How to explain a hydrocele to 5yo DS?

[Wailywailywaily]

DS is having it operated on in the next few weeks. We have been waiting for this op for 2 years and in that time we have never once mentioned to DS that he is a bit one sided in the scrotal department and he has never mentioned it either, he is only 5 so why would it bother him?!

So now I have been trying to prepare him for his upcoming op by explaining that there is something wrong with his scrotum in that it is full of water on one side and that is making it look very lopsided. He did a bit of self examination and agreed with me now he wants to know where the water is coming from and how will the surgery stop it? I'm struggling to be accurate but at the same time explain it so that he will understand and also so that I don't scare the bejesus out of him (he has a wild imagination so he needs to understand or he will just imagine all sorts to fill in the gaps).

His last trip to hospital was not the highlight of his little life I would realy like to avoid a repeat.

Any suggestions?

DS had the op last year and I just told him that they were going to make a little cut so they could block where the fluid was coming from. I just kept it really simple.

The scar is tiny on his lower abdomen and the whole thing was really simple

Thanks, I did wonder where the cut would be. I have tried to explain about a cut to stop the fluid but he went a bit pale and replied that he didn't think that would work as the water would just dribble down his leg so then I had to explain that the cut would be closed and was only so that the Dr could close the hole on the inside.

Ds was 6 when he had his done. I just said there was a tube inside that needed closed. He seemed to accept that. He asked how they'd get in to do it I said just a little cut but they used special medicine etc so it wouldn't hurt.

Fwiw Ds was in a lot of pain when he came round but this was because the local they'd given him when under GA hadn't worked (as I'd told them it wouldn't due to existing condition) but morpheine sorted that and then after that he had calpol that night but was fine the next day. He was sore if he stood too long or walked too far but he basically just stayed in the house the first week. He went back to school after 7 days.

The scar is really low and just sort of in the crease when he sits down at bottom of stomach / top of groin. It's barely noticeable but looked horrible at first!! It was about 1.5inches across.