Fleet Phosphosoda Recall

Following the Fleet Phosphosoda recall, consumers have been concerned about the more dangerous side effects involving kidney damage and acute phosphate nephropathy.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kidney Injuries

Many kidney diseases can occur slowly over a period of years, but a kidney injury can occur suddenly, leaving patients with the need for information, fast.

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

What Do the Kidneys Do?

The kidney is a bean shaped organ located near the small of the back. People are usually born with two kidneys, with the right kidney positioned slightly lower than the left.

The kidney provides a filtering system that cleans the blood of toxins and waste as the blood passes through the body. The kidney produces a hormone called erythropoietin or EPO, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. By excreting excess salt, the kidney also helps regulate blood pressure.

What Causes an Injury?

Kidney injuries can happen as a result of an accident, like a car crash or a hard tackle on the football field. It can come from a knife or gunshot wound. It can also occur from a puncture during a medical procedure, or from the use of certain products. One specific type of kidney injury, acute phosphate nephropathy, has occurred when patients ingested Fleet Phospho-Soda, an oral enema, in preparation for colonoscopies.

What are Symptoms of a Kidney Injury?

Depending on the severity of the injury, symptoms may be subtle or extreme. They may come on gradually over a period of weeks, or suddenly. At first, people may notice tiredness, lethargy and sleepiness. Because the kidney is unable to clean the blood’s toxins, the toxins stay in the body causing swelling initially in the legs and feet.

Patients may get headaches, lose their appetite and experience nausea or vomiting.

In extreme cases, a person with an untreated kidney injury may experience confusion, coma and even death.

What Can I Do About an Injury?

If you think you have a kidney injury, see your doctor immediately. She can perform tests that determine the kidney’s function and narrow down the problem. The kidney can heal from some injuries, but in some circumstances, it cannot function at the level your body needs.

What Happens if My Kidneys Cannot Recover Fully?

While your doctor can advise you on your specific options, many people who have kidneys that cannot function effectively use an artificial method of cleaning the blood, called dialysis.

Two types of dialysis are typically used. In hemodialysis, blood is extracted from the patient gradually from a needle in his arm. The blood flows into a dialysis machine where it is cleaned and then sent back into the body through another needle. In peritoneal dialysis, a solution is inserted into the patient’s abdomen through a catheter, and remains there for several hours. While it is there, it absorbs toxins through the abdomen wall. At the end of the waiting period (dwelling time), the solution is removed. If neither type of dialysis is possible, your doctor may also recommend a kidney transplant.

Mark Johnson is author of this article on Fleet Phospho Soda. Find more information about Fleet recall here.

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