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Suggest Treatment For Acidic Urine, Fatigue And Nerve Pain In Extremities

Posted on Tue, 12 Aug 2014

Question: the last 7 weeks I have been having pain in the ribs or kidney area ..similar to a burning or pressure. occasional hard pain for 3 seconds.. previous to these pains about a week earlier I had dizzy spells . I recently in the last 2 weeks found out by buying ph strips that no matter what I eat or drink I am ph of 5 on urine. doctor found no blood in urine 3 weeks ago. doctor found no bacteria in urine. doctor confermed acidic urine. I am having bad muscle fatigue unless I take potassium supliments which help but do not aliviate completely muscle fatigue. if I eat red meat or drink anything acidic the pain is unbearable and urine does burn while going. occasional nerve pain in extremeties for a second or two then gone. I have found that if I take sodium bicarbonate it helps extremely and ph will come up for a few hours. any idea what this is.. blood sample at docs office 3 weeks ago showed destruction of red blood cells.. doc doesn't know what it is.. doc sent off for blood work on kidneys and liver when I first had symptoms last month and he says they were fine then ...he doesn't want to recheck ..
any help? ...I don't think I am going crazy? .. thyroid results normal..
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Prasad J (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Consider few more tests before going to specialist

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I understand the last 7 weeks have been troublesome. I do not think you are going crazy and so if I were your treating physician, I would like to evaluate further and search for answer. If I don't find one, I would refer you to a specialist rather than call you crazy.

1. At the outset, since the symptoms started weeks ago and not since lifetime, it isn't an inherited disorder that present with acidic urine. Further as symptoms are aggravated by red meat you may be converting them to uric acid which is excreted in acidic urine. Those uric acid may crystalize to form stones leading flank (kidney area) pain. Therefore two tests which I will consider before referring you to a nephrologist are serum uric acid level and ultrasound abdomen and KUB.

2. If you have anemia secondary to red blood cell destruction, it may be a reason for muscle weakness and occasional nerve pain. Therefore it would be worthwhile to check blood hemoglobin levels along with other metabolic work up which I presume are being conducted.

3. As far as red blood cell destruction, I don't find any reasons to explain based on details provided. I will encourage you to see a hematologist who will check for hemoglobin disorders, G6PD deficiency, effects of medications/toxins in case repeat blood tests confirm red blood cell destruction.

Hope this information suffices. Let me know if you need clarifications.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Prasad J (11 hours later)

ok..further testing is scheduled..

results show no calcium stones..going to go for a ct scan this week
. doc says that will check for other stones.

not anemic... testing hormone levels ..waiting on those results..

thanks for reply..
XXXXXXX

p.s. ordered more bicarb and potassium suppliments..
checking ph daily... about 3 grams of bicarb and a gram of potassium brings levels within 6.5

Answered by Dr. Dr. Prasad J (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Not good idea to use bicarb and potassium OTC

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Bicarb and potassium are useful supplements. However these elements have various physiological effects. Potassium in particular has strong influence on heart and extra potassium can be detrimental. I use potassium replacement only when there is proved potassium deficiency. Therefore I would not advice you to use bicarb and potassium over the counter. You should follow treating doctor's instructions carefully in this regards.

Well, I was considering uric acid stones in particular. I do hope the next week CT scan reports shows more light on this topic. Discuss about checking serum uric acid levels (blood) during the next follow up visit.

If all the tests come negative, and urine is still positive of lowered pH then the next stop should be nephrologist clinic.

Let me know if you need clarifications.

Regards

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. Chakravarthy Mazumdar