Kidney Ultrasound...Bladder Scan

Today Makena went to Primary Children's Hospital for a kidney ultrasound and bladder scan. She has had 3 urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the last couple years and so her doctor wanted to see if there was a reason these were occurring. So we set the appointment about 3 weeks ago and headed to the hospital today. Makena wasn't too nervous going in. I had explained what was going to happen to her and was upfront with her about the whole procedures. I told her I would be there to hold her hand and help her.

We got there about 10:00 and waited for just a few minutes before we went to the ultrasound room. Makena was able to pick a movie to watch while they "took pictures of her kidneys." She picked Dora and was super excited to watch it. She just laid there and was so good while they did the ultrasound. After they were done, the doctors came in and looked at the pictures and said that her kidneys looked great and they didn't see anything that was wrong.

After the ultrasound...we went to have the bladder scan done. A nice lady explained the whole thing to Makena and had a doll there and all the equipment for her to see what was going to happen. They were cute with her and asked her about all her "silly bandz" she had on and her school, her dog Missy and her Hello Kitty shirt. It put her at ease. Once we go into the x-ray room, Makena changed into the hospital gown and then just right up onto the table. She had to lay down and they put a catheter in her and then started to fill up her bladder with contrast. While they were doing it, they were taking lots of x-rays. It was pretty cool to see the x-rays and she her bladder getting bigger and bigger and to see all of her "insides." (coming from a crazy mom in the medical field that likes this stuff) The x-ray tech told Makena to let me know when she had to pee. Makena looked up at me, in a quite whisper said "mom I have to go potty." They still needed to put more contrast in her bladder so she had to hold it for a little longer. I could see Makena was uncomfortable, but she did so well and just laid still and was looking at a princess book to keep her mind off of the discomfort. Once the bladder was full enough, she was able to go to the bathroom on a bed pan while more pictures were being taken. We did the process 2 times and then she was done. The doctors came in, once again and said that all looked well but they would take a closer look and send the results to Makena's pediatrician.

So good news: She looks great! But still don't know why she is having the UTIs. Maybe it is genetics and she got my anatomy where we are prone to UTIs. I hope not, it is not fun.

I am proud of Makena. She did great, never complained and had a smile on her face!!


In the waiting room coloring


Coloring before being taken back to the ultrasound room


On the ultrasound table watching Dora


Watching Dora while we waited for the doctor to come in


In her hospital pjs before her bladder scan. She enjoyed putting these on...she thought they were cool.


By Shamu in the entrance to the hospital...she was all done at this point and was happy to go home.


She got a puppy purse for being so great!