((Rewind 1 year ago))
October 2008, we were headed to the same place for the same tests. At 1 month I questioned our pediatrician about an abnormal smell every time Via wet her diaper. She did a quick test and found it to be a UTI, and for safe measure she wanted to get a few tests done to rule out any possible problems that would result in reoccurring UTIs. So Sylvia had an ultrasound done on her bladder and kidneys. She then went on to have a Voiding Cystourethrogram(VCUG).
A VCUG is a test that examines the bladder and lower urinary tract while the bladder fills and empties. A liquid that can be seen on x-rays is placed in the bladder through a catheter. Pictures are taken when the bladder is filled and when it is emptied. This test can reveal abnormalities of the inside of the urethra and bladder. The test can also determine whether the flow of urine is normal when the bladder empties.
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=voidcysto&bhcp=1 (for more info.)
By the end of our day at the hospital we were told that Sylvia had a Grade III (mild dilation of ureter, slight blunting of calyceal fornices) vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and that she would have to take a preventative antibiotic everyday til she was 1. (Urine normally flows in one direction--down from the kidneys, through tubes called ureters, to the bladder. VUR is the abnormal flow of urine from the bladder back into the ureters. The goal for treatment of VUR is to prevent any kidney damage from occurring. Infections should be treated at once with antibiotics to prevent the infection from moving into the kidneys. Antibiotic therapy usually corrects reflux caused by infection and will disappear over time. Sometimes surgery is needed to correct primary VUR.)
((October 2009))
So, 365 doses of meds later, we were back at the same hospital, sitting in the same waiting room, walking down the same hallway, (Did I mention I Hate hospitals!!) and doing the same tests all over again. Only this time we were dealing with a 1 year old instead of a 1 month old! Let me tell ya, I was expecting the worse possible situation. A 1 year old doesn't want to lay still on a table and have a stranger rub goo all over your belly or be under a weird machine and see mom and dad wear goofy apron looking vests.
All in all Sylvia did a very good job! She surprised us! She went through the ultrasound alright, but the VCUG went even better. A tiny little jump when the nurse inserted the catheter was it! No crying, squirming, nothing! The nurses couldn't believe it! I think it really helped that she was tired and ready for a nap! With a plug in the mouth and one in her hand she was the best little girl ever! Once the Dr. came in to actually perform the x-rays, he wanted her 'strapped' down so he could move her side to side without any issues. And, amazingly again, our little girl just laid there and held mom's fingers. With only a couple minutes to go, she got a little fussy because we had to hold her hands away from the x-ray area, and she didn't like that! By the time she really fought us, it was all done! The nurse brought her a little stuffed Ty Bunny for doing such a great job! She said she had a 7/8 year old that didn't do as good as Sylvia Rae! Wow!
We haven't heard the official results of the procedure, but the Dr. did say that she still had VUR. What grade... we don't know yet. We are hoping for at least a Grade II which means it is improving but still means that we will have to return to Banner Desert (probably in another year) and have all this done again... with a 2 year old! Hmmm... Monday we should find out for sure!
Here are some pics of Via after her big day at the hospital.
I didn't take any while we were there, because she wouldn't really let me leave her side! :)
: The hospital bracelet :
: Running around once we got home :
: Via's new bunny for being such a great patient :
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