June 11th
Today at 5pm I am having a urodynamics test done. Since this is all new to me and my parents here is the webster definiton. “Urodynamic testing is any procedure that looks at how well the bladder, sphincters, and urethra are storing and releasing urine. Most urodynamic tests focus on the bladder’s ability to hold urine and empty steadily and completely. Urodynamic tests can also show whether the bladder is having involuntary contractions that cause urine leakage”.
Since I have so many recurrent infections the doctors thought this might show us something. I am having this exam done at a different private hospital located downtown. 5pm is the appointment and trust me mom is a stress ball driving downtown. Irene is helping her with directions, but then Irene sometimes gets her left and rights wrong and we make quick turns! 🙂
We made it thru the madness, and I mean it is crazy in downtown San Jose. You see CIMA is in Escazu and that is an entirely different scene! Anyway we made it! The procedure, well it is nothing really nice. Three catheters are put inside me. One is to measure the activity with a sensor and the other is to allow the urine to flow freely. The third is put in my bum. Yep I know, not fun. I actually allowed the nurse to do this all to me without too much fuss. The doctor then comes in and says to my mom “I am running a little behind and need to see another patient I will be back in 30 minutes. Is that ok?” My mom, uhh no that is not okay do you not see my child hear laying on the table with tubes coming out of very inconvenient places.. I mean seriously why don’t you tell your other patient that you will be thirty minutes late. Needless to say, that is exactly what the doctor did he came back within 5 minutes and during that time well the extra stimulation to my bum made me well….. can you imagine what happened? Yep that’s right. We had to take all the catheters out clean me up and do it all over again! This time I was not so willing for the assistant to put the catheters back in and I fought her. It took longer than usual as I was not so willing this time. My mom was talking to the doctor about me and showing him my file which is like a huge book with all my exams and tests and Irene well she coerced me into letting the assistant put everything back in me. I listened to her and decided she was right one way or another I was having this test done and the sooner I relaxed the faster it would be over. The test began.
The results. We found out that my bladder is smaller than a normal child at my age. I should be able to hold 160cc of fluid in my bladder but instead I hold only 80cc. We repeated this three times to make sure. Everything is working properly. They were filling my bladder with sterile water. The good news is that every time I urinate I completely empty my bladder meaning no urine is left behind and that eliminates the possibility of me getting infections. The doctor was not too concerned that my bladder was small. This is not a reason for my infections. He suggested I take one more exam, which I have to do with an infection present. We hope it is a long time before I get another infection. The doctor was nice enough and we headed back to Turrucares. It was almost 8pm by the time we got home. It was a long day tomorrow I see the nephrologist.
Love Malia