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Surgery is about a month away so I'm getting my laundry list together. I've read that some people use dried peas dried beans and also popcorn. Any suggestions out of the 3.

Magicmike wrote:Surgery is about a month away so I'm getting my laundry list together. I've read that some people use dried peas dried beans and also popcorn. Any suggestions out of the 3.

I used peas. Worked great. Only iced maybe 4-5 times total post-op, though. Just didn't feel it was necessary other than the few times I was just up on my feet and vertical for too long...then the sac felt like an overfilled water balloon. Ice brought that feeling right down. Was a good reminder to stay horizontal more than not during those first 5 - 7 days. Good luck !

- oh also...my surgeon had a basic preference for warm vs ice (encouragement of blood flow).

What brand peas did u use and what type of sock do u use

Magicmike wrote:Surgery is about a month away so I'm getting my laundry list together. I've read that some people use dried peas dried beans and also popcorn. Any suggestions out of the 3.

I was given two medical ice packs when I was released from the hospital. They were disposable plastic lined tyvek type nylon "paper type" cloth outer layers. They had a hinged scissor like clamp at the top and some straps that could be tied around my legs. I got two different capacities, the one I was using in the hospital was a 1 or 1.5 liter and the other one that I switched over to once I got home was a 2 liter. I also bought another just like it at the local pharmacy that sold medical equipment, although it cost $8.95 (ouch!).

Admittedly, two a $1-2 bags of frozen peas would have been cheaper and after use we could have "eaten the evidence"!

I have had to use ice for previous surgeries so I learned from those that frozen bags of peas or corn work the best. Unlike ice packs you can smack them on a countertop to loosen them and they will conform to your body. I use a dish towel to wrap around the cold plastic bag to keep the extreme cold away from my skin.

I used DRY beans. A 12 or 16 oz bag. I took 2 bags with me when I flew out for the surgery. I was very worried about infection so I took zip lock bags with me. I put the bags in the freezer and alternated. I would pull a bag out and put it in a new zip lock bag then wrap in a clean hotel wash cloth. Then repeat the next time with the other bag. I didn't want anything from the freezer to get transferred to this area.

Dry beans or peas are void of any ice or moisture so there is no worry about any ice points or clumps. And no worry a leak would get any thing wet. Clean and dry is best to prevent infection except for the antibiotic ointment on the incision. This area is warm and moist which is good for germs. I washed white briefs in Clorox and put them in baggies to keep clean. I used alcohol wipes on the area around the incision but not on the incision. A light coat of ointment on the incision. A 4x4 over the incision. The briefs to hold the 4x4 in place. The jock for a few days as per discharge instructions. And the beans for ice packs also per discharge instructions. I continued this (Alcohol wipes, clean briefs, ointment, 4x4's) until the incision was completely healed.

I used the old fashioned ice bag with crushed ice from the home freezer and a little water. I also used ice left over from a part we had gotten from Costco. The ice plus some water made a nice “waterbed” for me. It was easy to make it comfortable and prevent getting things too cold wrapping it up in a clean towel.

Anyone ever use a circulating cold water device? I have seen them used for shoulder and knee surgeries.

Essentially it is a bladder (not unlike a hot water bottle) connected to a cooler by hoses. The cooler is filled with ice and water and a pump sends the chilled water to the bladder. They have bladders shaped to fit shoulders and knees. No reason not to have one shaped to fit closely to a man's groin.

I know of two types, one circulates water continuously (speed of the water controlled by a valve) governs how cold the bladder stays. The other pumps water into the bladder (up against gravity), then lets it drain back out. How often the pump fires up governs how cold the area stays.

Has anyone used gel ice packs

I used gel packs, they worked fine.