Private Hypospadias repair?

[WildOnce]

Has anyone gone private for this? My DS 10 months has severe chordee which cannot be left but the wait time would put him out of the ideal window for an operation so I’m
considering our options. Would be very grateful to hear of experiences.

My son had this done privately at the Portland hospital in London when he was a baby. He's 17 now so I can't remember all the details but it all went very smoothly and I stayed overnight in a private room with him afterwards. Follow up appointments afterwards were all fine, although he was in some pain after the dressing was removed. No issues at all since the operation and its all fine now according to him.

Thanks, I’ve never had need to go private and so am a bit clueless about where to go but I understand the Portland is for women and children?

Yes, it always used to be where celebs had their babies although I didn't see any! We had cover through DHs work so didn't actively choose the Portland, it was just where they sent us - we lived in London at the time.

Hi,
My toddler is currently on the NHS waiting list for his hypospadias surgery and I’ve been told it’s a 6-23 months wait at the Bristol Childrens Hospital. I asked about going private and was advised Bristol isn’t taking private patience’s due to the backlog following COVID but was referred to Great Ormand Street for private care. The surgeon is supposed to be the best in UK for this procedure. I’m waiting to speak to the surgeon after going through the process with my private cover but the wait times are going to be around 6 weeks. Might be worth you looking into?

@MumMarden that very helpful thank you! Good luck to you and your little boy.x

Hi
My son is nearly 3 and has had hypospadias and chordee repair this week both were severe. I got very stressed as knew as the months went by we were going past the recommended age. However now I feel it's easier to deal with the after effects with a toddler rather than baby! He is toilet trained so saved any dirty messes on stitches etc! Also I've been sitting him on a potty to encourage him to wee not sure how you would make a baby wee! That's just my experience....and good luck.....it's daunting!

Hi my baby has chordee also. We are on the waiting list at the moment, surgeon advised they like to have this down just after they turn one. I'm not sure how long the waiting list is though I haven't asked, we are listed for cancellations also so can go with short notice.

I would consider private if it was a long waiting list because I think it would be easier to manage before potty training commences.

I don’t have any experience of going private but my son’s hypospadias surgery was delayed due to covid so he had it at not long turned two. I was worried that it would create problems but the surgery and his recovery were all extremely straightforward and I felt it was maybe actually a bit easier than it would have been if he had been younger because I could explain to him a bit about what was going on and how we’d be going home soon etc. Good luck, whichever way you go. For what it’s worth I found the process of making decisions about his treatment and the run up to the surgery much much more difficult than the time of the surgery and recovery itself. Hope things are equally as straightforward for your wee boy whichever route you choose.

Can I ask what you found helpful for your sons recovery.

I seem to remember that many years ago they sat babies on cold pottys to encourage them to see. Not the point of the thread I know 😂

*wee

@GreenIsle there wasn’t much we needed to do really. He was still in nappies so it was really just a case of getting used to the double nappy technique and making sure he didn’t grab the catheter during a nappy change. That was all fine and apart from a bit of calpol the first day or two he wasn’t in any discomfort with it. He just went about life as normal and then we got the dressing off a week later. I booked that week off on leave so I could keep him off nursery while he had the catheter in. He didn’t have pronounced chordee so I’m not sure how the surgery would have differed if he did but I was absolutely blown away by how easily he took it in his stride, and he’s quite an emotional wee guy so when he’s not right he lets you know about it. Hope you’re not waiting too long for your wee boy’s surgery.

Hi there!! I have been frantically searching the internet and came across your post as I am trying to find answers to the same thing. I have twin boys who are 13months old and both have hypospadias. We have been waiting for a referral to the hospital for 5 months so far and finally have an appt to see a doctor in Nov. However that’s just for the consultation not even the surgery! Did you manage to go private in the end? I am worried hypospadias is classed as a ‘pre-existing’ medical condition and we won’t be covered under private insurance. Just wondering if you managed it in the end and if all went ok? Or did you have to pay for the surgery yourself? Would really appreciate your advice if you have been through it already!

