Blood in urine??

[jadefox26]

Hi I wonder if anyone can help? My friend (on my recommendation) has been on atkins for 10 days - she started off with no problems and she phoned me today with a problem. She thinks she might have a urine infection - but I'm not so sure...she has had some blood in her urine (she described it as *bits* floating in the pan), this obvously does not seem normal - and she is going to the dr to have her urine checked. I was wondering if anyone else had suffered in this way and if so what it turned out to be?

Many thanks for any suggestions.

Emma xx

[CindySue48]

Infections are caused by bacteria, not LC.....it's probably just coincidence that it hit right after she started LC.....unless she's not eating enough and has put herself into starvation.....THAT can decrease you resistance to bacteria.....but still won't cause an infection.

[jadefox26]

Thanks Cindy, I hope she gets her results soon, I have never had blood in my urine so I don't really know what to tell her.
xx

[jadefox26]

Oh so now I'm MAD :mad: I phoned my friend this morning after about 5 days of not speaking to her because we were both so busy - her DR told her to come off of atkins because it could be DAMAGING HER KIDNEYS!!!!!!!!!!! OMG.
What happened was...she had that blood test done, and it came back with a trace of ecoli (what the heck???????) anyway, he gave her some antibiotics to take - and within three days she was doubled over couldn't walk etc - so they took more blood, this time is came up with a big infection of the kidneys - so he changed her medication over and now she's getting better - but she said at one stage her urine was completely red where there was so much blood in it.
Anyway, I said to her this morning, did they actually check you for kidney stones or anything, but no, they just told her to come off of the diet as that was what was causing it.
I'm really mad.
Emma

[cats4jan]

I don't understand why the medical community is so against low carb dieting. I can understand why they are against the Induction phase of Atkins because that is really restrictive, but an on-going restriction in the number of carbs one eats can only be good for you.

Who needs all that sugar and starch in your diet? If you simply replace some of your high carb foods with lower carb choices, how can that be bad?

Any diet - when done to extreme - is bad for you. But when used with common sense and a real, working knowledge of OWL - how can Atkins be worse than what I was doing - having fast food for nearly every noon meal - eating only high calorie starch for supper - eating cake and pie more often than any normal person does???

However, on another note - I am blaming my hair thinning on l/c. :tears: But then again, I've been trying to keep my carbs at 30 and my calories at 1,200 for the last year. This may be too restrictive to be healthy, but even at this level, I may only lose a couple of pounds a month - and a couple of pounds is a "good" month.

The hair thing is really scaring me, but you would think - if it is being caused by my diet - my body should already be used to this level of eating and not "reacting" to it. I guess the hair loss could be coincidental - I am almost 56 and my family doesn't "keep" their hair. However, the hair thing is too coincidental to dismiss.

It hasn't deterred me, though. I am eating a little more since I decided to stay at this plateau - but I am still drastically restricting my carbs because they are the foods that are highest in calories. Besides, weighing 160 has to be better for my general health than weighing 230 - I know it's better for my mental health.:)

[Zuleikaa]

Try eating coconut oil for the hair loss. It works.

[CindySue48]

Diet does NOT cause infections!

Just like you can't get a cold from going out in the rain without your raincoat.....you can't get an infection from a diet!!!!! Well, not a bladder one anyway.

Doctors routinely say people have a "kidney" infection when they really mean "bladder" infection. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!

Bladder infections from EColi are very common....it's the MOST common cause of bladder infections. It's from not cleaning properly after a bowel movement. Tell your friend to wipe front to back ONLY and get back on LC!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRR this is ONE thing that really ticks me off!

PS. bleeding is common with bladder infections, it's due to the irritation of the bladder wall. Kidney infections cause pain in the lower back....the kidney area and frequently chow no other symptoms.

