HELP~! Keto related- test strips- blood in urine?

[Denae]

I am supposed to use the "MultiStix" twice a week to check several things-
-Ketones
-blood in urine
-specific gravity

Her ketones have been whacky today, I am not sure if it was the cream I was using (lowes store brand?) or what, but I went back to the food lion brand and she is back to 4+ tonight.

We are still having an issue getting her to drink enough, even with bribes and forcing a syringe of water/flavored water into her mouth. Her specific gravity is 1.030- which means she isn't getting enough fluids. No shock there...

The Immediate problem is the blood- is should be yellow meaning "negative" no blood- when I just checked it a few minutes ago it had little green dots on it which says "trace" for blood...

Is it something that can wait until monday morning? Or should I call? I am trying to check it again to be certain, but this was pretty obvious it wasn't an error.


I don't know what I am supposed to do, if anything.

Ri is high risk for kidney stones, thats not what that means is it?

She had to have her Zonegran reduced since she already had crystals in her urine on the pre admission labs.

She is on polycitra-K and neutra phos already....

???????

[RathyKay]

(((Hugs))) I haven't a clue. I associate blood in the urine with bladder infections. I'm assuming since they have you test for it that it also means something else. And I don't know what. (((Hugs))) Hope you called in and got some answers.

[grace]

sweetie, you need someone with knowledge and I don't have it for this. sorry, but i'm agitated right along with you. hate this right along with you... but hoping there's no negative significance to it and that this is all going to continue to get better and help Riley.

Hugs,

[Denae]

just waiting on a call back now...

I freakin' hate this diet..... WHAT was I thinking??????

[CoolAngel28]

Denae,

I'm not acquainted with the keto stuff,but,I can offer some insight on what you were thinking.You were thinking,"How can I help my daughter,who needs me??"

Hang in there.. Kristin

PS. Tell Riley there's a lady in AR thinking about her...:cool:

[Carly'sMa]

Denae,

I would keep her drinking. If her urine is very concentrated because she is not getting enough to drink, then reading could be higher. I remember this from when Carly had neprhotic syndrome. We were measuring protein in the urine. Sometimes there was a fluid restiction as well.

Would Ri suck on ice cubes? Can you make popsicles from the flavored water? Then it might look like a treat - or does the temperature of food have an impact? How about a sno-cone machine using the flavored water? http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2668133

Keep going. You are doing fine. This is just a bump in the road. It's only a trace. I remember that trace protein was ok - but when it got higher, we had to be so careful. Hopefully you'll get answers to set your mind at ease.

Also, check the expiration date on the test sticks. I remember that the older they were, the less reliable. Plus once the tube was open and air got into them, the colors darkened as well. I would just take that into consideration when doing the testing.

[wheeliebird]

Awwww Hon, wish I had some answers for you!!! Hang in there and I'll be Praying the blood goes away!!!

[lacyndarella]

per the book...looking at blood because of kidney stones. I would not expect her to have stones so quickly...so it could be uti or a rash...especially if it's just a trace

[KellyC]

Denae,
No info on the keto relation, but blood in urine can be caused by many things, including kidney stones, urinary tract infection. (Actually the most common causes for people under 40.) Does Riley complain of any pain when she urinates and/or do you see any obvious signs she is distressed? I know you've posted she's been on Topamax in the past, I'm assuming she is not on it now??? I got kidney stones when I was on Topamax, and that is a little known rare side affect of that med....also puts one at risk for them in the future, from what my former neurologist told me. Here is a decent list of causes for blood in the urine.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/blood_in_the_urine/page2_em.htm

Sorry I could not be of more help.

[Joseph's mom]

Urine strips can show some blood in urine if she is not drinking well. We've seen it many times with Joseph. It is not something you need to worry about right away. Just try to get her drinking more, and you will see when gravity is green, there is no blood in urine. I would be worried if blood shows consistently, and if it is not just trace but significant amount. Also, strips can show false results. We've seen protein, blood and leucocites(sp) many times.

Good luck with the diet!

[Denae]

the neuro called back last night, told us to get more liquid into her then check again.

