Does anyone know anything about voiding cystourethrogram or a renal ultrasound??

[cati]

xx

 

[piglet too]

My DD, who will be two on the 20th, has had two, and will have her third in August. She had a UTI when she was 2 months old, hospitalized for a week, and then diagnosed by VCUG with Vesicoureteral Reflux a month later. She has had only a few repeat UTI"S since, but is on daily antibiotics. Since you have done some reading on it, you will understand when I say she started off at a Level 3 on both sides and last August was at a 2 and a "strong 1." She is outgrowing it, so hopefully this next VCUG will be the last.

There is no nice way to put this, but the VCUG is pure hell! As I am sure you have had catheters, you can begin to imagion the discomfort for the kids. She will get the cath and they do a live x-ray as they watch the dye flow through the urinary tract. I was able to see my daughters reflux the first time with no problem. The hardest part for me is having to hold her still as I can for the test. I hate to hold her there as she cries, not being able to pick her up. The second time was worse, as she was older. I think the hardest part for your DD will be that she has to void on the table before she can get up, at least that is how it is supposed to be done.

I have done a lot of reading on Vesicoureteral Reflux and the VCUG's, I'll be glad to help you out in any way I can. When is your daughter's test? I will keep both of you in my prayers!

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

My dd just turned 5 last month and was diagnosed with VCUG about a year and a half ago, it was level 2. Yes we went through those wonderful tests a few times and the last one was done just about 3 weeks ago and I am happy to announce that she no longer has it, she has outgrown it.

Yes it was pure hell watching my baby go through those tests but the doctors and nurses at All Children's were wonderful.

You may want to check on this but this last time my dd was able to sit up during the test because the camera was built into the back rest and then the seat part was a little potty chair, it was much more comfortable than laying down it may be easieron her since she is a little bigger.

There is a end in sight, I really didn't like the fact that my dd needed these test done but now that it's over I realize that it could have been so much worse.

If you have any questions or just want to talk pm me!!!

Good luck to both of you!!!

 

[cati]

xx

 

[piglet too]

As far as a cause, that is all tied to the reflux.

I would definitally push for either a specialist, or at least taking her to a hospital that does them more often. Where in NC are you? I would think that Duke would be a good place to go, at least that is what my friend from NC tells me. Will your insurance allow you to take her to a different doctor on your own?

I would like to think that they will let her bring her teddy, I just don't know if it is considerd a sterile enviroment and all.

The test is over pretty fast, at least my DD's are. I think it is about 20 from start to finish. They have to place the cath, and then position the live x-ray over her. Then they start to insert the dye and watch it on the video feed. I think the longest part both times was waiting for her to pee. The hospital I take her to is so good with her. they all talk to her and try to keep her as calm as possible. (they do these all the time, I actually live about 45 minutes away, but since they do them so often, our pede sends us here. He is affiliated with them, but is also affilated with our local hospital)

I would explain to your daughter that they need to do this test to help make her better. Is she hurting from the UTI's? Maybe tell her that the tests will try to find what is causing her to hurt? I have not had to explain it yet, as Lauren is just now turning two. I do have a friend that has a DD who is close to your daughters age taht has this too. If you would like to PM me your e-mail , I could have her get in touch with you.

I am so sorry that she has to go through this. I feel very fortunate that Lauren is as young as she is, so I don't have to "explain" it all to her.

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

Well first off I will probably get flamed for this but I didn't really tell her what exactly was going to happen until we got there or I may not have gotten there with her.....the first time she knew that we had to go to the hospital and get tests. The Renal ultrasound is a breeze we call it tickling her tummy and then the cath part well it took about 30 mins the first time and she laid on a table and and the camera was placed over her, yes she cried and it was very scary for both of us but because she didn't know what was going to happen and the nurses were all so nice I think it made it alot easier. The nurses explained as they went along so my advise to you is to ask the nurses or doctor to explain to your child what they are doing as they go along.

