Conference moira::parenting

    Hi, I looked for this topic too some time ago, with no luck.
    
    My daughter, aged 3, had this problem, and one of my sons (10 months)
    has it too. They've both undergone the treatment you
    describe, which is long-term low-dose antibiotics (Trimethroprim), plus 
    ultrasound scans of the kidneys to check for damage, plus the catheter 
    test where they fill the bladder so they can see whether liquid can 
    travel up from the bladder to the kidney. The last bit is no fun either
    for the child or the parent !
    
    My daughter's case started at around 6 months with recurrent UTIs (Urinary
    Tract Infections). The tests showed no kidney damage and no reflux, but 
    she was still on antibiotics for a year. Then they stopped the 
    antibiotics, redid the tests (still clear), and she's been fine ever 
    since (18 months ago). I understand your concern about long-term use 
    of antibiotics but the dose is usually low, and I never saw any 
    side-effects. Plus of course, it's a whole lot better than getting 
    kidney damage.
    
    My son's case started around 6 months too. He was in hospital with
    pneumonia, they did a routine urine test and found an infection. He
    was put on the antibiotic straight away, while they set up the tests.
    Kidneys were undamaged, but in his case there was reflux near one
    kidney. I say near, because it didn't quite reach the kidney, but
    it got close. Clear enough to show that the valve wasn't working properly.
    My son was treated at the same hospital, but under a different doctor,
    and he decided not to carry on with the antibiotics, partly I think 
    because the reflux was marginal, partly also i think because he didn't
    like blanket use of antibiotics. So far we've had 3 weeks with no
    antibiotics, and no problems, though we've been told to keep a close
    eye on any symptoms that just *might* be another UTI (unexplained 
    high temperature, etc). He'll be checked out every six months, till
    he grows out of it (if he does).
    
    We haven't talked yet about surgery, though I guess the condition
    is operable. But I suppose it's best to just monitor it rather
    than go for that option. You might find as we have that different
    doctors treat it different ways, but if you do end up with your
    daughter having antibiotics every day, my experience is that it's not
    a great problem, and in some ways better than having to worry all the
    time about whether there's a UTI there, and is the kidney OK. 
    
    The most positive thing though is that there's no kidney damage, so try
    to look on the bright side !
    
    Hope it all works out OK for you and your daughter.
    
    Chris
    

    My daughter Amanda has been diagnosed with reflux since she was 18
    months old.   She is going to be 6 next Friday.  She had been on Septra
    (one teaspoon every night before bed) ever since.  Once a year her
    pedi will do a blood test to make sure her white cells are fine and
    they have been.  Every six months she sees her specialist and once a
    year they do the VCUG and Ultrasound.  I can not even think about the
    last VCUG that they did. It was so gut wrenching.  One word of advice,
    if the technician is having a hard time inserting a regular catheter,
    ask that they use a feeding tube.  The plus is that it inserts a lot
    easier, the minus is that it takes longer to fill up.  But with Amanda
    the problem is inserting, once it's in, she lays fairly still while the
    dye is being added.  My heart goes out to every child who has to have
    this test and to every parent who has to help hold the child and
    explain to the child that it's for their own good......  
    
    Amanda's 1st specialist had wanted to wait til Amanda was 5 before he
    discussed the possiblity of corrective surgery, because he said alot of
    times the problem corrects its self.  A year and half ago, he moved and
    Amanda sees a new specialist and he was somewhat pleased with her
    latest test results so he'd like to wait another year or so to see how
    things progress.... 
    
    Oh, Amanda's older sister (by two years) Lauren has never been tested,
    nor has she ever shown any signs of having UTI (ear infections are
    another subject, although tubes took care of that).  Amanda's problem
    was discovered when she ran a couple of high fevers with no other
    symptons.  We were able to get a urine sample (a torture story) and
    when it was tested, she was put on the medicine and scheduled for more
    test.  Being a woman who is prone to UTI's, I often wonder if this is
    something I passed on to her or if I myself have this.....
    Roberta                                                

For extensive information, read notes 181.* and 1017.* in PARENTING_V3 Our
daughter was diagnosed with a UTI when she was under a year and that's where 
I found all of my information. 

