Pediatric Urology

[ilikecows13]

We are in such a quandry:

My 2-year-old son is doing FABULOUSLY with is VUR (grade 3). He has only had one UTI at 2 weeks old, which is encouraging. However, he is still on the antibiotics.

Here's the dilemma: We haven't actually gotten any tests done on Sam since he was 6 months old. He had two tests. I can't keep straight which is which, but one involves a catheter (to check his reflux) and the other an IV (to test his kidney function).

Both tests were REALLY traumatic for him--he does not do well with going to the doctor and if we even come CLOSE to touching his penis, he starts crying so hard he gags.

Now the doctor (the only pediatric urologist available with our insurance) wants him to do them again.

We want to be able to explain everything to him, but he's only 2! Is there any reason to make him go through these tests again if he hasn't actually had any infections? We know that we won't know how's he's doing until we get the tests done, but are there any less invasive/painful ways of finding things out? We REALLY don't want to put him through these tests unless he REALLY needs them, and so far, I just don't see the justification in doing them.

Are the antbiotics really that harmful? It looks like some people have had their kids on them for a lot longer than two years. What are the implications of him staying on for another couple of years? We would like to be able to talk him through it at least.

Thanks for your help. I'm so annoyed with my son's rude, condescending, and overbearing doctor. I really would like some other opinions. Thank you!

[chiyaki-chan]

Hello, I hope this helps you somewhat. It's a collection of information that I've collected since suffering with UTIs myself. I've copied it from another post I made recently since I think that it may be helpful to you as well...

Try to avoid him drinking or eating anything that will make her urine acidic, 95% of the bacteria that cause UTIs can multiply at double their normal rate in an acidic environment so this is very important. This means ensuring that he's NOT drinking Cranberry juice & Orange juice. Ensure that he isn't using any acidic/non-buffered Vitamin C tablets. Try to keep him off all Meats (especially red meats), and any fatty foods as all of these will cause the urine to be acidic.

Are the antbiotics really that harmful?

Many of the anti-biotics that are given out only work against 40%(ish) of the bacteria, so whilst he's on them, it's true that they can't really build up a very large colony size with nearly half of them being killed off all the time by the anti-biotic, but they also will never really go away since those that are not killed actually adapt to the anti-biotics and become stronger. One of the anti-biotics that's far too commonly prescribed for UTIs is called Ciprofloxacin, it has some rather nasty side effects that are very nasty to joints and bones, along with a known side effect of possible "death upon first dose"!

I've been using a product called 'Waterfall D-Mannose' which is a natural, completely harmless glyco-nutrient that interferes with the bacteria attachment mechanism and causes them to be flushed from the body when I need to urinate. I've been UTI free since I started using it, and I'd strongly recommend that you give it a try so you can have him free of the anti-biotics that he seems to be living on.

I really, really hope that this get's him well. Please keep me updated on any progress you make with this.

Wishing him well,

Chiyaki x