Zsa Zsa Padilla undergoes surgery in Singapore for kidney problem: 'My body is a map of surgical battles'
Zsa Zsa Padilla revealed that she underwent her third surgery to cure severe infections in her kidney, saying that her body is now a "map of all surgical battles."
The singer and actress shared the health update on her Instagram account, accompanying it with pictures of herself smiling in the hospital bed.
"I was born with a mega ureter," Padilla began. "My left ureter was the size of a sausage when it should be a thin tubular structure with a three to four millimeter diameter. My right one is normal."
Ureters are bilateral thin tubular structures that connect the kidneys to the urinary bladder. Because of this "structural problem," as her doctor described it, Padilla had to make oral antibiotics a part of her routine due to her "endless battles" with urinary track infection for many years.
"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," the local star explained.
"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 continued.
But just when she thought that her health problems were over, her kidney issues resurfaced 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," Padilla recalled.
Despite flying all the way to the US to get a treatment, she was left disappointed after being advised not to have surgery.
"Six months after, the infections started again and took three weeks for the low dose of antibiotics to kick in. Of course, I was already resistant to most antibiotics and I felt that it was only a 'band aid' to my bigger problem. And honestly, you’ve noticed the weight gain, right?" she wrote.
The singer eventually considered flying to Singapore for treatment after hearing accounts from other people going there for their medical needs. After some coordination with doctors in the country, Padilla underwent laparoscopic surgery to correct her problem, which is a surgical procedure inside the abdomen using narrow tubes as well as a tiny video camera.
"We set a date and now I’m still in hospital recuperating. I’m glad they didn’t open me up. 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," Padilla explained.
She noted that the surgery was "straightforward" as doctors only cut part of the ureter before reinserting it in her bladder.
"I have 6 new holes from the laparoscopic surgery. My body is a map of all the surgical battles it’s been through. This is my third surgery with regard to the left side of my kidney," Padilla shared.
"By the grace of God, I pray that it continues to function so that I may be healthier," the actress implored.
As she is still recovering, Padilla won't be able to make an appearance in some of her scheduled shows and projects, such as the ASAP cycle for September. She promised her fans, however, that she would be able to rejoin them in October or November, and perform at her anniversary concert on Nov. 29 to celebrate her 40 years in showbiz.
"I’ll be taking it easy for this month and the next then I’ll see you when I promote my new album. We have exciting new songs we can’t wait for you to hear!" she said.