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Is Varying Urine Output Despite Having Normal Kidney Function A Cause For Concern?
Question: I have recovered from pvc-induced cardiomyopathy but because a former doctor told me I would always have to be very vigilant about water retention, I have become extremely obsessed and preoccupied with liquid input and output and extremely frightened of drinking normally. I make sure I drink enough (2 liters) but then all I can think about is when I will urinate. My worry is that urine output varies so much even if I drink the same amount and my activity level seems the same. I don't have edema and weight is generally stable but can vary within a pound or two sometimes.
With normal heart, liver, and kidney function, am I worrying unnecesarily? I think I am suffering from PTSD from when a doctor grabbed a bottle of water from my hand and told me my "body can't process water". I have been terrified of drinking ever since. I am getting therapy but remain so obsessed with water retention that I can barely function.
One example of variable urine output:
530-600 pm-'drink 20 oz of water. Some days I may have to urinate badly an hour later. Yesterday, two and a half hours later, only had to urinate a little bit. Activity and temperature the same.
Is this purely psychological or could I have problematic water retention?
Thank you!
With normal heart, liver, and kidney function, am I worrying unnecesarily? I think I am suffering from PTSD from when a doctor grabbed a bottle of water from my hand and told me my "body can't process water". I have been terrified of drinking ever since. I am getting therapy but remain so obsessed with water retention that I can barely function.
One example of variable urine output:
530-600 pm-'drink 20 oz of water. Some days I may have to urinate badly an hour later. Yesterday, two and a half hours later, only had to urinate a little bit. Activity and temperature the same.
Is this purely psychological or could I have problematic water retention?
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Seems normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Assuming that you have normal kidney function( that is normal serum creatinine and urine test) you do not have to worry about urine output. a normal person can pass urine from 500 ml a day to >3 litre a day. when you drink something first it has to be absorbed from the intestine. then renal circulation will increase and urine production will occur. this process can vary from 1 hr to many hours. depending on the transit time in the gut and your fluid status. so do not worry if you pass urine early or late and lesser amount or more in one time. I would suggest you to be on watch out for these things--
1 . morning wait after passing urine. can monitor daily or weekly. any sudden and persistent changes of more that 2 kg need evaluation.
2. keep an eye on blood pressure . both low or high need review.
3. if you are getting up in night to pass urine >1 time.
in any case by the history you have provided, you look OK. Amount of water intake should be average 2 litre per day in absence of excessive sweating. but ef cardiac function is 40% or less then restriction to 1 litre will help. Hope there is no swelling in legs.
Best wishes.
Seems normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Assuming that you have normal kidney function( that is normal serum creatinine and urine test) you do not have to worry about urine output. a normal person can pass urine from 500 ml a day to >3 litre a day. when you drink something first it has to be absorbed from the intestine. then renal circulation will increase and urine production will occur. this process can vary from 1 hr to many hours. depending on the transit time in the gut and your fluid status. so do not worry if you pass urine early or late and lesser amount or more in one time. I would suggest you to be on watch out for these things--
1 . morning wait after passing urine. can monitor daily or weekly. any sudden and persistent changes of more that 2 kg need evaluation.
2. keep an eye on blood pressure . both low or high need review.
3. if you are getting up in night to pass urine >1 time.
in any case by the history you have provided, you look OK. Amount of water intake should be average 2 litre per day in absence of excessive sweating. but ef cardiac function is 40% or less then restriction to 1 litre will help. Hope there is no swelling in legs.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you dr. Lab work attached. Obviously tests are ok but I've started prozac which causes weight gain and am trying to eat a bit more as depression had lessened appetite. If all heart and kidney function is normal then weight is probably ok? Thinking i will try to stop prozac as I don't want to gain weight.
I am trying so hard to stop focusing on water but so difficult for me right now.
I am trying so hard to stop focusing on water but so difficult for me right now.
Brief Answer:
Weight gain can be normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
weight gain can be natural related to age, diet and exercise balance. or it can be related to disease also. you can test your thyroid status to rule out hypothyroid. but sudden changes like 2 kg over few days can only occur with water retention.
the correct answer to control depression, what I feel, is to have small objectives in life and work to achieve them. be confident of yourself keeping in mind that nobody is perfect. and these things are actually true. Believe in yourself and you will be out of depression.
