KAPAMILYA singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla has revealed that she is battling a rare kidney condition.
In a lengthy post on Instagram, the Divine Diva opened up about her struggle with having a “mega ureter” – a congenital anomaly in the kidney.
“I was born with a mega ureter. My left ureter was the size of a sausage when it should be a thin tubular structure with a 3 to 4-mm diameter. My right one is normal. I like how my new doctor describes it as ‘You have a structural problem’ instead of my usual ‘I was born with a defective left ureter,'” she explained.
According to the singer-actress, this was a long-overdue struggle as she was more prone to having urinary tract infections (UTI) which led to a serious health concern.
“For many years, I’ve had endless battles with UTI, and taking oral antibiotics became routine. They had no proper machine in the Philippines while I was growing up and doctors only saw my real problem in 2007! So, my first surgery to correct this problem was 17 years ago. Right after filming Zsa Zsa Zaturnah in 2007, I underwent open surgery to finally correct my left ureter. It was tapered and reinserted in my bladder,” she revealed.
However, despite having the first operation and going through endless cycles of treatments and medical procedures, Padilla felt almost hopeless with her condition.
“Last year, the infection I was having was harder to cure. I became resistant to most antibiotics and tests showed that I was already having a (pee) reflux and the function of my left kidney was so much lower than my usual,” she said.
In her desperation, the singer-actress did not stop to find a much more effective treatment that could help her with her rare condition, until she found a clinic in Singapore through the help of her friend Alice Eduardo.
Despite having a rare type of kidney condition, Padilla remains grateful for having a positive outcome from her procedure.
“And of course, my case wasn’t an easy one since I was already operated on before. And there are scar tissues to deal with. Dr Bang said the surgery was straightforward. They didn’t perform a board flap as planned. Part of the ureter was cut and then reinserted in my bladder. And I have 6 new holes from the laparoscopic surgery,” she said.
The singer-actress is grateful that her body continues to function despite the different procedures she endured.
Ending her post, the Kapamilya singer looks forward to healthier days ahead so she can continue her normal routine with her husband Conrad and celebrate her 40th anniversary in the industry. (ABS-CBN News)
