Wednesday, July 6, 2011

The urology visit

Today was Natalie's first visit to a new specialist:  a urologist.  When she was diagnosed with grade 3 kidney reflux last month, that set up the referral to urology.  I need to write down everything the doctor and nurse said so I can sort it out in my mind, so I'll just share it with you too!

The doctor did change the schedule for the prophylactic antibiotics she's on: twice a day instead of once a day.  But we're going to just monitor for UTIs for the next 6-7 months, then Natalie will go in for another kidney ultrasound next year.  If she doesn't have UTIs for a while, we'll try taking her off antibiotics and see if she's outgrown the reflux.  I asked about doing another VCUG, which is the only way to really know if there is reflux, and the doctor said they won't do another one unless she has UTIs and the doctor wants to go the "deflux" route, which is surgically repairing the reflux.  The plan is that there will be no deflux unless she has another UTI.

My initial thought is I still want to have a VCUG before going off antibiotics, because Natalie's UTIs have never been accompanied by a fever...it's only our best guess that there's something wrong because her behavior is a little off and she stops using the toilet.  I'd hate to depend on my "mother's intuition" to decide something so important.

Anyway, Natalie's behavior has been wacky for a while, so I asked whether she could currently have a UTI.  It was possible, so I asked for a catheterization to get a urine sample.  One would think that a urology office would house the nurses most competent to perform catherizations, right?  Suffice it to say that it didn't go well.  She's been catheterized a few other times, and this was 10 times worse than any other time.  Poor Natalie.  We went to the Discovery Science Center after to play, had lunch at Taco Bell at the Science Center, then stopped for a donut at Krispy Kreme...I was soooo trying to make her forget that terrible experience.

Everyone at the urology office was super nice, and we had a great visit, except the little procedure.  I hope she has a good nap this afternoon.

1 comment:

Sarah said...

Poor Natalie!!!! I would do the SAME thing afterwards to help forget that experience. You are a good mommy =)