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Red colored urine for the first time....

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Posted 12/12/2013 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
So, I'm a bit nervous here. I get blood work and urine done every month. When I left the urine in the cup today at the lab I could tell it was a funny color. Since coming home I've been watching for the the lab results ti be posted online to see what "color" it chooses to call the urine. My urine is red. I have never had red urine before in all the years of lab work. I also have protein and leukocytes, wbc's and a low gravity in my urine. After having looked up all this online it looks to me like something could be going wrong with my kidneys. Any thoughts? I'm not asking for diagnosis here... just need to chat with someone/some people about this while I'm waiting on the dr. I've been feeling really tired yesterday and today too and crampy in my stomach. On and off int he last month I've been noticing cloudy urine. At one point I told my dr and had her check for a UTI. She said it was negative.

Post Edited (Ellie33) : 12/11/2013 10:34:14 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/12/2013 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
You know, sometimes it's because of something we ate that we didn't even think about might have red coloring in it (the foodstuff might not even be red!)

You didn't say your age and whether you are still menstruating or not -- earlier this year I had a scare OVER 2 years after my last period. Had to go thru the biopsy, etc just to be sure but nothing came of it.

I don't know if our resident 'kidney expert' reads every day, but I'll send her a note to check in on this. To my knowledge, that isn't one of the initial signs of kidney involvement, but she knows more than I on this topic.

Hang on, try not to worry. When do you expect to talk with the Dr?
Posted 12/12/2013 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there! Sorry you are having this scare! Sure isn't fun waiting for the doctors to get back with ya! A few questions....Is your urine Red or more coke/tea colored? Also, how many times do you get up at night to go to the bathroom if any? Do you notice swelling in your eyes, legs, or feet? I assume you have lupus...how long ago were you diagnosed? Also, are you on any medications to treat lupus symptoms?

Posted 12/13/2013 5:11 AM (GMT 0)

Lynnwood said...
You know, sometimes it's because of something we ate that we didn't even think about might have red coloring in it (the foodstuff might not even be red!)

You didn't say your age and whether you are still menstruating or not -- earlier this year I had a scare OVER 2 years after my last period. Had to go thru the biopsy, etc just to be sure but nothing came of it.

I don't know if our resident 'kidney expert' reads every day, but I'll send her a note to check in on this. To my knowledge, that isn't one of the initial signs of kidney involvement, but she knows more than I on this topic.

Hang on, try not to worry. When do you expect to talk with the Dr?

Hi Lynwood, I have no idea if I ate anything with "red coloring" in it..cannot remember truth be told. I don't think so though. As for age, I'm 32 and still menstruating. Thanks for sending the kidney expert a note. I'm not worrying too much..just like to puzzle over it and wanna know what's going on with my body and why I'm feeling so tired this week.. I got a call from my dr today and she wants to see me on Tues next week.
Posted 12/13/2013 5:14 AM (GMT 0)

aimsgirl16 said...
Hi there! Sorry you are having this scare! Sure isn't fun waiting for the doctors to get back with ya! A few questions....Is your urine Red or more coke/tea colored? Also, how many times do you get up at night to go to the bathroom if any? Do you notice swelling in your eyes, legs, or feet? I assume you have lupus...how long ago were you diagnosed? Also, are you on any medications to treat lupus symptoms?

Thanks aimsgirl16 for your reply. My urine was more red than coke/tea colored. I don't usually get up in the night to go pee these days. I'm actually feeling like peeing less than normal. No swelling, and yes, I do have lupus. I was diagnosed with SLE in 2007. I'm in Plaquenil and Imuran.

I used to be on this forum a lot in the first 2 years I was diagnosed. I was under the handle Ellie27 I think... but I cannot seem to get into my old account, so I started fresh :) I actually remember your name from back then, and Lynwood too. You both made me smile by answering my post. So thanks. And thanks to Keep Moving Forward to responding first with your encouraging words. You are a gem!
Posted 12/13/2013 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome back!
Posted 12/14/2013 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome back Ellie! If you are not menstruating you obviously have something unusual going on. I have a BS in medical technology (lab) and analyzed way too many urine specimens ;) I gotta say that even if you didn't have a UTI a couple of weeks ago doesn't mean you don't have one now. They can come on quickly.

Urine is first tested with a dipstick which gives a value for protein, leukocytes (& several other things). If the protein is high it could indicate a kidney problem, but if protein is low it's because of the red blood cells (RBC). The RBCs mean there is blood in your urine and it is causing the red color. If your bladder is irritated blood is produced so it doesn't just mean kidney problems. RBCs contain protein, but rarely enough to make the protein high. Leukocytes are white blood cells (WBC) and if the value is low it could just be the blood, but it's usually an indication of some other problem such as a UTI.

Since you also list WBCs and leukocytes that means a microscopic exam was done on the urine and the number of WBCs were counted. With blood in your urine there should also be a count for RBCs and if any bacteria were found it would also be listed with the microscopic exam.

I'm glad you're seeing your doc. Until then don't worry. It's probably something that can be easily fixed. Love, Butterflake
Posted 12/15/2013 7:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ellie:

I just wanted to welcome you back to the forum. I also wanted to mention that sometimes I have issues with blood in my urine. It comes and goes often for me, I really never know when I'll have blood in it.

I was on cytoxan to treat my lupus. In the beginning I was on the oral stuff and had nothing to protect my bladder. Since, I wasn't given anything to protect my bladder, the medication fired my bladder. My bladder is damaged for good and it bleeds from time to time. They have to watch it so that I don't end up with bladder cancer in it.

I wouldn't worry to much over the blood yet, it's good you're going to see your Doctor on Tues. I hope everything is alright and nothing serious is going one. Please come back and let us know what the Doctor had to say.

Hugs,
Barbara
Posted 12/17/2013 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hey welcome back! Sorry it has taken me so long to reply! Been battling ear infections and pneumonia. Oh the joys of lupus ehh! If your urine was more red and wbc and such I would be led to believe it might be the beginning signs of a UTI. I know I had many show up in my monthly labs back in the day when I peed that came back positive for a UTI and I never knew it. Hope you get good news tomorrow :D! Sending good vibes your way
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