Yes she took blankie with her although I had to hold her arms and the nurses held her legs just to get the cath in and then I just held her arms so she wouldn't try to pull it out. She got to watch as the pictures were taken and they had a tv on with cartoons so that was nice. The worst part of the first one was that she had to go pee on the table and we all know we teach our kids to go to the restroom so she thought she would be in trouble.

After this test and finding out that it was level 2 she had to take Bactrim which is an antibiotic and this was simply to prevent her from getting any more infections, she took it until we got the final word a couple weeks ago. The specialist also told me that most of the time this is something that is passed from one of the parents on to the child kinda like a genetics thing....great doc now your telling me that I did this to her......I had to deal with the guilt now!!!

She went back 6 months after that and just had the Renal done and back to see the specialist, just a check up sort of thing.

And then our last visit- I had time before seeing the specialist and I checked out these films and I could see there was nothing left. This was definitly a learning experience and I didn't tell her until we were in the car on the way to the last test because I know my child and she would freak but she did very good. Once agin we took blankie and didn't use it I will tell you though that the test was at noon she had to go potty after the test was over that was at 12:15 and she did not go again until about 9:15 that evening and the only reason for the was because she thought it was going to hurt.

In the long run she will tell you "the medicine was gross and the test hurt but aren't you glad i'm all better?" She tells me this at least once a week if not more!!!

I hope you can understand all of my typing, please ask more questions if you want!!!!

And I wanted to add that she actually had Level 2 Kidney Reflux.

If you don't understand that part i can explain it to you!!!

 

[cati]

xx

 

[piglet too]

It goes up to a 5. Basically from what I understan 1-3 are "OK" and 4-5 is not so good, usually needing surgery. Here is where I got most of my info when DD was first diagnosed,

http://www.pedisurg.com/PtEduc/Vesicoureteral_Reflux.htm

You can do a search on "urine reflux" and "vesicoureteral reflux" and see what else you can come up with. Good luck with the doctor next week! If by chance he does not want to send you to a different hospital, call your insurance and pursue it with them.

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

Well I will attempt it.....

The reflux part of it is pretty simple, (hard to explain as it was shown to me in a drawing) there is the tube where the urine comes out that is attached to the bladder and there is a tube above the bladder, sometimes we don't empty our bladders completely so there tends to be a back splash and the urine goes back up where it came out of, there is a little valve that is supposed to close off but if there is reflux that valve doesn't close completely causing the urine to make it through and cause infection.

ok my dd had a level 2 which is not the end of the world the higher the number the worse it is, so if it is a 6 it's pretty bad and if I remember correctly that maybe as high as they go.

The specialist told me that if my dd had stayed at a level 2 they would wait until she was about 6 and then decide wether or not to keep her on the antibiotics or do surgery to fix the problem. He said that most cases fix themselves as the kids get older and there is no need for surgery and it doesn't matter what level they are that number should not go any higher only stay the same or go lower over time.

This last appointment i asked if he was sure it would not come back and he said the only reason it would come back was if there was some sort of spinal injuries basically if say you were in an accident and had damages to your spine or something that would cause your insides to not function properly where they would give out and not do there job.

Does it make any sense???

 

[piglet too]

also found this
http://www.radiologyinfo.com/content/v-cystourethrogrm-pd.htm
it explains the test for you

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

cati-----I sent you a PM!! Hope it helps!!!

 

[mrsmom]

My dd now 10 yrs old had Reflux she had the VCUG'S from about 2 Months old up until 9 yrs old. She had grade
3 on both sides she was on Antibotics everyday she had break through infections so they said by 5 yrs old it was never going to correct itself so they had to do the reimplanation surgery , she did great with the surgery and is Now Reflux FREE!!!!!!!
They do tell you no bubble baths or anything that can cause more problems.
I know it a not so pleasant test but in the long run it saved my dd kidneys, .
Give your dd and yourself a big from me and i hope all turns out good.
Kim::

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

mrsmom- congratulations to your dd!!!! She is a brave girl!!!

Doesn't it feel great to know that they don't have to go through those tests anymore and they are fine???

 

[cati]

xx