Root Cause Analysis: Did a Brain Scan "Glitch" My Kidneys?

Photo for illustration only credit to Pixabay

The "Blue Screen of Death" (Hematuria) In IT, the scariest thing you can see is a Blue Screen of Death. In real life, it’s seeing blood in your urine.

That happened to me about two years ago. I was shocked. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink alcohol. I watch my diet. I thought my "hardware" was in perfect condition. So, why was I suddenly passing blood?

I decided to run a "Root Cause Analysis" on my own life. The logs pointed back to December 2023.

The Incident: The Tricycle Crash It was early in the morning after the dawn mass. My wife and I were crossing the street in a tricycle when a rushing pickup truck slammed into us.

It was chaos. My wife immediately called for help, and the Quick Response Team (QRT) arrived in no time. (A massive salute to those first responders). They rushed me to the hospital.

Miraculously, my X-rays came back clear—no broken bones. But because of the impact, the doctors needed to check my brain for hidden trauma.

The Procedure: CT Scan with Contrast This is where I believe the "glitch" might have started. To get a clear image of my brain, the medical team performed a CT Scan with Contrast. This involves injecting a special dye into your veins to highlight blood vessels.

The technician gave me one strict instruction: "Drink a lot of water to flush this out."

By the grace of God, my brain was fine. No clots. I went home thankful to be alive. But in the chaos of recovery—dealing with wounds, insurance, and trauma—I might not have "flushed the system" as well as I thought.

The "Error Logs" I Ignored Months went by. I started feeling a sharp, severe pain in my back.

The IT Mistake: I treated it like a minor bug. I thought, "It's just muscle pain from the accident."

The Reality: It was my kidneys screaming for help.

Sometimes the pain was so severe I couldn't even get up. But I kept ignoring the alerts... until the blood appeared.

The Diagnosis: 0.4cm Crystals I finally went to the doctor. One ultrasound later, the verdict was in: Kidney Stones (0.4cm).

I was confused. "Doc, I'm healthy. I don't drink alcohol." The doctor explained that trauma, dehydration, and chemical imbalances can create stones even in healthy people.

The "Debugging" Protocol I didn't need surgery, but I needed a system flush.

Medication: The doctor prescribed a pH Balance supplement (Phytate Magnesium). I took this religiously for 60 days to dissolve the crystals.

The Natural Patch: I added Coconut Water (Buko Juice) to my diet. In the Philippines, this is nature’s best kidney cleanser.

Hydration: I stopped guessing and started tracking my water intake.

The Maintenance Routine (2026 Update) Today, I am stone-free. But I don't take my health for granted anymore. I’ve installed a new "maintenance patch" for my lifestyle:

The 2km Walk: I try to walk home from work (about 2km). It clears my mind and keeps my metabolism moving.

Step Count: I aim for 5,000 to 6,000 steps a day.

Diet: More vegetables, less salty processed food.

Bottom line

If you feel back pain that won't go away, don't ignore the error logs. Your body is trying to tell you something. And if you ever get a CT scan with contrast—listen to the technician. Drink the water. Flush the system.

Life is too short to crash because of a 0.4cm rock.

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Disclaimer: I am Mark V., an IT Professional, not a doctor. This is my personal story of recovery. Kidney stones can be serious. If you experience severe pain or blood in your urine, please go to the ER immediately.