Active discussions

Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Emergency circumcision recovery advice

26 replies

tallyoh · 20/04/2026 06:14

My 4 year old DS has had to have an emergency circumcision due to phimosis. It was absolutely not what I wanted for him but there was no choice as he couldn’t pass urine safely. We’re about 36 hours from the procedure and he’s miserable with pain. He won’t lie down or have anything touch his privates at all. He finally fell asleep on a potty chair with his head on my shoulder after nearly 24 hrs awake, then woke screaming after 15 minutes.

It’s so traumatic to see him crying out in pain.

Has anyone had this with their DS? What can I do to make him comfortable?? Please help if you can.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
tallyoh · 10/07/2026 19:18

ERN79 · 10/07/2026 17:22

@tallyohthank you. We'd has issues for some time. Ultimately decided this would be the best option.
Its so hot at the moment I think we might be ok with the bed, in that he probably won't need a cover anyway. But good tip thank you.
Might see how we go today & if necessary go to the pharmacy tomorrow about the numbing cream.
He's currently sat naked, but is complaining its sore. Understandably.
We're keeping to the painkillers schedule. Alternating the calpol & ibuprofen.
Thanks for your advice.

Ahh yes with the warm weather you’ll probably find bed much easier with just no covers. Also, hopefully because it wasn’t an acute emergency, he might be less triggered by needing the toilet and able to cope a bit better with the discomfort.

Wishing you lots of luck tonight. We had some difficult nights and my husband slept on his bedroom floor for 3 days (with a few middle of the night shift changes), but ultimately the awful didn’t last very long and 3 months later he’s healed up really well and no longer even things about it.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page