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March is National Kidney Month and I thought it would be a good time to talk about these important organs. I think most of us know the kidneys filter waste materials out of the blood and pass them out of the body as urine. A lot of people with Spina Bifida have bladder issues which can affect the kidneys.
When you have Spina Bifida bladder infections can be an issue. If you don’t treat them right away they can develop into kidney infections and damage the kidneys. I had a kidney infection when I was around four years old. I’m not sure if they really knew if I had one. But, they treated me for one anyway. I had to drink tea made from watermelon seeds. I didn’t like watermelon and really hated the tea! In order to get me to drink it my mom would bribe me with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
From the time I can remember until I was about a 15 or 16 years old. I had my kidneys checked every year to make sure they were functioning properly. For many years it was not an experience I liked or looked forward too. The night before the test I had to take Castor Oil, which sometimes made me sick. I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink the next morning.
Back then they didn’t have CT Scans, so they would inject an iodine dye into me and take x-rays. For those of you who have never had iodine solution injected into you. it gives you a warm, kind of fuzzy feeling. I got pop to drink afterwards, which was the best part. I had that test every year until I was 13 or 14.
Finally, technology improved and they did a different test. They put an I.V. in me, filled my bladder up with fluid and did the test that way. The best and last time I was tested was when I was around 16, I had an ultrasound. Simple and painless! Although I have heard people with Spina Bifida have smaller kidneys, doctor’s never told me that. And my tests always can back normal.
I was on an antibiotic to prevent bladder infections for years. My mom was told by the doctor I would probably never get off of them, But, she slowly started decreasing it and I was able to stop taking it altogether. I haven’t had a bladder infection in over 20 years. And only had a kidney infection or possible kidney infection that one time!