Not sure if I am missing a kindey or not?!

I was hoping someone could give me a better idea of what is going on. When i was 18 i was in the hospital for unrelated reasons but when I had to drink that awful stuff and have a CT done when the Dr. got the results his first question to me was "Have you ever  been in a car accident or had any major trauma that would explain why you only have one kidney" Ofcourse my mother and I looked at each other stunned because we had no idea. Anyways the Dr explained that i was missing my right kidney and even showed me the scans, apparently must have been a birth defect. Shortly after I moved to GA and just to be on the safe side visited a Nephrologist. He set up a kidney function test at a local hospital to have an IVP test done, atleast I beleive that is what it was. A week or two pass and I get a phone call for the results, this is where I get confused. The nephrologist said that everything looked good my left kidney did 70 some odd percent of the work and the right side did 20%. I was young and didn't ask the obvious question what does that mean? Is there another kidney that is obviously smaller and doesn't do much work hiding in my body? Why would we not have seen it on the CT. The Nephrologist has moved and I can't find him anymore and the hospital where I had the test done can't give me a copy unless I come in to sign a form which poses a problem because I live six hours away. Ugh very frustrated I didn't do a better job being my own advocate. Help...

[kjhgfd]

It can be a real pain to get your records I should know I've delt with them a lot. If you have a fax machine or know of some one that does ypou can have them fax you the release or information for fill it out the fax it back to them also ask them if there is a charge most hospitals and doctors charge a dollar a page.unless it's going to another doctor or clinic then it's free.

Good Luck and Stay Healthy  

[nicki68]

Ok, it terms of the kidney deal. I they saw one kidney, that is where you start, You need to get copies from the hospital first where they did CT. Next, there are two ways to deal with this:1. You do not have to travel to sign for the records. The law states that your primary doctor can have you sign a release of information on Medical Records and they can obtain without delay. Now to get the Scan, probably won't happen unless you pick it up and never take it back because they are property of the hospital. They do have to give them to you for another doctor but they say to bring them back. I never do, I keep everything because we move often. You can have them fax you a release and they may charge you, there is a law on how much per page, should not be much and you can sign the release fax it back and then they send you the reports. 2. The best thing to do here is call the Kidney doctor back and tell him you were told you only had one kidney and you want an ultrasound. Even at the levels you said, it is concerning. Given that he didn't seem to tell you that, I would go to another Kidney doctor and tell them about the Cat scan but demand a new ultrasound! You can tell him about the other doctor but you can just repeat the test for a new opinion. First thing that should be done is an ultrasound of your kidney's and pelvic region. The Uterus can be involved so it needs to be looked at too.