Our doctor took a more conservative approach.  The UTI showed up when she was
something like 8 months old.   He treated that one, and then did an ultrasound
to make sure there was no damage and kidneys are normal.  All was fine. 

Then he set up a schedule of urine tests with samples taken through catheter
every month for 3 months, every other month for 6 months, then twice a year
till ?.     If any of those came back positive, he would do the IVP and/or
VCUG.  As long as they were negative, he would chalk it up to a random
occurance, which is a large percentage of them anyway. 

He preferred to do the often urine testing over the exposure to radiation for
the other tests given only one UTI.   We went to see another doctor on the
cape for a holiday ear infection and metioned it when he asked about her
health.  He said he while it is a perfectly good course of action, he couldn't
believe the doctor was going to all that trouble, it was easier to just order
the tests and be done with it.    Personally, I didn't want her to have the
exposure to radiation so we were very pleased with this alternative, especially 
since she has not had another since, so it would have been unnecessary.      
Our pedi's teen aged daughter had a serious reflux when she was little which 
needed surgery, so it's not like he was unfamiliar with the condition. 

So anyway, there is a ton of first hand information in those notes on the 
tests and refulx.   And, there is an alternate course of action aside from the 
x-ray tests.    

    Denice,
    
    My daughter, Alyssa, was hospitalized at 11 months old with a UTI.  She
    had had a temperature of 103 for 3 days before they hospitalized her.
    It was a horrible experience.  They treated the infection with an IV
    and ran tests while she was there.  Ultrasounds, blood and urine.  Once
    the infection cleared and she was back home we were referred to a
    Pediatric Urologist, the urologist ran the test that everyone is
    talking about and it was horrible.  It turned out that she did have a
    reflux and was put on a sulfur medication (1 teaspoon everynight before
    bed).  The doctor said that there was a chance that she would outgrow
    this.  We were instructed to have blood tests every 6 months and urine
    tests every 3 and once a year the cathetar test.  Every year she seemed
    to improve and this year (age 5) we were told that she has grown out of
    it.
    
    I sympathize with what you are going through and wish you the best. 
    Keep a hold of the thought that she can outgrow this and that at least
    this problem can be resolved one way or the other.
    
    Bethany
    

    My stepdaughter had UT reflux and was on antibiotics for at least 2
    years, with varying success. Finally she had surgery, at ~age 6, to
    correct the problem, and has been fine since. She is now 17.
    

Because of problems in my pregnancy I had an ultra sound done in my 7-8
month that picked up what is called a UPJ ( Urethro Pelvic Junction)
obstruction.

He was born prematurely and spent almost two months in MGH so they had
plenty of time to run all sorts of tests.   One kidney was three times the
size of the other because it was so backed up...   Until they did the VCUG
it was not clear whether the blockage was at the bladder or further up the
ureter near the kidney.  As it turned out it was near the kidney and he was
operated on.     He was on AMOX for 6 months after that and although the 
kidney is still large, all tests ( IVP, ultrasounds....) have shown that
the kidney is functioning normally.    As most of the prior notes have
stated this problem is usually not diagnosed until kids start having
UTI's.    And I hate to think what would have happened to my son had I
not have had that ultrasound.

This is a great example of why ultrasounds are so important during pregnancy.
   

    Thanks for the responses - I did go back into PArenting_v3 and looked
    up the past notes.  Quite a lot of information.  
    
    It seems to be varying degrees of how doctors handle the situation.
    My daughter Elyse, 5 years old, with the Reflux was diagnosed a level
    3 (1-5 are the levels - 5 being the worst.)  So it seemed pretty
    significant to me.  She takes 1 tesp a day of Bactrim for the two years
    with varying tests in between.  I like knowing that others have had
    their children or relatives on medicine for some amount of time without
    complications.  I really feel for her, though.  She has only been on it
    since December and has already asked can we have a party when she is
    done with her medicine, I don't think she can quite grasp that it is
    two years away - and then who knows.  Knowing that some children have
    in fact grown out of it is a hopeful sign.
    
