DS's testicle has died....I feel so sad

[PickleAndPudding]

sorry in advance for the one-handed typing - giving ds a cuddle.

just a rant really, but would appreciate any positive stories.

ds (3 months old) had a twisted testicle about 4 weeks ago. docs thought they had saved it - it pinked up nicely when they untwisted it. however this weekend it looked swollen again and docs think it has probably died he's on antibiotics in the hope that will help it to die 'happily' and wither away, otherwise he'll have to have another op to remove it.

i'm gutted - was so relieved when they 'saved' it. was so glad that he still had a 'spare'. had no idea that this might happen, so it was quite a shock. going through lots of 'what ifs' - when it originally happened we had to really hassle the docs to treat it as an emergency (we'd looked up symptoms on the internet, and strongly suspected it was testicular torsion. Spent a good 5-6 hours at two hospitals waiting for someone to confirm the diagnosis.

I'm sure it would have had a much better chance of survival if they had acted sooner. (I'm not blaming them - I know they had to be v sure before operating on a 9 week old baby, but still....)

I know that this is a relatively minor thing...but I just hate to think of any horrid brats teasing him about it if they find out...or worse, something happening to his other ball! How do I make sure he's 'careful' with it without making him paranoid? Should we advise him not to tell anyone? Hate to think of him having a 'secret', but also hate to think he might get hassled about it.

Most of all...I just want him to be all healed - one ball or two. I'm going to be on tenterhooks for the next five days to see if this infection is getting worse or not. Soooo don't want him to have to have another op.

Wow that was long.

Thanks

Mary

it's ok!! might be wrong though, what do I know about testicles?

But surely it is only actually the sperm that is produced in the balls. Because how else will a man who has had a vasectomy manage to have sex. So he would be able to produce semen but it would be devoid of sperm?

Flowertop - There are a few other magical ingredients that get added by other organs; it's not all from the testicles IYSWIM. (Can't give you percentages of the mix, but I'm sure a google or maybe martianbishop when she is less stressed could comment).

FWIW, as a bloke, I can confirm the consultant's 'men don't stare at each other's bits in the changing room' opinion... it's so not on. I imagine from a quick glance, if you're not specifically looking for it IYSWIM, no one would notice.

Thanks all and sorry to hijack your original post P&P but has obviously stirred up some unresolved issues in me. Thanks all for your very positive responses. P&P hope this has helped you also.
XX

Hi 2 friends with 1 testicle each and all the way through school no one ever knew and neither were teased. However one of them told his mate when he was in his early twentys and of course it got round his local. He faced a weekend of being called Womble which he laughed off and it was soon forgotten never to be mentioned again......he is now 40 and has 3 kids!

DH had this as a small child - I've just asked and he says he was never teased. He says he wasn't 'different enough' for people to worry about it.

So what was the outcome for you DH eek?

'Womble' lol!!

bozza- really not sure why i told the school - suppose i wanted them to be aware incase he had an accident which could affect his "good one" Would want them to be mindful of the fact.
regarding a man being able to "come" my husband has had a vasectomy and without giving too much info - there is still something there but not so much !! Not sure if the stuff other than sperm comes from the testicle or elsewhere, so unsure if having no testicle means no fluid from that side or just no sperm - anyone on here with a biology degree???
ds is aware he has one and knows that the other one was poorly when he was very little and had to be taken away. he is so cool about it and talks about his "ball". Makes me want to cry but if it doesn't bother him - why should it bother me. Really feel that i would batter anyone who took the mickey out of him but as many of you have said - who would notice - when he is older will arm him with some excellent put downs for people who feel the need to stare!

Hiya mary

I hope your ds is feeling a bit better and the ab's are working

my brother had one removed when he was about 4 years ago he has had two children with no problems what so ever, he was very suprised at the first one they werent even trying LOL. I may be wrong but wouldnt you have to look really closely to see if a man only had one ball would look at dh to see how much difference it would make but dont want to give him ideas its not quite christmas.

One of my ds had to have an op to have one fixed in place as it kept moving he is fine now.

One thing mary they dont know it has definately died maybe its just an infection

Re: coming without any testicles- semen is still produced, and climax is still possible, there just isn't any sperm. (and very little sex drive)

Sorry to hear of every ones stories, it does seem to be more common than you think. I don't have quite the same situation, but dt1 has a severe groin hernia that we have waited to be operated on so long. he has just turned two and has got much more concious of it these days, I do worry that it might some how damage the testicle as it get so distended.
Anyway, it was nice to hear about how quickly boys recover from groin operations (imagine hernia op is less serious than a testicular one), so thanks for the info.

Hmm I'm not sure why I ask all these questions on here, given that I have a DH with only one. In a way that is reassuring, because I know we had an easy time conceiving our two. TBH during the x number of years before trying for children it never occurred to me that we ought to be safeguarding it either. I think you worry more as a Mum.

Well, we went for an ultrasound scan and a second opinion on Thursday, and for the time being it looks like good news!! Tissue did not look necrotic on the scan. Doctor had a grope and said it all felt normal, but we'll only know for sure in 3-6 months time (to see if it's grown properly). Don;t know why the other doc was so certain in had died.

They also removed the 'dissolvable' ( ) stitches, and this seems to have helped enormously. Apparently DS is probably hypersensitive to the stitch material. This may have contributed to the worrying swelling last weekend. It all looks pretty normal now - no redness or swelling. And DS seems v cheerful!! So (touch wood!!) all is ok for now.

All your stories have really helped. Thanks!!

Mary