Sediment in urine

[nancygail]

have you checked for bladder stones?

[zwthomp]

I've have had many, many UTIs and I needed to find a stop to them! I have an super pubic catheter 24/fr silicone cotes from Coloplast Mentor. I have had many antibiotics, IVs. I've gotten doctor/urologist orders to flush daily/regularly. IDK if you like the taste or what not but, I eat horse radish! This has been something I have done for a period of time. I just put it off to the side of my meals and enjoy with just a cracker. Usually about 1-1.5 teaspoons! Sounds like alot but I love horse radish, I don't think it's to much! Good Luck!

[stormie427]

Sci nurse.....no uti. Jim had epididymitis (sp?) possibly caused from uti dropping into scrotum. He drinks plenty of fluids....that's never been a problem. 2 uti's in 7 yrs. Isn't a bad record. We just got the results back this morning...no uti...clean. This just has us stumped. I figured from possible lying in bed for a period of time...which he never does could have cause more sediment to form.
Fingers crossed...flushing once daily n fine since tuesday. Thanks for your help !!

[stormie427]

have you checked for bladder stones?

Will ask when annuals r done @ end of month. Thanks !!

[SCI-Nurse]

Glad to hear that he is feeling better. And lying around might be contributing to the sediment.
CKF

[EyesOfTexas]

I am now finally having a significant turnaround in my levels of sediment. I have SIGNIFICANTLY increased vitamin C intake. I take 2000 mg a day, split between morning and night. I now rarely see any grainy sediment in my drainage bag.

I just changed my catheter today, two weeks since my last change. For the first time in months, I didn't see any grainy build up inside the catheter after taking it out (cutting it open to inspect).

Hooray vitamin C!

[Scaper1]

Great! Do you take a certain type of vitamin C? Time-release?

[EyesOfTexas]

I have just been using standard vitamin C. Mine is made by Nature Made. I split it between morning and night since it's not time release.

[Scaper1]

So the idea is that less sediment forms in a more acidic bladder environment?

[EyesOfTexas]

Exactly. I forget where I found it, but I saw several webpages that indicated it could help. Sediment can be made from a few types of minerals, but a more acidic environment dissolves most types (but not all). Apparently the sediment I've been having is significantly affected by pH.

[SCI-Nurse]

Also make sure that you drink a lot - water or non-caffeinated beverages. Also, there was a thought (a long time ago) that staying away from calcium rich foods, beverages, etc could help to decrease the sediment. I don't advocate that, but it is certainly worth a try if nothing else works.
CKF

[Scaper1]

Are there any possible negative side effects to maintaining a constantly acidic pH level?

[Kinshin]

this is interesting. my neuro urologist says even to change a little bit of pH of urine, a boat load of vitamin C is needed.

[Dianka]

There was the thought that foods rich in calcium increased the sediment. That is not the case anymore, but if you are having problems, you might try decreasing your calcium intake and see if it helps. The key is to keep the catheter flowing with fluid - the more you drink the better. That being said, irrigations sometimes have to be done. Renacidin is supposed to help. it is instilled and left in the bladder for a short period of time. Normal Saline merely is flushed in and drained. Not sure if that really does much of anything (my personal opinion).
I would doubt that the levaquin did anything to stir this up. However, the uti may have. Hoepfully, after a few days, it will settle down. If not, give your doc a call and see what he/she recommends.
CKF

CKF, i am running into similar problem - my sp-clogging and doctor prescribed Lithostat for my case. I had sand in my urin. what do you think of that? Could glass of beer/wine increase the clogging? the only medication i take on regular basis is bloodthinners.