Back to the surgeon

Muffin was born at 35 weeks gestation. We were very lucky because he had no problems at all. As soon as my epidural had worn off I was able to hold him in my arms. Apart from a few hypoglycemic episode the day following his birth due to my gestational diabetes, this was a healthy and normal baby.

When he was about 2 months, his dad started commenting on how little his weewee was. On closer inspection it was actually his scrotum that was overlarge. We didn't think too much of it attributing it to lingering pregnancy hormones but when he turned 3 months we could see that something was definitely not right: his right testicle was 3 times the size of the left one which itself was very much enlarged.

During a trip to the ER for a respiratory infection, the doctors diagnosed 2 hydrocele cysts (one in each hemiscrotum) and an inguinal hernia which they pushed back in. They told us that Muffin would need surgery within a week. When we returned to the hospital a few days later, the surgeon said that he could no longer feel the hernia and that they woudn't operate the hydrocele cysts until Muffin was a year old because most resorb by themselves within the first year. He said we could come back when Muffin turned 6 months for a check up if we wanted.

Hydrocele cysts when fluid pools around the testicle. During the eighth month of pregnancy, the testicles move from the abdomen into the scrotum. When the testicle travels downward, it brings a sac with it. The sac allows fluid to surround the testicle. This sac usually closes before birth, and the fluid is absorbed in the body. Sometimes the sac doesn't close, or it closes but the liquid doesn't get re-absorbed.

For more info you can go to:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hydrocele/DS00617/DSECTION=3
http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site867/mainpageS867P0.html
http://www.embryology.ch/anglais/ugenital/patholgenital04.html#hernie

It turns out that hydrocele cysts are extreemely common in premature boys and even though my little Muffin was born weighing 9 lbs 10 oz he was still 5 weeks early. Over the past 6 weeks the cysts have grown. His right testicular sac is now close to the size of a tennis ball. The right cyst extends all the way back up the inguinal canal but it is the non-communicating because it does not shrink when you press on it.

We just got back from his 4 month old well baby appointment and the pediatrician says that in his 40 years of experience he has never seen such a large cyst. He actually called the surgeon directly and insisted that he see us as soon as possible. So we are going back to the hospital next Tuesday morning.

Honestly I am very torn about this issue. Part of me wants the surgeons to operate asap so my little boy can go back to normal as fast as possible, but part of me would much prefer to avoid surgery with its nasty anesthesia chemicals and inevitable fasting. I guess I will have to wait and see what the surgeon says on Tuesday morning.