    As for my 7 year old - never has had a urine infection.  But they want
    me to put her through tests.  I say, why don't I wait - they say
    because one UTI can cause kidney damage.  I remember what it was like
    for Elyse to be cath'd - and what it felt like for me to watch this.
    And God, I just don't wnat to put Erin through it if I don't have to.
    
    Again, thanks for the reponses!
    
    Denice

    
    This seems to be another area where doctors opinions differ.  My
    son started having uti's at 3 months. Each time he finished a dose of
    antibiotic he was catheterized and tested again only to find a
    different bacterial infection.  The peditrician was very concerned
    especially because of his age.  We went through all the tests mentioned
    here and no reflux was found. My pediatrician consulted with a pediatric 
    urologist at Children's.  We also asked for a second opinion referral.
    They suspected the infections were somehow caused because he isn't
    circumcised.  I was extremely pleased my pediatrician didn't fool
    around with Alex's condition.  He told us the repeated UTI's will cause
    kidney damage.  They wanted to put Alex on antibiotic for a year if we 
    decided not to circumcise him. We weren't willing to circumcise unless
    we were clear this was medically indicated.  We were referred to a 
    specialist at MGH.  This doctor also thought it likely Alex's infections 
    were a result of urine being stuck in the foreskin. He also thought the
    condition would right itself and it did, by the way.  The MGH
    specialist said while it is possible to get kidney failure from UTI's
    he felt the picture my pediatrician painted of likely kidney failure 
    was very unlikely.
    
    

    I was one of the replies in the original notes on reflux.  Alison
    was diagnosed when she was nine months old (the infections started
    at five months).  If you think catheters are bad you should have
    to stand outside a room with a baby strapped down on a papoose board
    while they stuck a needle through her skin into her bladder to
    withdrawl urine (they wanted totally sterile urine and with catheters
    they can still contaminate the urine).  She was on antibiotics for
    about a year but her kidneys started to become damaged fromt he 
    infections and they did surgery on her at eighteen months.  She has
    had no ill effects that I can tell from being on antibiotics for 
    an extended period of time (she is now eighteen).  She will still get
    an occasional infection but they are few and far between.  She has
    three other sisters and one brother and they have not had problems
    with infections so far and were never tested.  

    905
    
    My son Dalton is now 11.5 months old.  Dalton was diagnosed with reflux
    of the bladder at 3months old.  He was admitted to Emerson with a
    104degree temperature and kept for 4 days.  He underwent the
    catheterization for the sterile urine sample and blood tests.  They
    found ecoli bacteria in his urine.  Dalton was sent home on Bactrim
    antibiotic for 6 weeks. 
    
     In 6 weeks he was scheduled to have the VCUG test but he had another 
    breakthrough infection again with the 104 fever but not admitted to 
    the hospitol.  They changed his medication and he was fever free and 
    scheduled for another VCUG in 6 weeks.  The pediatrition explained that 
    as long as Dalton had bacteria in his urine he could not
    have the VCUG.  Dalton again had another breakthrough infection..staff
    bacteria this time.  
    
    The Pediatrician finally called a specialist a "Urologist at Childrens
    Hospital" Dr. Bauer (wonderful Dr!).  Dr. Bauer gave the ok for the VCUG.
    The VCUG showed reflux on his left kidney. Dalton had a duplicate (two)
    ureta tubes from his left kidney to his bladder.  At the bladder it 
    was barely connected.  He had a single ureta tube on his right, and
    also barely attached.  I found out that this REFLUX condition is 
    a hereditary problem.  Of course I got the blame from my SO.  And Dr.
    Bauer told me that if we had other children it would likely reoccur
    in that child also.
    
    Note 905.8
    
    Daltons' pediatrician also mentioned that since he was not circumsized
    that it would be recommended that he should be because... Urinary
    trac infections are more prevalent in boys that are not.  Dr. Bauer
    the "Urologist" said that circumcision would be unnecessary.
    
