Why does my urine smell strange?

[Butternutissquashed]

I’ve had dark yellow/orange urine for a while which I put down to being dehydrated at times, despite drinking loads more than most people that I know. Recently, it’s started to smell odd - almost like beef crisps!!! I’m healthy and not taking any medication. Any ideas? I’d go to the GP but seems a bit of a waste of their time as I’m not actually unwell.

[Elouera]

Urine can be darker 1st thing in the morning, but if you are drinking enough during the day, it should be clear, or very pale yellow. If you are drinking sufficient fluids and its still yellow/orange, you might have a liver problem or bile duct issue! How much do you drink during the day and what? Water, tea, coffee, juice? Just because you don't feel unwell doesnt mean there isnt an issue! You body might be telling you something before you become really unwell! Definitely get it checked.

[MyFamilyAndOtherAnimals1]

Are you sure you're drinking enough?
Have you been eating asparagus?

If not, I'd go to the GP to cancel out more horrid things like diabetes?

[Chestnut23]

Don't want to worry you but my cat had just the same when his liver was failing... I'd go to the GP as better safe than sorry.

[Butternutissquashed]

Thanks. My son commented on it today and he went into the bathroom after me! No asparagus eaten recently. The comment about the bile duct was interesting as I had my gallbladder removed about 15 years ago. It’s been a few months off and on now and I assumed I’d know about it if something was wrong. Possibly not though...

[FuzzyAtmosphere]

I agree about it being worth getting checked out, even if just for your own peace of mind.

[Butternutissquashed]

In terms of drinking, it’s a mixture of coffee, water and milk. Usually about 8-10 glasses/mugs a day which seems to be more than the people around me.

[GaaaaarlicBread]

Doesn’t sound like a liver problem or anything , if you’re not been unwell with any other symptoms. Are you diabetic ? I worked in Renal before so know a lot about urine and kidneys etc . I suggest drinking 8 glasses of water a day, and any extra drinks being tea/coffee etc , monitor what you’re eating for a week and if it continues then go to the dr x

[Butternutissquashed]

Not diabetic and no symptoms that suggest I might be. Will up the water, in addition to the coffee and see what it’s like. Oddly, it’s less smelly in the morning than during the rest of the day.

[GaaaaarlicBread]

It’s just my sister in law had very similar to you for months , and it turned out she wasn’t drinking enough water , she drank coffee and milk and wasn’t flushing her kidneys out enough, she went and got tested as it wouldn’t go and it had turned into a urine infection but without the standard symptoms of burning etc . So just be careful x

[Butternutissquashed]

That could well be it as, on balance, there’s probably more coffee than water!! I’ve just had a large glass and will step it up from tomorrow and see what happens. Thank you!

[Floralnomad]

I get recurrent E. coli UTIs , to the extent that I now have a supply of preventative antibiotics at home at all times and the first sign for me is what I would describe as ‘meaty’ smelling urine , it’s very distinctive . I’d drop a sample into the GP tomorrow if you can .

[Haworthia]

I’ve had a couple of nasty UTIs where the first symptom was very unpleasant smelling urine, quickly followed by typical UTI symptoms. In your case I think you’d know if you had an infection by now. Either way I think you could do with seeing the GP and taking a sample.