[jimjam]

Actually, and I'm sorry, but I have heard of this happening to other LC'ers - my neighbor is a doctor and isn't hateful of the lowcarb diet or anything, but said this can be a side effect of this diet in some people prone to it. I've also read information in magazines and online that back it up, so I wouldn't get angry about it, you can't change factual data, just be careful if you should show any symptoms like this - not everyone does, after all.

[CindySue48]

nope...sorry...but an infection is caused by bacteria entering the urinary system. Normally urine is sterile, but bacteria can be easily introduced by improper cleaning, sex, other irritants.

The ONLY way LC can be blamed is IF this woman went into starvation mode for several days....then her resistance would be lowered and she;d be more susceptable.

Otherwise, you can't get a UTI from the types of food you eat!

[doreen T]

Actually, and I'm sorry, but I have heard of this happening to other LC'ers - my neighbor is a doctor and isn't hateful of the lowcarb diet or anything, but said this can be a side effect of this diet in some people prone to it. I've also read information in magazines and online that back it up, so I wouldn't get angry about it, you can't change factual data, just be careful if you should show any symptoms like this - not everyone does, after all.
I'll repeat what others have stated here ... infections are caused by bacteria, not diet. However, a HIGHcarb diet can provide a sugar-rich environment in the urinary tract, which allows bacteria to thrive.

Some health professionals erroneously think that low-carb diets cause kidney disease (not infections though ;)) because of the fact that high protein intake can be stressful on kidneys that are already damaged from some previous disease, trauma or infection. There is absolutely no evidence that high protein intake will harm HEALTHY kidneys .. otherwise we'd be reading and hearing about a lot of athletes keeling over from kidney disease and needing dialysis before each race :rolleyes: That being said, low-carb diets are not high-protein ... they're moderate-protein and high FAT.

Bladder infections are unfortunately common in women due to the shorter length of her urethra and more risk of external bacteria getting in. Wiping the area in the wrong direction after toileting, as well as vigorous sex with a partner who's less than meticulous about their own cleanliness are common causes. Also not drinking enough water, combined with not emptying the bladder when the call of nature strikes (many women have jobs that don't allow necessary breaks from their work-station).

If her pain was in the front lower abdomen, above the pubic bone, then it's a bladder infection. Bladder spasms can be excruciatingly severe :(, not to mention the burning when trying to empty.

The kidneys are located high up, above the waist ... pain from kidney problems radiates to the sides at the ribcage level .. the so-called flank region.


Doreen

[giiirrrl]

PS. bleeding is common with bladder infections, it's due to the irritation of the bladder wall. Kidney infections cause pain in the lower back....the kidney area and frequently chow no other symptoms.

i agree with you that low carb diet does not cause infections, it's just all those advocates against the diet talking... but kidney infection can cause bleeding. I had one when I was 6 and my urine was dark red, bloody color.

just my 5 cents:)

[new*habits]

I don't do the Adkins but I do low carb at my own modification.
and your friend maybe she needs some Cranberry juice.
doesn't Adkins say not to have fruit? well, that is one of the problems I have with Adkins.
I got rid of most sugar and the refined carbs that turn into sugar, but still eat healthy fruit and veggies.
I am into whole wheat, whole grains, but limit myself on them.
so maybe your friend can modify her diet to where her body won't be in such harsh shock.

[bike2work]

Emma,

I'm a little bit worried for your friend. When my father had blood in his urine, it turned out to be bladder cancer.

What worries me is that the doctor may have dismissed the problem too quickly as a result of her diet. Maybe it has to do with the diet, maybe not. I'm just concerned that what might be a serious problem might have been explained away too quickly.

Just thought I'd mention it.
:wave:

[bike2work]

doesn't Adkins say not to have fruit? well, that is one of the problems I have with Adkins.

No, Atkins does not say that. Maybe you should read the book.

[Karen___L]

UTI's can also be caused by a jaunt in a whirlpool. Apparently the swirling water can force bacteria up there too.

