PLEASE I need help ASAP (infection)

1064 Views 20 Replies 17 Participants Last post by bamamom, Mar 11, 2007

snugglebug14

Discussion Starter · Mar 6, 2007

Back in november Ds (2) had an infection in his foreskin (hes uncircumcised). we ended up taking him to the er bc he couldn't/wouldn't pee. Anyways, they put him on antibiotics and recommended circumcision. we followed up with the ped and he said the infection was clearing so no need for circumcision.

Well last night dh was changing ds' diaper and notcied his penis was swollen (more at the base it seemed than the tip). it didn't hurt ds at all so we decided to see what it looked like in the morning. this morning ds said it hurt to pee and it looked like there was some pus in his diaper.

We took him to the ped who sent us to a urologist to make sure it wasn't anything serious or urgent. The urologist was HORRIBLE. He was the coldest most uncaring and unsympathetic person I have ever met. I was in tears in the office and he didn't even care! He gave us a scrip for an antibiotic cream and told us we needed to get him circumcised within the next couple of weeks. He said that the foreskin is too tight which means he can't pee properly and will continue to get infections. He says the only options are circumsion or a second opinion from another dr (we opted for the 2nd opinion). I'm just so upset....I don't want my son to undergo general anesthesia. I don't want someone mutilating his penis. I don't think it's the only option so I need some help and good resources.

-How can I prevent future infections?
-How can I clear this infection?
-Is circumcision necesary?
-I don't want him forcibly retracted and I know the opening in the foreskin will stretch as he gets older but the urologist seems to think that the tightness is causing the infection (my son has no problem peeing btw). Are there other ways to help tight foreskin without damaging my son?
-Fortunately the ped doesn't seem to think he needs to be circumcised and fully supports a second opinion. But, I wish I could jsut deal with this sort of thing at home because my experience with the dr's has been traumatic! People are so insensitive, they think circumcision is the norm and that I'm crazy for not doing it! No a "normal" penis is one that is just as it was created...INTACT!

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1 - 20 of 21 Posts

jamesong5

· #2 · Mar 6, 2007

I don't know the name of the steroid cream but I know there is some type you can get for tight foreskin. Please find a more foreskin friendly DR it's worth it to get the right help. That DR sounds like an a$$ and I wouldn't let him touch my DS.

JMO

Tina

sophiekat

· #3 · Mar 6, 2007

frankly, i wish we had the "red, swollen, or inflamed foreskin" sticky back -- it addresses your concerns spot on and would give you lots of reassurance.
let me see if i can help:
*the chances of your son actually needing to be circ'ed are slim to none. there are many other options you have first.
*did the doc or ER do a culture to see what kind of infection your son has? he can be treated with antifungals if it is yeast, or antibiotics, etc. did they check to see if its a UTI or localised to the foreskin? i think that would be your first step -- figure out what kind of infection it is, and treat it accordingly.

please look at this article: http://changa.org/circumcision/ i think it may address many of your questions.

hope this helps.

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MommytoB

· #4 · Mar 6, 2007

Where do you live ? Plus, check the cream to make sure there is no neomycin the same ingredient that neosporion has in it can cause issues like swelling.

Any chance he was prematurely retracted by someone ? I would not use a 'steriod cream' but what color was the pus ?

I would definetly do baking soda baths - i heard that help with infections- any chance of that the pus just being smegma my son's penis sometimes looks a bit swollen at time that is at times being too squished up in his dippy . he does have the lil white crystals -which is normal for boys to get while wearing disposables. he gets them on his butt too

dynamohumm6

· #5 · Mar 6, 2007

The only true needs for circumcision are frostbite, gangrene, and cancer.

So you don't need to worry that he "NEEDS" a circumcision. Certain doctors may WANT to do the circumcision because that's the lazy way out, and the only way they know to treat a foreskin is to cut it off. But they're wrong.

As sophiekat mentioned, did the dr bother to do a culture, or did he just write up an antibiotics prescription? The antibiotics could just prove to make thing worse.

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Quirky

· #6 · Mar 7, 2007

It could just be separation trauma. What color was the pus? Is there a reason to think it's an actual infection as opposed to smegma/sloughed-off skin cells coming out? (i.e. is the discharge a yucky color like green?)

I would either a) get your ped to culture the discharge by swabbing just the end of the foreskin with a swab and growing it out, or b) just wait and see if your son has any issues.

It can often hurt to pee during separation because a little raw spot may be left where an adhesion has separated. Think of having a paper cut on your labia.

