A Visit to the Pediatric Urologist

Little Man was born with a hydrocele, which is a fluid-filled sack along the spermatic cord within the scrotum.  Apparently this is pretty common in newborn male infants.

From Google Health: During normal development, the testicles descend down a tube from the abdomen into the scrotum. Hydroceles result when this tube fails to close. Fluid drains from the abdomen through the open tube. The fluid builds up in the scrotum, where it becomes trapped. This causes the scrotum to become swollen.

During a physical exam, the doctor usually finds an swollen scrotum that is not tender. Often, the testicle cannot be felt because of the surrounding fluid. The size of the fluid-filled sack can sometimes be increased and decreased by pressure to the abdomen or the scrotum.

If the size of the fluid collection varies, it is more likely to be associated with an inguinal hernia.

My son's pediatrician sent him for an ultrasound, to verify the diagnosis of a hydrocele and to be sure that he had his right testicle, since it could not be felt during a physical exam. And while I was told that most hydroceles go away on their own by the time a baby is six months old, I wanted a pediatric urologist to see him.

I took Little Man to one of the best ones in the country. And I really liked this doctor. When he walked into the exam room, he looked at my son and said: "So, this is the the young man with big balls?"

My type of doctor. The only negative, I've had AC/DC's "Big Balls" song in my head ever since!

He checked him and also confirmed the hydrocele diagnosis—no hernia—and wants to see him again at 6 months if it doesn't go away.  I'm to call immediately if the swelling increases.  If it's not gone by his 1st birthday, he'll need surgery. But I'm hoping he won't need that.

The $30 copay was for my peace of mind.  I'm glad I went...  and now to play some AC/DC.

AC/DC
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1981)
Big Balls

I'm ever upper class high society
God's gift to ballroom notoriety
I always fill my ballroom
The event is never small
The social pages say I've got
The biggest balls of all

CHORUS:
I've got big balls
I've got big balls
And they're such big balls
Dirty big balls
And he's got big balls
And she's got big balls
But we've got the biggest balls of them all

And my balls are always bouncing
My ballroom always full
And everybody cums and cums again
If your name is on the guest list
No one can take you higher
Everybody says I've got
Great balls of fire

CHORUS

Some balls are held for charity
And some for fancy dress
But when they're held for pleasure
They're the balls that I like best
My balls are always bouncing
To the left and to the right
It's my belief that my big balls
Should be held every night

CHORUS

And I'm just itching to tell you about them
Oh we had such wonderful fun
Seafood cocktail, crabs, crayfish...

Ball sucker