[orapunzel]

[After my long intro, my real questions are below and I've got an appt with the Ped for DS2 at 230pm EDT today - help!]

I've just read through the "A Warning For Parents of Intact Sons" thread. My eldest was circ'd and boy do I ever regret it!!! After the circ, his foreskin kept re-adhering and the ped kept pulling it back and instructing me to do the same... my poor baby had SUCH pain as result of this until a specialist finally said "no, don't let them do that anymore". Ugh, it can still bring tears to my eyes to think about it.

Anyway, after some fighting with my DH (who even after we "agreed" to not circ our 2nd child), he tried to say "yes" to circ while I was in HARD LABOR, transition really. I was in the middle of an awfully painful contraction when I worked up the umf to yell out, "NO!" And that was that.

So... he's intact. THANK GOD.

However, I have to take him to the doctor today b/c he's been crying at night and I wonder if he's got either (a) a UTI [no pus or discharge though] or (b) something else going on.

He's had some rough nights the past week or so. Occassionally, he's been grabbing at his groin and crying. Then later when I take a look again, he's fine. I've been mystified. No redness (till yesterday) and no funky smelling pee (that I can tell). But he hasn't been going quite as often and is now holding his pee until morning whereas before this, he would urinate during the night and have a full diapy in the morn. Now, he quite often urinates little during the night and urinates once he's fully awake and has been for a while.

He does not have a problem with urinating in general as I take his diaper off and let him urinate on a towel while his bath is filling up. (It's the only way I can observe his stream, which is strong and just fine. No splits.)

Then yesterday, he had a BM that was a little acidy as it irritated his crease of his bum and the crease (V-fashion) under his scrotum ... and the tip of his penis was red. I thought that perhaps it just due to the BM. So, I cleaned him up and applied CA baby diaper creme (other cremes make him cry) to all areas. Later just before bed when I examined him during the diaper change, he got an erection and cried heartily. So, then I wondered if perhaps his erection was pushing against his foreskin and causing it to retract a bit?

This morning, it does look like a bit of it pull away as evidenced by the skin irritation that looks similar to the skin irritation DS1 had when they'd retract him forcibly.

So... I'm confused and a bit worried on two fronts (a) what's wrong with my boy; and (b) is the doc going to try to retract him. If he did, I'd have to restrain myself from not punching him in to next week!

*hyperventilates*

Help! Anyone have some good suggestions for either scenario?

 

[orapunzel]

Btw... would it help to post who his Ped is to see if anyone else knows if he's a retraction happy dude? (I know he's anti-vax "friendly" and that's why we see him but not sure about this topic.)

 

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

First thing to do is tell the ped before the diaper even comes off that he is not to in any form pull back on the foreskin. Some dr hear retraction and think it means all the way. It dosnt any pulling back is retraction.

Print out the Intact Care Agreement http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/care.html hand it to him and talk about it along with the AAP Intact Care Guide.

Stand as close as you can so that you can stop him if it even looks remotely like he is going to try to pull the foreskin back. If you can hold your son in your lap during the exam that will make it easier to protect him.

I know it can be hard to express yourself to a Dr I have been there many times. From your description it could be that the foreskin has seperated a bit causing pain but if that is the case it should only stay irritated for at most 48 hours then get better. Another possibility is that he has a food allergy to something. The sore bumm after eating a certain thing is a sure sign and the red will often spread up to the scrotom and the tip of the penis if it comes into contact with it. Or even just peeing out the allergin.

I hope you get some answers. And remember even if they want to do a cath they do not need to retract to do so. Ask if they will do a baggy catch first. If that shows bacteria then go with the cath. But it honestly dosnt sound like UTI symptoms to me. Really sounds like natural retraction and/or a allergy.

 

[pdx.mothernurture]

One reason boys may not pee until morning is because nighttime erections are common and make it difficult to pee. This natural tendency can even aid in potty training, since waking up dry is an accomplishment!

These erections can also stretch the foreskin and help to naturally separate the foreskin from the glans over time. Sometimes, this seems to result in temporary discomfort/irritation. This might be what's happening with your son.

It doesn't sound like he's experiencing any symptoms of infection, like skin that's red and hot to the touch, a foul-smelling discharge, or a fever. If you do decide to take him in I would absolutely bring an INTACT CARE AGREEMENT along with you, and tell the doctor you do not want his foreskin manipulated or retracted at all during examination.

Jen

 

[orapunzel]

Thank you so much for the quick replies!

Now, I'm wondering if I jumped the gun too soon. (Part of it is that Friday thing... you skip it and then things always seem to happen at night or on weekends, ykwim?)

No other signs of infection other than the redness at the tip which leads me to believe that it is the erection stretching the foreskin. Gosh, our poor boys have to go through so much!

 

[pdx.mothernurture]

Quote:

Originally Posted by orapunzel No other signs of infection other than the redness at the tip which leads me to believe that it is the erection stretching the foreskin.

I just wanted to also mention that the 'pucker' at the tip of my son's foreskin is always kind of reddish. The foreskin is tubular/double-layered, and the inner skin is brighter on some. So, for some it's a sign of mild irritation and for others it's a perfectly normal skin color variation.

Hope your lil' guy is feeling better soon.

(((Hugs)))

Jen

 

[jessjgh1]

Another thing is that enough people here have posted similar problems for their circumcised sons-- I think it may be that erections are occasionally uncomfy- especially at night-- and not necessarily anything to do with the fact that he is intact.

HTH

Jessica

 

[bugmenot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdx.mothernurture These erections can also stretch the foreskin and help to naturally separate the foreskin from the glans over time. Sometimes, this seems to result in temporary discomfort/irritation. This might be what's happening with your son.

Here's another reason NOT to circumcise. The added skin slides down, and during some erections, the glans might actually pop out of the foreskin. Imagine that pulling/stretching if there was no foreskin to slide down.

The tighter the circ, the greater the tendency to hurt.

Just wear a friggin' condom and don't worry. If FGM is illegal, why isn't MGM? ARGH

 

[frenchie]

If he wakes in the middle of the night crying and touching his groin, take him to the bathroom to pee. My son does this if he doesn't pee before bed. Sometimes he'll complain of pain in his penis while peeing, which leads me to believe that he held the pee in too long....so I always try to make sure he pees before bed. Sounds to me like he's ready to learn how to use the potty. Some naked time every day will give him more penis tugging time, which helps with the foreskin seperation.....that redness wil go away.

 

[orapunzel]

An update:

I ended up canceling the doctor's appointment and went with my initial gut instinct... especially after reading your replies posted here. As it turns out, it was just a bit of foreskin separation. The redness and discomfort was much better by Saturday and disappeared completely by Monday. So, that saved me $$ at the doc's ofc and a big hassle and possibly saved my precious baby boy from a painful, un-necessary retraction. Yay!!!

Thanks to all who replied!!!

You really helped!!!

 

[babygrant]

Glad to hear all the worry was for nothing!

 

[Leiahs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdx.mothernurture One reason boys may not pee until morning is because nighttime erections are common and make it difficult to pee. This natural tendency can even aid in potty training, since waking up dry is an accomplishment!

A little off-topic but had to say thank you for posting this! I have been amazed for months and months that my son somehow manages to stay dry alllll night long!

OP: glad your son seems to be doing better!