Strong ANTISEPTIC Smell In Urine - With UTI

Dee, what type of Antiseptic smell? what exactly does it smell like? apparently not good i'd guess. so this happens during the UTI? before, after, and always while on the antibiotics? do you see a Urologist? or your PCP? if you're not seeing a Urologist. go see one. and get it examined. do not put it off. maybe it's more than a UTI. especially if you keep getting them. and finishing your 7 day supply and there it is again. that's not right nor good. good luck, danny 💙💙.

If you google “Why does my urine smell like ammonia?” you will find a possible cause. You should make an appointment with a urologist. They can tell you for sure what is happening with you.

These infections are the result of bacteria entering the urinary tract. Many bacteria that cause UITs break down urea into ammonia, giving the urine a strong smell.

Hi @danny5 and - Thank you for the reply. I have dealt with UTIs for most of my adult life. Years ago, it was the PCP who took care of them, but then I developed kidney stones, so I had to add a Urologist, but it was mainly my PCP for "normal" UTIs.

A year ago, I changed to a female Urologist - Holy cow! Night and Day difference!!!

Are you kidding me? WHAT? Do you REALLY care I am having these AWFUL UTIs? And you want to investigate what is going on? And you want to HELP ME? WHAT????
I honestly thought I was dreaming! But nope, there she was, my new-found ANGEL! That's when this VERY young woman "told me" I didn't need to settle for wearing a pad because I was "leaking" urine. I didn't have to suffer through burning, pain, itching, and more (outside of the vaginal area).

Where had I been? I thought it was all "normal" ... Gosh, doesn't every woman have a prolapsed uterus and a bladder that wants to cry on her best day? Nooo? It's NOT NORMAL? DO TELL ME!!!!

Yes. That was me up to a year ago .... NOW my bladder would be singing (No. Not today!)
Because I discovered that what I had taken for "normal" is NOT so! But let me tell you ... What a journey! I didn't even know - Until this past winter, I could have a cystoscopy and NOT have my body literally jump high and off the little bed! Yeah .... She actually used a local anesthetic!
...........

Hi @danny5 ---- Sorry, my fingers hit the wrong key ...
As I was saying - Yes, I became very well enlightened. I discovered that I could do so much! I just had not been talking to the RIGHT doctor!
So yes, I have been seeing my WONDERFUL Urologist and she has done many tests to find out what were the contributing causes to my UTIs. As it turns out, I do have a few issues, but I have choices. Nothing too terrible to do.
One of the things I found out is that even though I had breast cancer, and my cancer was 98% HR+ for Estrogen and Progesterone, I COULD use Estrogen vaginal cream. My oncologist approved it and it immediately began to help me! After a few weeks, I felt SO MUCH better! Now, almost a full year after I started, I feel "like new"!!! (Well - Almost!)
Danny, I had NO CLUE! I would NOT have known to even ask the oncologist, had my NEW urologist NOT told me!

I will now go to your questions, but I will begin a new reply, just to keep things shorter .... and more interesting!
Ciao! Dee

.... and here I am AGAIN! Hi @danny59 and @kidneybean1 - Thank you for replying!!!!
So .... Yes, I do have a GREAT urologist now; but she doesn't know WHY I have this "smell".
In honesty, I just mentioned it once to her, 3 days ago. She interpreted as a potential sign of an infection and told me to drink plenty of water. I was STILL on antibiotics because of a new UTI, and had just taken the last pill! Yes, I am drinking plenty of water. My urine is almost water color! BUT the smell is THERE! And I have to tell you, my undies reek of it too! Washing and changing doesn't affect it!

@kidneybean1, the smell is NOT anything like ammonia. It is a "medicinal" type of smell, sort of like an antiseptic used in hospitals. Does it make any sense to you? I had my husband smell it. He couldn't decipher it either. We both think it is a "familiar" smell; something we have smelled before (aside from my urine!!). It was only yesterday afternoon that it came to me: It smells like one of the antiseptics used in hospitals. He agreed!!!
This is when I sent in my question .... I've been searching for an explanation for a while now, but I haven't found any information about THIS particular type of smell.
I have seen information about the smells of Ammonia, Sulphur, Rotten Eggs, Rotten Meat, Maple syrup, Popcorn, Sweet, Fishy, and/or various foul odors. None of these seem to define the odor I smell.

