Cath without retracting? Quick help!

[Blucactus]

My (intact) 15 month old son is going in for a VGUG on Thursday, and I am planning to speak with the HCP's about retraction before they cath him--but what do I need to know? Is it possible to cath without retracting? I think yes, but not sure how--any BTDT or advice would be really appreciated.

ps. I am really nervous about an accidental retraction and am always paranoid when around HCP's and make sure I ask about it over and over before they touch him. I talked with the guy who scheduled our procedure, and he acted like of COURSE they would be able to do it that way, they do it ALL THE TIME. I'm not sure if that was reassuring or not...:P

[becca_howell]

I don't now what a VGUG is, but I heard that you're supposed to do a bag cath instead of the traditional on intact children.

[Blucactus]

For the VCUG, they shoot dye through the cath up into his kidneys to make sure it comes back down normally without refluxing back up into his kidneys, which would indicate a problem. So bagging him is not an option there...

[Fyrestorm]

Just tell them you do not consent to retraction. If they say they have to, tell them to get a NICU nurse to do it since they have the most experience with intact babies.

[Blucactus]

How will they get it in without seeing where they're going? I've heard moms on here talk about cathing every day (SN kids) without retraction, and I'm just wondering how it's done!

[Blucactus]

Also how to make sure that we have the same definition of retration??

[latinalonestar]

Please be sure you are with him during this procedure!!! We have had several accidents where a nurse was putting in the cath and retracted the boy on accident.

Is this procedure absolutely necessary for your son? Why do they think he has kidney reflux? Sometimes doctors do things that are unnecessary just to "be sure". This is one of those things that you want to avoid at ALL costs. Caths actually can increase the risk of him getting future UTI infections.

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by Blucactus

How will they get it in without seeing where they're going? I've heard moms on here talk about cathing every day (SN kids) without retraction, and I'm just wondering how it's done!

They might have to peer into the opening to visualize the meatus...They should be able to find it blind though...it's a hole in a smooth surface..

[kiara7]

Originally Posted by latinalonestar

Is this procedure absolutely necessary for your son? Why do they think he has kidney reflux? Sometimes doctors do things that are unnecessary just to "be sure". This is one of those things that you want to avoid at ALL costs. Caths actually can increase the risk of him getting future UTI infections.

:

I would see if you can get a second opinion. May be contact DOC or a good anti-circ doctor.

Also, read the sticky about retraction. Sometimes nurses say they know what they're doing, but they don't. There were some horror stories with serious damage done. And please, stay with your son at all times.

Good Luck!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

The definition of retraction sticky has the instructions on the proper way to cath.

I am assuming your ds has had at least 1UTI and that is why they want to do this test?

I want to share my experiance with my dd. She got her first UTI at around 18months never had a problem before but the Dr. wanted to do the VCUG. Not knowing any different I agreed.

It was horrible for dd it hurt her badly and traumatized her for quiet a while. If I had it to do over she would never have had the VCUG after just 1 UTI. It was totally unnecissary.

Now dont get me wrong urinary reflux is nothing to mess with but just 1 UTI is not worth putting a child through that IMHO. If ds where to have a UTI I would refuse the VCUG unless he had another UTI.

[Blucactus]

Thank you, I feel ok about consenting to it (the VCUG). It is just a 'precaution' thing---but---my gut has felt "off" about him since birth, and he's dealt with one thing after another, massive food sensitivities, eczema, inguinal hernia, anemia, and most recently a UTI (complete with reactions to the treatment drugs) and steadily falling off the growth curve for weight. My gut says to do the test, I just want to make sure I know as much as I can re: the retraction issue. (And I plan to be there with him, for sure!) We have been blessed (or spoiled! ) with a Pedi's office where his intact-ness has never been an issue, nobody's ever said anything, ever retracted or even touched him. When they went to bag him for the urine sample to confirm the UTI, I stopped the nurse and made sure she wasn't going to retract him or anything and she looked at me like I had two heads "why would I do THAT?"

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

OK here is what I would do. When you get there ask the person to describe to you in detail how he/she inserts a cath. into an intact penis. Listen closely to what they say.

It is acceptable to gently flare the foreskin enough that it is in line with the urinary opening in the penis so that they are not just poking around in there blind that would be a bad thing would scratch the glans.

It should NOT look tight or even close to it but just the slack for lack of a better word taken up. Be aware that once whoever it is has their hands on your ds they can retract him within a blink of an eye and there is nothing you can do to stop it so make 100% sure that whoever is doing the cath. knows how serious and in no uncertain terms you will take whatever actions you feel needed should they go against your wishes.

I know sounds like overkill but some of the stories I have read here makes me both wanna cry and do bodily harm to some people who have hurt these little guys.

[latinalonestar]

Originally Posted by Blucactus

Thank you, I feel ok about consenting to it (the VCUG). It is just a 'precaution' thing---but---my gut has felt "off" about him since birth, and he's dealt with one thing after another, massive food sensitivities, eczema, inguinal hernia, anemia, and most recently a UTI (complete with reactions to the treatment drugs) and steadily falling off the growth curve for weight. My gut says to do the test, I just want to make sure I know as much as I can re: the retraction issue. (And I plan to be there with him, for sure!) We have been blessed (or spoiled! ) with a Pedi's office where his intact-ness has never been an issue, nobody's ever said anything, ever retracted or even touched him. When they went to bag him for the urine sample to confirm the UTI, I stopped the nurse and made sure she wasn't going to retract him or anything and she looked at me like I had two heads "why would I do THAT?"

