ds (8m) testicle not descended and consultant says definately requires surgery. anyone got experience of their ds's hav ing this op?

[yousaidit]

feel awful knowing poor ds is going to have his delicate area proddled with! can anyone give me happy storie about this op?

thankyou!

[DLI]

yes, my ds had to have the operation. from what i can remember it was a day job, they made a little incision and and pulled it down so it was in the right place, they then stitched it in place and that was it. i don't think he has any scarring from it (he's now nearly 6) and it didn't bother him at all.

[babypringle]

I'll be watching this with interest ... DS2 - 14wks- has an undescended testical. We're waiting for a hosp appt but I'm dreading the thought of an op.

[frogs]

My ds had it when he was 16 months. It really is very minor, they do it as a day case. They do one tiny incision in the scrotum and in ds's case one equally tiny incision in a skin fold in the groin. Both are now invisible.

Afterwards you keep him in a v. loose nappy for a few days, and keep him dosed up with nurofen and calpol. We honestly had no probs at all.

It's v. v. important to get it done at the recommended time, as the longer the testicle stays in the abdomen the greater the risk of testicular cancer in later life.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

Second opinion?

We were told DS1's hadn't decended, I was all upset, demanded that DH come with us when we got a hospital appointment.

1 minute, a doctor with warm hands and no op needed.

[babypringle]

fab - we have the opposite problem. Paeditrician noticed the prob at approx 4wks when ds2 was getting jaundice checked out, and showed us that the missing ball has 'overshot' into the skin to the side of the testical. GP won't believe us, keeps sending us away to look for missing ball in a warm bath.

frogs - what is the recommended age for treatment??

[frogs]

As far as I recall, and bear in mind ds's was done about 8 years ago, in principle the earlier it's done, the better in terms of reducing cancer risk.

BUT there is a trade-off insasmuch as a proportion of errant testicles will come down by themselves, so postponing for a bit will avoid the need for surgery in a certain number of cases.

IIRC we were told that they monitor from whatever age it's noticed until 12-14 months, and assume that if it hasn't come down on its own by that age then they would move to surgery.

Do check what current protocols are, but that was my understanding of what we were told.

hth

[babypringle]

thanks frogs, that is really helpful. Time to harrass my GP!

[cookielove]

my bosses child had the operation, they recommend it happens before age two i believe she said but he actually had it done over 2 and he was meant to be off nursery for two weeks, although he only had one off as he was absolutly fine, when he had a nappy change he was slightly sensitive but he would quite happily ride bikes without any discomfort

[BCNS]

DS2 had his done ( again 8 years ago now).. when he was just 2.

done in a day and a couple of weeks going careful of ride on toys. (ouch)

we we're told the same as frogs.. if it's not down by then.. it isn't coming down. .. but remember this was 8 years ago .

ds2 was very bouncey after he had it done.. which was a bit of a nightmare.. as we were telling him to go careful the whole time.

[yousaidit]

thanks everyone

the consultant was very manipulative with ds's plums, and explained that one is trapped in the canal about 2 inch above where it should be, so sadly the warm hands approach isn't going to work, yet ds didn't mind his one available plum being lugged about!!!

[WhoDidThat]

My dh had this done 20 years ago when he was 13. Done as a day case, recovered quickly and never had any probs since. And now you would never know anything had been amiss. He can still remember it, but admits it wasn't really that big a deal.

[serenity]

DS1 (now 11) had it done when he was 11 months. It was fine, he was slightly grumpy afterwards but I think that was down to the GA, and he was back to normal within an hour or so of waking. Last time I looked the scars were barely noticable - couldn't find the one on his testicle and the other was practically invisible (this was a few years ago, he's a bit old to do that now!)

Worst bit was when he had the GA, but that was bad for me not him (PFB being put under = overwrought, weepy mother )

[yousaidit]

serenity , i have solved the issue of me being traumatised mum sobbing hysterically and snivelling snot and getting red golf ball eyes by telling dh he has to take ds and i shall sit at home and chew off all fingernails. i had to admit defeat and think it would probably be better for ds to come round to a cheery person and not an unhinged mum!

[fizzyanddizzy]

Our DS1 had the operation when he was about 2 1/2 (this was done a couple of years ago). Had to be done at Gt Ormond Street due to a pre-existing heart condition but was still done as a day case and he was absolutely fine. Dont think it bothered him afterwards either.

He had to have an ultrasound to try and find it beforehand. The GA was definately the worst bit for everyone and to be honest I think it traumatised DS1 for quite a while afterwards - so that part may need to be handled carefully.

He had a check up last year and they now dont want to see him till he hits puberty.