Any Experience with Kidney Reflux? Plano Pediatric Imaging for Tests?

I had kidney reflux as a child, and grew out of it. I took maintenance antibiotics for 4 years after they discovered it. I had no problems from that, other than I eventually developed an allergy to that class of antibiotics and can no longer take them. The VCUG is unpleasant (I had my last one like 20 years ago and still remember it!). Other than being very prone to having UTIs, she should be fine. I am 30 now and haven't had any problems in at least 10 years.

Hi...My son had UTI with very high fever when he was 13 months old. We were living in Minnesota at that time. He did not have renal ultrasound. VCUG was done in Children's hospital in MN. He did not have any anaesthesia. His legs were held together with some bandage and an catheter was inserted to test the reflux. I was also pregnant with #2 so I wasnt allowed in the room.
I am new to Dallas and have no idea about the labs here.
Goodluck with the test and hopefully it is just a one time UTI and your daughter doesnt have reflux.

I have two kids, now 4 1/2 and 3 and they both have kidney reflux. My daughter which is older was diagnosed when she was 12 months old and has gone through the testing numerous times, and she had surgery at 2 1/2 to correct it. My son was diagnosed when her was just a couple of weeks old beccause of the history of it being hereditary. Both kids were first tested at Plano Pediatric Imaging but now they both go to Children's in either Dallas or Plano. The first time my daugther was tested I was pregnant with my son and when they did the VCUG I was able to be in a room off to the side where I can see what was going on while my husband was with her. The test doesn't take very long and she will definitely cry but with a little TLC she will forget about it in no time. My daughter doesn't even remember having the surgery and being in the hospital for two days. It was a tough decision to have the surgery but we thought it would be better in the long run and it is, she hasn't had an infection and she no longer needs to go to the urologist. My son has not had any infections but he gets tested regularly and has even had tests to check the functioning of the kidneys. I wish you all the luck. Just remember that even though you wish this wasn't happening, it isn't that bad.

Hi C., I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. The only advice I can offer is about Plano imaging. We did not have a good experience but I partially blame myself. Make sure you ask and they tell you EXACTALLY what the procedure will entale. Our 4 month old had an UGI done there and it was horrible. I know what happens for an adult and assumed it would be the same for the child. It wasn't. If they had told me what needed to be done I would have told them right away it wasn't going to work and that we needed another option. It would have saved a lot of pain and tears for him. Just make sure you're informed. If you know your child won't handle it well ask what other ways it can be done. Good luck and congrats on baby #2!!

My daughter has urinary reflux that was diagnosed when she was about 18 months old (after a UTI). She's undergone three VCUGs, all with the gas anesthesia. Is Plano Pediatric the one that's west of the Tollway, just south of Willow Bend Mall and Prestonwood Baptist church? We've been there for one of the procedures and it was very nice. I know I was pregnant with #2 at one point and I stood behind a wall with a shield on while they did the test, so I could still hear and respond to questions during the procedure.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I think we are close to outgrowing this. It can be scary, but at least you have it diagnosed and can act on it.

Hi C.,

As a matter of fact, we were there this past Wednesday. It was the first time I'd ever experienced anything like that. My oldest daughter is 5 and they wanted to make sure she didn't have reflux (she doesn't thank God!)

I think Plano-peds is the only place that will do both the ultrasound AND VCUG on the same day. The procedure isn't fun, but they're very good at it...they do them all day long. Dr. Davis is the anesthesiologist and is FANTASTIC. He made me feel comfortable right away. The nurses (Angie and...I don't remember the other one) were great and Dr. Kim (I think is his name) is the dr who actually watches to see. I'm sorry you can't be in there with her, do you have someone who can? It will be better if she can look at someone she knows while she's falling asleep. She'll wake up within a few minutes of being off of the anesthesia and it's very safe. She'll be dizzy and groggy, and disoriented probably. At that young of an age that may be scary for her. Be prepared to hold her a lot and don't let them rush you out of the recovery room.

All in all this is a GOOD thing to do. It seems invasive and horrible, but it is so much better to find out now so you can avoid kidney damage. I know a 16 year old who will probably lose one of her kidneys because her parents didn't want to put her through the tests. Ultimately, you'll be able to live with yourself much better knowing that you tried to help rather than you tried to avoid.

Good luck. Hope all goes well for you.

I think my daughter was about the same age when she had the ultrasound and VCUG done. They did not use any anesthesia though. My sister went with me to help with her during the test. We just held her hands and talked to her to try to keep her as calm as we could. The test is definitely no fun! My sister had a lot of kidney problems growing up and she still remembers the awful tests!

Her test showed she had a little bit of refulx in her right kidney. I can't remember the whole schedule, but she had to have the ultrasound done again 6 months after the initial test, and another VCUG done at 1 year after the initial one. That one seemed harder because we were in the middle of potty training! During the test, they fill her bladder, and then they wanted her to pee on her own. Well she was so uncomfortable and scared that she wouldn't go! It took a while to get her to go. She didn't want to go in a diaper because she knew she was supposed to go in a potty, but we couldn't have her sit up on a potty! lol So that was hard for her. But luckily she had outgrown the reflux and is fine now!

It's a tough test for a child to go through, but she will be fine!

PS. Oh yeah, the renal ultrasound was easy! At one of them it was a breeze because they gave her a sucker that she focused all her attention on! She just had to lay on her side while they did the ultrasound, and then roll over to the other side. So she just laid there sucking on her candy! They even gave us printouts of each of her kidneys! LOL

No these tests are NOT fun and I would highly suggest using a pedi specific office to have them done. We had both our girls tested at COoks in FW and had good success. I have heard they are giving anestesia now but neither of my girls were able to have it.

