Urine smell

I developed what i thought was BO with PMR that didn't respond to using deodorants - so I stopped using them for some time. Now I haven't used deodorants for years I have no problem at all so I think, in retrospect, it may have been the PMR. I know I've heard others comment they noticed a strange body/urine smell - but what it is I have no idea and I've never heard any of the doctors I work with mention it. The irritable bladder thing is common enough - we used to say we should have taken out shares in Tena! It does improve though!

Hi Gillian, I went to my Rheum. yesterday, I took a urine sample and he said I had an infection, I have had no burning or irritation and he gave me antibiotics. I have also noticed a sickly smell which was worse with a higher dose of prednisolone, and a sort of sour smellof perspiration.

Hmm interesting. I have had PMR since late 2013 and like you finally got off Pred in 2015 but it has flared up again and am currently on 20mg having got down to 5mg but had to resume a higher dose as my pain returned. However, I have suffered from virtually constant UTIs since 2014 although always been a bit suseptible to them. I was given a massive dose of e-coli in hospital, developing three days after a sigmoidoscopy (hospitals are dangerous places!) The only antibiotic I can take is Cefalexin but always the UTI returns about a week or so after stopping the antibiotic. It i a nightmare. I wonder if there is a connection between PMR and UTI? For anyone reading this who suffers as I do, I can say that there are several things that help. Drinking as near as possible to 2 litres a day is vital. The next thing I have found that helps me to live with e-coli, is Opti-Bac Probiotics for Women (specifically for that area of the body). I take one in the evening and one in the morning. My specialist tried an operation three months ago - urethral dilation - and it has certainly helped. I have only had one bout of UTI since the op. In terms of odour, there is alway an odour when UTI is present, but I have not noticed a sweet smell to do with Pred.

From Dr Google:

"Sweet-smelling urine typically indicates the presence of sugar or glucose. Of course, having diabetes increases the chances of spilling glucose into the urine if blood glucose levels are too high. The kidneys will make their best effort to get rid of excess glucose once blood glucose levels climb above 180 mg/d"

I also had that terrible smell from my urine.  Eventually, developed a bladder infection. Doctor told me because of muscle weakness with PMR that I was not emptying my bladder completely. So now, I take my time & relax so I can empty my bladder as much as possible. Have not had any problems since.

Have you been tested recently for diabetes and kidney function? Are you on any vitamins that could be causing the urine odour? Any new foods? eg when you eat asparagus the urine smells weird.

I would have liked to answer you in a PM but I don't see how to do it so here goes: after menopause some of us suffer from urethral atrophy from decreased estrogen. I also had that problem helped somewhat by "stretching" but the urologist said to consult my gyn about topical estrogen to that spot. He said it was from low estrogen levels. This I did and at 74 I never have that problem with regular use of the prescribed remedy.