Testicles not down yet... help!!

[pandaiis]

Ds is nearly a year and at his check-up with the ped we were told his testicles still haven't come down. They are there but haven't gone into his scrotum yet. She is going to refer him to the hospital doc and said it may either be a wait and see approach or operation. Has anyone else had this with their child?? Did they eventually come down on their own or did they have to have the op?? Very worried about the little man having to go under the knife..

[toddlerhip]

We had this. Were told that if not down by a year unlikely to come down alone. Op requires gen anaesthetic but not overnight stay. Around a year is a good time as they tolerate the op very well. Our ds did - a couple of hours after the op you wouldn't know from his behaviour what had happened. He wanted to go straight back to playing almost as soon as he was round. No problems whatsoever. Watching him go under the anaesthetic was the worst bit - there is a thread around about babies / toddlers and GA. They breathe in anaesthetic gas as opposed to injection, can't remember why but it all happens in seconds. At 20mths the problem testicle is now visible but it has taken this time to grow to catch up with the other one. Op is necessary as can become cancerous later on if not treated.

[SqueakyPop]

My DS saw a surgeon about about 3 months than again when he was about 2. He had them brought down surgically when he was 2 and a quarter.

[NorthernNell]

My DS now 11 we only discovered undescended testicle 3 months ago! He's having the op in 2 weeks, has anyone any experiance of an older boy having this done? He's not settling very well at new secondary school wondering if it worry that's the problem!..Kids!

[pandaiis]

Thanks for the replies. They first noticed it at his 3 month check but as he was prem they thought that it might just have taken a bit of time but obviously not.

That's a relief that it's no overnight stay toddlerhip as it implies it's not a biggie operation. I spent a month up and down to scbu to see him when he was born and I was dreading having to see him in hospital again. I vaguely remember getting the ga when I had my tonsills out as a kid so I'll have a look at that thread. I honestly didn't know it could turn cancerous.

Is there any aftercare you have to give after the op or is it all over and done with? Was your ds in any pain in the days after?

[SqueakyPop]

We arrived in hospital probably around 7am (it's a while ago, so not sure of all the details now). He was seen by the anaesthetist (who decided he didn't need a pre-med) and the surgeon. We took him into theatre at around 8.30am and stayed with him until he was under, then went back to wait in DS's room.

We were expecting the op to take about 45 minutes, but it took a bit longer - over an hour. It was more complicated than first thought (the surgeon had to stitch the testes into the scrotum which isn't typical).

The nurse told us when the op was over, but it was a while before we could see him as he was in recovery. Back in his room, he slept the whole day, waking up in a very cranky mood around 4pm. He was forced nibbled some toast and had Calpol for pain relief. We took him home around 6.30pm and he slept on the couch for the evening, before being put down to bed.

Next day he was absolutely fine. His dressings, iirc, were just some large pieces of clear tape, and his nappy. We must have had some instructions about removing them, but I can't recall them now. We didn't have to go back for a checkup - just to check ourselves that his jewels were still there when he had a bath over the following months.

The only post-op pain relief was Calpol and I think even then we only gave it to him for a day or two.

He was left with two little scars, which I imagine are well hidden now.

[mehgalegs]

I have four boys DS1, DS2 and DS3 all had retractile testicles (sometimes down sometmes not)DS2's came down and stayed put when he was 4

DS1 and DS4 had the op to bring them down and stitch in place (ds 4 also had further surgery as he had a problem with his willy too - he stayed overnight)

DS1 had his op at age 7. Day patient and one day of real discomfort. after that pain was controlled with Calpol and Nurofen. He was abck at school a week later although no pe, swimming bikes etc for 6 weeks.

[pandaiis]

Thank you for the details. It's really put my mind at ease as from what you have told me, it sounds like a worse op than it actually is.