Today, I brought Elise to see the TCH pediatric urologist to whom she was referred after her VCUG test was positive for grade 4 kidney reflux.
I'm a little ambivalent about the results of the appointment...
On the one hand, I really hate to have to put Elise through anything else right now, so in that way, it turned out great. The doctor reviewed her VCUG images, the radiology report, and previous labs and confirmed that she does have high grade reflux. As for as an action plan, he said he recommends we just continue the meds she is already taking, which include the antibiotic Bactrim 1.5 mL twice/ day. He said would not recommend surgical intervention to stop the reflux at this point because she was already sick and hospitalized both times she had a UTI, so we really have no confirmation that the UTI was primary in either case.
Now on the other hand, I sort of feel that this whole VCUG test and urology consult was a waste of time and money. I say that because the doctor was very condescending throughout our discussion and made me feel as though my questions were ridiculous and the appointment was a waste of his valuable time. Also, he made the same point that I brought up to Elise's treatment team.....she has never just randomly turned up with a UTI.
Anyway, this urologist did make me feel a bit better in that he said that as long as she is not experiencing urinary tract infections, the reflux is not actively damaging her kidneys. If you recall, I was very upset last month when the resident radiologist told me that there was progressive kidney damage happening even in the absence of infections. SO, if that's not actually the case...then great! We'll just try to forget about this whole urinary/ kidney reflux thing until next year, when it is recommended that we repeat the tests.
I'm a little ambivalent about the results of the appointment...
On the one hand, I really hate to have to put Elise through anything else right now, so in that way, it turned out great. The doctor reviewed her VCUG images, the radiology report, and previous labs and confirmed that she does have high grade reflux. As for as an action plan, he said he recommends we just continue the meds she is already taking, which include the antibiotic Bactrim 1.5 mL twice/ day. He said would not recommend surgical intervention to stop the reflux at this point because she was already sick and hospitalized both times she had a UTI, so we really have no confirmation that the UTI was primary in either case.
Now on the other hand, I sort of feel that this whole VCUG test and urology consult was a waste of time and money. I say that because the doctor was very condescending throughout our discussion and made me feel as though my questions were ridiculous and the appointment was a waste of his valuable time. Also, he made the same point that I brought up to Elise's treatment team.....she has never just randomly turned up with a UTI.
Anyway, this urologist did make me feel a bit better in that he said that as long as she is not experiencing urinary tract infections, the reflux is not actively damaging her kidneys. If you recall, I was very upset last month when the resident radiologist told me that there was progressive kidney damage happening even in the absence of infections. SO, if that's not actually the case...then great! We'll just try to forget about this whole urinary/ kidney reflux thing until next year, when it is recommended that we repeat the tests.
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