I spent the day in the ER with my son today.

[jfoofj]

Ughhhhh! This has been a long, stressful day. My 9 year old son woke up complaining of pain in his right testicle that radiated to his abdomen. It hurt much more when standing, felt best when he was on his back with legs bent. He was able to go to the bathroom fine this morning, no pain except for the fact that it hurt to stand. This was not excruciating pain, but enough that he was clearly not comfortable and wanted to go back to bed.

I called his pediatrician who said to bring him to the ER because she couldn't really do anything diagnostic for him in her office and he would need a testicular ultrasound to rule out some stuff. SO, off the the ER we go. We got in pretty quickly and we were seen by a resident who checked him for some reflex down there, did a general exam and sent urine samples. He didn't have a fever. Because he wasn't in excruciating pain (he said his pain was a 3 just sitting in the stretcher and a 5/6 when walking) they were pretty sure we weren't dealing with an emergent issue like a tortion (when the testicle gets all twisted... he could lose his testicle if blood flow stopped) but they wanted to get the ultrasound. We had that done and then back to the ER to wait. Well, the results of the ultrasound and urinalysis were fine, which was a huge relief.

During this time (over approx 5 hours) the pain reduced significantly for my son. Now he is saying he just has a little belly ache on the right, the testicle feels fine. We were sent home with discharge instructions to return if he has severe pain in his testicle, fever/nausea/vomitting, or severe abdominal pain.

I am greatly relieved that he is feeling better and that the ultrasound was fine, but really concerned about the fact that he had this mystery pain that we don't know what it was or what caused it. My brother says he used to get testicular pain (which was a bit TMI for me....) that would come and go and his Dr thinks he has a variceole (?sp) that causes it.

I don't know... testicles are not my forte, I'm a lung girl. Anyone out there deal with this kind of pain that just went away? Does it come back? What is it?

TIA

 

[DVCLiz]

... testicles are not my forte, I'm a lung girl.

I'm sorry, I'm the divorced mother of daughters - even my pets are all female, so no help here.

But, if the Tag Fairy doesn't post this as your new tag, it will be the crime of the century...

 

[jfoofj]

I'm sorry, I'm the divorced mother of daughters - even my pets are all female, so no help here.

But, if the Tag Fairy doesn't post this as your new tag, it will be the crime of the century...

 

[a1tinkfans]

Hope he is feeling better, poor kid
Make sure you follow up .....sorry no idea about what caused it though......

 

[Twingle]

This happened to my son over the summer, right before school started. I don't remember the medical term, but his doctor determined that there was a "twist" in the testicle internally, and it straightened itself out on it's own. Apparently this can happen sometimes, and that there doesn't need to be any injury to the area.

Glad he's feeling better! For my guy it was a one time thing, he's had no other problems.

 

[C.Ann]

But, if the Tag Fairy doesn't post this as your new tag, it will be the crime of the century...

Oh - I soooooo agree!! I spit my coffee on my key board when I read that statement..

To the OP: I'm so glad it was nothing serious and hopefully it won't happen again..

 

[jfoofj]

This happened to my son over the summer, right before school started. I don't remember the medical term, but his doctor determined that there was a "twist" in the testicle internally, and it straightened itself out on it's own. Apparently this can happen sometimes, and that there doesn't need to be any injury to the area.

Glad he's feeling better! For my guy it was a one time thing, he's had no other problems.

I'm so glad to hear your son has had no more problems with it, I hope it is a one time thing for us, also.

Oh - I soooooo agree!! I spit my coffee on my key board when I read that statement..

To the OP: I'm so glad it was nothing serious and hopefully it won't happen again..

Sorry about the keyboard, lol... and thanks, hopefully "the boys" down there will behave from here on out, or at least till puberty hits!

 

[mickeyboat]

DH had some testicular pain quite a few years ago and had a testicular ultrasound too. They decided he had an infection of some sort and antibiotics cleared it up.

Hope your son feels better, soon.

 

[Rafiki31]

Hope he is feeling better!

 

[Darsa]

Glad to hear the pain receded, here's hoping it's gone soon!

And thank you for the "start of day" laugh!

 

[jfoofj]

Well, the testicular pain is completely gone, but DS is still complaining of a bellyache around his belly button. He vomitted three times last night and today has only had sips of ginger ale and just ate a piece of dry toast. No real appetite. No fever. I'm not really sure what is going on with him... stomach bug maybe? He has been in bed all day, very blah, he just wants to read, watch tv, play his video game or nap. I hate this.

