How To Strain Your Urine

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Urinate into a strainer (funnel with a fine mesh on the bottom) or glass jar. This is done to collect kidney stones. Kidney stones are rock-like objects that can form in the urinary system.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Drink a lot of liquids:

Drink about 3 liters of liquids each day unless your primary healthcare provider tells you otherwise. That equals about 12 glasses of water or fruit juice. Half of your total daily liquids should be water. Limit coffee, tea, and soda to two cups daily. If you are drinking enough liquid, your urine should be pale and clear.

Medicines:

• Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take away or decrease pain. Do not wait until the pain is severe before taking your medicine.
  
  
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine: This group of medicines is also called NSAIDs. This medicine may help decrease pain and inflammation and swelling. Ibuprofen and aspirin are commonly used NSAID. You can buy this medicine without a doctor's order. This medicine can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems.
  
  
• Alpha blocker: This medicine may help you pass the kidney stone faster and may help decrease pain. Take this medicine as directed until you see your primary healthcare provider or urologist.
  
  
• Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and control vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell him if you are taking any vitamins, herbs, or other medicines. Keep a list of the medicines you take. Include the medicine given to you today. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits.

Activity:

Activity, such as walking, may help decrease your pain. Avoid extreme heat. Heat may cause you to lose water in your body and to urinate less.

Follow up with your primary healthcare provider or urologist as directed:

Write down any questions you have so you remember to ask them in your follow-up visits.

Contact your primary healthcare provider if:

• Your urine looks cloudy or has a bad smell.
  
  
• You have trouble urinating or burning pain when you urinate.

Return to the emergency department if:

• Your heart is fluttering or beating really fast.
  
  
• You have severe (very bad) pain in your lower abdomen or side.
  
  
• You have a fever or chills. These may be a sign that you have an infection in your urinary tract.
  
  
• You are throwing up that does not go away with medicine.
  
  
• You are unable to urinate.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.