why aren't my kidneys the same size? - Kidney Disorders Message Board

shirlee1234 · 09-20-2008, 10:36 PM

why aren't my kidneys the same size?

feelbad · 09-21-2008, 07:48 AM

i am trying to remember which on it is that is usually a bit bigger,i think its the right one? this is true in most people having one kidney that is a bit larger than the other. or is one of yours way bigger than the other? any other issues along with the enlargement or is everything else okay? marcia

shirlee1234 · 09-21-2008, 09:24 AM

It's been about 3 yrs now since i lost health insurance for myself. I have kidney reflux and i am 31yrs old. My left kidney is significantly smaller than my right is how they put it. (the doctors) I also have scarring on the kidneys due to repeated infections. Before i lost my insurance they talked about putting a stint in my kidneys and they also had me on an antibiotic daily to keep down on my infections. I was just searching on-line to see if I should be concerned, well i am concerned but can't do anything at the moment but I wanted to know how serious and what can happened if I don't deal with these problems. Thanx

harka · 09-22-2008, 08:58 AM

To make things simple: you had a disease known as reflux nephropathy. Repeated backwashing of urine (because of a faulty valve or something like that) leads to repeated infections (as in your case) and as you very correctly stated, causes scarring in the kidney. The scarring process leads to progressive loss of kidney tissue and the result is a small, scarred kidney.

When a doctor sees a person with impaired renal function and a small kidney on ultrasound, it is suggestive that the process that led to kidney damage is now irreversible.