 

[VillageMama]

APPENDIX! APPENDIX! I'll write more but I want you to see this ASAP! Consider that it could be his appendix!

 

[VillageMama]

Okay, sorry for the freak-out there... but your son's symptoms sound very similar to my son's last summer, although my son didn't have the testicle pain issue.

We tend to think of appendicitis as this excruciating pain on the right side of our abdomens. For many people, particularly young folks, that doesn't always happen.

My son had pain around his belly button that he could cope with and he was vomiting. To make a long story short, it was appendicitis.

I don't want to sound alarming but I do urge you to get this checked out because I delayed too long and my son's appendix ruptured. He spent six weeks in the hospital and received Last Rites three times.

You're going to have to take him back to the ER and insist that they do a CT scan. It's not fun but it's the only way best to diagnose appendicitis. Some doctors hold back on doing CT scans since the child isn't in obvious, roll on the floor pain. But it's vital to do.

The fact that your son was in great pain and still has some around his belly button and has vomitted several times are HUGE RED FLAGS to me.

Many, many prayers for your son. I'll be checking back in here frequently to see how he's doing!

 

[jfoofj]

Ughhhhhhh.... I just talked to my mother and she said the same thing. In the ER they said he would have a fever if it was appendix. I wish they had drawn blood or done and abdomen CT now... His pediatrician isn't in her office on Wednesdays after noon but I am seriously thinking about calling her service and having her paged. I just don't want to be "that" parent who is freaking out because her kid has a stomach bug. I'm going to take his temp again, and if it is even slightly elevated I'm calling!

 

[Melissa R]

I wanted to also mention appendix, as the person above me did.

When I had appendicitis, I had pain all over my abdomen - not just on the side where the appendix was. The biggest similarities I had to what you described are that it hurt way worse when standing (I couldn't even force myself to walk upright - could only walk in a bent over position) and that it was much more comfortable when lying on my back with my legs bent. I was told that these uncomfortable/comfortable positions are very classic appendicitis. They didn't even do any ultrasounds or scans on me - sent me straight to surgery. They said I had about 12-24 hrs until it would have ruptured.

PLEASE consider calling the doctor or getting him back to the ER to be seen again to see if they think it could be his appendix. If it ruptures, his pain will go away at first, but it becomes much more dangerous if this happens - surgery becomes major instead of just laproscopic, and the risk of infection and sepsis is great, from what I understand.

 

[Melissa R]

Ughhhhhhh.... I just talked to my mother and she said the same thing. In the ER they said he would have a fever if it was appendix. I wish they had drawn blood or done and abdomen CT now... His pediatrician isn't in her office on Wednesdays after noon but I am seriously thinking about calling her service and having her paged. I just don't want to be "that" parent who is freaking out because her kid has a stomach bug. I'm going to take his temp again, and if it is even slightly elevated I'm calling!

Don't base anything on fever or no fever, please!

When I went into the ER (sent there by my GP), the triage nurse told me there was no way it was appendicitis because I didn't have a fever. It doesn't always work that way. As I said before, they said my appendix was only 12-24 hrs from rupturing, but I had no fever.

Also, I have read that sometimes, even an ultrasound or CT scan can not accurately diagnosis appendicitis. I don't think there's any guaranteed way to diagnosis it other than surgery.

 

[VillageMama]

No, it's true... fever isn't a diagnostic tool in ruling out appendicitis.

But oh my word, for sure they should have drawn blood. Chances are his white blood cell count is elevated. That's a classic sign, too.

Do not worry about being "that mother". I wish I had been that mother who sought medical help sooner rather than later. We almost lost my son. I desperately do not want to see that happen to anyone else.

 

[krcit]

Please call the Dr or go back to the ER. I hope all is well, keep us posted.

 

[MelanieC]

oh man how scary! (((HUGS))) to you and I hope he is doing well. Please update when you can.

 

[maroo]

Well, the testicular pain is completely gone, but DS is still complaining of a bellyache around his belly button. He vomitted three times last night and today has only had sips of ginger ale and just ate a piece of dry toast. No real appetite. No fever. I'm not really sure what is going on with him... stomach bug maybe? He has been in bed all day, very blah, he just wants to read, watch tv, play his video game or nap. I hate this.

Appendix!

He may not have fever...but he should have an elevated white count. You could probably get a CBC drawn a regular medical office, though. Even a "doc in the box"...

I hope he feels better!

and I do also hope that you get that tag! That was just too funny!