Intact 2yo Swollen and red, Ballooned! Help! - Page 2

[l_olive]

Originally Posted by tellmemore

The ER dr today did a culture, after TOTALLY trying to retract and acting like she wasn't. My son fussed and she quit (good thing). But when I asked why we couldn't see what the culture came back with, she claimed it could take 3 days. We'll see, and whatever.

Well, at least she did a culture. It will be interesting to see what it shows.

You know, I've never thought of this before... wouldn't dead skin cells which may have been sitting around for awhile in a pocket in a foreskin probably show some sign of bacterial growth after 3 days in a petrie dish? I would think that if someone cultured whatever could be gathered from anyone's genitalia -- regardless of gender or circ status -- it might grow some stuff in a petrie dish after a few days.

Anyone know if they can tell the difference and if so, how?

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by l_olive

Well, at least she did a culture. It will be interesting to see what it shows.

You know, I've never thought of this before... wouldn't dead skin cells which may have been sitting around for awhile in a pocket in a foreskin probably show some sign of bacterial growth after 3 days in a petrie dish? I would think that if someone cultured whatever could be gathered from anyone's genitalia -- regardless of gender or circ status -- it might grow some stuff in a petrie dish after a few days.

Anyone know if they can tell the difference and if so, how?

I'd have to double check this to know for sure but I would suppose it is about what grows not if something grows.

[tellmemore]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

I agree with PP sounds like normal seperation 3 and around that age is a very common time.

Ballooning is just part of the process nothing to cause concern.

Read the thread linked above it is very helpful and reassuring.

I did read a LOT of posts and things for TCAC. I printed the AAP article on care of the uncircumcised penis. Is there anything else effective you believe could be taken to the appointment? I just really want this Dr. to get it, and I know I could be faced with, ya know, stupid comments like what I was faced with today. I got to see a Dr. drawn diagram of how a penis works, foreskin and all. But really, I don't need them to show me more, and I'd like to be prepared with more literature so they can see what I see. Obviously more Dr.s need to know what MDC could teach them.

[tellmemore]

Went to Dr. Muncy (Legacy Clinic, Battle Ground, WA for locals info.) and he was a nice "I'm neither for nor against" type of Family Phys. I pretty much filled him on from the begining to end all that we've been through in the past couple days. Stopping abx, etc... NO retraction, NO touching unless neccesary. He identified the purple, which is now on one side, as bruising. Possibly from the other Dr. or from my son himself. I think it's most likely just separation related, and will go away.

DS's penis is now normal size, normal color aside from the slight purple area. There was a tiny dot of brownish discharge, no smell or discomfort noticed. From now on the Clotrimizole will just be on the rashy bum skin.

I did give the Dr. a few things that he gladly accepted. The AAP Intact papers, 2 pgs, A Warning for Parents of Intact Sons, Possible separation yadda yadda, and maybe a bit more, just copied and pasted into 2 pages on notebook. He gladly accepted, and said he would definitely read them. I just told him that I'd like him to know what other info I was getting from the other side of medicine, and the AAP itself, to understand where myself and many other moms may be getting info. I let him know how important it was to me, and that I understood his training taught him to reccomend certain things that I might not agree with, but I was glad he understood my rights and choice. Anyway, he obviously got an earful, but listened intently.

He did say he's seen a couple times where forced retraction (not sure if done by him, but I know he's done it, and has performed CS or left alone at parents request) has caused strangulation and that cutting was neccesary to replace the foreskin. Ugh. Anyway, he said it is unfortunate, and that it is not a necessity to do retraction in most cases. I think he KINDA gets it. Anywya, I'm happy with this outcome more overall, and always am empowered by the chance to be the mama bear where it's needed. I'll post any more info for others reference, if we see this again, which I kinda think we will. Or something else normal.

[tutucrazy]

Originally Posted by tellmemore

Went to Dr. Muncy (Legacy Clinic, Battle Ground, WA for locals info.) and he was a nice "I'm neither for nor against" type of Family Phys. I pretty much filled him on from the begining to end all that we've been through in the past couple days. Stopping abx, etc... NO retraction, NO touching unless neccesary. He identified the purple, which is now on one side, as bruising. Possibly from the other Dr. or from my son himself. I think it's most likely just separation related, and will go away.

DS's penis is now normal size, normal color aside from the slight purple area. There was a tiny dot of brownish discharge, no smell or discomfort noticed. From now on the Clotrimizole will just be on the rashy bum skin.

I did give the Dr. a few things that he gladly accepted. The AAP Intact papers, 2 pgs, A Warning for Parents of Intact Sons, Possible separation yadda yadda, and maybe a bit more, just copied and pasted into 2 pages on notebook. He gladly accepted, and said he would definitely read them. I just told him that I'd like him to know what other info I was getting from the other side of medicine, and the AAP itself, to understand where myself and many other moms may be getting info. I let him know how important it was to me, and that I understood his training taught him to reccomend certain things that I might not agree with, but I was glad he understood my rights and choice. Anyway, he obviously got an earful, but listened intently.

He did say he's seen a couple times where forced retraction (not sure if done by him, but I know he's done it, and has performed CS or left alone at parents request) has caused strangulation and that cutting was neccesary to replace the foreskin. Ugh. Anyway, he said it is unfortunate, and that it is not a necessity to do retraction in most cases. I think he KINDA gets it. Anywya, I'm happy with this outcome more overall, and always am empowered by the chance to be the mama bear where it's needed. I'll post any more info for others reference, if we see this again, which I kinda think we will. Or something else normal.

I'm so happy you took matters into your own hands and had a real discussion with this doctor. You probably helped MANY boys by doing this! THANK YOU!!!

The culture will take a couple days to see if there is an over-growth of any bacteria or yeast. I'm sure your little guy is fine though. That purple spot is probably a little bruise or and area where there is a vein close to the surface. When my son pees, in the balloon you can see an intricate network of veins that look appear purple.

[ChaoticMum]

Originally Posted by l_olive

I'm sorry ChaoticMum, I missed the fever part of your original post.

But just for the record for people who might read this in the future - my son's swelling which was quite obviously NOT an infection since it completely went away on its own within a day without any medical intervention of any kind -- was WAY more than "moderate." His whole penis was very swollen along the entire shaft. The foreskin is made up of highly vascular tissue, from what I've been told, and any trauma to it can result in alarming looking swelling -- just like a really fat lip that puffs up huge in just a minute or two, and then, almost as quickly, subsides.

No worries !
just wanted to clarify that he had more than just the swelling going on! Likely if he hadn't cropped up with fever and the swelling had just remained to the shaft and not into his abdomen we would have left it be and just did baths etc - that was my plan. Til he screamed blue murder at the thought of going pee and the other symptoms showed up.