First, I would like to say thank you for all of the great advice everyone on here has given me thus far. I'm in the process of finding a new doc, as my old one simply sucks. In the interim, I have been experiencing a strange symptom. Ever since my second ob three weeks ago, which was very small (but with a yeast infection) and during my last period, my urine has been cloudy and has had a strange odor. There are no other signs of an ob, and I feel great otherwise. Also, the more dehydrated I am, the cloudier the urine is, and I have found that my urethra stings a little. Has anyone else experienced this, or does anyone know if this is a symptom?

If it doesn't go soon and I still haven't found a new doctor, I will go back to my regular doctor. But, any advice would be great.

You know, I have experienced the same thing quite often...the cloudy urine with a strange smell. I have never noticed it before I was diagnosed with herpes almost a year ago. I swear I have bought home UTI test kits (all come out negative), gone to the gyn and been tested, and the doctor tells me nothing shows up in my urine. I've been baffled by it. I sure don't know what to tell you, other than I would love to know what is going on myself. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I have had cloudy urine on occassion before and after herpes, so I'm not sure they're related. For me, it was just a matter of not drinking enough water. If you're not fully hydrated, your body still has to fit the same amount of waste material into less fluid. Basically, the urine reaches its saturation point before all waste is dissolved. Drinking water should clear it up instantly.

Just thought I'd pass my experience along.

Thank you so much for both of your replies! I will let you know what happens with my doctor, or if I find out anything else about this symptom.

Girl

Hey Girl,

I don't know if we're allowed to recommend doctors here but since I'm also in NYC, if you find a really good one I'd be interested in hearing about it!

Karen

GirlinNYC

I've had the cloudy urine too. With me, it occurs during a yeast infection, which I might also be having when I'm having an OB. :-(

The dehydration is a good point as well. If you're a smoker and coffee/tea drinker like me, you probably aren't getting enough water through your system. Coffee is a strong diuretic...

Garnet

KarenM - Since I work in women's rights, I have lots of great female-power friends and business contacts in New York. My coworker and I have been polling all of the women we know about their favorite gyns. I'll let you know the results of my search and if any of them are good. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Also, just an update, I am still having this urine no matter what I do. Since I had problems with dehydration in my pre-H life, I know that this is not that. Before, when I was dehydrated, my urine did not smell.

Have your doctor check for Bacterial Vaginosis. I experience the same thing, and it turned out to be BV. You may have a PH imbalance.

Good luck!

I have had bacterial vaginosis before and it kinda felt like this. Did you have lots of itching? Also, I have also been experiencing burning occasionally during sex and when I urniate. Is that also how you felt?

Thanks, everybody, for all of your support. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I'm happy to hear that other women are going through this as well. And, I'm happy to hear that there are some answers out there! Can't wait for the doctor on Thursday!

Did you say you had ested for a urinary tract infection? Even if you have no infection, the urethra can sting both during sex and while urinating. I had this problem for a long time in my 20's. It was brought on by many UTI's (due to too-vigorous sex and too little lubrication--I found my body does not produce enough natural lubrication and I must use something like KY Silky all the time), but after a year or so, I stopped having the infections. The pain lasted years longer. Check for an infection, clear it up, learn how to avoid them, and if you have my problem with lubrication, use a product that helps. And, of course, drink lots of clear water (at least 8 cups a day--it's difficult!) Maybe this isn't your problem, but you should have a test. Don't mess around with those UTI's.

hello,

i live in the city too. i went to Dr. Kastell at Long Island College Hospital. The clinic is located in downtown Brooklyn, a couple blocks from the planned parenthood. You can walk in there and, if you are desperate, they will see you. The doctors and nurses are very nice and knowledgable.

The clinc is in the hospital, but it is considered outpatient. I'm sure you can find the number in yahoo yellow pages.

[This message has been edited by frenchy001 (edited 09-11-2003).]

