I am really upset. Just took my intact son to an urgent care clinic (ZoomCare) because he doesn't currently have insurance. I applied through the state in June, and we are still waiting. It's really upsetting to not be able to go to our regular, trusted pediatrician!
He had some pain in his penis to the point that he was crying. I thought maybe he had a UTI. The doctor (a PA) took a urine sample and then did a visual exam.
My son (age 9) is extremely upset about having anyone look at his private area, so he was refusing to take down his pants for about 15 minutes, so I got distracted trying to get him to cooperate. I had meant to ask her if he could retract it himself so he would pull it back as far as it would go naturally (so far it only retracts so the very tip will show, but that's it), but I got focused on getting him to cooperate and forgot. She pulled the skin back under a paper sheet, so I didn't see how far, but he started crying. I figured it was because he had some infection/irritation. (This has been an ongoing problem since he doesn't always wash the area in the bath like he should.) However, on the way home, he said, "She pulled it back SO FAR and it HURT!" and has been crying since he got home. I had no idea this had happened! I feel so awful! Now he's saying it hurts worse than it did before we went to the doctor!
During the visit, she said it was unusual that it didn't retract yet, and I asked her at what age it should retract, and she said she didn't really know! I'd read about this earlier, but didn't remember the age. I just remembered it was something I shouldn't really worry about as long as things aren't infected or otherwise a problem.
So what should I do? Is he permanently damaged? I am so upset! Can I do anything to help him heal and prevent infection? I feel so horrible!
He had some pain in his penis to the point that he was crying. I thought maybe he had a UTI. The doctor (a PA) took a urine sample and then did a visual exam.
My son (age 9) is extremely upset about having anyone look at his private area, so he was refusing to take down his pants for about 15 minutes, so I got distracted trying to get him to cooperate. I had meant to ask her if he could retract it himself so he would pull it back as far as it would go naturally (so far it only retracts so the very tip will show, but that's it), but I got focused on getting him to cooperate and forgot. She pulled the skin back under a paper sheet, so I didn't see how far, but he started crying. I figured it was because he had some infection/irritation. (This has been an ongoing problem since he doesn't always wash the area in the bath like he should.) However, on the way home, he said, "She pulled it back SO FAR and it HURT!" and has been crying since he got home. I had no idea this had happened! I feel so awful! Now he's saying it hurts worse than it did before we went to the doctor!
During the visit, she said it was unusual that it didn't retract yet, and I asked her at what age it should retract, and she said she didn't really know! I'd read about this earlier, but didn't remember the age. I just remembered it was something I shouldn't really worry about as long as things aren't infected or otherwise a problem.
So what should I do? Is he permanently damaged? I am so upset! Can I do anything to help him heal and prevent infection? I feel so horrible!