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What Causes Constant Dehydration And Lower Back Pain?

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Posted on Mon, 10 Feb 2014
Question: Hello I am having constant dehydration lately even though Im drinking plenty of water and even pedolite some days,I can't seem to hydrate and I have lower back pain occasionally.I went to my doctor over a month ago but he said all HIS urine tests were normal except Blood UR 1+ and Ketones 4+. He said all blood tests were normal expect my lymph were at 11.1 L, Lymph AB 1.0 L, Grncyt% auto 83.7 H, Gran AB auto 7. H. So I bought some good urine dipsticks last week to keep an eye on things because Im not feeling well even though the doctor said I'm ok. The dipstick read as follows,please tell me your opinion. I will only list the abnormal readings on the dipstick. Ketones +15 S.G 1.025 Blood +10 Leukocytes +25 The S.G stays about the same, the ketones fluctuate but there was never positive blood until today.Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)
Brief Answer: Do you have a band for glucose on this strip? Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this persistence dehydration that you have reported. I hope I would be able to add some valuable contribution to help you resolve this problem. Before we get there, can you please provide answers to the following questions? 1. How is your urination? Do you think you are urinating more than usual and in large quantities? 2. Can you estimate approximately how many liters of water you drink daily? 3. Have you ever been tested for diabetes? Have you ever done a blood sugar test? 4. Have you ever had any brain injury? Ketones in blood up to a value of +15 is concerning. Ketone's in urine/blood suggest a lack of insulin which results in abnormal glucose metabolism. This is most common in type one diabetes mellitus. Also, a very high level of ketones like this would most likely suggest that the client is in coma or eminent coma. The blood and the leukocytes are concerning as well. This would suggest a urinary tract infection or some sort of bleeding like in the case of kidney stones. I am tempted on questioning the quality of this test or how well it was carried out. I will like that you repeat this test as you mentioned having many test strips. Read the instructions carefully and follow the directions as printed out. I will be waiting to weigh in with more options and suggestion as to the possible causes of constantly feeling dehydrated. Let me hear from you, please. Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (9 minutes later)
Hello and thank you. Yes there is a glucose on the test but it is negative for glucose in the urine. I have bern tested for diabetes in the past and it was negative. I urinate large amounts through out the day. I am also very small at 90 lbs and eat a carbohydrate restricted diet to keep my blood sugar stable so i notice ketones in my urine if i dont eat enough carbs that day. My urine dipsticks are medical grade so i trust their acurracy. No head trauma.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (23 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Thanks for following up Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for the answers. 1. Excessive fluid intake with excessive urination that leaves you feeling dehydrated raises the concern of the kidneys being unable to retain water and concentrate the urine adequately. This is common in conditions like diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. Because you have not detected glucose in the urine and seem to have been cleared of diabetes mellitus in the past, you would need to be investigated for diabetes insipidus. This is a condition in which the kidneys fail to concentrate urine because of either a lack of a hormone(antidiuretic hormone which is secreted in the brain) or the kidneys fail to respond to its action. I will like you to mention this to your doctor directly and suggest he does the tests to confirm or rule this condition out. 2. The high level of ketones in your urine suggest excessive fasting. Please, you need to relax on this because the system is burning on fats and not glucose. Beside, why are you staying away from carbohydrates if you do not have diabetes? What were you blood glucose reading? 3. I will also like you blood calcium levels to be checked. Hypercalcemia is a possible cause of excessive thirst and dehydration. Get it checked out. This is best addressed by an endocrinologist. Feel free to forward the results to me for appreciation and more information. In all, get tested for diabetes insipidus. Also get your calcium levels checked for a start. I hope this addresses your query fully. Thank you so much for using our services and please feel free to ask for clarifications if need be. I wish you the best of health. Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (17 minutes later)
Thank you. I drink about 1.5 liters of water per day and recently added an electrolyte balancer called, pediolite normally given to children but i like it better than sports drinks. Im carb restricted because i tend to be hypoglycemic and found when i eat higher protein everyday my blood sugar was more stable but if i eat too much carbs or sugar i get higher blood sugar around 140 still in normal range but i feel dizzy,yet im negative for diabetes.I eat very well, many meals through out the day however i have problems with ketones and cant gain weight. Oddly this doesnt concern my doctor. I will ask him about the test you suggested, i am very concerned with my kidney, I dont feel well. Thank you again.s
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer: See below.... Detailed Answer: Please, 1,5L per day is very normal if not small. In a hot and dry climate, this would be small. 1.5L is too small to constitute excessive fluid intake. Please, this is normal and you would need to drink even more if you feel thirsty. I will suggest you eat normally and get tested for diabetes again. if with a normal diet you test positive, we would know exactly what we are dealing with and provide care. This is because you seem to be taking measures of controlling abnormal blood sugars without a clear diagnosis. It is strange for carbohydrate diets to cause low blood sugar. Sugar is a break down product of carbohydrates and not proteins. Please, check this habit out and make sure there is nothing you are missing out on this. Please, eat normally and get blood glucose readings controlled. Any abnormalities would be followed up and managed accordingly than working in the blind. Also, an HBA1C measurement would give a final call to this. I wish you well. Feel free to bounce back with more concerns if need be. Dr. Ditah,MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (30 minutes later)
Here are my last tests from my doctor. My urine tests stick indicate an infection. I just rechecked my urine 20 minutes ago and now the leukocytes are even higher then earlier today. Now leukocytes are at +++500 the highest it goes on my stick. I hope my doctor will see me tomorrow, but i doubt it. Thank you for your feedback and concern.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer: I hope you get to see your doctor tomorrow Detailed Answer: Thanks for following up with me. It would be a great idea to meet your doctor. With these preliminary results suggesting an infection, I will strongly recommend that you get this urine cultured and a sample examined under the microscope. It will provide more direct and helpful information to us. I have reviewed the attached results as well and but for the ketones and blood, every other finding seems normal on the urine analysis. Also, ask your doctor bout your sugar numbers and what the plan is to address these high ketones. Keep me posted when you return fro the hospital tomorrow. I will gladly attend to you. Thanks. Dr. Ditah, MD.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Chobufo Ditah

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 6323 Questions

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What Causes Constant Dehydration And Lower Back Pain?

Brief Answer: Do you have a band for glucose on this strip? Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this persistence dehydration that you have reported. I hope I would be able to add some valuable contribution to help you resolve this problem. Before we get there, can you please provide answers to the following questions? 1. How is your urination? Do you think you are urinating more than usual and in large quantities? 2. Can you estimate approximately how many liters of water you drink daily? 3. Have you ever been tested for diabetes? Have you ever done a blood sugar test? 4. Have you ever had any brain injury? Ketones in blood up to a value of +15 is concerning. Ketone's in urine/blood suggest a lack of insulin which results in abnormal glucose metabolism. This is most common in type one diabetes mellitus. Also, a very high level of ketones like this would most likely suggest that the client is in coma or eminent coma. The blood and the leukocytes are concerning as well. This would suggest a urinary tract infection or some sort of bleeding like in the case of kidney stones. I am tempted on questioning the quality of this test or how well it was carried out. I will like that you repeat this test as you mentioned having many test strips. Read the instructions carefully and follow the directions as printed out. I will be waiting to weigh in with more options and suggestion as to the possible causes of constantly feeling dehydrated. Let me hear from you, please. Dr. Ditah, MD.