I have one kidney...

[art]

...instead of the usual two. I just found out this morning, at a renal sonogram. The doc said there was nothing where a second kidney should be. He went looking, up and down the aorta.

Near as I can tell from what the doc said, I've never had a second kidney. It's never made any difference to me (so far). Now I wonder if I'll get so obsessed with it that my sex life will suffer. I went from feeling pretty good and healthy to feeling like I'm not "all here." Weird,huh?

Thanks for any help or advice, in advance.

 

[Kin77812]

I am not a doctor but people donate kidneys to family members and live with one just fine. I'd be weirded out too if I learned that I was born with just one too of course, but you'll get around the idea in time I'm sure

 

[798686]

If it caused no problem before - why worry?

 

[GovNicholl]

Art,
Ten years ago I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. The only treatment is removal of the kidney. There are no limits. Drink plenty of water.

 

[Ohioguy]

Take good care of the one you got. Drink a lot of water & if you feel an infection coming onget to the doctor. I have 1 large kidney and another one that is very small. I have to be extra careful emptying the smaller kidney so that I do not get an infection in it. Often the larger one emptys well before the smaller one so I have to take my time to make sure it emptys too.

 

[toolman4897]

I have horse shoe kidneys,which means they are connected at the top and basically function as 1 ....


I am 50 yrs old and have never had any issues...

 

[pdxjoe]

I am a living kidney donor. I have lived with one kidney since the late 70s and have had no problems with life, sex or otherwise. At the time of the donation the renal dr told me that you can live just fine with one kidney, two were redundant backup. I have had no feelings of not being all here. The only time I had any strange feelings was when my receiver sibling passed I thought about the part of me that went with him. My advice to you is to just not abuse your kidney. Art you will soon forget about having only one kidney and go about your life as you have so far in your life.

 

[Hoss]

...instead of the usual two. I just found out this morning, at a renal sonogram. The doc said there was nothing where a second kidney should be. He went looking, up and down the aorta.

Near as I can tell from what the doc said, I've never had a second kidney. It's never made any difference to me (so far). Now I wonder if I'll get so obsessed with it that my sex life will suffer. I went from feeling pretty good and healthy to feeling like I'm not "all here." Weird,huh?

Thanks for any help or advice, in advance.

try not to think about it, it is just how you were made and so far all has worked out fine with the 1 kidney. As others said, people live full happy lives with 1 kidney, this includes your sex life.


Just be glad you learned this now rather than in the future after volunteering to give a kidney to a family member or a close friend.

 

[archetypal_mystic]

Same here...discovered this just about 3 years ago. Was a shocker, and they (the docs) try to downplay that its not a big deal, you have done fine up till now blah blah. Its an odd thing, mourning what you never had. But its just that the realization hits t hat you do not have a backup. It would have been nice to have known! I mean, there is such a thing as shifting into kidney-protection mode! Certain drugs etc should be avoided, and living a moderate lifestyle is key. Also, no aggressive contact sports...Kidney protection mode. You should see a specialist and get properly briefed.

 

[Gr8269u]

I had one taken out (cancer) 6 yrs ago & haven't felt any different.I do eat better healtier & better food than before.