Anyone else totally disgusted by the stench of their urine?

[Sophiebun11]

Since my eGFR got into the mid 30s three years ago my pee has been so foul it is nearly nauseating.

I did totally apologize to my kitty because I thought his litter box stank and I kept cleaning it more than once a week and scouring it with vinegar and baking soda. But every time I went in the bathroom and sat down across the room from his litter box on the toilet and pee'd I smelled that horrid smell.

I finally figured out a few days ago that it was me LOL!!! Poor kitty!!! He was totally blameless.

I drink tons of water. I literally finish off a 5 gallon bottle of spring water per week, so my urine is dilute. I don't know if it's simply CKD in general. My eGFR did go down into the high 20s, and now back up again but it didn't seem to help with the odor.

I am the only stinker? I hate to pee in a public restroom for fear I'll nauseate anyone waiting in line. This is embarrassing. I know people have worse problems, but just looking to see if I'm in good standing as a member of the Stinker's Club or if I'm a lone stinker.

Thanks : )

[Chimama]

You are not alone... I almost have to hold my nose Absolutely try to not go in public toilets even my daughters house !! Nope you’re not alone🙁

[Sophiebun11 in reply to Chimama]

Thanks, it's so gross. One more thing to deal with : )

[Beachvibe]

Hi there so I remember my urine smelling like sulfur and yes it was very nauseating. For me I found out It was due to a urinary tract infection which is common in CKD. My doctor gave me some medicine for it and it cleared it right up. Let your nephrologist know.

[Sophiebun11 in reply to Beachvibe]

Thanks for the reply.

I often feel like I have an infection and call my PCP at least once a month to get a UA. 99% of the time they are negative. I usually have RBC and WBC but the culture shows no bacteria.

The smell is there all the time for the past 3 years at least. That why I've been blaming the litterbox.

I think mine just stinks of strong cat pee ammonia, not sulphur, but I'm not exactly a connoisseur of pee smells : )

[Beachvibe in reply to Sophiebun11]

Lol yes I would talk to your nephrologist to see if they can prescribe something to help. I would go to nephrologist with this issue not your PCP

[Sophiebun11 in reply to Beachvibe]

Thanks, great idea. I see my Neph again in Jan. I hope he'll prescribe something besides a clothes pin LOL

[jodaer]

Sometimes mine is but mostly it's not.

[Sophiebun11 in reply to jodaer]

Thanks, Jodaer. So, you're on a part-time member of the Stinker Club LOL

[jodaer in reply to Sophiebun11]

I guess so, some pretty awesome people in it

[PecanSandie]

I was in that club for a while but started drinking cranberry and tart cherry juice and I think it helped loads (and it's good for you if you can handle the tartness). I asked my nephro about the continuous slight burning sensation (thinking it's a UTI in progress) and he said not to worry because it was quite normal in people with CKD (just what I need - a permanent UTI, oy!)

[Sophiebun11 in reply to PecanSandie]

Hi Pecan Sandie,

Your handle makes me want cookies LOL!

I've heard about the cranberry and tart cherry juice, I appreciate it. I did try that years back before CKD for my interstitial cystitis, it changes the urine ph, but the berry juice gave me a migraine : (

It is nice to know that others have/had the same issue. At least I know it isn't something in my diet, like when anyone eats asparagus, but that is a whole other issue LOL

Thanks again!

[nascar4433 in reply to Sophiebun11]

Asparagus is the WORST foul smelling pee! Mine lately had been kinda icky, but not enough for a clothespin. Will try cranberry juice. Have heard other places it's good for ckd. Do you drink straight cranberry juice, or the more popular cranberry juice cocktail juice? I like that, but not as crazy about straight cranberry juice. Anyone else know if eating dried cranberries (i.e. low- sugar Craisins) is as good as drinking cranberry juice?

[Sophiebun11 in reply to nascar4433]

Hi nascar,

You are right about asparagus!

I've read that dried cranberries work just as well as juice for UTI. There is also a cranberry extract supplement that is supposed to work. Good luck.

[SunDays]

Hi Sophiebun11,

I too had the most foul-smelling urine that I was embarrassed to use a friend’s bathroom. During the 9 months I had it, I had several negative urinalyses. My PCP couldn’t explain it, nor could my nephrologist.

I scheduled an appointment with a urologist (3 months out), but in the meantime had a vaginal hysterectomy that included a cystoscopy to check for bladder damage during surgery. Amazingly, since the surgery the bad odor is gone. Haven’t had the follow-up but wonder if it’s because my bladder was flushed out and had been storing some unknown/silent infection.

I’m on my second UTI since the surgery so that is troublesome, but am glad to now have “normal” urine odor. Best of luck to anyone who has this problem.

[Sophiebun11 in reply to SunDays]

Oh dear, I'm glad your stinky pee is gone but I'm sorry it took such an extreme measure to rid you of it. I know that wasn't why you had the surgery.

I had one of those cystoscopies to diagnose Interstitial Cystitis. The Urologist actually said "OMG you have really stinky pee" because the urine flushes out during the test all over. So he said I must have a bacterial infection. But it was negative. However, I did show symptoms on the scope for Interstitial Cystitis. But I didn't have the stinky pee that I noticed myself way back then in the early 2000s. Except during the scope and if I had the rare UTI.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Maybe I should have another cystoscopy, but I don't know how it was for you, maybe my Dr. was rough, but I literally couldn't sit down for a week I was in such pain. That is definitely an exit only hole!!!!! I started crying while I was still there waiting for my follow up to get scheduled and the anesthetic cream wore off. It was brutal. I think it was the Dr. since it was at the county hospital, although I can't imagine it would be pleasant anywhere. It hurt and I bled when I peed for a month after, which never happened before. I don't want to have another one of those. : ) Thanks again for sharing.

[SunDays in reply to Sophiebun11]

Sophibun11, I know there are times when we have to endure some uncomfortable medical procedures, but I'm not sure I would go through a cystoscopy (willingly) without general anesthesia after what you experienced! Being a part of my surgery made me not notice any extra pain or discomfort (except now I'm paying for it with the UTI's!) I kept thinking something would show up on urinalysis, but as most everyone else confirmed, it didn't. There has to be an explanation...

[Sophiebun11]

Let's all keep each other posted if we figure it out!! Here's hoping we do : )

[Tabookitty5]

it’s a year later and I HOPE y’all did not tolerate the stinky pee phenomenon all this time! A strong odor like that must have a CAUSE that might be important to STOP. Hope you’re all too busy with healthy lives to reply!