[cindy_cfid]

you can't get a UTI from the types of food you eat!
I had constant UTI for years when I was in my 20s (and it was NOT a cleanliness problem) my doctor told me to quit drinking caffeinated colas. It took me years to *finally* quit drinking caffeinated colas, and I no longer had UTI. About once a year (for years after that), I would convince myself that surely ONE caffeinated cola couldn't hurt me - 24 hours later I would have a UTI - EVERY time.

[TarHeel]

I used to get frequent UTI's from taking baths instead of showers. Haven't taken a bath in 20 years, and have not had a UTI in that time either.

They can be very scary, though.

Kay

[jadefox26]

Hiya everyone - thanks so much for taking the time to reply to my post, here's a quick update...my friend went back on atkins to try to prove to herself that the Dr was talking rubish - anyway a week in and shes got the same problem, so this time she went back and tried to get him to do more tests. He has come up with an abnormal liver function test and has told her she definately needs to avoid the diet and she has to have more tests to see if there is a bigger problem.
Anyway, thanks for all of your support, it was good to be able to tell her what you all thought!
Emma
x

[nikkil]

like bike2work, not trying to freak her/you out, but when my father had blood in his urine it turned out to be cancer (not bladder, but kidney). The ER doc told him a bladder infection and put him on antibiotics then a few weeks later the blood was worse and they checked further up the urinary tract/system and it was a tumour on his kidney (had to have it removed). I hope she's persistent in finding out the cause and cure.

ANYWAY, my thinking is that the liver/kidney issue was already there but maybe undetected until now and became apparent because of the WOE or it was coincidence that the symptoms started now, IMO.

best wishes to your friend - those bladder infections are pure EVIL!!!!

Nicole

[ouzogirl]

I used to get UTIs all the time (Urinary Tract Infections) that were caused by E Coli. (most are).

She probably held it too long and too much and hasn't been drinking enough water.

Could be other things too, but highly unlikely its the diet.

Hope she is feeling better soon.

[jjoyb]

If I were her, I would get a new doctor. This one seems pretty uninterested in helping her to find the true cause of her problem. She had to make him run more tests? He should be more worried than that if she keeps coming in with blood in her urine and pain. It may be that she has bad kidneys and that this diet isn't good for her (as Dr. Atkins points out), but it may be something MUCH more scary than that, and I'd want a doctor who focused on finding the problem rather than picking what he/she thinks is the problem and sending her home that first time. I hope she's okay.

[Judynyc]

I'm sorry your friend is having problems. I'll share with you what happened to me a few weeks ago.

I have been doing locarb, South Beach, since the end of april, and am loving it and my weight loss. However, I was not drinking all my water because I have a leaky bladder and did not want to have more of a leak problem than before. I was drinking maybe 30 ounces of water per day.

3 weeks ago on a Friday night, I came down with violent chills, extremely painful aches and a fever of 103.+. The fever lasted until Sunday along with the ahces and pains. I was very scared when I saw blood in my urine!! and very dark colored urine. :help:

I went to the dr. on that Monday and told them to run a urinalysis and CBC. It came back that I had UTI and they found crytstals in my urine, calcium oxylate crystals that come from "protein". My kidneys were on strike! I took sulphur for a few days and I'm fine now. Also drank some cranberry juice and watered it down with water, afraid of adding too many carbs. The kidneys are our filtering system and without the proper amount of water and oh so much protein, they can get taxed. I honestly think that this is what happened to me and I am very pro locarb and plan on staying this way. My doctor did not tell me to stop the diet as I really need to do this!!

I know it was my own fault for not drinking the correct amount of water as its not only for weight loss that we need to drink it. Now I know better. I make sure that I have at least 64 ounces every day.

By the way, since I have lost a bunch of weight, my leaky bladder isn't so leaky anymore!!

[oldcodfish]

bladder infections...can be cured as fast... by drinking lots of water...that is what my doctor told me....you drink until you slosh. and rinse out the bacteria.... no meds needed.... drinking water is the last thing you want to do...but it works.
aren't we all drinking lots of water? seems to me that something else might be wrong too.
good luck to your friend.....I wish her health ....maybe she should try for a secound opinion?