Also if it is found check out www.deflux.com we had this for our oldest, she was a grade 4 on one side and a 5 on the other. She was having breakthrough infections even on the antibiotics. After the surgery she has been 100% normal, only 1-2 infections over the past five years.

Go into it knowing that anestesia changes your child until they come out of it. Some are cuddly and loving but more often they are thrashing and angry, it will pass in an hour or so, dont be alarmed.

If #1 has it, #2 jumps to a 50% chance of having it. We tested our second one much earlier because of sisters history. The younger they are and cant remember the testing, the better off they are imo.

Our oldest has a drs note on file at the school giving her permission to use the restroom whenever needed. Frequency and Urgency are still common for her and holding it greatly increases her chances of infection. Some teachers are understanding, others need the letter stating it is a chronic condition and will not go away next week. Following their two breaks a day will not work for my child.

Good luck and know this too shall pass!

My son was born with an obstructed kidney. He had to have several tests done including a VCUG. The VCUG was performed at Children's Medical Center. You are correct in saying that it is no fun. It involves a catheter. They also restrained him during the test. But, it is relatively quick and my son was fine afterwards. It is nice that she will have some sort of anesthesia. My son didn't have any. I think we have gone to the Plano imaging center for just an xray before and it was very nice. The staff were really great, too. Best of luck and I hope all goes well! If you need a urologist, let me know. We have a great one in Plano.

Hi,
My daughter had grade two kidney reflux. She was diagnosed at 5 months. She is now two. She has had the VCUG, but she was awake they have not needed to repeat it as her ultrasounds show that it is not worsening and has improved slightly. We did use Plano Pediatric Imaging and we happy with the service. I felt they were sensitive to a nervous mom. It is not a fun test, but it's not the worse thing in the whole scheme of life. We now follow up yearly with her urologist...we started with Dr. Adam Bakeman (sp) he has since move to CA he was wonderful. We now see Dr. David Ewalt he's in the same practice in Plano. Pediatric Urologists We like him, his personality is a little quirky, but not in a bad way. In fact we have her yearly check next week. We do not give her antibiotics it was found incidentally she was a preemie and they were checking her kidneys for calcium deposits and found the relux. Knock on wood, she has never had an UTI and the Dr's told us it's fairly common and most kids grow out of it by 2. I hope that's your case and I hope they don't see any relux next week. Hugs.

My son recently had a VCUG/Sono done at Plano Pediatric Imaging. All I can say is AMAZING!! I was a nervous wreck and the staff there was so nice and caring. They answered all my questions and really put me and my husband at ease. We were able to stay in the room the whole time with him from start to finish. Dr. Davis did the anesthesia, and he was awesome with our son. I would highly recommend having any xrays done at Plano Pediatric Imaging!

I have not had any experience with an older child and kidney reflux. My 8 month old daughter was diagnosed when she was 4 months old. She ran a fever no more than 101 for 2 weeks before we ran a urinalysis and found a UTI. The testing she had done was without anesthesia because at that age there really isn't any discomfort. I had the testing done at Medical City Dallas. The technician's doing the testing actually told me that when they get to be 1 year old anesthesia is recommended, not because of discomfort, but more because the kids get scared. We had an ultrasound done and then the VUCG. The test is real simple involving a urinary catheter placed and then a dye flushed into the bladder. The radiologist can actually tell right then and there if there is reflux but will not give you a definate diagnosis until your doctor reviews the results. She was diagnosed with Grade 2-3 urinary reflux and has been on daily antibotics prescribed by her urologist. After seeing him we learned at her age they do the antibiotics and then at one year they redo the tests. If she has break through UTIs then they consider surgery to narrow the ureters when they enter the bladder but if not they. If the tests are normal at one year they stop antibiotics and she is finished. He said that some kids will go up to 4 years on daily antibiotics and not have a single break through. At that time they don't worry about it. Like I said I'm not sure about the protocols for an older child but that should give you an idea. My daughter's urologist is Dr David Ewalt. If you have any other questions please contact me

C.,

My daughter (now almost 5) was diagnosed with Kidney Reflux at 13 months. She had the test you refer to as well. I was to freaked out (I know, bad!) to go with her, so her daddy took her. He said it was hard to watch her "go to sleep" with the gas so they could do the procedure. She had no ill effects after the test was over. I was worried she would be nauseous or tired, but she was just fine. We have to take her back sometime soon to confirm that she has grown out of the reflux but I am dreading it. I don't want to put her to sleep again. I also have a friend whose daughter had reflux and they did the tests without the gas. It's just a catheter going in, i think...so maybe we will go that route next time. My daughter took antibiotics as a precautionary measure for 3 years...and she never had antoher UTI again. Good luck with your testing...I think this situation can be extremely benign and not worth getting worked up about in the long run.

Hi there, I have a 4 month old son that had one of these done at 5 or so days old at medical city Dallas. what they did was put a cathater in to fill his bladder with special detectable fluid then continued to watch on a monitor to take pictures of if or when he emptied. My husband and I were in there and they were able to answer our questions while procedure was being done... I suggest you have someone in there if they will allow it, just for piece of mind. You will be able to see on the images the bladder fill and the urethera which lead to the kidneys you will be able to see if there is any reflux. Please understand I know what you are feeling, I tried not to hold my breath as I watched waiting for him to urinate .

My now 12 yr old was diagnosed with VU Reflux at 5 weeks old. There are different grades and they measure how far the urine goes back up into the kidneys. My daughter was on antibiotics till the age of 6, then outgrew hers. The VCUG is not that bad my daughter never had anesthesia, and she had one every year till 7. Make sure you go to a place that does them often like Childrens Hospital, they are so very great at what they do!! Feel free to message me if you want more info.