Please please help us!!!

[abc123xyz]

I have a two year old who is intact. His penis is not retractable yet and we don't mess with it at all. At bath time, we do normal cleaning, no retracting or anything like that! My DH is circ'd so we are not knowing what to do about this:
Yesterday evening after our DS woke from a nap, he was crying uncontrollably for about 30-45 mins that his penis hurt. I took him to the bathroom to look at it and see what was going on and the head of his penis is covered by his foreskin but it was all swollen in there and slightly erect. I tried to pull the foreskin back gently a tiny bit to see if there was any blood or puss or anything like that but it just doesn't go back at all and what did, there was nothing unusual looking. After we got his mind off of the pain, the slight erection went away but his penis remains swollen about twice the size and was red. He wouldn't let us hold him because he said it hurt and he had trouble sitting down too. He just wanted to stand and be hugged :*( Today, he has been complaining on and off about it hurting and although his complaints aren't as bad today, his penis remains quite swollen, red and bruised at the base of where his penis comes from his body. He is peeing fine with no complaints there and is not acting sick otherwise. No fever or anything. Today I put some olive oil on the tip of his penis and tried to help it inside incase he possibly caused some sort of injury. We have a Dr's appt in a week and I really hate to take him all that way (3 hours) if I don't have to before then. In fact, I don't think she is open this week anyway! And I don't want to battle the ER with an intact little boy! I thought maybe someone on here would be able to help us since we are slightly new parents and both very new to intact penises. I know this sounds so stupid but I don't want to cause any permanent damage to him. If I have to take him to the ER, I am not oppossed. I just don't want to if I don't have to!!! Thanks so much in advance for your help!

[Mama2Kayla]

I would assume since you said there is no blood or puss that it is seperation trauma. My son's penis has been swollen twice like this--it was kind of like a fat lip, purplish, and double the normal size. Both times a bath with baking soda seemed to help and in a day or two it was gone. It sounds from your post your son is already on the mend. IMO, I think a trip to the ER is unnecessary unless he develops signs of infection like puss or a fever. I would probably wait another day or two before calling a doc. He's not having trouble urinating so he should be fine.
Hugs and I hope your little one feels better soon!

[Night_Nurse]

I normally don't get too concerned about penis pain as I've found it's usually separation issues or sometimes yeast. I have no idea what's going on with your son but I don't get a sense it's either of these (I could be wrong). I'm glad he's peeing okay and that he doesn't have a fever. But I see where the swelling could be problematic and the bruising you described troubles me somewhat. Do you think he could have injured it at all by putting something in his urethra or maybe getting it trapped in elastic pants, or smashed by a toilet seat, etc.?
I hope others more knowledgeable will chime in but in the mean time I hope you'll monitor him and give the doctor's office a call first thing in the morning. I wonder if you could let him soak in some tepid bath water or maybe put a cold gel pack on the bruised area? Maybe that might help. Please keep us posted.

[Night_Nurse]

I bet Mama2Kayla knows what she's talking about (re: separation), especially since her son has had the same thing. My son never has had any issues but maybe this thread on separation and pain might help you:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=764732?

[abc123xyz]

Yes, I am not so sure that it's not a trauma because he has spent a lot of time with his granparents the last couple days. But I don't think so. I can't be sure and that could totally be it. I was looking some things up and came across balanitis(?) Anyone heard of that? Seems like a catch all for penis issues in uncircumcised little boys but I could be wrong. I think I am going to wait it out since it's not hurting him any tonight...it's just red and swollen. I will definitely try the warm baths since he loves those anyways and keep some olive oil on it just in case. And I will update when I know a bit more! Hopefully I don't have to go through this too often...it breaks me heart when I can't fix what it bothering him!!!

[RiverSky]

May I ask, why olive oil? I would think that putting food on it could cause infection.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Seperation issues can come up in boys even without anyone doing anything to their penis it is part of growing up for some intact boys. The thread linked to by NN explains what to look for and when to worry or not. It sounds to me like he is going through normal seperation issues. There are also things to try to ease the pain until it passes.

