Sediments/Crystals in Urine

[pankaj911]

My mother was diagnosed with PSP in 2016 and has been bedridden since the last year. We feed her through BRT (PEG tube) and she passes urine through a catheter. For the last two months, she's experiencing tremors. Her urine bag is full of sediments (and it blocks the catheter). We consulted a urologist but it wasn't much help. We have noticed a lot of white crystals/sediments lately. This happens twice or thrice (even more) a day.

Has anyone else here experienced the same? Is there anyway to reduce sediments?

It would be great if someone here can guide me.

Thanks,

Pankaj

[Martina_MP]

Have you tried increasing fluid intake? What do you mean by tremor, chills? Maybe a nephrologist (kidney specialist) would be more helpful. Reducing sediment depends on what the sediment is composed of, so it should be analyzed. Some stones and sediment are indicative of infection. Some are related to diet and urine pH. Find a doctor who is diligent and who cares.

[pankaj911 in reply to Martina_MP]

Thanks, Martina! I am on it now....looking for a better doctor...appreciate your help and thanks for replying

[ameyers88]

My grandma has psp. She does not have a PEG tube or catheter. We have experienced crystals in her urine multiple times. It can be large or small amounts. This normally happens when she is not hydrated and getting enough fluids. It happens more so in the summer when it is hot out. Once we up her fluid intake it seems to go away in a few days. We give her half pedialyte (electrolytes) and half water or half cranberry juice half water. This seems to keep her hydrated and the uti infections away. As far as tremors go, my grandma has hand tremors kind of like Parkinson’s but the neurologist told my mom it is part of psp. If that is what you are referring to as far as tremors. Hope this helps!

[Boyce3600 in reply to ameyers88]

were the tremors what you would describe as shaking or were they more like jerky movements?

[pankaj911 in reply to Boyce3600]

Boyce3600, I would describe them as shaking.

[pankaj911 in reply to ameyers88]

Thanks ameyers88, this is very helpful.

[pankaj911 in reply to pankaj911]

ameyers88, I am gonna talk to her nutritionist today. We’ll try to add cranberry juice to her diet.

[ameyers88 in reply to pankaj911]

Your welcome! My grandma’s tremors are more shaking movement too. Also if she has a blanket on her lap we notice lately she tends to rub her hands against it in the same motion.

[ncgardener799]

Time to see another Urologist or Nephrologist. Try to keep hydrated with water, lemonade, cranberry juice etc. Does she need fluids to be thickened so she does not cough or choke? A clean specimen for analysis should help determine what is going on. Also possibly 24 hour urine test for complete analysis. Hope you get some answers.

[pankaj911 in reply to ncgardener799]

She is being fed through PEG tube. We don’t give her anything orally. We don’t thicken fluids. Yes, will try to add cranberry juice to her diet and get a urine/culture test done. Thanks so much.