Urine changes

Question

Noticed today my urine has went real dark, like a strong tea color.  I've been pushing fluids, drinking like a liter fluid a day.  Is this common side affect of meds??  WBC is high, by the way.  Thanks everyone

scottie24 · Answer

Perhaps blood in your urine, kidneys?

I've had blood in my urine and swollen ankles since i finished treatment (years ago).  Don't know what drugs you did or if new drugs do same thing as ribavirin (R), but R causes blood vessel inflammation and damage.  I recently read while looking up "blood in urine" that it can be cause by blood vessel inflammation in kidneys.  Since poor, inflammatory eating seems to make it worse, I suspect inflammation.  As my skin inflames and ankles swell (I developed psoriasis during treatment, and my feet are just a mess), so goes the rest of the body, right?

Health store lady that has consistently given me best advice (I mean she's a goddess) in past few years took a look at me about 6 months ago and said "kidneys."

I like the suggestions about water above.  Brita.

Check out Natalie Cole.  Kidney failure 4 months post-treatment.  Of course, she didn't do R, just INF.

Of course, this could also be entirely off the mark as to you.

Mmorgan856 · Answer

Hello All,  couldn't be seen by my G.I. doctor yesterday, so went to walk in clinic.  Nasty little bladder infection goin on.  Of course I let the Dr. Know of my hep c treatment meds.  He wrote a Rx. For Bactria DS ( 800-160 MG ) I'm not taking until I O.K. it with either GI DR. or solvaldi pharmacist.  Just don't want anything to interfere with treatment right now.  So today I will know if I can start these.  I take enought daily meds for chronic issues an really against taking more pills.  Gonna try an treat this by drinking tons of water an see if I can just flush it out.  Like I said, this is not uncommon for me not to have pain when I have a bladder infection,  I think it has something to do with the interstitial cystitis problems I've had off an on for years.  Can I ask,  does the ribasphere suppress your immune system.?  Is that why these other problems that I deal with occasionally seem to be popping up all at once?

hepcandme · Answer

I like my water with a splash of organic bitter cherry juice

yum

patra_ · Answer

Someone on the Forum said use purified water, so I tried that. I buy gallons of purified water and,  like HepcSandi, I use a measured glass to keep track of how much.  I drink my water at room temperature, and when I go out anywhere, I take several 20 oz bottles with me.  the purified water doesn't taste at all and is easy (for me) to drink by itself.  I watch for sales at WalMart I get their 28 pack of 20 oz bottles for $2.88, for when I go out so I don't have to lug along a gallon jug and a glass.  I think I pay 79 cents a gallon at the grocery store.

Further, I always seem to be thirsty - a residual of the INF treatment of 94/95, so that helps me because I want water.  IF I happen to get a little too much (gotta watch those electralytes), I add in a few oz a day of Fierce Grape Gatorade.  I have been meaning to ask on here if Gatorade is liver friendly.

Have you spoken to your Dr yet?  Pat

hepc4Sandi · Answer

Try switching to distilled water, I found it much easier to drink than spring water. I weigh 144 pounds, but I had a cup of coffee in the morning (which dehydrates you, so you need to add more water to compensate), so I drank about 82-96 oz a day. I used a marked water bottle so I could keep track of my intake. Good luck!

Mmorgan856 · Answer

I thought I was drinking plenty w/ a liter or two a day. Obviously not. The problem I'm running into now is the limiting things I can drink.  It's hard for me personally to just push plain water so I've been adding flavor drops like Mio or dasani drops. Now with my throat being so raw an most being fruit or citrus based, not working,  plain water is looking like my only option. Thanks Kim an Patra for bringing it to my attention that I'm lacking in water intake. I assumed I was drinking plenty, but explaining that I need an ounce per lb. of body weight, makes me realize I've been drinking no where near enough.  Thanks, Everyone

patra_ · Answer

I agree that you should call our doctor, but want to restate what LiveLife said, drink more water.  You should be drinking an ounce for every pound of body weight up to one- half your body weight.  (weight 120 lbs - should be drinking 60 oz water per day.  Ecen if the cause of the present problem, the right amount of water will help everything work right.  Again, call your dr. - might want him to check w/your hepa dr if you need a prescription to make sure it does ot interfere with your treatment meds.

Good luck and hang in there.  Pat

Mmorgan856 · Answer

That's what I thought too, Kim.  Never had that dark of color of urine. I do have a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis an spill blood into urine on a pretty regular basis.  Wanted to find out if that was a side affect that anyone has seen, before I ran to my urologist, wondering if I'm spilling more blood than usual.  Like I said, no pain.  Better get it checked if it's still an issue in the a.m.  Don't want things piling up on me. Thanks. Mary

Livelife777 · Answer

Just saw that WBC that you added.  Definately call your Doctor.  Sounds like an infection.
...Kim..

Livelife777 · Answer

Hi Mary, I had that same thing a couple times and was told to drink more water.  Drank about a gallon, and the color went back to normal.  You should keep an eye on it tho as even without UTI symptoms, you can still have an infection.  The kidneys are being compromised with this Tx, so if it persists more then a day, I would call your Doc.  You want to err on the side of caution.
Take care
...Kim..