Doctors Baffled: Young Woman Goes Nearly 20 Years Without Drinking Water – Here’s What Happened

A young woman, aged 20, recently arrived at Chi Mei Medical Center in Tainan, Taiwan, due to complaints of high fever and back pain. During a routine check, she informed the doctors, "I haven’t drunk water for almost two decades," meaning since she was born. An X-ray left no room for doubt: more than 300 stones were found in her kidneys.

According to the Daily Mirror, which reported on the story, the doctors were astonished. They questioned the young woman about her condition, and she admitted that for years she has preferred fruit juice, tea, and alcoholic drinks, but typically doesn't consume cold water. Tests showed her right kidney was swollen, and an X-ray revealed it was packed with an immense number of stones ranging from 0.5 cm to 2 cm.

After undergoing an invasive two-hour procedure to remove the stones, the surgeons successfully extracted them. The lead surgeon, Dr. Lin Koyang, stated, "They looked like tiny little buns." He added that factors such as genetics, water intake, and diet contribute to the formation of kidney stones.

Images of the stones appeared on social media, astonishing users. "There are so many stones, they could be used for landscaping," "How could anyone go without drinking water?", and "These stones are so polished," were some of the comments.

The British paper had previously noted an increase in this phenomenon over the summer, particularly among young women and girls experiencing kidney stones. This issue is linked to conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. Stones are more commonly found in middle-aged white men.

According to the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, there has been a 16% increase in adolescents and young adults aged 15-19 suffering from kidney stones from 1996 to 2012. Among women, this increase is recorded at 52%. Experts suggest that early use of antibiotics, processed foods, and climate change are potential contributors to this rise.

The condition of the 20-year-old remained stable after the procedure, but she was advised to increase her water intake.