Frothy urine.

[Alfiethedog]

Hi all, sounds a bit gross but looking for anyone who has had a similar experience. I’m a 27 year old male. Fairly healthy not over or under weight. For the last 4-6 months I’ve been having consistent foamy, bubbly and cloudy urine. I have been to see my doctor twice. The first time I went they suspected clymadia so they tested me for that. Came back negative which is good. I didn’t think it could be as I have been with the same sexual partner for over 2 years and we are expecting a baby so she has had all the relevant tests done anyways so I figured if I did have something she would to right?

Second time I went they took 4 blood samples to test for any infection or other problem in my kidneys, liver etc etc. They also took a urine sample to test for protein. All the tests I have had done have gone back

“Perfect”. The doctors didn’t really give me a reason as to what they thought could be causing this and told me not to worry and drink more water. So here I am drinking at least 2lr water a day and yes my urine is lovely and clear but still getting that foamy build up that does not dissipate! I understand everyone has a cloudy or foamy pee from time to time but for me it’s nearly every time I go and it is worrying as I don’t want to leave it and possibly damage my kidneys or any other organs without knowing. Has anyone else ever had this and what happened to you? Thanks for reading

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

i know this may seem a weird question...but do you have this condition in all toilets? If it is only one, I bet it is something like soap in the water. Just asking and it may seem like a dumb question.

Not diagnosing anything, but did your doctor check for protein in your lab work. If not, have that done.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

[Alfiethedog in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thanks for your reply. Yes I have in all toilets. I know sometimes toilet cleaner can make urine seem foamy but it happens in all toilets that I use so I have ruled that out. I thought maybe it was the speed from which the urine enters the toilet but I have started aiming at the back of the toilet so the urine doesn’t directly hit the water it more streams down the back of the toilet into the water but when I do it this way the foam just starts building up around the edge of the toilet as it’s being pushed outward. As for the protein my doctor got me to do a urine test for albumin. Which came back normal.

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador in reply to Bassetmommer]

Agreed. Also the rate that his urine flows as he urinates.

I agree would ask that it be checked.

[Ladybug_05]

Usually frothy urine means that there's protein leakage if there's already kidney problems. I've had it since I was 6-7 years old (I'm 21 now). It could be something else, but I would definitely get a second opinion and press someone about this, since it can be a sign of kidney damage. I hope this helps a little! Good luck!

[Fluuux]

I would agree that you press your doctor about it. Maybe get your test results and see your gfr number etc?

[Fluuux in reply to Fluuux]

If he says everything's fine through it probably is! But if you're still worried I mean

[Alfiethedog]

Yeah but it’s hard not to worry when it’s been happening for so Long and it’s obviously not normal. I’m only 27 and I have my whole life ahead of me I don’t want to be taking any risks. I think I may try a different doctor and get a different opinion. I don’t want to be miss-diagnosed by one doctor.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to Alfiethedog]

When he says normal, did he give you direct values from lab reports? Unfortunately, many doctors feel normal is when CKD is less than stage 4....and then it is too late. There are so many stories in this community alone of not finding out the diagnosis until too late. So get the exact lab values and see where you are. If he won't explain them, you can look up the information yourself on the web. However, I would be looking for a new doctor.

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador in reply to Bassetmommer]

Agreed. If your doctor is not communicating information competently and treating a possible problem, then a doctor who will is in order.

Well said, Bassetmommer!

[Johnpaul24 in reply to Alfiethedog]

The best thing to do is to see another doctor maybe pretend as you have never done anything about it and allow him to run all the check up, your current doctor will think that the problem is in your head with time everything will come back normal.

[Alfiethedog]

Hi did not give me direct results. Just told me that all my bloody tests and albumin urine test came back absolutely perfect and there was nothing to worry about. You would think if he had any suspicion that if there was any risk of kidney damage/disease that he would have at least told me. I live in the uk and sometimes the GPS are quite laid back.

[curleytop1]

Hello Alfiethedog, I agree with you regarding direct results. I also live in UK and have experienced the same lack of receiving any figures about my kidney problem in spite of being regularly monitored for the previous 5 years before being told I had a problem! In fact I seem to be the only person on this site who has never known her eGFR figures, so I have no way of judging how bad things are. I have been diagnosed with age-related stage 3 CKD (I was 74 and now 77). The only instruction I have been given is to lower my potassium intake, but not how or in what quantities etc. I had already been following a low salt, low cholesterol, low fat diet and now quite a number of my favourite foods have had to be cut out altogether (such as tomatoes, potatoes and bananas) or severely restricted (such as lentils, peas and white beans).

I cannot say I have noticed your main symptom of frothy urine, but, being female, this is a little trickier for us! I think the advice to get a second opinion given elsewhere in answer to your question is a good one, if you can find a GP in a different practice to give you one. Maybe it would be better to ask your current GP for a referral to the Renal Department of your local hospital as you are obviously still worried. Hope you will soon have peace of mind - please let us know how you get on - Curleytop1.

[HankyPanky]

Hi, I have the same problem, bubbly urine for a quarter now, protein creatinine ratio is fine, no albumin in urine, serum creatinine and egfr is normal as well. I have done multiple tests now but cannot figure out the reason. More is the mornings.

[sydneydreamer]

Hi there, I have the exact same problem and have had multiple blood and urine tests over the last six months and nothing has been found. I am still searching for answers. It has caused me alot of anxiety and worry.

[Hidden in reply to sydneydreamer]

anything changed since?

[Alfiethedog in reply to Hidden]

Nope. I still have it over a year and half later. I’m still alive

[accurnicorn]

Hi. Any updates with your situation? Any updates will be greatly appreciated.

Been experiencing the same thing as you for the past 3 months now. Had a urine test with the doctors and I was told it was all normal. Will be having a private kidney function test soon.

[Alfiethedog in reply to accurnicorn]

Had it for 3 years now

[Alfiethedog]

No updates. Still have the issue and still alive. It hasn’t got any worse or better so maybe some of us just have foamy urine?

[Alfiethedog]

Still no better or worse

[accurnicorn]

Thank you for your response. Have you got any other symptoms? Mine just happened overnight but no other symptoms so far, touch wood. What doesn’t help is when you start asking doctor google, it always points to CKD.

I’ve just remembered though that more than a year ago, I started noticing that the colour of my urine just got a shade darker than usual, but still within the normal colour range. Output is still the same. Also noticed that when I workout, my DOMs often lasts longer now than when I was a bit younger.