C's Manhood Saga

A few nights ago, while changing C's diaper, J noticed a lump in C's sac. It didn't seem to be causing him any pain, was about the size of a pea, firm and we were able to move it around a bit. We were really freaked out, but it seemed to have disappeared by his next diaper change. Better safe than sorry, so T called and made an appointment with the pediatrician the following day. Even though we had yet to see or feel the lump again, Dr. Nikki said she definitely felt something. She had a couple of ideas about what it might be, but she was mostly concerned that it could be testicular torsion (where the testes mysteriously flip around on themselves) and that can be very serious, requiring immediate surgery.

So she sent us over to the pediatric ER at Stanford because that was the quickest way to get an ultrasound done. She had hoped there would be a pediatric urologist on duty, because she said it was important we see someone used to dealing with young children, but even without a P.U. on duty Stanford was our best next course of action. We spent about four or five hours there, two of which were in radiology trying to get good images of his baby boy bits. The technician was having a hard time and had to bring in an attending to go over the tests with her, and they basically found nothing; no masses and good blood flow. The ER doc said there was no torsion and, evidently, not masses so since he wasn't in any pain (no swelling or redness even) that this wasn't an emergent situation. She sent us home with instructions to see our pediatrician no later than Monday (this was Friday) and to return to the ER immediately if it became painful, red or swollen. She mentioned the possibility of a hernia, but the whole thing was pretty vague.

Dr. Nikki called us at home today to check up on C, we told her what happened in the ER and that we had seen the lump once more while changing his diaper but that it disappeared again when he started squirming. She had no comment at the mention of a possible hernia, just that it was a relief to find no masses. She told T that if the lump wasn't visible Monday morning that it wasn't any use bringing him in to her office and that she will most likely be referring us to a pediatric urologist (she actually used the word "surgeon's" which really has T freaked out). We have an appointment for Monday morning, but unless its visible at that time, we'll just be calling and getting a referral rather than taking him in to the office.

We'll keep the blog posted with up to the minute information, but at this point we know nothing and are not sure when we'll get in to see the specialist. C is acting completely normal and seems to be in no pain, he's as happy as ever. We're going to the zoo tomorrow and trying not to worry too much about it right now. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, though, we can certainly use it right now.