Different Urologist, Same Diagnosis


Visits to the doctor’s clinic in the hospital were always boring affairs interspersed with long waits and depressing sights. Wuan, who had been here since last Saturday, offered to accompany me to see the urologist who first saw me for my bladder condition back in 1991 for another assessment. Her company made it more bearable.

An ultrasound scan of my kidneys was taken in the doctor’s clinic. The diagnosis: shrunken left kidney. However, there were no signs of swelling in both kidneys, which is good news in the midst of bad. A creatinine clearance test was also done to ascertain the extent of my kidney function. It was a simple test where a blood sample was taken, the serum creatinine quantified and the figure for the estimated creatinine clearance arrived at with a straightforward formula.

My estimated creatinine clearance is 47 ml/min which is categorised as moderate renal impairment. The urologist stated that I have about 60% renal function. I am to continue with my intermittent catheterisation. I was also prescribed Detrusitol for my overactive bladder.

I was previously taking Ditropan for the same problem but the side effects were interfering with my daily routine. They included drying of the eyes, mouth and skin which was further aggravated by my body’s impaired ability to regulate body temperature. That made me very uncomfortable when the weather is hot.

Eating the correct food may also help and I have to make an appointment to see the dietician for this purpose. I am scheduled for another blood test in six months. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there will be no further damage to the kidneys when I return for the follow-up appointment.