[gillian200]

Well, you can't detach E.coli from the bladder with water. They are attached to the mannose receptors in cells. You need a bio-active mannose like **** to give the E.coli a richer source of mannose than they can get from the cells.

[CindySue48]

gillian.....not arguing....but how did the ecoli get into the bladder in the first place?

It was introduced most likely by wiping in the wrong direction!

And NO....everyone does NOT know how to wipe themselves! My niece, who's had bladder problems since childhood (surgical repair at age 5) was not told until she was in her mid-30's! Now, why my sister never told her, I dont' know.....but she'd also been under the care of several physicians over the years....and found the info in a magazine article!

[Mereja]

I just posted a similar situation that I had this week on the general health forum. I have had some problems in the past because of my bladder being too small and since I was a kid I don't empty it completely. I usually take cranactin which is a capsule that has the same thing as cranberry juice but without the carbs. Hopefully someone can explain what I can do to keep eating low carb and not have this problem, or maybe I should up my carbs and eat a little less protein. I am confused, because I don't always have e-coli but what ever bacteria is there just grows because I don't empty my bladder completely. I am sure drinking a lot of water helps but it has been worse since low carbing.

[Judynyc]

Mereja,
I don't know how much water you are drinking but I must tell you that it is very important that you drink a minimum of 64 ounces per day. I did not do this at first as I had a leaky bladder and didn't want to leak more that it was already. I drank maybe 20-30 ounces per day and I came down with a severe infection that produced calcium oxylate crystals (protein) in my urine. The crystals are what caused my infection, not ecoli. If I had been drinking the correct amount of water, this would not have happened to me.

I had none of the symptoms of a typical UTI as I had no burning on urination and no constant need to pee. What I did have was a fever over 103. for 36 hours, violent chills, aches and generally very sick feeling. went in for testing of my blood and urine and thats when it was found that I had crystals which caused the infection.

I hope this helps you!!

[Mereja]

I've always had a problem drinking a lot of water but I am really trying hard now. The last two months I have had symptoms of a UTI at the same time as my TOM. I think that when I start, I really start getting rid of the water weight and I am going so often that I don't want to drink very much water. So something happens that I get rid of all the excess water and my kidneys keep on working hard but I haven't kept up the amount of water that I should because I'm tired of going to the bathroom. This last month after I started, I was going to the bathroom every 5 minutes and then I started having the symptoms of a UTI. After the first day, I was in so much pain, but I wasn't hardly peeing at all and then started peeing blood. I also think that it could have had something to do with my blood pressure medicine that was just started. I think my kidneys were just not working much anymore. And even though I started drinking a lot of water I wasn't peeing much. I am just glad it is over now. But we will see if the same things happens this month. I got my Bp medicine changed. I am really trying now to drink more water.

[oldcodfish]

all I can say is ouch! I hope everybody that has an infection gets better soon. Drink water... it helps rinse out the body...I used to get bladder infections ... drinking water until you slosh helps alot....as fast as meds.

[furball648]

undefined I never experienced that and if it was a big problem I think we would see more posting on it. :wave:

[furball648]

I don't understand why the medical community is so against low carb dieting. I can understand why they are against the Induction phase of Atkins because that is really restrictive, but an on-going restriction in the number of carbs one eats can only be good for you.

Who needs all that sugar and starch in your diet? If you simply replace some of your high carb foods with lower carb choices, how can that be bad?

Any diet - when done to extreme - is bad for you. But when used with common sense and a real, working knowledge of OWL - how can Atkins be worse than what I was doing - having fast food for nearly every noon meal - eating only high calorie starch for supper - eating cake and pie more often than any normal person does???

However, on another note - I am blaming my hair thinning on l/c. :tears: But then again, I've been trying to keep my carbs at 30 and my calories at 1,200 for the last year. This may be too restrictive to be healthy, but even at this level, I may only lose a couple of pounds a month - and a couple of pounds is a "good" month.

