Mom Keeping Urine in Bedroom

[ticktocks]

About 10 years ago, I went into my mom's bedroom to get something from her closet.  I found a plastic pitcher full of urine sitting in there.  It looked old, but I've never kept urine around, so perhaps it looks old quickly.  To be honest, I was hoping it was for some illegal drug testing or something.  Only problem is, they don't drug test where she works.  I wondered if she sold it.  But I think they can tell when urine is old.  I don't know, I was just trying to make sense of it. Shortly after, I moved out and to another state.  Every time I would come home to visit over the years, I always kind of think the towels smell like pee.  I never go in her room to check for urine though.  That is until tonight.  And still, the same pitcher with urine it.  I mention the towels because sometimes I wonder if she washes her clothes with it or something.  Or perhaps it's just in my head that there is a pee smell to them.

My mom is an incredibly defensive person if you call her out on something.  And if she doesn't want to admit to something, she will blatantly lie even if it's totally obvious.

I just don't understand why she would be keeping urine in her bedroom.  I don't know if she changes it out, drinks it, washes with it, just keeps it, or if it's been the same urine for 10 years (though I think it would evaporate - it's hot here).  I don't feel like I can ask her what it's about.

My concern is twofold.  I feel like I don't want to eat or touch anything here because I don't know what she is doing with it.  It makes me uncomfortable.  I'm also worried about her.  I don't know what would provoke somebody to do this and how concerning this behavior might be. I've heard of people doing this out of laziness or due to anxiety around leaving a room, but she does leave her room.  She does get up in the night to use the restroom.  I see her use the restroom regularly.  I've never heard of anybody doing this.

[Dalubaba]

She may be doing urine therapy. Drinking or doing massage with urine is an old therapy.This therapy is practiced by many persons. They take fresh urine to drink and old urine to massage.Prime minister of India, who died at the age of 99 was advocate of urine therapy. He used to take urine therapy for decades. He was quite healthy.
She might be keeping urine for massage. This is just a possibility.

[MYoungAtHeart]

Does your mom have a history of hoarding or OCD??

It is a touchy subject to bring up to her, for one thing, she might be upset that you are looking around in her room, and may not be that happy to discuss that intrusion into her life.

Mom could very well be depressed or suffer from any number of mental issues that she is defensive of.  She may not even know why she is collecting or saving urine, and to give you an answer would be beyond her understanding.

If it was my mom, I would continue to visit when I was able, but eat or drink before I get there and then tell her I have already eaten and am too full for any more. I would make my visits short and sweet and then wash my own clothing when I got home.  I have visited many people in nursing homes or private homes where the urine smell is overwhelming, and have never suffered any ill effects from the smells once I realized how much the people enjoyed the visit .  The urine itself or the smell never hurt me at all.

Wishing you the very best in this situation

M