[EarthRootsStarSoul]

Does he have a hair wrapped around it?

[abc123xyz]

Originally Posted by Night_Nurse

I bet Mama2Kayla knows what she's talking about (re: separation), especially since her son has had the same thing. My son never has had any issues but maybe this thread on separation and pain might help you:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=764732?

Thank you for that. That does sound like what it could be also! I am going to keep a close eye on him and see what happens. I am praying it clears up and stop bothering him soon!!!

[Mama2Kayla]

I thought I should mention that both times this happened with my ds after he was very hands on with his penis . I think some of his exploration might have loosened things up a bit and caused the swelling.

[abc123xyz]

Originally Posted by Mama2Kayla

I thought I should mention that both times this happened with my ds after he was very hands on with his penis . I think some of his exploration might have loosened things up a bit and caused the swelling.

Good to know!!!! thanks!

Olive oil is great for topical things in general. We use it for cervical massage and perineal massage so I am using it as well. I feel it's better than lubricant to keep the area from causing too much friction which I feel is likely causing the erections.

[ursaminor]

Originally Posted by RiverSky

May I ask, why olive oil? I would think that putting food on it could cause infection.

Just wanted to say Olive Oil is not just food, it does have healing properties. It is very good for the skin - we keep an extra bottle of extra virgin olive oil in the bath room to use as a topical application. It also works quite well for diaper rash, IMO.

[Belia]

I just wanted to say that I don't think your questions are stupid at all. My DS is also intact, and my *ahem* experience with penises in general is pretty limited *ahem* so I am very apprehensive about how he's going to grow and develop.

I hope your little one feels better soon.

[Bea]

Originally Posted by RiverSky

May I ask, why olive oil? I would think that putting food on it could cause infection.

Just because we eat a substance doesn't make it only food

I worked as an RN in an in patient Dermatology ward and there were bottles and bottles of olive oil in the topical drug cupboard.

You can (as just one use) slap it all over your scalp psoriasis at bed time to help medicated shampoo penetrate the dry skin in your morning shower...or you can make a lovely salad dressing.

It's wonderful stuff.

[thixle]

Originally Posted by EarthRootsStarSoul

Does he have a hair wrapped around it?

My first thought, followed by "or did he smash into something." Just bc you said purple-ish and my nephews have done both

Balanitis just means "swelling of the penis/foreskin" so, yes, it is a blanket term for a symptom, but it is not a cause (a man can present with balanitis with a yeast infection, or after being hit with a baseball)

I would keep an eye out for infection and give baking soda baths-- especially since he says it doesn't hurt anymore.

[Seie]

Do the grandparents know not to retract for cleaning? Just a thought..

[eepster]

Though swelling and redness tend to point towards separation, the bruising around the base makes injury more likely. My guesses would be, too tight seat belt, bouncing up and down on a ride on toy or while playing a game like "Trot, Trot to Boston," toilet seat while trying to pee standing up, grandparents not knowing to leave it alone while cleaning. The injury might have happened a little while before, and the erection caused the pain to come back.

[abc123xyz]

Grandparents definitely know to just leave it alone! We stressed it a ton when he was a baby. Since he's totally potty trained, there isn't much in the way of cleaning either!!! I have been putting olive oil and a bit of vaseline on it as I can. He really won't let me near it. It is still quite hard inside and swollen and a bit redish purple. I feel bad for him. He says it hurts every so often. Especially if he is focused on nothing else! I think it may be a combo of things now that I have had time to think on it: seat belt, riding horses, playing a bit rough, being held too tightand pinching it with jeans on, etc... Normal boy things but definitely many causes to the issue! I am still keeping a close eye on it but waiting til Monday for our Dr's appt. She's not in all week so since it's not "serious" I will hold on! Thanks for your replies!!!! I am hoping it's just normal seperation issues and nothing else. It's hard to talk to people about it because our area is densly populated with circ'd families and people look at me like I have an extra arm when I mention his foreskin!!! HA!!!