Mayo Diagnosis
by ::G @ 2009-03-18 00:36
Continuing the tale of Giada's ongoing medical issues: On February 23rd, we went to an appointment at Mayo Clinic to see their head of pediatric urology, Dr. Kramer. Our family doctor is at OMC but we were referred to the Mayo specialist. The nurse practitioner had such a different manner about her that Sachie asked me if she was the doctor. Dr. Kramer was all business, looking like a businessman rather than a doctor. We got probably 7 minutes of his time as he explained the tests that were going to be scheduled.
On the 24th, we had an appointment at St. Mary's Hospital to do a voiding test that required sedation. It was an early-morning appointment that sapped both Sachie and I, and we didn't finish until after noon. As anticipated, there was trouble finding Giada's tiny veins and getting the catheter in, although the 2nd nurse who attempted the catheter got it right and fast despite looking quite a bit younger than the other nurse.
The 25th was the big show that I couldn't be at, where they repeated the VCUG test at Mayo and did a Lasix mag scan (presumably an MRI). Sachie got a translator for the explanation, which turned out to be a Japanese lady, J.M., who we'd met once previously and who taught the intro to Japanese language class that was offered at HGST once. Apparently Sachie understood most of the content in her estimation after the fact, but she wanted to make sure.
The diagnoses were "bilateral renal duplication" and "bilateral grade 5 vesicoureteral reflux". The latter apparently is common in children, whereas the former is not. In fact, the comment was, "This is a very interesting case"—never something you want to hear from a specialist. Surgery at one year of age was indicated, with a repeat VCUG two months prior to verify the condition. Sachie seemed to indicate that the renal duplication was the primary objective of the surgery; however, the memo we received a couple weeks ago summarizing the findings seemed to imply that the reflux condition would be repaired. Apparently I have some research to do and follow-up questions to ask.
That was a pretty stressful time at work and at home. For now Giada's ok, but the prospect of surgery is a dark cloud on the horizon.
On the 24th, we had an appointment at St. Mary's Hospital to do a voiding test that required sedation. It was an early-morning appointment that sapped both Sachie and I, and we didn't finish until after noon. As anticipated, there was trouble finding Giada's tiny veins and getting the catheter in, although the 2nd nurse who attempted the catheter got it right and fast despite looking quite a bit younger than the other nurse.
The 25th was the big show that I couldn't be at, where they repeated the VCUG test at Mayo and did a Lasix mag scan (presumably an MRI). Sachie got a translator for the explanation, which turned out to be a Japanese lady, J.M., who we'd met once previously and who taught the intro to Japanese language class that was offered at HGST once. Apparently Sachie understood most of the content in her estimation after the fact, but she wanted to make sure.
The diagnoses were "bilateral renal duplication" and "bilateral grade 5 vesicoureteral reflux". The latter apparently is common in children, whereas the former is not. In fact, the comment was, "This is a very interesting case"—never something you want to hear from a specialist. Surgery at one year of age was indicated, with a repeat VCUG two months prior to verify the condition. Sachie seemed to indicate that the renal duplication was the primary objective of the surgery; however, the memo we received a couple weeks ago summarizing the findings seemed to imply that the reflux condition would be repaired. Apparently I have some research to do and follow-up questions to ask.
That was a pretty stressful time at work and at home. For now Giada's ok, but the prospect of surgery is a dark cloud on the horizon.
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