Relief

Well, after a total of 4 visits to Children's Hospital, Keira has been deemed free of any physical defects. The MRI showed absolutely no trace of the spinal cyst she had as a baby and no problem in her brain. The kidney and bladder tests showed no problems with her anatomy in those areas. So the original diagnosis of a neurogenic bladder has been retracted and her official diagnosis is voiding dysfunction and they said that her problem can be resolved by "re-training" her bladder to function properly. This is a good article about voiding dysfunction... Click Here

The doctor said that her problem of frequent urination and leaking should be resolved by teaching her to empty her bladder completely. He believes that she is just emptying her bladder to the point of relieving the urge to pee, so it is always over-full leading to frequent trips to the potty and lots of leaks. He said it will be a slow process, but in time she should be able to get her down to only going pee 6-7 times a day instead of the 10-15 she is at now and not by making her hold it longer, but by teaching her to get it all out at once. He believes that the sensitivity she is experiencing is most likely due to skin burn from the urine leakage. Dr. Jones is having her add baking soda to her bathwater and use a cream to help with the irritation so hopefully she can feel better and stop wearing her underwear around her knees.

We are very happy to know that she doesn't have to have any surgery. We were so worried that she still had that cyst on her spinal cord and it's such a relief to know that it's gone. I read some information about the effects on A.D.D. on bladder function and it turns out there is a high concentration of bladder issues amongst children with A.D.D. because of the difference in neurology in the brain and probably just their flat-out inability to sit still on the potty. lol We are hoping to work with her on her bladder "re-training" enough this year to where she doesn't have a problem when she starts school next year, but the doctor said that we can always get a doctor's note to allow her to use the potty as much as she needs to in school if we have to.

Let's just say, for now, I am one relieved Mommy.