    Dalton underwent surgery at Childrens October 17th.  A day I will
    never forget.  The hardest thing a mother ever had to do was
    hand her baby over to that anethesioligist (sp).  I cryed my
    heart out.
    
    His operation went smoothly.  He was at Childrens for 4 days.  I
    stayed every day with him.  He had significant kidney damage to his
    left kidney, but the right kidney will make up for it.  He came
    home a happy little guy on antibiotics for 3-5 months.
    
    Dr. Bauer said that they could have detected this problem by ultrasound
    during my pregnancy.  Since I didn't have any medical reason to
    have an ultrasound we did not discover it.
    
    I hope my experience has helped you.  REFLUX is a congenitive 
    condition.  You should have your other child checked out.  Dr.
    Bauer mentioned that some people go years with this problem
    only to come to him in their teen years with significant damage
    already done to the kidneys. 
    
    Bon
    
       

    My daughter just turned 2 this past Tuesday.  She was just diagnosed
    with a UTI yesterday from a urine culture.  The only sympton she had
    was that her urine had a very fowl oder first thing in the a.m. when
    she awoke.
    
    She is now on antibiotics for the next 10 days (not the easiest thing
    to give her - she just doesn't want to take it) and then the Dr. has
    mentioned giving her the ultrasound and the VCUG.  I don't mind the
    ultrasound but I just can't imagine the VCUG.  It's killing me inside
    just thinking about it.
    
    The Dr. said that now they have this jelly that they put on the uretha
    that numbs the area and she shoudn't even feel the catheter go inside.
    Has anyone ever used this on their child?
    
    I just don't know what to do...

    I have never heard of the jelly and would be very interested in hearing
    about how well it works...please let us know.
    
    Roberta

    905.11
    905.12
    
    When Dalton went back to Childrens for his follow-up VCUG test from
    his operation, they used this jelly on him.  The jelly is xylocain (sp)
    it was put on the tip of his penis to numb the outside and squirted 
    down inside his penis with a syringe (held on the outside).  He 
    didnt feel a thing he just layed there watching Barney on the
    television.  The test was painless and tearless.
    
    When he had his previous VCUG at Emerson they did not have this
    jelly and he screamed endlessly.  He had to have the test done
    twice when he peed out the catheter.
    
    Thank God this is all over for him.  He has to go back for yearly
    Bladder scan, just a percaution.
    
    Bonn.
    tube they had to redo the test

    Thanks for the response on the xylocain.  I was hoping I would hear
    someone say that it was tearless and painless...
    
    Erica would be having this done at Memorial hospital in Worcester, but
    I guess the Dr. also works at Children's.
    
    I will have to find out if they have a T.V. so she can watch Barney.
    I'm sure that would make a BIG difference.
    
    Thanks again,
    
    

    I've been talking to my neighbors about Erica's UTI lately and found
    something that's quite interesting.  One neighbor's son has had 2 - 3
    UTI's in the past couple years in this neighborhood and my other
    neighbor's daughter had one last year.  I haven't talked to my other
    neighbors yet, but I'm starting to wonder if it's the water or
    something.
    
    We live in a cul-de-sac in Shrewsbury and the development is just about
    5 years old.
    
    I'll certainly be questioning the Doc tomorrow.
    
    
    

    Interesting point on the possible 'clustering' of this in your
    neighborhood....Would be worth following up....Per my MIL all 4 of her
    kids got varying degrees of kidney related problems after they moved
    out to the country (this was nearly 30 yrs. ago). Seems like a
    combination of the water and their particular physiology that
    precipitated the problems; Age also played a factor; the younger 2 got
    it worse than the older 2.