Thanks for your help!!!
Hugs!
Dee

CONGRATULATIONS ON finding a female Urologist. i have a female PA Urologist. she's amazing. and smart as a whip. she has helped me immensely with my UTIs. and kidney stones. i will see her again on the 22nd of July. i have a problem where i bleed from my penis. either from the Urethra tube. or the glands.. or.. (head). but i find it a little worrisome and a little scarry.
see, i have 2 kidney stones in both kidneys. the top lobe and the bottom lobe. if you understand what i'm trying to describe. so i'm not totally sure what's going on there.
now about the smells you list. i have seen that list. but for the life of me, i can't remember what the article actually said about them. you know, what causes the smell. it might have been from the National Kidney Foundation. most likely. well lots of Hugs to you too. Daniel 💙💙.

Hey, @danny5 - Thank you! I found my female urologist by chance. My husband was seeing a new, extremely proficient male urologist, and I asked him if he took new patients. After I explained my problems, he recommended a colleague in the same practice (different office), adding that he was recommending her not only because of her gender but because she specialized in women's urinary problems. So, yes, I was incredibly lucky!!! My doctor is everything anyone could wish for: She is empathetic, very supportive, and highly knowledgeable. She REALLY changed my life!!!

I am very sorry to hear about your current bleeding! When did it begin? Do you have any pain, or any other symptoms? I understand your concern Danny! I had kidney stones 3 times and had to go to the hospital to have them out. However, I did not "see" blood, though it was found in my urine. I did see "real" blood in my urine only once. Again, I had kidney stones, which I eventually passed without going to the hospital.

I am wondering - Since you know you have 2 kidney stones in each kidney, could one or more of these stones be migrating and causing the bleeding? My stones DID exactly that; they moved and then began descending, causing the bleeding (and awful pain).

About my very strange medicinal smell (still present!) - Yes, I too remember reading about many causes of DIFFERENT types of smells ... Somewhere! But none of the smells described is the "medicinal/antiseptitc" one that I smell.

I don't have any UTI symptoms - Only this very particular smell. This is the ONLY time this has happened (having this exact smell and NO UTI!).

So you may ask: Why be concerned? Because it is the ONLY time this has happened. What if it is NOT tied to any infection, but something DIFFERENT? I have had 2 cancers (melanoma and breast) and I have found them both myself - I have SAVED my own life. I can't "shake" the idea that I am "missing" something ...
HUGS to you Danny!
Daniela

Daniela, with having 2 different cancers. that is reason enough to be concerned. never ever ignore something like this for that reason.
now about my bleeding no other pain except for the glands. and also a very annoying itch there. i have passed stones before. but no pain this time. that's why i'm concerned. i should not be bleeding for no reason. but i can't wait for the 22nd to get here. i'm totally stumped about both cases. hmmm.
p.s. i hope your husband is well. Danny

Hi @danny5 - Yes, having had 2 cancers -- That I found myself (!!!), I am acutely aware that I AM my own "first line of defense" and my own "advocate"! Also, when the biopsy confirmed my breast cancer (my 2nd cancer), I had genetic tests, leading me to discover I have an inherited genetic variant believed to be responsible for my breast cancer (BARD-1)! Who knew? Because of that, I realized I needed to do more - For OTHERS!
So, two years ago, I joined FORCE—Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families facing hereditary cancers. I don't know if you are aware of this, but only about 10% of all cancers are inherited via genetic variants passed through the generations. These cancers include certain types of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, colorectal, endometrial, melanoma, brain, and others. So now I am a Volunteer for FORCE, and I do a lot of Advocacy.

But going to you, Danny - Have you had any cancers? Is this issue sort of new? You are seeing your PA on the 22nd - Have you had any diagnostic and imaging tests of your genitourinary system? If you haven't, I would ask your PA to address all diagnostic and imaging tests you may need to undergo, in order to better understand your situation. What do you think?

Thank you for asking about my husband. He was seeing the urologist because of a problem with urination. It turned out the prostate was VERY large, pressing against the urethra, causing a blockage. He was given two meds for 1.5 years, which have been successful! They have DECREASED the size of the prostate. This decrease now allows him to be a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure - UroLift. He will do that in about 2 weeks.

Did you know that a high creatinine level may be caused by restricted urine flow?

Sending you another big HUG!
Daniela