Specialist Appointment Update April 5th 2006

Yesterday, Cliff and I met for the first time with the Urologist at Childrens Hospital at 4pm. We got in on time, and we met with him, and he had reviewed the films that our doctor forwarded to him. He says it is either one of two things. As we all know, that the affected kidney is the baby's left one. The right one is perfect. There are mulitple cysts (fluid filled sacks on the top portion)

1. MCDK aka Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney as we have talked about before with Dr. D.

2. Hydronephrosis: This this is a new one. Basically an enlarged kidney or water on the kidney.
http://www.duj.com/hydronephrosis.html

The good news is that, Dr. McN has "no faith in prenatal ultrasounds for diagnosis" so he was my immediate friend LOL. Our meeting was very short. He basically said that either diagnosis is NOT LIFE THREATENING, and both have positive outcomes for a very NORMAL quality of life for this child. Isn't that the best thing! That is all I want for this baby! A normal, happy healthy life. Dr. McN also told us that a person only needs 1/3 of one kidney to live! Isn't that amazing too.

I will give birth at my normal hospital, and my super doctor. And, at 3 days of life, this baby will need to go for an ultrasound (locally) to check out any problems, and to take films of the kidney in question. My doctor will get the results, and these film will be forwared to Dr. McN at Childrens. He (Dr. McN) will then diagnose what baby does or doesn't have. And we will take action from there. So, we are in good hands. The specialist is not worried, and has seen this happen a lot. He also asked if we knew the sex of our baby, and we told him no. He then shared with us, that statistically speaking any problem with a left kidney is found more often with boys. Makes me go hmmmm.

So, basically he took us through 3 scenarios:

1. This problem that was spotted on the ultrasound could just go away and nothing will be wrong when our baby is born. The ultrasound at 3 days will confirm. A lot of prenatally diagnosed issues resolve themselves before the birth

2. There could be a series of testing done depending on what they find, ultrasound, kidney function testing, and perhaps at between ages 1 or 2 a partial or total kidney removal done through the baby's back. (this would be the worst case) or fixing of a tube that connects the kidney to the bladder. About a 1/4 of all of his patients require a surgery. So that is quite low too.

3. Nothing, take a wait and see approach and see if the kidney would just disappear and become reabsorbed into the body.

So, there you have the info in a nutshell. The doctor will not diagnose right now, only give us the possibilities, and he is not worried. Certainly he made Cliff and I feel a lot more relaxed and glad to know what are to expect in the near future.

He also gave Cliff a list of about 4 great urologists in the neighbourhood for the big ol Vasectomy!! One was even a female, and one right out of grad school.

All and all a great day. After our appointment, we headed over to Amy and Tyler's to visit and give hugs and to hear all about their great trip to Australia. They both looked so happy and healthy and so brown!! Wow. It was a lovely visit.

I just have to record comments that I am receiving daily at this point:

1. Are you sure there are not more than one in there?
2. You have dropped, I give you a week. That baby is coming out soon!
3. You are huge!
4. When is your due date? And I tell them, and then they say "Sorry" LOL
5. I don't think your baby will be a May baby! It is coming out in April!
6. Oh...your poor feet and legs (due to the swelling)
7. Do you know what you are having???? I think it is a...
8. I bet you want a boy eh, so that you can have bookends!
9. Ohhh, another girl...I feel sorry for you and Cliff...wow.
10. Any time now eh!!


Cathy