Daft question about urine test results

[trophywench]

You know how, when they ask for an 'overnight' sample of your urine, you do it midstream and the reason for it is cos all the trace things in your urine should be more concentrated in the morning?

Well I was told I've had an odd result (low sodium apparently) a few times and now it has to be investigated so I need to give em some more wee and blood samples, which is fine. However I also have slightly higher BP too so could be it's the BP tablets causing it and nowt to worry about unduly -whereas I see I'm being tested for cortisol and all sorts of things (I spose in case it's Addison's) but that seems totally unlikely esp in view of my BP.

But anyway - with me at this stage in my life - they never actually get an 'Overnight 'sample - since I don't actually sleep longer than c. 3 hours before waking up for the bathroom. This didn't occur to me until after I was home of course - but I wondered, seeing as it won't be 'concentrated'. whether that might affect urine testing results ?

 

[KookyCat]

I've never been able to hold my bladder all night, I drink a lot of water, and I frequently get low sodium results so I asked them about that, they said it didn't matter but if they couldn't get conclusive results I'd have to a 24 HR urine test. That's what ended up happening, so id just mention it to the doctor, they seemed to think that might explain the low sodium in my case (it didn't but that's another long story) 🙄

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I can't help re the wee test but Addison's is classic for low BP not high. 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Exactly Sue ! I have no symptoms of anything, let alone A's !

 

[Silmarillion]

Some blood pressure medications can alter the amount of anti diuretic hormone you produce.....this in turn makes you pass more urine and this can have an effect upon the sodium levels in your blood lowering them. By taking an early morning urine specimen they are probably going to measure the sodium levels in your wee when they are at their most concentrated. Even if you are up and down all night peeing, you would still drink less that you do during the day......by looking at the urine when the sodium is at it's most concentrated they can see any immediate abnormalities. Sometimes they can adjust the dose of blood pressure meds and make them lower if somebody is peeing large volumes and losing sodium or look towards replacing it.

Hyponatraemia or low sodium in the blood can be pretty dangerous, when it's very low, you can become confused, unconscious, fit and do all kinds of other stuff.