[MysteryMama]

Ds has been running a fever the past couple days and feeling pretty bad so I took him to his ped. Because he was crying so much and so hard to cosole, she ordered blood work. She said if his white cell count was really high that he may need other tests run and she would check for different things including a urinary tract infection. (btw- he has no sign/symptom of a urinary tract infection). Well at this point I said that was fine, but I did not want him to be cath'd. She looked at me like I was crazy, and I told her that if a urine sample was needed, they could put the little pee bag on him and wait for him to go. Well she started saying that the sample might get bacteria in it and affect the test, blah blah blah. I'm not buying it. I still don't want him cath'd for testing. They don't cath me to test my urine. Can't I wipe his penis with a clean catch wipe like I do? I don't want him to go through that and I definately don't want him retracted. I also told her I was concerned it might damage his urethra and/or cause an infection. So she says all the equipment is sterile, like I thought they dug a straw out of the dumpster.<br><br>
What are some good things I can come back with if they want to cath him? I already know I don't want it done, but I could use some back up.<br><br>
TIA

 

[theretohere]

If he does need to be cathed- he does not need to be retracted. It's entirely possible to properly cath without retraction.<br>
Clean catch or the bag should be sufficient to check for a UTI, unless something really wacky shows up. I would simply say that you do not consent to catheterization at this point, although you will be open to review if new information comes up.<br>
HTH!

 

[Mama2E&O]

Gosh- I would just not give in. I would never let them cath my child just to check for UTI. I've been cathed before and it is aweful.<br>
When DD was 3 we thought she had a UTI and our ped.never even suggested a catheter to get a sample. They had me collect pee into a cup- and told me beforehand that if we couldn't do that we'd attach a bag.<br>
I think using a catheter to check for a UTI is a bad idea- it causes more damage than good.

 

[Papai]

I've been cathed before and it's NOT pleasant and is incredibly painful. I don't care if it's sterile, even after they pull it out it "burns" to pee for a while until that foreign bacteria from the catheter is gone.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[~Megan~]

When dd was little her doc talked me into a cath to test for UTI. He told me it wouldn't be painful but it was actually terrible for her. I was and am still mad. I'd definitely avoid it if you can.<br><br>
I'd ask the doc what other options are there? What else could it be? They should work with you and have you baby's comfort in mind, its important!

 

[Quirky]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/headscratch.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="headscratch"> For as many times in my life as I've had UTIs, I've NEVER once been cathed. I would think that it's just as possible to get a clean (clean enough) catch with a wipe and a baggie in a boy as it is with a wipe and a cup in a girl.<br><br>
Stand your ground, mama.<br><br>
I hope your LO is feeling better soon!

 

[guestmama9908]

In the Pedi ER I used to work in as a nurse every child under the age of 3 who came in the door and needed a urine sample taken was in and out cathed. It was hospital policy. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:<br><br>
I never actually saw a parent refuse. I wish more of them would have though because I think alot of times it was unnecessary to put the kids through that.

 

[Daisyuk]

I'm beginning to think that your hospitals over there are run by a bunch of sadists. Why on earth do you have to catheter for a urine sample? If it comes back negative for UTI bacteria, then it's negative. If it's positive, then treat anyway - but if he's got no symptoms then why are they homing in on it?<br><br>
I've never been catheterised either, it sounds horrible.

 

[Kailey's mom]

I would just get a clean catch at home, than bring that in to get tested. Just wipe him first, catch the urine midstream..and stick to your guns (hugs))

 

[GooeyRN]

The hospital where I work, we do not cath kids for urine specimens. We just tape the bag to them. I never cath'd a kid for just a urine specimen. Thats just mean! I know catheterizing them is much faster, but I don't feel its necessary. Not for a little kid!

 

[myfairbabies]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>jeannie81</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7928426"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I also told her I was concerned it might damage his urethra and/or cause an infection. So she says all the equipment is sterile, like I thought they dug a straw out of the dumpster.<br>
TIA</div>
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Not that this would happen to you, but I know a little boy that was cathed for a surgery (He was only a few weeks old) and he did develop an infection, and is now severely brain damaged because of it (he will basically be an infant for the rest of his life), so it's not far fetched that you would worry. I was cathed as child once, and it was completely terrible and painful. I would wait until he peed, then after peeing a little, try to catch some in a bag. I'm sure this would be hard, but better than nothing, and if there is any bacteria not from a UTI, this would probably clean it out. GL!

