Need advice about two issues I have
When I was 35, I thought the pain I had growing up was just side splints, but back in 2012 I was diagnosed with a degenerative right kidney. The ER discovered it only had about 4% living tissue left, and I’m pretty sure it’s been completely dead since then. It hasn’t caused many issues, but it still aches occasionally.
Then, in my mid-twenties during a checkup, a doctor noticed I had an extra vein in my scrotum that should have disappeared but didn’t. He said it was pinched and asked if I’d ever had pain. I told him it sometimes felt like getting hit with a slap shot in my right testicle. That’s when I was diagnosed with a varicocele. It also explains why none of my partners, even growing up, ever got pregnant.
When I had insurance, I still couldn’t afford a urologist because the initial visit was around $800–$1,000. I was married once, but we divorced before we ever got to the point of trying for kids. From everything I’ve read, I’m aware that my right kidney failure and varicocele are likely connected.
I'm not sure what to do or how to proceed with my issues or where to start. I haven't had regular check ups because I've been dealing with debt, bills, an two car payments since I was in a car accident last year. Now with everything climbing in cost an draining my money I can't save a dime. I'm leaving my current job for something closer to home so I don't have to drive 75 miles a day to an from work.