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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Does anyone have know about grade 4 urinary reflux with kidney damage?

10 replies

Babykidneys · 08/10/2025 09:59

Hello, posting here for traffic.

My little one was hospitalised with an infection at 6 weeks old and we have since had tests and they have found grade 4 reflux on one side, grade 2 on the other.

The kidney attached to the grade 4 is scarred and shrunk.

She still has 100% function. One is doing 30%, the other doing 70%.

We have been referred to another hospital for a review of treatment plan (I assume they want to do surgery as have referred to the bigger specialist hospital in the region).

I still have not had a proper conversation with consultant. What should I be asking? Should I be pushing for this to be resolved asap?

She is now on prophylactic antibiotics. Could she still be damaging her kidneys just through virtue of them filling even if she doesn’t have an infection.

In the early days when we were waiting for the tests I said she seemed like she was in a lot of pain. These would come in attacks, so indistinguishable from colic really. But as soon as she had any strength she has always been pushing and fighting. Kicking legs. Doing downward dog in bed. Literally from 2 months old. They said she wouldn’t be in pain. But now with the diagnosis and I have the vocab to google. Kidney attacks from damage are incredibly painful according to google. I think this might still be happening.

Any advice or experiences with this would be greatly appreciated. She has just turned 7 months now and all this fighting has made her so strong she is pulling up and nearly walking. This is not normal imo.

OP posts:
Babykidneys · 08/10/2025 15:00

Bump

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Ormally · 08/10/2025 17:13

Further bump.
Hope that someone can suggest ideas. I recently had similar reflux trouble and yes, the only way to displace some of the pain was to keep moving (it felt as if I might faint if I didn't), so for a little one, it must be horrendous. Fingers crossed for you.

mrsfeatherbottom · 08/10/2025 17:57

DD had grade 4 reflux in one kidney and went on prophylactic antibiotics at a similar age. She was on them for years with regular checkups. They were reluctant to do surgery (my niece had the surgery and it didn’t work so we were fine with that). It resolved itself in the end.

Babykidneys · 08/10/2025 20:39

Ormally · 08/10/2025 17:13

Further bump.
Hope that someone can suggest ideas. I recently had similar reflux trouble and yes, the only way to displace some of the pain was to keep moving (it felt as if I might faint if I didn't), so for a little one, it must be horrendous. Fingers crossed for you.

Oh god! Thank you for posting. That’s what it’s like. Rocking, fidgeting all the time. Poor thing 😰

Are you better now with no pain?

OP posts:
Babykidneys · 08/10/2025 20:41

mrsfeatherbottom · 08/10/2025 17:57

DD had grade 4 reflux in one kidney and went on prophylactic antibiotics at a similar age. She was on them for years with regular checkups. They were reluctant to do surgery (my niece had the surgery and it didn’t work so we were fine with that). It resolved itself in the end.

Oh really wow! A grade 4 can resolve itself. I didn’t know that. That is really promising. But the pain is worrying. Was your DD in pain do you think? Moving all the time?

Sorry to be nosey but what happened with your niece? Was the surgery bad in that it just didn’t work or made things worse?

OP posts:
mrsfeatherbottom · 08/10/2025 21:05

Now I'm doubting myself that it was grade 4 but I'm sure it was. She was miserable when she had UTIs, bless her but I don't remember her seeming like she was in a lot of pain. It was quite a while ago, she's nearly 16 so my memory is a little hazy!

With my niece, i don't remember the details but I know that she kept getting UTIs after the surgery.

mrsfeatherbottom · 08/10/2025 21:07

Sorry, that wasn't very clear - the surgery didn't make it worse but it certainly didn't stop her getting frequent UTIs. I presume hers also resolved itself in the end.

Babykidneys · 08/10/2025 21:32

Thank you @mrsfeatherbottom

Really appreciate you taking the time. Thats a shame for your niece after surgery. Good to hear it didnt make things worse with some kind of awful side effects/ bad surgery. Glad they are both well now!

OP posts:
Ormally · 09/10/2025 08:59

Babykidneys · 08/10/2025 20:39

Oh god! Thank you for posting. That’s what it’s like. Rocking, fidgeting all the time. Poor thing 😰

Are you better now with no pain?

Thanks, I am better, but the pain still feels quite deep in the side when lying in bed - nothing remotely close to what the time of infection from reflux was like, though. There can also be nerve or muscle twinges in the pelvis, possibly even a way of trying to push something out.

I've had to drink a lot of water (on advice). It wasn't a habit before (probably contributing to the situation), but 2 to 3 litres a day which I now try to do at 500ml at a time. It means having knowledge of where you find water and nearest loo, travelling in a car has been a bit different! Don't know about the hydration advice for a baby, but my guess is that it may be something they may say, and it might be hard if it feels like too much drinking for her. When she is older, jellies can be more appealing and still give some fluid benefit. I really hope the antibiotics do a good job for her.

Babykidneys · 09/10/2025 09:55

Ormally · 09/10/2025 08:59

Thanks, I am better, but the pain still feels quite deep in the side when lying in bed - nothing remotely close to what the time of infection from reflux was like, though. There can also be nerve or muscle twinges in the pelvis, possibly even a way of trying to push something out.

I've had to drink a lot of water (on advice). It wasn't a habit before (probably contributing to the situation), but 2 to 3 litres a day which I now try to do at 500ml at a time. It means having knowledge of where you find water and nearest loo, travelling in a car has been a bit different! Don't know about the hydration advice for a baby, but my guess is that it may be something they may say, and it might be hard if it feels like too much drinking for her. When she is older, jellies can be more appealing and still give some fluid benefit. I really hope the antibiotics do a good job for her.

Thank you so much for sharing. The problem with babies is they can’t speak so it means a lot to hear what she might be going through.

I am sorry the pain is still there sometimes. I hope it continues to get better for you.

That’s a good tip about the water. I will ask about that. As she’s a baby I do think I need to be careful not to ‘overwater’ her. She sounds like a plant bless her 😂

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