MANILA, Philippines — Singer Zsa Zsa Padilla revealed on Friday that she underwent a medical procedure in Singapore to address her congenital condition called megaureter, leading to frequent UTIs throughout her life.
In an update, the OPM icon has been discharged from the hospital on Saturday.
On her Instagram account, @zsazsapadilla, the singer said that she was born with a large left ureter, "the size of a sausage," when it should be a thin tubular structure with a 3- to 4 mm diameter.
"It has bothered me for as long as I can remember. I was often scolded as a child 'kasi pinipigilan mo wiwi mo [because you're holding in your pee]' and I thought while sitting on 'maligamgam [lukewarm]' water in a small planggana [basin] that it was partly true since I'd rather be playing in the streets and holding my pee than going to the bathroom," she recalled.
Padilla admitted that her endless battles with urinary tract infection (UTI) led her to take oral antibiotics like a routine and was only ever properly diagnosed in 2007.
In the same year, she underwent open surgery — where the uterer was tapered and reinserted to her bladder — to correct the problem.
"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 went to the US in January but was advised not to have surgery. Six months later, she was alarmed when another infection started and it took three weeks for a low dose of antibiotics to kick in.
Upon her friend's recommendation — businesswoman Alice Eduardo — Padilla was able to schedule an appointment with Dr Shirley Bang of Advanced Urology in Mt Elizabeth Novena Hospital.
Teleconsultations and onsite tests later and Padilla was scheduled for a laparoscopic surgery to correct her megauterer.
"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. In 2012, after Dolphy died, I had a growth taken out so a partial nephrectomy was performed on my left kidney.
"By the grace of God, I pray that it continues to function so that I may be healthier," Padilla wrote.
The singer is now on her way to recovery. On Saturday afternoon, she shared an Instagram Story showing her daughter Karylle Tatlonghari-Yuzon, her son-in-law Yael and her longtime partner Conrad Onglao accompanying her out of the hospital.
Padilla said she would be taking it easy work-wise this month and might be able to rejoin her weekly program ASAP, promote her new album and finally push through with her 40th anniversary concert in the coming months.
"I love you all and wish to thank those who've said prayers for my surgery. And to those reading this, kindly say a prayer that everything will be alright and that I will have a quick recovery," she ended.
Her supporters, celebrities and other OPM artists, including Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez and Darren Espanto were quick to send their get-well-soon messages to Padilla.
Read The Rest at :
