My DS has problems with his tackle, it is swollen and sore?

[twinklingfairy]

His foreskin does not cover the tip of his penis and is top heavy. I say this straight out because the doctor blames this as his problem. DH has the same 'problem' but his mother never had any issues.
DS has had ballinitis twice, just recovered from his second. But in the past week he has had water blisters on each part of his tackle and now has an extremely swollen foreskin which he squirms like billy o to stop me from cleaning. Clearly it is painful for him. His sleep has been disturbed by it all.
But all the doc does is smile the smile they smile to the neurotic mothers, barley glancing at DS bits, sending me home with cream.
Where do I go from here?
Both docs in my practice are equally as nice but no use.

[Cadelaide]

Your poor DS.

DP was circumcised for this when he was about 5, but I understand they're far more reluctant to go down that route nowadays as it often rights itself as they grow.

I think you have to make a pain of yourself and just keep going back. My sister is a medical receptionist, she advises me to exaggerate all symptoms.

[twinklingfairy]

I went to A&E this afternoon cos I didn't want to go to my doc and his poor wee testies were actually bleeding.
They sent me to my doc.
Didn't even look at him, just sent a nurse out to send me away

But I got the other doc, at the practice, and she couldn't have been nicer.
She gave me more antibiotics, a different cream and told me to put him in paper nappies.
I don't like paper nappies, but if it is better for keeping him all nice and dry until this clears up, then I guess I will do as I am told.

[ReneRusso]

I am . How long has this been going on? I think you should demand referral to a specialist. If you have to exaggerate then do so, tell them he cries all the time and can't sleep at night.

[twinklingfairy]

Months!
I tried to do that today but then they say surgery and I am not sure I want to go there if I can help it.
Don't know why, but I just Don't want him to lose his foreskin
We have a paediatrician assigned to us (DS was a premmie) but she is just as vague.
I love where I come from but my bro says you come here and you have to accept that you are on 'island time' now. For the most part I love living in island time but not when it comes to my childrens health.

Why does seeing a specialist automatically mean surgery??
Why can't they just give him the right drugs/creams and tell me how to deal with it istead of just saying 'oh he has an odd looking willy, I am sure that is the main problem and we won't take it away until he is at least 3'
Idon't want it taken away, I want them to help him to live comfortably.
If DHs was/is just like it and his mother used cloth nappies (that being the only option at that point) how come his foreskin wasn't chopped off.
Therefore what is good enough for DH is good enough for DS.

Why is it automatic that it should be removed.
My rant is not aimed at anyone in particular just an airing of my frustration.

[ABetaDad]

twinklingfairy - your DS has had balinitis twice and sounds like he still have it now. My Ds had it frequently and has been circumcised recently.

Totally agree the and what ReneRusso said. You must get it treated and you _must get a second opinion and get an appointment to see a proper specialist. It will very likely keep recurring and could lead to scarring of the head of his penis (glans) and sexual relationship problems in later life as well as a lot of pain.

Your GP is fobbing you off. Your DS is in pain now as he penis is likely swollen with puss and passing water will be very very painful.

[twinklingfairy]

Doc said she could not take a swab because, essentially, the area was dry.
So I don't think there is any puss.
God, I forget now what the balinitis looked like to begin with.
Does he still have it now, I am not sure.

I don't think it has got to the level of hurting when peeing.
He was nappy free today and was happily fascinated by the fact that he was peeing onto the floor. Even stopped and started a couple of times whilst checking to see if I was watching, was funny.

OMG how did it get to be so late.
I must go to bed.
DS will undoubtedly be up as soon as my head hits the pillow and I am going to have to get him changed into a paper nappy when he does.

[ABetaDad]

twinkling - here was no apparent pus with DS2 either until his penis ruptured into his urethra and a huge mount of pus dripped out of the end. Just before that happened his penis felt solid in one place where the pus was building up in the tissue. He was in pain urinating afterwards rather than before. The swab for DS2 also showed nothing until it ruptured.

The description you gave reminded me so much of exactly how DS2 looked and behaved: "and now has an extremely swollen foreskin which he squirms like billy to to stop me from cleaning."

We went through exactly what you are going through. It was like a boil repeatedly building up in the body of DS2s penis.
Repeated antbiotics for the first 6 years of his life with periodic infection. It eventually resulted in a long standing bladder infection too.

Your DS may well be getting better (and should be) now you have got some antibiotics as was always the case with DS2 but the problem is that it kept returning. Our first GP was like your first GP but we eventually got to one who took it seriously and DS2 was referred to a urologist who was great.

Hope it all turns out well and does not recurr but if it does not then you may well need to seek more expert opinion.

[twinklingfairy]

It has all calmed down dramatically since yesterday.
I have him out of his cloth nappies and into paper. He is taking his antibiotics and has been given caneston instead of Daktoran (sorry I am sure that is not quite the correct name).
I have an appointment to see the doc again on Tuesday so she can see how things are going. I will ask about a urologist then.
As I say, all they ever say is 'surgery' whenever I say specialist. It is good to have another title to try to demand.

His penis itself looks ok, it is the foreskin that looks awful.
Mind you, that is at the moment.
The balinitis is back, not as bad as it has been, but there.
God, it is scary.
I am a little uncertain as to where I should go from here.
The doctor seemed to be helpful and understanding but I don't want to slip back, and become complacant to see what happens if it could be a long standing bladder infection

6 years is a long time to have been going through this
We are already on the books to see someone, when he is about 3, about his top heavy foreskin. So, at least I know someone will do something by the time he is 3, at least.
As regards the dreaded surgery, they won't do anything before then anyway, but at least I won't simply join a list at age 3, I am already booked in IYSWIM.

[twinklingfairy]

The appointment went well.
He is amazingly better.
It all looks, almost, as good as new

Went to the doc and she was talking about writing to the specialist, so that was good.
But I said that teh specialist had already told us that she would not do anything until DS was 3.
So we discussed the problem and I have decided that I would like to try to rule out a few things of my own (re my reusable nappies) before I go racing around the country to see specialists.

The very second it flares up, and I feel that I have done my level best to prevent it all to no avail, I will be chasing to see a specialist.
But I am much happier with the whole situation. In particular with my doctor.
I feel that she is really taking the matter seriously now and listening to what I have to say and how I feel about everything connected to my DS care.

Thank you so much everyone for your support.
What I would do without MN to keep me sane, I don't know