The specific gravity has alwas been outside of the "ok" range. she is always at the last box or the second to last box which is why I was concerned about the blood. I am afraid she is going to end up with kidney stones. She isn't on topomax anymore, that was replaced with Zonegran- not much better when it comes to kidney stone risk.

We spent a whil forcing liquid into her to avoid a trip the ER for IV fluids, she is still not drinking well.

We checked her again and so far she is ok.

We spent the night taking turns getting her to eat ice chips and drink.

I was so close to dumping the whole thing and giving her the things I know she will eat and drink that it really scared me.

[khfernandez]

Try to stay focused on sticking with the diet and pushing fluids. She will eventually start to drink enough. Give it time and don't lose hope.
Kim

[grace]

Denae, It is hard to keep going but will get a bit easier with time. It has to. pure and simple. Wish I had a keto book so I could give some suggestions but really know nothing. Sorry for that. Wonder what Ri would think of an ER trip? would she hate the diet for it or hate going and then agree to drink more?

Denae, relax a bit. You'll know this has to be stopped WHEN and IF Riley's body reveals its not handling it. Not smaller issues that may be something or nothing but something more significant you just can't miss. Our original ped. said sometimes you have to give things time to present themselves. Until then, assume this is RIGHT for Riley. Not easy. Not fun. but worthwhile and beneficial in the end. Please don't give it up. Not unless you are forced to for physical/medical reasons. I know your fear but don't let it eat you and control you. You are doing something GOOD, even GREAT for your girl. You are helping her the best you can. Please look at the good side and look for the encouraging things. The cup is currently half full and will soon be brimming over with good things I am sure.

And, if in the end you just can't. Then, so be it. But I think that's a ways off yet. after a month most things get easier so hang in if you can. You have more strength than you realize.

we're all waiting with our own hopes and prayers that Riley improve with this so ... let us see her shine like she did that day she wrote her name. She's a great kid with a lot of potential. Let her fluorish.

hugs to your mommy heart. and sorry its so tough.

[langansmom]

My memory is that we checked for blood b/c of the kidney stone risk.

I know the diet seems overwhelming right now, but I hope you are able to give it a good try. I remember feeling the same as you are right now- but we had committed to 6 months and we stuck to it and I am glad that we did even though we eventually had to come off of the diet. There is a reason that they require you to read the book and commit to a certain time period- the initial phase is soooo hard. Not that it's all grins and giggles after that, but I promise that it gets much easier. Making meals, measuring, etc became second nature after about a month. And most kids' bodies adjust after that period and, if the diet is beneficial, they feel much better than even before. I can't promise Ri will fall in that category, but it's worth a shot now that you've come this far. But I would definitely talk to the doc about the possibility of stones- I wish I had better ideas for getting her to drink more. That really is a big challenge on the diet. Seems like there were some diet orange sodas that some of the older kids liked. Would that work with her?

(((hugs))) I don't envy you but am here!!

[lacyndarella]

Does she like popscicles? Freeze diet orange pop in ice trays. Or the flavored water. Give her a reward for eating or drinking her liquids (from the keto fairy). Give her gold stars on keto chart for the week and with so many gold stars she can get to do something she wants...like rent a movie or an activity that she enjoys. BRIBE HER!

Lacy

[glad2beadam's mom!]

Denea,

We are not on Keto but we are trying MAD (Modified Atkins Diet) the goal is the same with both diets to get into Ketosis. I knew we probably couldn't do Keto so our Neuro suggest MAD...actually he never even talked to us about Keto because he wanted to give MAD a try first. On MAD I give Adam about 4 oz. of Diet Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice mixed with water...he loves it and I've also tasted it, it's yummy. They have regular cranberry and a cranberry grape, I've found most kids will accept a watered down juice.

I hope the diet gets easier, it's always something with our kiddos.

Incidentally we've been on MAD for three weeks, I am trying to get below 10 g carbs a day but so far it's been more like 15-20 g. carbs...we haven't noticed it helping yet, but hopefully we will. I figure I'll give it a couple of months and if it doesn't help the seizures we'll go back to a regular diet, but atleast we can say we tried.