Hematuria

Prior to blogging, I kept a message board to keep up with friends and family through pregnancy and mommyhood.  I'm working on bringing those posts to this blog.  This is a set of posts written about our experience with our son's hematuria when he was a baby.


June 11, 2008


Zach, in his short 7 months out of my womb, has had 2 or 3 incidents of hematuria- small amounts of blood in his urine. Since the incidents occured at a time when I was not having any sort of nipple issue- so I knew I wasn’t passing blood through his system- we went to the doc. Doc sent us to a urologist.

Urologist had us take a urine sample. They did a dipstick test to check for microscopic blood in his urine.

Apparently the dipstick went well- nothing found aside from what would be expected.

However, because the hematuria has occured on several occasions- sometimes when sick and sometimes when healthy- the urologist wants to be thorough and make certain there isn’t something else to be concerned about.

He will get an ultrasound of his kidneys and a VCUG (voiding cystourethrogram). It is my understanding that they are testing for VU Reflux- urine backing up into the bladder or kidneys.

It could be nothing or it could be something serious. My mind is racing to all the dark corners of serious, of course. I really thought we would do the urine screen and be done with it but apparently not.

Prayers/good thoughts are asked for, appreciated, welcome, etc. Feel free to share your own experiences with this, too. 


His procedure was done on June 19, 2008.

Thankfully, there isn't much to tell. We arrived at the hospital and got checked in. They got him in for his ultrasound pretty quickly. Jeff and I both went in with him and the tech got right to it. Zach didn't seem to mind his abdomen being pushed on or the cold gel. We played peek a boo. Had to wait while the results were e-mailed to the doc to review- in case additional images were needed. The doc (Dr. Clark) wanted further kidney/bowel pics from Zach's right side- a piece of bowel was on the kidney and she wanted to make sure it wasn't an issue. And it wasn't. Kidneys look perfectly healthy. Out to the waiting room for a 45 minute wait for the VCUG. And Zach did fine with the wait. Not crowded at all and we were able to keep him (and us) easily entertained. Only one of us could be with him for the procedure and Jeff thought it best that I be with him. I wish we both could have been in there- I could have managed Zach and Jeff could have been studying the screen to watch what was going on. Anyway, Zach and I go back and get him down to just a diaper. Take a basic x-ray first of his abdomen. Then a nurse comes in to do the catheter. He did so well. Didn't cry- got a VERY funny look on his face, though! They taped everything down and one nurse had to keep his legs held in place so he wouldn't kick the catheter out. The doc came in and they started the indicator liquid into the catheter. Zach didn't like this part- apparently it is pretty cold and the sensation was too much for him so we had some panicky, uncomfortable crying. But he was easily distracted (by me) with his big sister's "My Pod." Plays songs, lights up and has a great knob to chew on. Also had his little comfort blankie so he could grab on and suck a thumb as needed. And he continued to do great- until it was time to disassemble. He didn't like the tape coming off or the cath coming out. No distracting him and he was so tired by this point. I just leaned over him and song in his ear and he held his blankie and cried/fussed/sucked his thumb. And that was it. Dr Clark said that nothing that they looked at could explain the Hematuria. His kidneys, bladder, and urethra are all functioning as they should be. So- no answers but plenty of relief anyway. And I'm fine with chalking this up to "one of those things." I think there are plenty of possible answers. And the amount of blood in his diaper was so small... barely pink. So, for now anyway, we don't worry. We've done all we could to check all we can. And as soon as it was all over and he sat up- smiles, smiles, smiles. For everyone in the room and he beamed when Daddy walked in. And we got home and Teagan was SO excited to have her Zachy back home (she'd been home with Grandma). They spend almost all of their time together. They are rarely apart... they have a significant attachment. I love that.