Hi there!! I have been frantically searching the internet and came across your post as I am trying to find answers to the same thing. I have twin boys who are 13months old and both have hypospadias. We have been waiting for a referral to the hospital for 5 months so far and finally have an appt to see a doctor in Nov. However that’s just for the consultation not even the surgery! Did you manage to go private in the end? I am worried hypospadias is classed as a ‘pre-existing’ medical condition and we won’t be covered under private insurance. Just wondering if you managed it in the end and if all went ok? Or did you have to pay for the surgery yourself? Would really appreciate your advice if you have been through it already!

Hi,
so we are now 3 months post-op. In the end we went with the NHS because both my husband and I got a better feeling from the surgeon we spoke to and preferred for the foreskin to be zipped up rather than circumcised. This wasn’t an option with the private surgeon. However, it was covered by my private medical insurance so we could have gone that route. When speaking to your insurance company, if they say it’s not covered, make sure you ask them to check the procedure code for it because hypospadias is actually covered and often insurance companies will tell you it isn’t. But the reason they have a procedure code for it is because it is. My NHS surgeon told me this when we had our consultation.
Now 3 months on I’m so glad we went with the NHS surgeon. The staff were incredible in the Bristol Childrens hospital and the surgeon did a fab job. My son is older, 4 years old so we also had to contend with him understanding more of what’s going on and I can’t stress how amazing they were. I had so many sleepless nights over this and looking back I didn’t need to.
In terms of weighing up going private or NHS, I would say speak to both surgeons and see how you feel. Trust your gut.

@Gemmapeach60 I’m so sorry I didn’t see your reply! I was searching again for hypospadias threads and my own came up.

My son is now 2 and is having the surgery on the NHS Tuesday. We looked at going private and it would have cost 6k as insurance wouldn’t cover a pre-existing condition. We could afford one op but not more than that and there is a chance further ops may be needed.

I chased for this operation and got booked in, I suspect from my conversation with the booking team he should have been booked in earlier as they suddenly managed to magic up an appointment. Keep chasing them if you do go NHS!

I am very nervous, it’s for the best but I’m bricking it.

@WildOnce my son is nearly two and we are still waiting for any sign of his surgery. Apparently waiting list here (NI) it could take up to 5 years old im quite shocked and also can't afford private but may need to look at my options now. Hope your sons surgery goes well and if you wouldn't mind updating if you find the time please.

My son had it a year ago when he was 3. Same dilemma but I went with the NHS. I got the number for the operation booking department and just called them continuously....think it's about person who shouts the loudest wins at the moment. That was at Manchester children's hospital..

They previously kept telling me surgery was delayed as it was just cosmetic....not a fair view in my eyes.

@BabaH I felt uncomfortable but agree it’s the ones who shout the loudest.

@3littlemuffins find the number for the admissions team, my emails went unanswered.

But, the surgery was a success! We got home late last night. The consultant had fears that the bend was quite severe and we would need a number of surgeries. However, it emerged that his penis was more tethered than bent and that his wee hole only needed to be widened slightly, and there was no need to move it. He had been circumcised to graft skin onto the underside. He is very sore and having spasms but playing well and cheery with pain relief. But once he has healed that should be it.

The Evelina were fantastic. All the staff were absolutely lovely.

So my son has just turned 2 and still on waiting list got his hypospadias repair not heard a thing, has anyone else's son had any problem when changing them my boy is crying for the past few months now in pain took him to hospital and yup they says it was probably viral because he was under weather, I feel his area is red raw at times and trying to change him is a nightmare he gets son worked up and screams and cries I can't wipe him without him crying and don't know if it's all linked or not has anyone else's boy shown pain with this x

My son is now 5 months post-op. We had similar issues before his surgery. He suffered with frequent UTI’s due to restricted flow. He also didn’t like his penis to be touched (found it painful), so cleaning when he was in nappies was difficult. In the end I would bring a small spray bottle of water in his change bag spray that area and gently pat dry. His bum I could use wet wipes. He also used to get red and soar on his penis sometimes. I would put nappy rash cream on his penis when this happened. I also never put bubbles in his baths as this seemed to make his penis soar too. As he got older it did get easier as he could communicate to us better. He was 4 when he had his surgery.

Thank you so much for your reply, I just don't no what to do with him with all of this, he has only turned 2 and it happening during every bum change n sometimes he has says he's sore, I managed to phone urology this morning so hoping to hear back if his surgery will.be anytime next year

Please who has experience with great Ormond Street hospital. How much is their hypospadia surgery. My son has distal with no chordee.