Though this is out of my medical expertise, but I wanted to share my thoughts with you.
best wishes.
Weight gain can be normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
weight gain can be natural related to age, diet and exercise balance. or it can be related to disease also. you can test your thyroid status to rule out hypothyroid. but sudden changes like 2 kg over few days can only occur with water retention.
the correct answer to control depression, what I feel, is to have small objectives in life and work to achieve them. be confident of yourself keeping in mind that nobody is perfect. and these things are actually true. Believe in yourself and you will be out of depression.
Though this is out of my medical expertise, but I wanted to share my thoughts with you.
best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you, dr. I don't see any weight variation beyond 2 lbs (usuallly night weight higher) and I just had echocardiogram and comprehensive metabolic panel and thyroid testing. Everything normal.
Should everyone monitor their weight daily? It causes me so much stress.
Thank you for your advice on depression. It started when I was diagnosed with the cardiomyopathy. Even though I have been cured, I am so terrifed all the time that it will come back that I pay too much attention to possible signs of recurrence like weight gain and lowered urine output. If I had problematic water retention would it likely manifest as lowered urine output? I am so on guard for that and think and worry about urination, water retention, and my heart and kidneys all day.
Thank you again, doctor. I am in therapy and trying to address the anxiety and depression.
Should everyone monitor their weight daily? It causes me so much stress.
Thank you for your advice on depression. It started when I was diagnosed with the cardiomyopathy. Even though I have been cured, I am so terrifed all the time that it will come back that I pay too much attention to possible signs of recurrence like weight gain and lowered urine output. If I had problematic water retention would it likely manifest as lowered urine output? I am so on guard for that and think and worry about urination, water retention, and my heart and kidneys all day.
Thank you again, doctor. I am in therapy and trying to address the anxiety and depression.
Brief Answer:
Water retension does occur with low urine output
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
well, everyone should not monitor their weight daily. but a person having kidney disease does need to do that on every opd visit which generally is every one to two months. similar is the case in heart disease. but you should understand that you have completely recovered the cardiac function. so there is no risk now.
so once you have an accident you would be more vigilant in future. but if you become obsessive about it and fear what will happen if there is another accident, life will be difficult. And accidents are RARE.
lower urine output does contribute to water retension if kidney is diseased. generally a cardiomyopathy may not always present with decrease urine output. more commonly it will produce breathlessness especially on lying down. So this is a more important symptom to get vigilant about.
hope this clarifies your doubts.
BestWishes.
Water retension does occur with low urine output
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
well, everyone should not monitor their weight daily. but a person having kidney disease does need to do that on every opd visit which generally is every one to two months. similar is the case in heart disease. but you should understand that you have completely recovered the cardiac function. so there is no risk now.
so once you have an accident you would be more vigilant in future. but if you become obsessive about it and fear what will happen if there is another accident, life will be difficult. And accidents are RARE.
lower urine output does contribute to water retension if kidney is diseased. generally a cardiomyopathy may not always present with decrease urine output. more commonly it will produce breathlessness especially on lying down. So this is a more important symptom to get vigilant about.
hope this clarifies your doubts.
BestWishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Thank you so much, Dr. Bansal. This is all very helpful. So as my heart has recovered and my kidney functionis normal, I don't need to be so vigilant and monitor fluids and weight? It causes me so much distress and makes me believe I am still ill. I think for my peace of mind, I will stop daily weigh-ins and try to learn to trust my body again.
I had never before been ill in my life and to be diagnosed with somerthing so serious, has been devastating to me and I am trying very hard to get my mind to catch up with my body. Many thanks to you, again.
I had never before been ill in my life and to be diagnosed with somerthing so serious, has been devastating to me and I am trying very hard to get my mind to catch up with my body. Many thanks to you, again.
Brief Answer:
Thanks
Detailed Answer:
thanks.
Thanks
Detailed Answer:
thanks.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems and comprehensive renal care, talk to a Nephrologist. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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