Tuesday, November 3, 2009

24 Hour Urine Collection


For the last 24 hours I've been peeing in a jug like the big one on the left. Well actually, you pee into this plastic hat thing that fits into the toilet, then you dump it into the jug, then you refrigerate it. So you get to have a giant jug-o-pee in the fridge...nice. I had to turn it in this morning to the lab at the hospital where I work, so I had to carry a large bag that it would fit inside and hold it like a baby to keep it from jostling all around. I'm SO glad to have it turned in and not have to grab the jug every 15 minutes when I have to pee.

Why did I get to participate in such a fun urine-collecting day? Because my blood pressure is a little high, and I tend to freak out (internally, outside I look cool as a cucumber) at doctor's appointments so my BP is always really high there. For example, at home it normally runs between 120-130/80-90...not good but not terrible. If I'm running at least 25 miles a week, it drops lower than 120/80 which is awesome. At the doctor last week it was 160/90. I thought she was going to admit me right there! I had to explain my freakishness to her and promise to bring her a log of my home-monitored BPs. It's technical term is "white coat hypertension" although the nurse and I joked because she was wearing blue scrubs that I have "blue scrub hypertension." It is the strangest thing. I get really anxious and can feel it going up, but for no reason. I know that it doesn't hurt, I'm not scared about the exam/appointment....it's like my body gets this completely unreasonable physical reaction that I can't control. As soon as they check my BP, I can feel it go down because the anxiety is gone. Wierd!! So this 24 hour urine collection checks to make sure my kidneys are in good working order and that I don't have protein in my urine. Having some borderline hypertension to start with puts me at an increased risk of preeclampsia and complications later in pregnancy, so they are going to keep a close eye on me to make sure my BP stays under control. I have great doctor that I trust to take excellent care of me.
For now, I'm just happy to have a urine-free fridge again!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow - I can't imagine having to grab that thing everytime I had to tinkle!! I know you're super glad it's gone!

Relentless Forward Commotion said...

wow that sounds like a pain! Glad it is over and I hope everything turns out ok!

B.o.B. said...

I don't really have any words for the pee in your fridge sitch. LOL!

Just don't put it next to the apple juice?

Ok, that's all I got. Hope you are ok!

MCM Mama said...

Glad you are done with it. Fingers crossed that everything comes back in the normal range.

Carolina John said...

oh that must have been tons of fun. you have to do the strangest things when you're pregnant, huh? try telling a non-preggo that it's a good thing to keep pee in the fridge.

Marlene said...

Yeah, that doesn't sound like too much fun!

I hope everything checks out okay.

Brian said...

Why do you always get to do the cool stuff!? Haha, but in all seriousness I hope everything turns out ok!

Julie D said...

I did that before because a test came back positive on the protein, but the jug did not fail me and they let me go. Yay!

No Longer Using said...

ewww!!!!!!!!!! lol.

kilax said...

Wow! That sounds like a lot of work! But I see the importance of the test! I hope your blood pressure comes down!

Jess said...

A friend of mine had high BP during her pregnancy, and she too had to do the 24 hour pee collection.

She ended up having to take meds, and eventually was restricted to bedrest because of her high BP. Hope that's not the case for you!

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

Oh lady peeing in a JUG.. I thought collecting urine at every OB apt was bad. WOW!!

BLue scrub hypertension..hehehe.. Oh I feel so bad for you!!

I hope that you can find your inner Zen in the DR..

FYI did you see when I gave you a high Five a couple weeks back for announcing your pregnancy...cant remember if you commented or not :)

Unknown said...

Wow, I would have thought your usual BP would have been on the low side since you are so active physically. Hope things turn out ok. Practice meditating in the Dr's waiting room. ;-)

kristen said...

We all have our little quirks I guess. No biggie. I bet your glad that thing is out of your fridge though. I hope everything is 'all systems go'!

Lindsay said...

i don't know which i would've been more uncomfortable with... grabbing the jug everytime or having pee in my fridge. i know it wasn't all over the jug but still... i'd think about it.

hope everything turns out ok!

Alisa said...

I go so often I'd need the BIGGEST jug around!

I actually have really low blood pressure. In fact, every time I go in to the doc they comment on it and how if it was a little lower they'd be concerned. I'm not medically minded at all so I really don't even know what the difference is or what blood pressure affects.

Ali said...

I always wondered how much I actually pee in a day ... it feels like I am always on my way to the toilet.

Pee in the fridge .. hilarious

Mel-2nd Chances said...

yuk, well, at least that part is over with! :) Hope you're feeling great!