Dear Doctor,
I hope you are doing well. My history is the following.
- Microscopic Varicocelectomy April 2013. Failed with varicocele becoming much worse than before surgery. (Only 1 vein ligated).
- Varicocele Embolization June 2013. Improved the situation greatly but was not 100% successful. The strange thing was that I did not have a varicocele while standing after the procedure, but only experienced the discomfort and "pooling" of blood while sitting. This became worse, the feeling of blood "pooling" in my veins every time I sat down for more than 10 minutes became extremely stressful. There was a distinct warm feeling that came with this feeling.
- Due to the constant "pooling" of blood and the stress it was causing me, I decided to have a third embolization in on April 29, 2014. The doctor stated that a new channel formed above the previously embolized area, so he came up hire and embolized the gonadal vein up until about ~1" from the Renal Vein.
After my 3rd procedure, I am still experiencing the exact same feeling as before. This includes no or minimal varicocele when standing, but "pooling" of blood, enlarged veins in the left sack, and heat when sitting down for more than 5-10 minutes or when laying down on the left side of my body in this same area.
I understand that I just had the procedure (4 days ago), so I should give it more time to deem it a success or not. However, I would like to know with the sensation described above, could it still be possible in your opinion for this embolization to be a success? Or are the feelings I am getting above indicative of a recurrent varicocele?
For example, if the portion above the channel was fully embolized, what could be "filling" the veins in my sack while I am sitting? Is it normal for the coils to take time to "cauterize" to the embolized vein before it will fully block the back flow?
Thank you and I appreciate your comments.