Have you ever had urine test for high oxalates?

[ezerfas]

I have classic urinary symptoms ... frequency, urgency, sometimes burning.
Two different physicians recommended urine tests for the presence of oxalates. One was a 24 hour urine collection test by Quest Labs. The other was an Organic Acid Test by Great Plains Lab. Both confirmed high oxalates!! Without one if the tests there is no way to know.

Avoidance of high oxalate foods, taking timed calcium citrate and doing anything else to ease your bladder produces a positive result. Women who stick with the plan report long periods of no symptoms.

I wonder who else has been tested ?

[bubbe1]

high oxalates

I have classic urinary symptoms ... frequency, urgency, sometimes burning.
Two different physicians recommended urine tests for the presence of oxalates. One was a 24 hour urine collection test by Quest Labs. The other was an Organic Acid Test by Great Plains Lab. Both confirmed high oxalates!! Without one if the tests there is no way to know.

Avoidance of high oxalate foods, taking timed calcium citrate and doing anything else to ease your bladder produces a positive result. Women who stick with the plan report long periods of no symptoms.

I wonder who else has been tested ?

Hi,
This is very interesting.
Please excuse my ignorance ,but what are Oxalates and what foods contain high percentages of them?

[ezerfas]

Explanation of oxalates

Hi bubbe1,
Oxalic acid is a strong organic acid found in both plants and animals foods. However, plants contain more.

It has the ability to form a bond with minerals, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. When that happens, the compounds formed are called oxalate salts or "oxalates".

Although both sodium and potassium oxalate salts are water soluble, calcium oxalate is practically insoluble, which is why calcium oxalate, when present in high enough levels, can precipitate, or solidify in the kidneys or in the urinary tract to form calcium oxalate crystals.

Not everyone tests high for the oxalates in urine, so testing is the only way to know if it is the cause or urinary burning and frequency.

The list of foods which are high in oxalates is very long, but when most people think of foods high in oxalates, they think of spinach, beets, nuts, chocolate, wheat, buckwheat, rhubarb, some beans, brown rice, and soy.

Here is a resource for more information ... http://www.vulvarpainfoundation.org/index.htm

I hope that was helpful.
Elyn

[bubbe1]

oxalates

Hi bubbe1,
Oxalic acid is a strong organic acid found in both plants and animals foods. However, plants contain more.

It has the ability to form a bond with minerals, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. When that happens, the compounds formed are called oxalate salts or "oxalates".

Although both sodium and potassium oxalate salts are water soluble, calcium oxalate is practically insoluble, which is why calcium oxalate, when present in high enough levels, can precipitate, or solidify in the kidneys or in the urinary tract to form calcium oxalate crystals.

Not everyone tests high for the oxalates in urine, so testing is the only way to know if it is the cause or urinary burning and frequency.

The list of foods which are high in oxalates is very long, but when most people think of foods high in oxalates, they think of spinach, beets, nuts, chocolate, wheat, buckwheat, rhubarb, some beans, brown rice, and soy.

Here is a resource for more information ... http://www.vulvarpainfoundation.org/index.htm

I hope that was helpful.
Elyn

Thank you. This IS very helpful.
Laurie

[Briza]

Hi Ezerfas
I see you are very new to the board! Welcome

Thanks for sharing this information as well as the names of the labs that do the tests. Interesting.

When you have a chance please visit this link so that you can introduce yourself to everyone and give a little bit of your background. http://www.ic-network.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=71

Glad you found us.

[melhil]

I have never been tested, but several years ago,a sonogram showed a small stone (insignificant, my Dr. said.) I researched stones and I try not to eat high oxalate foods.
Some are the same as IC problem foods: chocolate, soy, kiwi. But some IC safe foods, are High Oxalate foods. I've tried to cut these foods, I like to eat, from my diet: blueberries, rhubarb, potatoes (white and yams), grits, carrots, celery, spinach, olives, zucchini, green beans, nuts, nut butters, pretzels.
I've paid 2 dietitians, who say they see a yeast/sugar connection with my daily diet sheets.
I recently found a "free" dietitian(with a Dr. note) through our local hospital. She is going to work with me on the three diets: IC, Oxalate, Yeast/Sugar Free.
My Dr. note was for malnutrition. I've lost 30 pounds in the last 10 years, at a time when most women are having problems with gaining weight.

[alwaysgreen]

I've never been tested, but I know I have a problem with oxalates. I suffer everytime I eat foods with moderate or high oxalates. I guess this is why the IC diet didn't help me. I just posted my story in introduction area.

I hope everyone has a pain free day.

[ezerfas]

What list of oxalates foods are you using?

[alwaysgreen]

This is the list I am using now. I have several saved, they all have some differences.

http://www.pkdiet.com/pdf/LowOxalateDiet.pdf

I didn't save the links on all of them but can find them if you want to see other lists. Have you found what you feel is the best list?

[alwaysgreen]

I'm going to ask for the test when I go to my MD.

Ezerfas,
I'm going to ask for the oxalate test the next time I go to my MD. I will have to do one that is covered by my insurance Cigna Open Access. So I imagine it will be the 24hr test by Quest. Do you think it is a good one? I have severe burning when I eat any type of beans, spinach, sweet potatoes or yams, tomato products, peanut butter. I ate an unpeeled apple Sunday & am paying for it. I thought I could eat apples, but didn't remember they should be peeled. I am waiting before I try a peeled one. I think I may have a problem with plain yogurt I tried a couple of weeks ago or it could have been something else. I will start a food, supplement diary. I don't take the calcium citrate w/o vit D as often as I should. I do take magnesium with it when I take it. I miss a day or two sometimes, but only if I haven't eaten something from the moderate or high list. Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Thanks

[krs72]

Why Cal. Citrate w/o Vitamin D?

Hi - was doing some research on this and am wondering why it has to be calcium citrate without vitamin D? I just found out I'm D-deficient so I'm on a prescription dosage for 8 weeks. Thanks!

[alwaysgreen]

Hi - was doing some research on this and am wondering why it has to be calcium citrate without vitamin D? I just found out I'm D-deficient so I'm on a prescription dosage for 8 weeks. Thanks!

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. The reason you take the calcium citrate is so it absorbs the oxalates & pass through without making crystals. I take vitamin D at bedtime or later so it doesn't absorb the calcium with the oxalates. Also you will probably need to take magnesium with the calcium to prevent constipation.

I hope this helps you as much as it has me. I don't have to take any other meds. I just watch the oxalates & increase calcium when I indulge in foods with higher oxalates. I drink coffee, eat chocolate & don't have any problems with tomatoes. Some people do better with the IC diet while others benefit from low oxalates.