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What Causes Foamy Yellow Urine In An Elderly Person?
Question: I am a 66 yr old male exhibiting clear and bright yellow urine but foamy. My Wbc count is 3.56, Hemoglobin is 10.1 and Hematocrit 31.2. My energy feels drained. I see no evidence of bleeding in stools or gums and had a good colonoscopy last year. What can I do to rectify my condition? Thanks.
Brief Answer:
investigation is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the most important findings are anemia and marginally low WBC count. The foamy urine may indicate the presence of proteins or bilirubin but it may also be normal urine. A urinalysis can clarify this issue.
Regarding anemia, investigation is required. The complete blood count can be helpful to direct investigation towards a particular direction. For example low MCV or MCH may indicate iron deficiency. High MCV may indicate lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Ferritin may detect depleted iron stores (but it may also give misleading results, the patient's history can help to interpret it). Measuring Vitamin B12 and folic acid in the serum may help to find out if you need more of them.
Other causes of anemia can be considered when the aforementioned ones are excluded.
If you'd like to upload your test reports, it may help me to suggest an investigation strategy.
Kind Regards!
investigation is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the most important findings are anemia and marginally low WBC count. The foamy urine may indicate the presence of proteins or bilirubin but it may also be normal urine. A urinalysis can clarify this issue.
Regarding anemia, investigation is required. The complete blood count can be helpful to direct investigation towards a particular direction. For example low MCV or MCH may indicate iron deficiency. High MCV may indicate lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Ferritin may detect depleted iron stores (but it may also give misleading results, the patient's history can help to interpret it). Measuring Vitamin B12 and folic acid in the serum may help to find out if you need more of them.
Other causes of anemia can be considered when the aforementioned ones are excluded.
If you'd like to upload your test reports, it may help me to suggest an investigation strategy.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Unfortunately, the upload function wants to send entire hard drive instead of the scanned file. However, MCV is 88 (fL), MCH is 28.4 (pg). Vitamin B12 is 970 (pg/ml).
Thank you for your timely response.
Thank you for your timely response.
Brief Answer:
they're fine...
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
I'm sorry for the delayed answer but there is a big time difference between our countries. The results you've got are normal. Have you also done ferritin levels? If you haven't lost any blood then tests like LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) may provide indirect clues for hemolysis which is another potential cause of low hematocrit. Other causes that have to be considered include: recent infections (some infections may cause transient anemia), drugs (review supplements and any drugs you may use, even if you only use them rarely), significant alcohol consumption and various hematologic disorders (including MDS but not limited to it). If your iron stores, vitamin B12 and folic acid are normal and there is no sign of recent bleeding or recent infection then I suggest you visit a hematologist for further testing.
Kind Regards!
they're fine...
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
I'm sorry for the delayed answer but there is a big time difference between our countries. The results you've got are normal. Have you also done ferritin levels? If you haven't lost any blood then tests like LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) may provide indirect clues for hemolysis which is another potential cause of low hematocrit. Other causes that have to be considered include: recent infections (some infections may cause transient anemia), drugs (review supplements and any drugs you may use, even if you only use them rarely), significant alcohol consumption and various hematologic disorders (including MDS but not limited to it). If your iron stores, vitamin B12 and folic acid are normal and there is no sign of recent bleeding or recent infection then I suggest you visit a hematologist for further testing.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr. Zografakis, you are an outstanding asset to this site! Your responses are certainly not delayed and I promise this to be the last of my followup questions.
I mistakenly indicated my Wbc as 3.56. Th correct number is 7.4 which I understand to be within acceptable range. However, my Rbc is 3.56 and Platelets reading 121. Please allow me a brief update snapshot of my medical. I was diagnosed last January following needle biopsy having stage 1 lung cancer. Lobectomy of the RL lobe was performed via VATS procedure in February and I consented to 4 sessions of chemotherapy (cisplatin & alimita) during April-July. I am thankful that I have never experienced any breathing issues but my Rbc has been slow to recover. I simply seek any additional suggestions that I may undertake to further elevate my Rbc count.
Thanks for all you do for patients around the world!
I mistakenly indicated my Wbc as 3.56. Th correct number is 7.4 which I understand to be within acceptable range. However, my Rbc is 3.56 and Platelets reading 121. Please allow me a brief update snapshot of my medical. I was diagnosed last January following needle biopsy having stage 1 lung cancer. Lobectomy of the RL lobe was performed via VATS procedure in February and I consented to 4 sessions of chemotherapy (cisplatin & alimita) during April-July. I am thankful that I have never experienced any breathing issues but my Rbc has been slow to recover. I simply seek any additional suggestions that I may undertake to further elevate my Rbc count.
Thanks for all you do for patients around the world!
Brief Answer:
Your WBC are normal
Detailed Answer:
Thank you!
Your WBC count is definitely normal. The platelets are a little lower than normal but not too much and you do have anemia. Chemotherapy may affect blood production by the bone marrow but we expect recovery after the treatment is over. When there's not complete recovery other potential causes will have to be considered. Anemia of chronic disease is possible; cancer may cause it.
My suggestion is to do the tests I've mentioned in my previous answer. If they're all normal then a hematologist should take over for further testing.
Kind Regards!
Your WBC are normal
Detailed Answer:
Thank you!
Your WBC count is definitely normal. The platelets are a little lower than normal but not too much and you do have anemia. Chemotherapy may affect blood production by the bone marrow but we expect recovery after the treatment is over. When there's not complete recovery other potential causes will have to be considered. Anemia of chronic disease is possible; cancer may cause it.
My suggestion is to do the tests I've mentioned in my previous answer. If they're all normal then a hematologist should take over for further testing.
Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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