Very swollen between stitches, 72h post-op

[catlover212]

It is almost 72h from my circumcision, I had BXO and this was what my doc recommended. I had my first bandage for 48h, after that my doc changed it. He said that there was some blood in there, but I had 5 erections / night, so that should be normal. Today was the day I needed to change my dressing, because I peed the last one(don't know how to pee so I don't wet the dressing).

It looked HORRIBLE! It is very swollen near the stitches, and at the base of my frenulum(the doc made it longer). Especially there(frenulum) it looks like I have small baloons filled with something. Under the glans, the skin is very soft and squishy, so that must be swollen too.

When I looked at it, the skin that was above the sutures was covering about half, if not more of the glans. I put my penis in salt water and pulled gently on it, until I could see my glans. but it's like 1CM between my sutures and the base of my glans, if not even more.

1)Is it normal? (the swelling especially, it is very very swollen, even more in the frenulum area)

2)A stitch from the frenulum(a string from it) is sitting right now on my glans, and making me uncomfortable. Should I try moving it?

3)How should I bandage it? (if that's the term) Or dressing, I searched everywhere and I couldn't find pictures or a video. How the area between my stitches is very swollen, it is quite painful when putting the dressing.

4)What should I do to keep the skin under the glans? It just keeps going up.

To be honest, I do regret the surgery as of now. My penis looks terrible, it hurts, I cannot pee regularly(because I need to change my dressing), overall I cannot do nothing. My doc appointment is in 2 days, please help me!

[Dhhdjxhhd]

All what your dealing with sounds normal. I had same exact symptoms. Freaked me out and I ran to the ER. They told me I was fine. Just to ice it with a cold bag of peas and keep the penis pointed towards the belly button so that fluid can drain. You can also try a compression wrap with gauze & tape. That may help. I changed my dressing twice a day. Make sure you are using some antibacterial ointment so it doesn’t stick and help prevent infection

[catlover212 in reply to Dhhdjxhhd]

Thanks for calming me down! I will use ice too now. I use Sudocrem for under my gauze, it's a ointment for babies(if you're familiar with it), but my doc recommended Betadine.

[Dhhdjxhhd in reply to catlover212]

No problem. Those first 1-2 weeks are brutal. Hang in there. Things usually get worse before it gets better. Either or will be good under your bandages as both of them are antiseptics. You don’t want any infections mate. Don’t apply ice directly to skin. Make sure to wrap in towel. As long as you have good circulation and able to pass urine you’re in good shape. Watch for excessive bleeding also

[catlover212 in reply to Dhhdjxhhd]

The only bleeding I'm seeing is from the frenulum area, from the stitches, but nothing more. The pee can pass through, but it wets the bandages, so when I pee, I also need to change them. I also take antibiotics (pills), I need to take them until day 6(to prevent infections). What do you think about water+salt though? Today when I changed the bandage, I put it in salt water to get rid of the smell, and clean the blood. Is it safe to use after 72h from the op.?

[Dhhdjxhhd in reply to catlover212]

Yes, I had bleeding from that frenulum area as well. It’s because an artery runs to the frenulum area. I also had a nagging stitch right there as well. My stitch is still there after 4 weeks lodged inside of a scab. It’s not as uncomfortable any more. I see a lot of people talk about salt water soaks and baths but I did not attempt because I felt like it’s a risk for infection to soak anything and the suture line is not closed. So I just took showers with mild soap, rinse with water, and Pat the area dry, and applied antiseptic ointment daily. So far I have not had any infection and my suture lines is practically closed. So it worked. All I have left to heal is the frenulum scab and I’ll be all closed up. Lastly, I’m waiting on lymphedema to resolve. Maybe that will happen after frenulum area heals completely. I don’t know.

[catlover212 in reply to Dhhdjxhhd]

So I just need to take care of it, don't let it get dirty, and wait, right? I will ask my surgeon Monday about those salt water baths. Thank you for your support, happy healing!

[Dhhdjxhhd in reply to catlover212]

Yes, ask your surgeon. If they are of any benefit if you try them please let me know as I will be willing to try once all of my wounds are closed. Yes, take those precautions my friend. Happy healing to you as well!