    to note: .11
    
    When Elyse went in for her VCUG - I was really worried and scared.  She
    had her tests done at UMASS.  She was an awesome brave little girl and
    the technicians and doctors were great.   The tube didn't seem to hurt
    her at all.  It was a very thin tube and they told me it was the one
    that they use on infants.  I'm not sure about the jelley, but they did
    put a brown liquid on Eleyse before inserting the tube - so perhaps it
    was this jelley.  They let Elyse touch the tube and bend it, they 
    explained everything to her.   She didn't feel pain when the tube was
    inserted...the hardest part for her was keeping on the water in until
    they said she could release it.  That's when she started crying - that
    she couldn't hold it anymore and we were all routing for her saying
    she could.   So, there were tears...but she did it.   I don't look
    forward to doing this again with her....but I know about it now and 
    it won't be so hard on me.  It's the not knowing that is so scary.
    
    Good Luck!
    
    Oh, someone was mentioning something about a neighborhood that seemed
    to have a lot of UTI's in it.  I don't know what I think about this
    but along those lines - I have to say since my daughter has had her
    UTI and been diagnosed with REFLUX - I know too many people with this
    problem...this just doesn't seem to be as uncommon as I thought it was.
    
    Denice
    

    Denice -- was the brown solution that they put on her first a betadine
    solution to throughly clean the area?  
    
    Roberta

    
    Roberta
    
    Absolutely - that's exactly what it was - now that you have refreshed
    my memory.   So I'll have to say Elyse had no Jelly to numb the area -
    and she did fine.
    
    thanks!
    Denice
    

    Well, my daughter Erica is going in tomorrow for her VCUG.  I can't get
    it off my mind.  
    
    Has anyone heard of a Dr. Wellman?  I guess she comes from Childrens and
    I hear she's great! (That doesn't make me feel any better).
    
    I've been trying to explain this to Erica, but since she's only 2, I
    know she doesn't really understand.
    
    I can't wait till Tuesday night when this whole thing is over.
    
    Please say a prayer for my little peanut!!!
    
    Thx 
    
    Sue

    Sue
    
    My thoughts are with you and your little one!  I know what it is like
    to take your child in for this.  I never heard of this doctor.
    
    Take Care - and let us know how it turns out
    
    Denice
    

    I've been speaking with my sister-in-law lately about this file.
    My neice is going for the ultrasound of her kidneys next week
    and the testing mentioned in this string.  My sister-in-law 
    asked I please print out this string to show her and help her
    with her thoughts and questions.  I've already mentioned the
    xylocain to her.  
    
    She thanks you all in advance for the help/support she's going
    to get from it.  Just knowing that this is in existance, suggesting
    this urinary reflux isn't as uncommon as she thought, has helped
    her already.
    
    					cj *->

    Well, thank goodness Tuesday is over.  We brought Erica to the
    hospital yesterday for these tests.
    
    Luckily she does not have reflux.  That's the good news.  The bad news
    is that my poor little girl didn't understand at all what was being
    done to her and was trembling.  She was so frightened!!  I died inside
    watching her scream.
    
    The Dr. was very good.  I would say the procedure took about 30
    minutes.  Once they filled Ericas bladder, she wouldn't pee, so she
    was crying I'm sure because she was uncomfortable.  We couldn't get
    her to pee so finally the Dr. said to put her diaper on and let her
    pee in her diaper.  She said that they put enough fluid in her bladder
    that once she pees they would still be able to see if she had reflux
    once they put her back on the table again.   That worked out o.k. and
    we got the good news.
    
    I can say though that I think the screaming was basically fright, cuz
    after she was dressed, she was walking around the room saying bye-bye
    to everyone and Thank you.  She was also her same little perfect self
    the rest of the day.
    
    I'm just glad it's over!!!
    
    In response to the previous note, I was wondering how old the child is?
    I think that's a big part of the process with the little ones
    understanding what's going on.
    
    If you have any questions, you can certainly send me mail or call me
    and I will gladly help any way I can.
    
    Sue

    Sue,
    
    I'm glad things turned out okay for your little one.
    
    It's it heart wrenching to make them go through something that they
    don't understand and there is nothing you can do about it.  After the
    last VCUG, my Amanda apologized for being a bad girl, it broke my heart
    as I tried to explain to her that she is a good girl and that the
    nurses and I were the ones who were sorry for making her go through the
    test.
    