Odds are it will feel better in a day or two. If he's really in discomfort peeing, you can let him pee in a cup of warm water or pour water on him while he's peeing to dilute the urine and make it sting less.

Here's some more info for you: http://changa.org/circumcision/

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glongley

· #7 · Mar 7, 2007

An important article to read for when doctors suggest that a boy "needs" to be circumcised. And why it's almost never true.

http://www.mothering.com/articles/ne...uncircson.html

Gillian

jessjgh1

· #8 · Mar 7, 2007

Kristen,
((Hugs)) I wouldn't trust that doctor at all, just based on the fact that you wrote this:

Quote:

He was the coldest most uncaring and unsympathetic person I have ever met

Are you close to Boston area ( saw your post on the MA board)? I was in touch wth the NOCirc Boston coordnator and I believe he had a few doctors on a list that they were developing.

At the very least it sounds like he is peeing just fine and no rash decsion has to be made just yet.

Jessica

eepster

· #9 · Mar 7, 2007

3

Sorry no info to add, but

that Dr sounds like a real

. I bet he really scared your DS

.

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snugglebug14

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 7, 2007

our pediatrician has been really great through all of this. he totally thinks we should wait and get a few second opinions before making a decision about circumcising him. it was the urologist we were referred to that was an a$$.

The pus is kinda light yellowish-greenish which makes me think it is actually an infection but I don't know. Back in november it definately seemed infected based on looks, how it progressed and how ds was acting. this i think could be seperation trauma or something else becuase ds isn't acting sick, doesn't have a fever and although the shaft is swollen (and the tip a little bit) it doesn't seem infected the way it did last time.

After searching these boards and reading some other stuff online I feel much better right now. I was so upset in the office because the urologist made it sound like it was a medical necessity that he be circumcised and that was scary. I am now realizing that he will be fine.

What can I do in terms of hygene to keep him from getting infections in the future? Thanks

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l_olive

· #11 · Mar 7, 2007

I get so blasted angry when I read about all these horrid, moronic doctors out there, I just want to screammmmmmm!!!

Anyway, what your son is going through sounds so familiar to me. Just about a month ago, my son's penis started the separation process. See if any of this rings true to you.

When he would urinate, a balloon would form at the base of one side of his foreskin. It got to be pretty large and scary-looking. My son cried that it hurt, and he was more than a little freaked out about how it looked. Awhile later, a decent amount of slightly smelly "pus" leaked out into his underwear, but the balloon was gone and he was comfortable again.

After panicking a little, I realized that what was going on was EXACTLY what I had read about in the information the site that Quirky linked you to at http://changa.org/circumcision/ . Frankly speaking, this is the best document for the parents of intact sons that I have ever read.

What was going on was that his foreskin had started to separate from his penis. As the adhesions loosened, the skin on his penis underneath was a little raw and stung when the urine gets on it. That urine, temporarily trapped in the balloon, washes out the cells that are sloughed off, and can look a little like pus or small "pearls" of smegma. This is completely normal and NOT an infection.

The whole thing cleared itself up in under two days. He still gets a little balloon sometimes, but it doesn't hurt anymore. I expect that we'll have the same thing happen again as another place on his penis loosens, but I won't panic this time!!

Please read the information posted, and stick to what you know is right!!! Power to the momma!! And please post an update for us. I'm starting to get so depressed reading this forum sometime that any positive word will help.

--Olive

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Fi.

· #12 · Mar 7, 2007

Quote:

I don't know the name of the steroid cream but I know there is some type you can get for tight foreskin.

That's only for adults. Kids are SUPPOSED to have tight foreskins.

trmpetplaya

· #13 · Mar 7, 2007

2

Get a culture for the possible infection. If it's yeast then he definitely does NOT need abx... and don't worry about your ds NEEDING a circumcision because he absolutely doesn't

I'm sorry that you're having to deal with all this pressure... as long as your ds can pee then his foreskin is NOT too tight.

love and peace.

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MCatLvrMom2A&X

· #14 · Mar 7, 2007

Quote:

What can I do in terms of hygene to keep him from getting infections in the future?

Make 100% sure that no one but your ds is the only one that ever pulls the foreskin back even a tiny bit. Dont give him baths were he is sitting in soapy water save the soap for last and rinse well. No bubble baths for sure.

Any time there is a suspected infection insist on a culture. They should swab the very tip of the foreskin only NO retraction and see if anything grows so that it can be treated. If you give abx for a yeast infection you will make the yeast worse. If you use yeast med on a bacterial infection it wont do anything to fix it.

