I've read this forum for a couple of years now and felt pretty sure of what I would do if we ran into "problems." But when it happens to your own kid, you just want some assurance you're doing the right things.
When my non-retractile 4 year old went to the bathroom this morning, his foreskin was very swollen and painful to the touch. It was swollen all over, but there was an especially large lump on one side. His foreskin opening is still so small that it's literallly the size of a pin-hole.
He took a very, very long warm bath. He wouldn't touch it, but he sat in the warm water for over an hour. Right after lunch, I smelled an odd odor, looked in his underwear, and there are several patches of a ruddy-colored thick smelly substance, and there were a couple of pus-looking drips that came from the tip of his penis. Honestly, it smells like I do when I've been camping and not bathed in a couple of days.
Now he says he's still sore to the touch, but it doesn't hurt any more.
So, am I right thinking this was a smegma pearl? That he's starting the separation process? That it will probably sting a little when he urinates, but should clear up in a day or two?
We're going to the doc for a different problem. He's been crying and crying all morning that his foot hurts. He keeps saying it's "asleep," but I'm not sure he really knows what that means -- he's just heard me say it. He won't put any weight on it at all, and if he sits for a little while, it subsides.
So, when the doc looks at his foot, should I even mention the penis issue? She's pretty intact friendly, and has even made sure to tell ME not to retract. If she wants to look at it, I plan on saying, "He's not yet retractile at all, and I don't want for you to try to manipulate his foreskin in any way. If you feel you would like to do a culture, please do so, but without retracting."
Do I have this all right? Anything to add? Any bases I haven't covered? I'M FREAKING WORRIED!!!
When my non-retractile 4 year old went to the bathroom this morning, his foreskin was very swollen and painful to the touch. It was swollen all over, but there was an especially large lump on one side. His foreskin opening is still so small that it's literallly the size of a pin-hole.
He took a very, very long warm bath. He wouldn't touch it, but he sat in the warm water for over an hour. Right after lunch, I smelled an odd odor, looked in his underwear, and there are several patches of a ruddy-colored thick smelly substance, and there were a couple of pus-looking drips that came from the tip of his penis. Honestly, it smells like I do when I've been camping and not bathed in a couple of days.
Now he says he's still sore to the touch, but it doesn't hurt any more.
So, am I right thinking this was a smegma pearl? That he's starting the separation process? That it will probably sting a little when he urinates, but should clear up in a day or two?
We're going to the doc for a different problem. He's been crying and crying all morning that his foot hurts. He keeps saying it's "asleep," but I'm not sure he really knows what that means -- he's just heard me say it. He won't put any weight on it at all, and if he sits for a little while, it subsides.
So, when the doc looks at his foot, should I even mention the penis issue? She's pretty intact friendly, and has even made sure to tell ME not to retract. If she wants to look at it, I plan on saying, "He's not yet retractile at all, and I don't want for you to try to manipulate his foreskin in any way. If you feel you would like to do a culture, please do so, but without retracting."
Do I have this all right? Anything to add? Any bases I haven't covered? I'M FREAKING WORRIED!!!