 

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

When dd had a uti at 18months they tried catching the pee in a baggy we waited 2 hours she never peed <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> so we did end up with her being cathed. If I had been cathed before I doubt she would have been because now I know it hurts and burns for hours if not days after <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br><br>
I would try to catch a pee at home then take him in.

 

[babygrant]

I would ask for a condom catheter. It is just a condom type thing that slips over the penis and the urine goes down a tube and into a sterile bag. I would never allow my child to get a regular catheter for a UTI.

 

[Claire and Boys]

I was cathed as part of a hospital procedure when I was 11. Honestly it was one of the worst pains I have experienced in my life. I would NOT do it!

 

[onelilguysmommy]

ive nevr seen the condom type ones used around children, but my grandad used to have one every night for bed before he died, so we have lots. id much rather have one of that type used, thoug be sure to use the sheild they have if you can go that route, that sticky stuff is NOT fun to get off apparently...<br><br>
i never have had a uti (well like that, i did have a really bad kidney infetion a few months ago) nor has my son, so i dont know what they can do for kids for it, but that does seem rather mean, though the one time in my life i had one, i was pushing my son out, and she stuck it in there without asking, and it didnt bother me or anything, so im not sure about the hurting, at least not everyone, but id imagine it would be rather traumatic and can definitely introduce bacteria and cause infection and i would do everything possible to avoid it! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> it would scare the heck out of me if i were a little boy and someone decided to hold me down and jam some thing up my penis, kwim?? and especially if hes not circd, they need to stay FAR far away from there so noone does anything to it!

 

[MysteryMama]

Thank you everyone for the responses. I have checked them, but it's taken me a while to get back due to ds feeling so crumby.<br><br>
The lab called me and told me that the blood they drew from him got clotted so they couldn't test it, and I told them I was not bringing him in to go through having his blood drawn again and they said that was fine. Still no sign of a urinary tract infection, thank God. So hopefully I won't have to deal with that issue at all.

 

[+stella+]

As a Medical Technologist, you know what absolutely drives me batty? A urine sample is supposed to be sterile, meaning, if you pee in a bag and it grows nothing = no infection. A bag sample that is not acceptable for UTI testing will grow more than 3 types of bacteria, indicating it was contaminated by the skin flora. In which case you can then inform the physician it was not an acceptable specimen and try again or go to cath. You lose NOTHING but 24 hours (and I realize, if the child is severely ill, it might be best to save that 24 hours and go right to cath, but those are extreme cases of infection). The ER staff or doc's act like they will get a false negative or something if you use a bagged sample.<br><br>
If there is urine on the plate, and it doesnt grow, there is no bacteria in the urine, from the skin or the bladder= NO INFECTION. You don't need a cath sample to find bacteria that is actually causing infection. I honestly do not understand the insistence on trying the most invasive, painful method of testing as a first line. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:<br><br>
oh<br>
"The lab called me and told me that the blood they drew from him got clotted so they couldn't test it, "<br>
if you want to avoid that happening next time, remind the phlebotomist to gently rock the tube back and forth about 5 times before setting it down, the reasons those clot is cause they draw them then sit them still on the table top and the anticoagulant doesnt get mixed properly. Might save you a redraw sometime if you remind them. They are supposed to do that anyway so that specimens dont get clotted.

 

[angie3096]

My daughter had vesicoureteral reflux, so we are UTI veterans at our house.<br>
If the bagged specimen shows no infection, there is no reason to cath.<br>
If the bagged sample has bacteria in it, THEN you need to determine where the bacteria came from--was it from the outside of the body somewhere or the inside? THAT'S when you have to cath. No bacteria in the bag=no cath necessary.<br>
It IS hard to get a clean catch on a child who has not potty learned, hence all the pressure to cath. A bagged sample is not a clean catch. But there are medically accepted ways around the cath.<br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br>
Angie

 

[hummingbear]

my sister's son has had a lot of testing in his life.<br><br>
she conviced the staff to hand her a sterile cup, she would go to the car and nurse him and immediately afterward she would pull his pants down and he would pee in the cup.<br><br>
this started sometime during his first year of life so it is possible that early. if they gotta go they gotta go right?<br><br>
if it is a negative test, it's negative!