Yesterday, we had to take Oli to CHOP urology for a video urodynamics study. We were in the newish Buerger building, which is beautiful, but I miss the memories that I get to revisit in the old building. In the Wood Center/main building, where I used to take him for eveything, I get to walk the halls we walked when he was a baby, eat in the cafeteria where I have had countless meals during visits, and walk psat the NICU where Oli stayed when he was born. I also miss visiting the fruit truck outside the hospital, which is now gone because CHOP and Penn take up so much room on the block. A good thing for sure, but sometimes even small changes are a little sad.
For the VUD test, the doctor essentially fills his bladder, and then views it through xray imaging and measures spasms. This is the first time that they have felt that something was off. With very little urine in the bladder, he starts to spasm, and then leaks. Apparently, the spasms aren't good for the bladder, which is the first line of defense for the kidneys. So we protect the bladder to protect the kidneys. This means he has to go on medication to relax the spasms, which has the side effect of him leaking less. This is the road to social continence, or not wetting between cathes, but as I said, he just hasn't been that intersted. Much like I often "hold it" if I'm busy, Oli hates stopping what he is doing to cathe. But now, we will have to enforce it. I don't like the idea of him being dependent on another medication, but in the long run, I think regular cathing will be good for him. We are hitting an age where his differences are becoming more apparent, and I don't know how this will affect him. My hope is that getting a good routine down now will help him as he gets older and wants to do more and be out more.
