mention it here. *shrugs*

That and I wanted to tell the story about the $25 feeling-up.