    Did they use the xlocane (sp) for the insertion of the tube?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Roberta_who_has_to_go_through_this_again_in_another_8_months.....

    Roberta,
    
    I want to say yes, but I'm not even sure if they used the xylocain!
    
    I know the Dr. rubbed about 3 different cotton swabs down in that
    area, yet when she did insert the tube, Ericas screaming went up
    alittle higher.
    
    I just pray that she never gets another infection again.
    
    I'm sorry that Amanda has to go through this again in 8 months.  Can
    you imagine that she actually thought she did something wrong.  Poor
    little girl.  My heart goes out to her.
    
    I know my husband had said to Erica that he was sorry that she had
    to go through this and she held his face and said "Don't be sad
    Daddy, it's gonna be O.K."  (Boy, do I love that little girl!!!)
    
    Please keep us informed of her progress.  
    
    Sue

    
    I know the anxiety of having to go through these tests again.  My
    daughter Elyse will have to have the kidney test every six months.
    The next visit will be June/July timeframe.  not looking forward
    to it.  The VCUG test, however doesn't have to happen again until
    she is completed her medication (two years!) or another infection.
    So far so good - no infections.
    
    I do feel for these little ones going through these tests.  I think
    my Elyse was more brave than mom was the dy we went in to begin all
    the tests.
    
    Denice

    CJ,
    
    If your still reading this note, I was wondering how your niece was
    doing from her tests with regards to the reflux.  I read in another
    note from you that she was going in on the 9th of June.
    
    Sue

    Hi Sue,
    
    Funny you wrote!  I was just out a lunch thinking, "I should put
    an update in on that".
    
    She did VERY well through the testing.  They used the Xylocaine on
    the tube and also mildly sedated her.  She got a bit upset when she
    peed, but otherwise was fine.  
    
    All tests came back NEGATIVE!!!!  Hip Hip hooray! No reflux, no kidney
    damage.  She's written up as apparantly being prone to urinary tract
    infections, and will be treated as such.  My sister in law is just so
    relieved!  
    
    				Thanks so much for asking
    						cj *->

    CJ,
    
    I'm so happy to hear your GOOD news!!!!!!!!!  What a relief it is
    to a parent to hear that your child is ok........
    
    Does she have to go for any more cultures?  The Dr. said that since
    my little Erica had one at such a young age that they want her to
    have a urinary culture once a month for awhile (that's fine by me, will
    relieve any fears I might have that she is not o.k.)
    
    Sue

    
    Well, now it's my turn. Anna (4yr) has just gotten over her second
    "undiagnosed" UTI. I say undiagnosed, cause the quick test in the
    office said UTI, but the full lab tests came back as contaminated.
    Because she clinically (all symptoms) has had two UTIs she will be
    going in for the ultrasound and VCUG next month (we leave Thursday
    for 2 weeks vacation). I quickly came back to this note to re-read
    and get a better feel for what we're in for. I also called my Mom,
    cause I remember my older sister have a kidney infection and one
    of my younger sisters have a UTI, both when they were young. My older
    sister has a duplicate ureta tube as mentioned in an earlier note.
    That person also said that this type of REFLUX is heriditary. I'm
    definitely going to bring this to my doctor's attention when we get
    back. Well, I'm sure I'll be back in here when the time comes asking
    for all sorts of support. For the time being she's on a maintainence
    dose of Bactrim (yuck!!). Luckily Anna takes it okay.
    
    Patty

    
    Well, Anna had her tests on Tuesday. She was quite the trooper and
    handled things fairly well. She was more upset about the johnny she
    had to wear (a definite fashion faux pas) and having to pee on the
    table instead of the potty where you're supposed to pee. The results
    came back that everything is fine, so that's the good news.
    
