Friday, December 16, 2011
VCUG's, VUR and P
Vesicoureteral reflux is defined as "the abnormal flow of urine from the bladder to the upper urinary tract." In other words, some of the urine in the bladder flows back up instead of down. This introduces lots of bacteria to the ureters and kidneys which can cause serious Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) and scarring.
We first figured out there was a problem in PP's kidneys/bladder when she was just about 5 months old. She got a terrible UTI that set her in the hospital for a few days. PP was in so much pain at one point they had to give her Morphine to calm down. I have never seen a child in so much pain before and I really hope that I never see it again. I remember sitting in her hospital room with Chris and the nurse: it was early in the morning, maybe 2AM, and the three of us were trying everything to figure out why this child was screaming bloody murder refusing to let anyone touch her! We were all having a hard time with the situation. The poor nurse was so rattled and embarrassed she couldn't even grab a glass of water from the end table without spilling it all over the floor. Before we asked her to go take a break and send someone else to help, she just stood with her hands over her face, shivering. I felt very bad for everyone involved! Shortly thereafter PP's morphine was administered and the room fell quiet. The nurses left so Chris and I just went to sleep after that.
Those terrible days are long gone thanks to a daily prophylactic antibiotic! PP has had a few flare ups and Emergency Room visits, but nothing we can't handle at home. We found out she had VUR by a special x-ray of her bladder and ureters. While they pumped a dye mixture into PP to fill her bladder, they note the amount of solution going back up her ureters. This test is called a VCUG or voiding cystourethrogram. It's kind of a cool process, but it's not my favorite test she's taken. I personally like the barium swallow studies! Anyways, the first time this test was done they found that she had Grade 2 Bilateral VUR. The reflux was occurring in both ureters but was not traveling all the way back up to her kidneys. The most recent test she had done showed a decrease in reflux, just occurring in the left ureter now. The prophylactic antibiotic is definitely doing it's job, but to get rid of this urologic disease you must grow out of it or have surgery.
We have another VCUG scheduled in July. We hope that PP's ureters are working like clockwork by then because there are brand new guidelines for children on prophylactic medicines and how long they can be on them. PP is past that time frame already, but since she has a unique situation the doctor told me that it was OK for her to take it for a while longer. PP is always the exception to the rule! I really don't want her to have surgery, so I will keep trying alternate options until surgery is our only option.
That's about as much as I can say about that.
Happy Friday
XOX
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