The hair thing is really scaring me, but you would think - if it is being caused by my diet - my body should already be used to this level of eating and not "reacting" to it. I guess the hair loss could be coincidental - I am almost 56 and my family doesn't "keep" their hair. However, the hair thing is too coincidental to dismiss.

It hasn't deterred me, though. I am eating a little more since I decided to stay at this plateau - but I am still drastically restricting my carbs because they are the foods that are highest in calories. Besides, weighing 160 has to be better for my general health than weighing 230 - I know it's better for my mental health.:)
undefined It is because they can not get there fingers on our money. Also they have been so fed full of crap they believe it just ask the 100 of thousands that know this thing works for the. :agree:

[msk]

Not sure if this will help or not but here goes...I had frequent bladder infections and in December of 2002 ended up with what I thought was the flu, no real UTI symptoms that started on the 17th...got better then worse with vomiting, fever etc. Then I ended up not being able to keep anything down for 24 hours with a fever of 103 and went to the emergency room. I had a UTI that had inflamed my right kidney. I was in the hospital for around 4 days (over new years). None of my doctors at the time could figure out why I was getting these frequent infections (which by the way are mostly always E Coli for females).

Fortunately I had an appointment with my gyne the following year and after some discussion it was said that women in menepause sometimes get frequent UTI because the vaginal wall is comprimised and that the bladder is right behind it. She put me on a vaginal estrace cream and that along with taking cranberry extract I have not had a UTI in at least 9 months.

Even if you are not in menepause this may be a problem. It seemed that I would always get a UTI when I had intercourse. The female anatomy is made that everything in very close together and bacteria gets up in the vagina and in the uretha easily. She also told me to make sure I am very clean before intercourse, which I also do.

I hope this helps someone. It was kind of comical because before my gyne visit I had 2 visits to a urologist and there is all kinds of stuff about male prostrate all over the walls and tables. Not one thing about women. URG! The urologist should know about this. I even had a scope of my bladder to see if I had any bladder issues...that came out fine.

[Ottawa]

'Sorry to be adding to this thread so late but I thought that I would add how helpful Chemstrips are in diagnosing some common urinary problems like dark urine, when local visits to an assembly line type doctor do not bring results.

I get kidney stones on a regular basis, although the pain is greatly reduced since going LC and increasing my water intake.
Although I never actually have blood show up visibly in my urine, it does get darker via blood and hemoglobin. Checking with a Urine Chemstrip (5L) from a pharmacy can help by letting you know what your symptoms are since several things are checked which can show bleeding, healing, infection and other factors such as ph, sugar and Keytones.

Often stones are not picked up by Xray or Ultrasound until > 2 mm., but these strips give great early warnings before or after you get the early twinges of pain. Hemoglobin (6th band) goes up, Protein (third band) goes up when healing is taking place (from stone abrasion), and Leukocytes (first band)show up with a urinary infection. In some people, the stones do not precipitate in the kidney and end up as an encrustation along the urinary tract and are extremely hard to trace with most imaging technology.
A good doctor would help in this process, I just think they are getting harder to find. Most Pharmacy's carry the strips in cannisters of 25 or 50 and I consider them a great investment in self reliance concerning your own body.

I am not a medical doctor, and this is just an opinion I have picked up over the years but I firmly believe that You should always be your first line of defence where your health is concerned.

[honeydust]

I am a dialysis tech, and I can tell you from experience the Renal diet is much like Atkins. So this kidney damage crap is just that...Crap! It normally takes a bacterial infection a couple weeks to get to the point that you see symptoms. So basically she had this long before the lcarbing. Also its sounds like her doctor is a quack. My doctor done blood work on me, told me everything seemed to be great, my cholesterol had improved by 80 points, lost 50 pounds and she said that the low carb seemed to be working for me and that I should stick with it. Tell your friend that it is a good idea to drink the water as directed.