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What Causes Dark Urine?

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Posted on Fri, 4 Aug 2017
Question: hello, bowel changes include more frequency, few small black flecks, and there is an indwelling foley which is not having much output due to recent uti with double round of antibiotics.

urine in bag has been very very dark and not just concentrated dark almost black. although there has been very little output.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
possible liver issue

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
First, dark urine may be sign of some liver disorders as can be seen in jaundice or liver cirrhosis so it would be good check your liver markers. Also it may be sign of urinary infection and you should drink more fluids, raspberry tea and do urinoculture to rule this out.
Second, bowel issue... these are nonspecific signs and may just indicate irritable bowel syndrome, but also some bacterial or parasitic infections may be underlying cause. I suggest to have high fibre diet, take probiotics and wait for few more days to see if this will clear up. If fever, abdominal pain or blood in stool occur, then you should see doctor and do stool analysis with colonoscopy.
WIsh you good health. Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (54 minutes later)
not sure if you saw the part of small black flecks in stool but that is also there but not a lot. Also this is my mother and she is bed ridden for over a year and has had lots of infection due to bm in bed with foley. Thank you so much for your help and if you think of anything else would very much appreciate any further information.

she is running a low grade fever also
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
follow-up

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Black flecks can be caused by some medications, Foods with a Lot of Fiber or Iron, and some more serious issues such as liver disorders, colon tumor or inflammatory bowel diseases. However, these diseases would be associated with other signs such as weight loss, blood in stool and pain.

Foleys catheter should be changed more often than usual especially if she is bed ridden and this means each 7-10 days since the longer use of the same catheter predispose to urinary infections.

Everything else should be based on adequate care, hygiene, diet and appropriate rehydration. At this point, I would avoid repeated antibiotic course. If there won't be an improvement of urine color despite rehydration in the next few days, or fever increases, the urine analysis, and urine culture should be done and antibiotics to be started.

Wish you good health.
Regards

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 13888 Questions

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What Causes Dark Urine?

Brief Answer: possible liver issue Detailed Answer: Hi and welcome. First, dark urine may be sign of some liver disorders as can be seen in jaundice or liver cirrhosis so it would be good check your liver markers. Also it may be sign of urinary infection and you should drink more fluids, raspberry tea and do urinoculture to rule this out. Second, bowel issue... these are nonspecific signs and may just indicate irritable bowel syndrome, but also some bacterial or parasitic infections may be underlying cause. I suggest to have high fibre diet, take probiotics and wait for few more days to see if this will clear up. If fever, abdominal pain or blood in stool occur, then you should see doctor and do stool analysis with colonoscopy. WIsh you good health. Regards