Kaylee’s been getting UTIs for the past couple years pretty regularly so she had a procedure done yesterday to fix a one way valve between her kidney and bladder.
We also found out that most people have 1 tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. 1 out of 150 people will have 2 tubes connecting one of the kidneys to the bladder and of that 1 out of 150 people 1/10 of those have 2 tubes for both kidneys. Kaylee has 2 tubes on both Kidneys. This increases her odds of having reflux problems. And getting infections.
Dr. R was hoping that since her reflux level was only a two that the daily low dose of antibiotics would be enough to keep infections from occurring. We knew a couple months ago that if she got another diagnosed infection we would be off to the Children’s hospital.
So about a month ago she had a pretty nasty infection. Dr. M (her primary care Dr.) put her on some heavy duty antibiotics, and sent us into see her Ped. Urologist. Dr. R.
I think Dr. R. was ready to sell the surgery rout. He seemed surprised when I said that we were ready to schedule it. But after two years it was more than time.
We just really don’t want all the infections, or continued infections to cause too much scaring on her kidneys. Scared kidneys are NEVER good. Plus Kaylee is pretty much in constant pain. And that brings it’s own set of issues. Like crabby pants and epic tantrums. Which are understandable, but like I said, it’s been a LONG couple of years for all of us.
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| Kaylee in the pre-op room. |
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| The front desk gives each child that comes in a toy that’s been donated. It’s to help make a scary day a little better. |
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| Kaylee got a little stuffed dog that came with a carry bag, brush, and chew bone. She named the puppy Pups. |
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| When Dr. R came in to talk with us pre-op he asked Kaylee if she had any questions. Kaylee said “Um, my [va]gina is so ouchy, can you make it all better?” Dr. R said, “that’s more of a question I would expect from a teenager not a 4yo” He was all smiles about it. |
She was pretty upset/scared coming to post-op. She just kept yelling that she wanted to go home. She also freaked out and was trying to put her pants back on when she realized that she was commando.
The nurse had to un-hook (IV and such were on her feet.) her which set off the machines which worried the other nursing staff all so we could put Kaylee’s underwear and pants on. Then after getting her all hooked back up Kaylee started yelling in addition to wanting to go home, that she had to pee.
The nurse was able to get enough post-op vitals to un-hook Kaylee permanently. Kid wasn’t kidding. She HAD to pee. SO SO SO much pee.
When we got her home and she was truly awake she said, “I didn’t cry. I was just yelling because I was scared, and wanted to go home. And I had to pee and didn’t want to have an accident. And the shot hurt so I wanted the shot out of me.” The “shot” being her IV.
Jeeze. I’d yell too!
The procedure it’s self was quick. About a half hour. And Kaylee was allowed to go back to normal activities ASAP. It’s just amazing how fast kids bounce back. The last couple times I’ve been put under for my back stuff I feel wiped out for the rest of the day.
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| Kaylee on they way home, holding her new puppy, and empty GoGO squeeze. She wanted to wear my sun glasses, and passed out with a sad sad face. |
Once Kaylee woke up, (I mean woke up, not in the hospital coming to, but a couple hours later when we were home.) it was like nothing had happened. She was her normal self. AMAZING!
We will be scheduling a followup ultra sound in a month to see how everything looks, and then in about 3 months we go back to Phoenix Children’s hospital for another VCUG. Because of her extra tubes the success rate of the procedure is reduced. So we get to do extra followup testing.
Read the start of our UTI/Reflux journy here. And more here, and here.
