Category Archive: Kidney Reflux

2.5 years have passed since Baby was operated on her urinary tract and again cut up to fix her small gut 2 weeks after the 1st op, as a result of complication from the 1st surgery. The post op MCUG scan and post op MAG 3 scan have both shown that Baby has no more kidney reflux. Her right kidney (the one that had 3rd grade kidney reflux and a duplex system) is also growing well. Thank God we did not listen to the first surgeon and have 20% of her upper right kidney removed. All is well with my Baby now. But she is still leaking urine. She needs to wear a pad or diaper all the time. While she knows how to tell me that she wants to pee when her bladder is really full, she cannot control the urine from dribbling out. The surgeon told us that she has a ‘lazy bladder’ now due to the operation. He asked me if I would like Baby to be given meds to relax the bladder but I prefer to wait and see. Our surgeon assured us that the urine leakage problem will grossly improve when Baby is 6YO… which means that there are 2.5 more years to go!! Oh, I cannot wait for the day that Cass is forever off diapers, once and for all.

On my part, I can help Baby by bringing her to the toilet to pee every hour instead of allowing the urine to leak out when the bladder is too full. By bringing her to pee consciously, this will train her bladder to ‘work’. I guess I have to set my mind and be mentally and physically ready for all the hard work – by bringing Baby to pee every hour and have a battle with her each time. This girl is often too engrossed with whatever that she is doing that she will refrain and resist from going to the toilet to pee. I really have to have a serious pep talk with Baby to condition her mind to go to the loo to pee every hour that she is awake.

Cassandra’s 5th post Ureteral Reimplantation surgery ultrasound scan.

Tomorrow’s the day. The day that I have been dreading for almost 2 years. Exactly 2 years ago, we were preparing for Baby’s surgery, which was held on 5 May 2009, the day that I will never forget. After an eventful stay in the hospital for 3 weeks where Baby was cut up twice, we were told that she will need to do another MAG3 scan 2 years post surgery to see the kidney function and flow of urine again. Though the 1st MAG3 scan 2 years ago showed that the dilated right kidneys on both moities were functioning well and the post operation MCUG scan showed no more kidney reflux, I am nevertheless worried, very very worried of all the ‘what ifs?’

Wish me luck. My motherly instinct tells me that Baby would behave well tomorrow during the procedure. I have promised Baby a big big rainbow ice cream and yolipop if she does not cry. Wish us luck. Cassandra needs lots of luck and prayers for a smooth sailing and yell-free session during the insertion of the brandula on her hand, a fuss-free, cry-free, yell-free and whine-free half an hour when the procedure is on-going in the procedures room of the hospital. I pray that she will lie still for the half an hour when the radioactive dye is injected and goes round the urinary tract so that a clear video can be captured. The procedure will be unsuccessful if she moves and struggles and probably will cost double if it has to be repeated. It costs over RM2K for a procedure and this is not claimable from our insurer.

I hate the thought of donning on the heavy, armor-look like long vest to protect myself against radiation while I am with my baby in the room. And I dislike being in the cancer center of a hospital. It makes me feel very down when I see cancer patients.

to be continued….

I have been potty training Baby for the past 1 week and I realized a little problem. While Baby does not wee wee ‘in full’ in her panties, I find that her panties will be slightly wet every half hourly. I suspect that she is leaking urine and she is not even aware of it.  I really can’t recall if my #1 and #2 were like this last time.  I had read from somewhere that kids with a history of Kidney Reflux will have a problem with potty training.  And I recall Baby’s surgeon asking us if Baby’s diaper is wet all the time as he has a patient with Kidney Reflux who wets her panties all the time too.  I must ask Baby’s surgeon if this is a problem when we next see him.

The pediatric surgeon in London has referred us to see a pediatric surgeon in University Hospital PJ. We were informed that this doctor from UH, who has years of working experience in London is a skillful surgeon. We will be getting the details of this surgeon from hubby’s uncle tonight. Hopefully we can make an appointment to see him next week and hopefully the surgery can take place in a week or two.

We have just received feedback from the surgeon in London.  The pediatric surgeon is of the opinion that there is no necessity to do a partial nephrectomy (partial removal of the right kidney, i.e. the upper pole of the right kidney).  He has recommended that a ureteral reimplantation be performed.  We have however not received the complete details yet.  Hubby’s uncle who is a surgeon in London will be helping us find a good pediatric surgeon in KL who can perform the surgery on Baby C. While I am glad that my sweetie-pie doesn’t need a partial nephrectomy, I am also anxious and worried that the ureteral reimplantation surgery will not be successful. 

Our doctors have told us that many complications (which would lead to more infections) could arise in a ureteral reimplantation surgery.  Sometimes, several surgeries will be required to fix the complications, if the first surgery is not successful in fixing the problem.  I know complications can also happen in a partial nephrectomy. In fact in every surgery, complications can happen.  I can only pray that God will help us find a good pediatric surgeon, that there will be no complications before, during and after the surgery and that Baby C will be free from UTI attacks and kidney reflux after the surgery.  Please pray for us.