Blood in Urine

[NetoAnAstro]

I woke up around 3AM almost crying with a pounding head ache. I changed the baby diaper I use along with the adult diaper to change when I pee. I noticed my urine looked kind of pinkish. I also noticed I was really cold and covered up but my legs remained REALLY cold for about half an hour. Then the pain and cold legs went away. This morning I woke up almost the same but with a lighter headache that went away in about 5 minutes but noticed my urine more redish and noticed what looked like two spots of blood. They weren't big, more like two small drips of blood. My wife works until 3pm and i'm kind of scared that its going to be something big. Has anyone heard of this sort of thing before? Thanks

[thehipcrip]

AstrO, between the blood in the urine and the chills you had, it sounds like it could be a urinary tract or kidney infection. Do you have any other UTI symptoms like fever, pain in your sides between your ribs and hips, a strong odor from your urine, and/or generally feeling crappy?

I would definitely give your doctor a call and tell him/her what you told us, report any other symptoms, and tell him you think it may be a UTI. He/she should order a culture and senstivity test and ask you to provide a urine specimen. (If he orders a plain urinalysis, insist on a culture and sensitivity, which will determine what bacteria is causing the infection and what antibiotics will work to kill it.)

Symptomatic UTIs in people with SCI/D should be treated with antibiotics for at least 10-14 days.

Is your doctor familiar with the medical issues related to SCI/D?

[NetoAnAstro]

This is a new doctor and not sure he has many, if any, SCI pacients. But thanks for the info and i'll know what to ask for now. I've been experimenting since I can't do much until my wife gets home. I've gone to sleep about 3 or 4times (20-30 minute naps) and when I wake up the headache is terrible for a couple of minutes and then slowly goes away. I'm trying to figure out what can sleeping have to do with this. Seems kind of weird.

[thehipcrip]

Just a thought -- how much water do you drink every day? Dehydration is a pretty common cause for headaches, and would make sense as a cause if your headaches are worse when you wake up since you're not able to drink liquids while you sleep.

[FreeBird]

It sounds like a UTI. I've had similar over the years. If you have too go to ER. You need a urologist. I wouldn't panic. Dip the pee and get referred to a urologist. IMHO

[NetoAnAstro]

Thanks for the info. I normally drink alot of water especiallysince I can't sweat. I start drinking alot of water around 11am and by1pm i've drank 3 16 oz bottles ofwater. I then go indoors to the a/c area cause its too hot in the shop and water drinking slows down. I did't go today but its my normal routine.Sounds like a UTI.

[Cory-M]

The terrible pounding headache is most likely AD (autonomic dysreflexia). Your bladder may not be draining as it normally does because of the UTI or other irritation and it is causing AD. It might even be that when you are asleep you are not urinating.

If you are unfamiliar with AD, it is an increase in blood pressure in response to negative stimulus(pain/irritation), and it seems like bladder issues are the cause 90% of the time.

[thehipcrip]

Cory, thank you for that answer! You're so right.

I feel like such a dolt for not even considering AD -- one of the benefits of being incomplete is that it's not a part of my daily life. Still...what a big D'oh on my part.