Sounds like my son minus the hernia. No doubt that the UTI was probably caused by medications. My son had eczema all over his body and if I hadn't pressured the doc to give him a round of Nystatin (yeast treatment) we never would have figured out the problem. Internal yeast can cause a great deal of problems that mimic food sensitivity. You might want to look into that before you go through this. Yeast thrives on sugar so you have to remove all sugars and starches from the diet. You can read about the candida diet on the internet. If you are breast feeding then you need to take all sugar out of your diet. After two weeks of this, along with they nystatin, and probiotics my son was eczema free! It had been covering his entire body for months. Doctors had never even thought that this could be the problem. Recently he was on antibiotics and I was sure to go back on the candida diet and give him probiotics to avoid another internal yeast problem. There are many drugs that cause internal flora imbalance though, such as reflux drugs.

Doctors can see much more than is really there. I remember my son was passed to specialist after specialist until I uncovered the real problem. You can always wait to see if he gets any recurrent infections before you do this.

[Blucactus]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

OK here is what I would do. When you get there ask the person to describe to you in detail how he/she inserts a cath. into an intact penis. Listen closely to what they say.

It is acceptable to gently flare the foreskin enough that it is in line with the urinary opening in the penis so that they are not just poking around in there blind that would be a bad thing would scratch the glans.

It should NOT look tight or even close to it but just the slack for lack of a better word taken up. Be aware that once whoever it is has their hands on your ds they can retract him within a blink of an eye and there is nothing you can do to stop it so make 100% sure that whoever is doing the cath. knows how serious and in no uncertain terms you will take whatever actions you feel needed should they go against your wishes.

I know sounds like overkill but some of the stories I have read here makes me both wanna cry and do bodily harm to some people who have hurt these little guys.

Thank you.

[Blucactus]

Originally Posted by latinalonestar

Sounds like my son minus the hernia. No doubt that the UTI was probably caused by medications. My son had eczema all over his body and if I hadn't pressured the doc to give him a round of Nystatin (yeast treatment) we never would have figured out the problem. Internal yeast can cause a great deal of problems that mimic food sensitivity. You might want to look into that before you go through this. Yeast thrives on sugar so you have to remove all sugars and starches from the diet. You can read about the candida diet on the internet. If you are breast feeding then you need to take all sugar out of your diet. After two weeks of this, along with they nystatin, and probiotics my son was eczema free! It had been covering his entire body for months. Doctors had never even thought that this could be the problem. Recently he was on antibiotics and I was sure to go back on the candida diet and give him probiotics to avoid another internal yeast problem. There are many drugs that cause internal flora imbalance though, such as reflux drugs.

Doctors can see much more than is really there. I remember my son was passed to specialist after specialist until I uncovered the real problem. You can always wait to see if he gets any recurrent infections before you do this.

Just want to clarify, He wasn't on any meds when he got the UTI. And his eczema is in direct relation to my diet, I thought he'd outgrown it but he is reacting to the exact same things newly added back into my diet that he reacted to as a baby. Poor lil guy.

[latinalonestar]

Originally Posted by Blucactus

Just want to clarify, He wasn't on any meds when he got the UTI. And his eczema is in direct relation to my diet, I thought he'd outgrown it but he is reacting to the exact same things newly added back into my diet that he reacted to as a baby. Poor lil guy.

Do you know which specific foods he is reacting to?

I still say that one UTI at 15 months doesn't warrant a check for kidney reflux, but you have to do what you think is right in your heart. I do want to warn you that a cath can make him have another UTI.

[urchin_grey]

We managed to cath my DS without retraction in the ER. I refused at first because the doctor insisted that it couldn't be done without retraction and that "if he's that phimotic, he needs to be circ'd". She finally offered to let me assist in the procedure to make sure the nurse didn't retract so I finally agreed. Maybe you can get them to let you do that too? Or at least be present? Personally, I have never let anyone alone with my DS for anything except his two surgeries (because obviously I can't be in the OR for that).

[Blucactus]

Thanks to everyone for the thoughts & advice. Testing was today, went well and everything came back negative. Thankful. :

[Blucactus]

Originally Posted by latinalonestar

Do you know which specific foods he is reacting to?

I still say that one UTI at 15 months doesn't warrant a check for kidney reflux, but you have to do what you think is right in your heart. I do want to warn you that a cath can make him have another UTI.

Yes, he is reacting to diary and possibly wheat. I had dairy strictly out of my diet for almost a year and started adding it back in, and once I had upped my intake, he started reacting again. I am working on cutting it back down. I wish I could say I'd done it instantly but I am working on my own issues too.

[latinalonestar]

Originally Posted by Blucactus

Yes, he is reacting to diary and possibly wheat. I had dairy strictly out of my diet for almost a year and started adding it back in, and once I had upped my intake, he started reacting again. I am working on cutting it back down. I wish I could say I'd done it instantly but I am working on my own issues too.

Did you notice dramatic improvements when you cut the dairy out or just a small improvement? The reason I ask is b/c dairy is another food that you have to cut out to prevent candida. It feeds on dairy and sugars. My son just started showing signs that there is still a bit more yeast in his gut so I have to go back to the strict diet. I can't have any fruit, potato, sugar, juice or dairy. It's a pretty boring diet, I must say!