Smegma can have a greenish tinge so that color alone wouldnt say infection to me. The redness and irritation could be signs of one tho. So take him to his reg. ped and ask for a culture if he wont do one he isnt much of a ped. insist on it. If he refuses then find someone who will do one.

The opening of the foreskin should be small. Pin size is normal as long as the stream is good then it is not a issue. I dont know if he balloons or not but that is normal as well.

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Cheshire

· #15 · Mar 8, 2007

I_Olive and others thanks for the great link!!!!

Snugglebug14, now you are armed with valuable information and you should print some out and mail it to the urologist. Tell him his schooling is behind the times and he should really get himself some up-to-date training.

Be sure your pedi doesn't refer anyone else to that urologist and copy him on the letter you send. The urologist will only change his ways if he realizes he is going to lose patients.

Hugs to you and your son. Sounds like you are fighting an infection that probably didn't clear up in the first place. In addition to having your doc do a culture to make sure it is bacterial and then getting you the appropriate medicine, give your son lots of cranberry juice.

A great lesson for all mommies of intact boys. Never, ever let a doc tell you your son needs a circumcision. Ask the doc how they would treat the case if you had brought in a little girl with the same symptoms? Then politely explain that you know better and that there are many more humane and safe options to treat an infection or a "tight" foreskin and if the doc isn't able to help you then he can refer you to a urologist who knows how to treat intact boys.

I'm really grateful our ped's office understands. I had to call the nurse once because our son complained of redness, swelling and pain. She asked a few questions and said it was probably a yeast infection, told me to use an OTC cream for it and if it didn't clear up then to call them back.

Good think your pedi is on your side.

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snugglebug14

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 8, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheshire

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A great lesson for all mommies of intact boys. Never, ever let a doc tell you your son needs a circumcision. Ask the doc how they would treat the case if you had brought in a little girl with the same symptoms? Then politely explain that you know better and that there are many more humane and safe options to treat an infection or a "tight" foreskin and if the doc isn't able to help you then he can refer you to a urologist who knows how to treat intact boys.

That was what got me the most at the urologist's office. When I asked what our other options are he said "you can get a second opinion" (in the most arrogant voice possible). There is not a single medical problem that only has ONE solution, so you can't tell me that's the case here.

Anyways...update on DS...this morning (36 hours after we first noticed the swelling) he looked almost completely better. Even last night he started peeing in the potty (for the first time) and wasn't complaining about pain at all. I really think it may have jsut been seperation bc there's no way the antibiotics would have done anything for it that quick. Thanks to everyone who offered advice.

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l_olive

· #17 · Mar 8, 2007

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by snugglebug14

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Anyways...update on DS...this morning (36 hours after we first noticed the swelling) he looked almost completely better. Even last night he started peeing in the potty (for the first time) and wasn't complaining about pain at all. I really think it may have jsut been seperation bc there's no way the antibiotics would have done anything for it that quick. Thanks to everyone who offered advice.

Thanks so much for updating!!! And I'm happy for you both that it's such good news.

:

--Olive

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hummingbear

· #18 · Mar 8, 2007

2

oh me oh my

I have heard the WORST stories from mothers who have seen a urologist!

Glad to hear he is doing better and that you found some information to ease your mind here.

FYI My sister's son had a UTI and circumcision was one of the first things they recommended. Thankfully neither my sister or her partner would even consider such a thing unless it would truely save their son's life. They started Elimination Communication to keep exposure to feces minimal. It turns out that eventually he needed surgery to correct an internal abnnormality. Even with a history of a forced retraction by an ER nurse

a UTI and an abnormality of his urinary system and urinary reflux they kept him infection free.

So more investigation on your part may be prudent but I would stand strong to remind doctors that they are in your service and that means to work with you to find an agreeable solution.

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Cheshire

· #19 · Mar 8, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by snugglebug14

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That was what got me the most at the urologist's office. When I asked what our other options are he said "you can get a second opinion" (in the most arrogant voice possible). There is not a single medical problem that only has ONE solution, so you can't tell me that's the case here.

Great news that your son is feeling better. I think antibiotics can start to clear things up within 24 hours???

And, from the info above, all the more reason to write your pedi and cc the urologist. Explain to the pedi that the urologist, for a simple infection, recommended surgery under a general for a two year old. When you asked what other options were available before resorting to surgery he had none except to seek a second opinion.

Maybe he needs to be reminded that his first duty is to do no harm?

Hugs to you guys, I'm so glad things are well!

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Daisyuk

· #20 · Mar 9, 2007

:

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