Sugar doesn't just comfort me...It must be genetic

We had an eventful day in Salt Lake for Wynn's kidney appointments.

First he had a renal scan. A renal scan is a diagnostic test designed to evaluate the blood supply to, and the function of, the kidneys. Two tech simultaneously put in an IV and a catheter. They were pretty fast, but as you can imagine Waylyn screamed through the ordeal. They put weights on his arms and legs then placed him over a gamma camera. We could watch a screen of the images the camera collected as a radioactive tracer (injected into the IV) made it's way through his body and into his kidneys.

This test showed us that it takes him at least 45 min (length of the test) to clear urine from his kidneys. A normal child his age should clear it in 10 min.




We may read too much into his look, but Brian stayed close and Wynn just stared at him with these wide eyes as if to say, "Why are you letting this happen to me." Brian could hold on to his tiny little hand until he fell asleep. He was such a little trooper.





After many dips of the pacifier into a sugary syrup, he was able to stay calm and finally fall asleep.



Next he had a Voiding Cystouretherogram (VCUG). The VCUG provided important information about the shape and size his bladder and the ureters flowing in and out of it. The catheter was used to fill the bladder to capacity with a dye contrast. Under an x-ray they were able to see how the contrast looked in the bladder. From this test we were able to rule out reflux (See previous kidney post). I was excited about this because he can now stop taking the antibiotics.



The little hospital gown he got to wear was cuter than most. Brian helped hold him down to get the pictures and we both had protective gowns on.





At our appointment with the urologist we learned that since it is not reflux or any other apparent blockage, it is most likely a UPJ obstruction (again, see previous post). The only reason he won't say that this is 100% what it is, is because urine is flowing so slowing out of the kidneys that he was not able to visualize the ureters to see if there is any other obstruction.

The way to visualize it is to consider Lake Powell. The entire Colorado River flows in and at some point the entire river flows out. He is clearing urine, it just takes extra time as is causing a swelling in the middle. The swelling on his right side is considered a grade 4 and the swelling on the left a 3 on a scale of 4, so needless to say it is still severe. The doctor is concerned about the pressure it may be starting to cause on the kidney tissue on the right side. Because of this we will see him in 3 months instead of 6. I gather that he will continue to evaluate not only the urine flow but also the kidney tissue to determine if intervention (surgery) is needed prior to that 18-24 month timetable discussed in the previous kidney post.

Conclusion: We are still in the same situation, we just know more. We are still going to wait and see if his kidney function improves--which even with those grades it still has about a 50/50 chance. Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers.



We were able to visit with one of Brian's good friend Mike Taylor who has 2 years left in his urology residency.