Why does it stink?

Wiggleynose · 05-25-2004, 03:48 PM

Okay.. Why does my pee smell like tuna fish and onions?
I haven't had either in weeks... I haven't changed my diet or eaten anything or drank anything out of the norm. I haven't changed medicines or anything but the past couple of days my urine has smelled like tunafish and onions...

Isn't that strange?

angeltears · 05-25-2004, 04:13 PM

Have you eaten any asparagus lately? That will make your urine reek! If not, you may have an infection of some type.

Felix · 05-26-2004, 05:24 PM

Are you taking Met? I noticed a funny smell after I started taking it.

Some vitamins would also do this.

Good luck,

Felix

x

Wiggleynose · 05-26-2004, 08:08 PM

nothing changed in my diet. I did however forget to take my folic acid for a few days.. but it smells normal now.. strange.

FargoMom · 05-27-2004, 05:59 PM

I noticed my husband's would do that. We found if he isn't drinking enough plain water his urine will smell like onions. Maybe it has something to do with your fluid in-take?

Wiggleynose · 05-27-2004, 07:27 PM

I don't know, I don't think I should be drinking more. I drink 128oz at work and another 64 at home after I work out. It smells like onions again. It's not a big deal I don't think, I just noticed it smelled like onions. =/

nomadic_existence · 05-27-2004, 09:52 PM

Do you have pain when you pee by chance?? Sounds kinda like a UTI. Drink a LOT of cranberry juice (not Cran-apple or anything Cran-whatever, just PURE cranberry juice), it should really help to kick it out of gear.

Good luck.

Jcbelle · 05-28-2004, 10:18 AM

I notice a funny smell when I pee. I kinda think it smells like fried chicken though!! I drink TONS of liquids too, but it still smells that way.

BTW, nomadic_existence, my dr said that drinking any of the Cran-mixes was just as helpful as plain cranberry juice. I guess everyone has different thoughts on this subject. Plain cranberry juice gags me.

nobimbo · 05-28-2004, 08:44 PM

Some info I found about this (gotta love the internet, lol):

Dear Alice,

I have noticed a bad urine smell lately whenever I go to the bathroom. It is so noticeable. I'm very conscious of it during the day. My husband said he noticed it just standing near me! I have never had anything like this before. What could be causing this?

Dear Reader,

Normally, urine doesn't have much of a smell to it. If you are dehydrated and your urine becomes overly concentrated, it can have a stronger-than-usual scent. Vitamins and certain foods (asparagus, for example) can give urine an unusual smell. Infection can cause the urine to smell unpleasant. Uncommon, but more serious, causes of urine odor include:

rare diseases, in which certain chemicals build up in the urine [e.g., ketonuria, maple sugar urine disease (an inherited metabolic disorder that's characterized by urine that smells similar to maple syrup), and phenylketonuria]
an abnormal connection between the rectum and the bladder (rectal fistula)
liver failure
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell where the smell is coming from: women think that their urine has an unpleasant odor, when actually the source is their vagina. The common vaginal infection trichomoniasis can cause a strong, foul, fishy smell. Another vaginal infection, gardnerella, can also cause an offensive odor. Both of these infections are easily treated with antibiotics. In most cases, a sexual partner of an infected woman will require treatment with antibiotics also, and condoms need to be used until the full schedule of antibiotics are finished.

Have you noticed any other symptoms? For example, a urinary tract infection usually makes women urinate more frequently, and can cause burning and pain while peeing. Vaginal infections usually cause an increase in vaginal discharge, as well as some itching and burning of the vulva.

It's a good idea for you to visit your health care provider to try to find out the source of this new, unpleasant odor. The solution may be as simple as a course of antibiotics.

Alice

http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2394.html

I want to add that people on very low carb diets who are in ketosis commonly report "smelly pee".

Linda

squidge63 · 05-28-2004, 10:59 PM

A fishy smell could be a sign of bacterial vaginosis, if your urine is very dark and concentrated you need to drink more fluid, or it could be that you aren't emptying your bladder fully causing the urine to stagnate.
Some people have "fish odor syndrome"

Quote:

The newly found defects cripple the body's ability to produce an effective version of an enzyme called FMO3. The liver needs that enzyme to process a smelly protein called TMA, or trimethylamine, which is produced by bacteria in the gut. When TMA goes unprocessed, it seeps out in a person's breath and perspiration, causing the offensive body odor.
People with the disorder are told to avoid eating fish from the sea, eggs, liver and other foods that contain raw materials for making TMA. Antibiotics can reduce production of the stench but can only be taken intermittently.

I remember looking this up for a friend a few years ago.....