Just an update. Went to my doctor yesterday to tell her about the cloudy urine, itchiness, and occasional pain when I urinate. I wrote everything down before I got there so that I wouldn't forget. And, then, of course, as soon as she walks into the room I start bawling! Halfway into telling her that I have been having reccurent pain, itchiness, redness, etc. every month, she interrupts me and said it sounds like I'm just stressed out! Then, she tells me that since I have not had any more blisters, I haven't had any more outbreaks. Is that right? Is it not an outbreak if you don't have blisters?

Anyway, I asked her to test me for EVERYTHING (i.e., UTI, BV, every other STD, etc.) and she didn't want to. She said, "Don't worry. It's just yeast. And yeast is from stress. Believe me, you only have HSV 1, which is just cold sores. It could be a lot worse. I could tell you horror stories." So, basically, in her crappy attempt to ease my "stress," she dismissed my practically-daily symptoms - as well as the disease - I've been experiencing.

Now, I'm more mad at her than I am at my stupid vagina! Bedside manner should definitely be a pre-requisite in med school.

I get all of my tests back next week and I'm definitely going to check out this new doctor you have recommended. Thanks for the support, everybody.

Girl

It may not help your symptoms go away, but my best advice is to drink lots of water and always use lubricant during sex.
I found that in my pre-H life, that I didn't produce enough lubricant naturally either.. we had a marathon session and it irritated my urethra so much that I had the classic symptoms of a UTI- frequent and painful urination. I saw my doc the next day (he was a great doc) and he told me that it was because we didn't have enough lubrication so it rubbed on my urethra and irritated it.
It never hurts to try it, and it makes it feel more pleasurable http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Just an update - finally got my results today and it turns out that I have a major bladder infection. The first symptoms of it were in late July, when my doc told me over the phone that the symptoms were just part of the herpes and I didn't need to come in. Then, she told me weeks later that it was just yeast (and then again the other day when I insisted she test me for everything). I'm feeling both angry at her and relieved that I finally know why I have been feeling so badly the past two months.

Thank you, everybody, for your help.

I'm glad you finally figured it out
But I feel so bad for you! It could have gotten MUCH worse!

I had a UTI about 2 years ago that went untreated.. I went in and did the uranalysis and they asked me "are you are your period?" and I said "no... not for another two weeks" to which they replied "oh well there are red blood cells in your urine"

So the doc said they were going to culture it and they never called me so I assumed it was nothing. Big mistake.

Fast forward to about a month later and my kidneys started to REALLY hurt and I was urinating blood clots.

I ended up going to the ER because it hurt so bad I couldn't wait anymore and it turned out that the UTI spread into my kidney and it was VERY severe... they said if I had waited another couple of days my kidney could have shut down!

They put me on cipro and darvocet for the pain.. it was really awful

So I'm glad that nothing like that happened to you, because it was very scary for me.

I hope you find yourself a better doc!

Drink that water, girl! Don't just rely on antibiotics. If you like it, get some cranberry juice, something like cranberry/raspberry or cranberry/apple that's 100% juice (no sugar!). Cranberry juice keeps the bacteria from sticking to the walls of your bladder.

Doctors, arrrrrgh.

Guys, I just wanted to join in the Aaarrghhhh's over this one. Doctors?!?!?!?!?

GirlinNYC, I'm so glad they found what's wrong! The 'it's just stress' thing can provide answers sometimes of course, but not when you'd been having symptoms for this long! Yeah - find another doc...

TP - what a nightmare. I was 'lucky' enough to get my first UTI when I was 15 or 16, and it was diagnosed immediately. (Blood in urine, the lot). I was terrified - I had no idea what it was. So at least I knew for the next time.

Actually, (lucky me) my doctor is very much one to question the 'stress' argument. Many times I've been to see him, talked about something, and said 'it's probably just stress', and he's said 'Well, it could be physical too', and tested me for all sorts of stuff.

A good doctor/therapist (etc!) is hard to find...

Garnet