    The bad news is: she seems on the verge of another infection. Over the
    past few days she's been doing a lot of "a few drops in her undies" and
    then finishing on the toilet. Monday evening she went through 4 pairs
    of undies in a couple of hours. Today at daycare she pee'd her pants
    3 times. The first time I'm disregarding cause she hadn't pee'd since
    waking up, so I consider it a true accident. She went on the toilet
    mid-morning, and then while eating lunch drenched herself while trying
    to get out of her chair to get to the bathroom. She went down for her
    nap and again woke up drenched. I called the doctor's and it's too late
    to get her there for a culture now (work in Maynard, daycare in
    Townsend, and doctor in Leominster), so we'll see how she does through
    this evening/tonight/morning and I'll decided whether she needs to go
    in. 
    
    Since we know it's not an internal kidney/bladder problem, anybody
    have any ideas??? For the most part this kid has a holding tank for
    a bladder and can go long periods of time without having to go, so
    go this frequently is out of the norm. So any thoughts/suggestions/
    words of encouragement are welcome.
    
    Patty

    
    I don't know what the problem is, but I do know that times that I've
    had a UTI, it hurts to much to NOT go, to the point that you'd be able
    to "drench" yourself.  Maybe it's something entirely different??
    
    Has she had her blood sugar tested?  Does she drink a lot?  Any other
    symptoms?  Typically with a UTI, it's a feeling of having to go ALL the
    time, but then with very small results once you get there.
    
    Good Luck!
    patty

    
    I agree about the UTI symptoms: Her last UTI she was going every 30-45
    minutes will little production. She does drink alot, so if I bring her
    in (if it continues) I'll question the blood sugar bit. Thanks.
    
    Patty

    Patty,
    
    Don't want to "panic" you or anything, but if you've any reason to
    believe that there may be a problem w/ her blood sugar, the absolute
    soonest you can get her in, the better.  There is a shot available (I'm
    98% sure it's all approved) for people that are recently diagnosed as
    diabetic, that gives them a "remission" of sorts, and is effective for
    many years.  BUT it only works if they catch it soon enough.
    
    If you can't get into the Drs, your local pharmacy will have urine test
    strips - you can do the test yourself.
    
    Good Luck!
    Patty

    
    Thanks Patty, I'll keep that in mind. Anna has been dry since the last
    accident at ~2:30 yesterday afternoon. Maybe she just had a bad day.
    I'll keep a watch for this again and maybe try the strips.
    
    Patty

	Patty,

	Also check for a rash or yeast infection.  When Emily was
	"dripping", I asked the pedi's nurse, and she said that because
	little girls don't wipe too well, they often get a slight rash	
	that makes urinating a little painful.  Because of that, they
	tend to either not fully empty their bladders, or wait until
	the very last minute to go (increasing accidents and drips).

	That seemed to be the problem with Emily.  

	Karen

Hi,


I'm 37 weeks along and during the Ultrasound that was done
this week they did spot some swelling in the babys left kidney
which they think may be caused by some kind of blockage or 
obstruction. 

At the same time as the doctor said it is not uncommon to spot
some swelling on ultrasounds, he mentioned that this should be 
checked out further after the baby is born to see if what is 
the matter.

Anyone else had a similar condition detected before birth? (I did
see note 905.6 but would like to hear from others as well)



Thanks
/Malin

    Okay, we just got back from seeing Amanda's specialist....her reflux
    continues with little sign of improvement.
    
    The doctor recommends we have another VCUG and Ultrasound done around
    June.  
    
    --If there is considerable improvement, we go on as we have been,but she 
    doesn't anticipate this happening.
    --If there is little or no improvement, we will schedule surgery for
    the summer.
    --If they don't have to distrub the bladder during the operation then
    she will be in the hospital for 2-3 days.
    --If the bladder has to be invovled it becomes a 4-5 day stay.
    --She'll be out of commision for about a week.
    --Then one last VCUG and Ultrasound to make sure all went well.
    
    Now -- has anyone else been through this???  How did you cope?  What
    words of comfort can I offer my little one, who keeps asking why this
    has happened to her?
    
    Thanks,
    Roberta