Urine smell reduction?

[cherokeesummer]

Hi all, this is yet another question from a family member! I'm a recent graduate but my specialty is NICU so I am almost at a loss when it comes to hospice...

Anyway, my FIL is now in hospice at home (for approx. 2.5 weeks now). His urine has gotten worse, I mean to tell you I cannot even walk past his room without wanting to vomit, I've never smelled anything so bad. My Hubby changes his briefs and chucks and sheets but I think he will need to change the sheets several times a day the way this is going...he changes the briefs and chucks frequently. I asked his nurse today and she said its likely the concentration. He does not eat solid foods anymore, he drinks boost, ensure, milk, water, gatoraide. He drinks a lot but he does not eat. I would think drinking would help the smell but it doesn't. He is happy with drinking and not eating so we let him be since he is comfortable.

Is there anything you know of that could help reduce the smell? We have a 1 year old child here too and I worry that the smell is just not healthy...I could be wrong but truly the smell is making me so sick I can't take it. I've never smelled it like that in my nursing school career even during LTC rotations where you would think you would smell a lot. We use lysol and I have a lysol air spray thingie that goes off every 18 mins or so. But really and truly its not helping...I don't want to spray lysol every hour b/c I don't want that to overpower him. Any other suggestions?

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Try a big foil tray of charcoal briquets under the bed-or a big glass bowl of plain white vinger (back where you won't kick it over) Neutralizers seem to work better then Lysol (Febreeze) Also solid air fresheners work well and continuously,too..Often an in-dwelling foley catheter is used in hospice for the patient's comfort-you could mention that to his nurse...Or try a condom catheter.Drinking cranberry juice may help decrease the odor.There are also some good peri-washes that will help (you can get them ant a pharmacy) Good Luck...

[EmptytheBoat]

Dear cherokeesummer,

Excellent suggestions from ktwlpn, you may also try a tray

of cat litter under the bed, cat litter will absorb some odors.

I would also address the source, possible UTI and/or yeast

infection which may be pallatively treated with oral antibiotics/

Diflucan. Best wishes!

[doodlemom]

Concentrated urine does smell strong but are you sure he does not have a UTI? I would ask the nurse to check his urine. A foley catheter might contain the smell - just a thought.

[leslie :-D]

big difference betw the smell of concentrated urine and contaminated urine.

i would definitely check for uti.

charcoal/kitty litter both great odor neutralizers.

leslie

[renerian, BSN, RN]

If he has no UTI I would try Tranquility Undergarments and incontinence products as they neutralize the urine order. You can get them in chux as well. I highly recommend them.

renerian

[cherokeesummer]

Thanks everyone I will ask the nurse about a UTI...b/c he is drinking cranberry juice and lots of water so you would think he'd be pretty unconcentrated anyway...he does not have a fever though but does that really say much when talking about someone in the dying stages? I really don't know - I've heard multiple things about fevers...

so I will ask the nurse when she comes what her thoughts are on this and if they can check...but she smelled it too and didn't seem to concerned...so it could be me LOL!