Help Please

[aok]

I went to a urologist for the first time today - my years of symptoms have mainly been treated for the vaginal component thus far. I am on Day 8 of my cycle and there was microscopic blood in my urine sample that may or may not be menstrual. He immediately signed me up for a CAT scan and a cytosomething that requires sedation. Isn't this extreme? I haven't even ruled out UTI. Isn't blood in urine CANCER? Does anyone have perspective on this? I am TERRIFIED.

[Katrina]

NO! Blood in urine does not mean Cancer!! Microscopic blood in the urine is not uncommon for IC and is quite common for a UTI. With the possibility of it being menstrual I wouldn't be too worried. (I am quite certain their are many other possible causes of microscopic blood in the urine too)

If you are in the process of getting an IC diagnosis a cat scan is a normal part of the illimination process. In the process of diagnosisng IC things need to be ruled out.

:gropuhug: Don't get worried yet. I suspect this is just to illiminate all possibilities.

:grouphug: Please keep us updated!! :grouphug:

[traceann]

I agree with Katrina - sounds like your doc is just covering all the bases to get you the most accurate diagnosis, so that whatever is causing the problems can be taken care of!!

Don't worry until you know for sure you have something to worry about, ;) lol!!! Besides, the stress from the worry will aggrivate your symptoms, so just try to relax - yeah, I know, easier said than done!!! :)

Keep your chin up - and don't panic!! ;)

Hugs!!!

[dg2901]

I'm in agreement with the others--dont panic. Unless your urine sample was done via a catheter the miscoscopic blood that was found is more than likely menstrual since youre cycling. To be completely certain youre Dr should have sent the sample out to be cultured-this would end the guess work about where the blood is coming from.

There are people who always show blood in the urine who are perfectly heatlhy..So again...dont panic. Panic equals stress & stress equals an unhappy bladder.

The CT scan and the cystoscopy (i'm assuming a distention and biopsy will be done as well during the cystoscope) are normal steps taken in the diagnosis process.

I stress, along with everyone else, try not to panic. We've all been where you currently are and can completely understand the frustration and concern you're having. We've all been in the panic mode.

Dont hesitate to post your concerns..There will always be someone here to help you.

Take care
diana

[ICNDonna]

Blood in the urine can be caused by an infection or by interstitial cystitis. If I'm flaring, I always have some red cells. With an infection, the urine can even look like it's extremely bloody.

It does sound like your urologist is doing appropriate testing to either diagnose or rule out IC.

Donna

[toby75]

It is very common to have traces of blood in urine. Since I was a small child before my menstural cycles even started, at my yearly checkups, the doctor would always tell me and my mother they found traces of blood in my urine.

But they never furthered researched on why I had blood in my urine. So I got used to hearing that every year on my checkup. I never had any bladder issues growing up. When I was 18 I had my first Kidney infection, which started off as a UTI, but I didn't know what in the world was wrong and let it get out of control until I was in intense pain and had a fever over 103 and went through 15 minutes of uncontrollable chills and then they would stop and come back. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with a kidney infection. I was give strong antibiotics and went home to sweat it out.

Since that infection, I didn't have anymore problems with my bladder until I was 28. I was having frequent urination and burning for a couple of months and luckily I was scheduled for a laparscopy to remove ovarian cysts and endometriosis and I had complained to my gyn of my bladder and he scheduled a uro to come in during the procedure and do a cystscopy and hydro. I awoke with the diagnosis of IC. I was lucky I didn't have to search long for an answer to my bladder problems. But now I had another disease I had to learn about.

I have been in a 9 month flare. I say that because not a day goes by that I do not have intense bladder pain, frequency, burning.

My current meds are Elmiron 4 times a day, hydroxyzine at night, heparin/lidocaine/sodium bicarb at home bladder instills (gives me the best temp relief) I just currently started taking oxycontin 20mg twice a day. I was taking pain meds everyday and my doc and I decided to switch to a control release pain med. I am taking half the amount of pain meds as before and I am getting much better pain relief without all the side effects of short term pain meds, like dizziness, foggy head, and the pain coming back in 2-3 hours. This is pretty much constant low dose pain relief and it has helped me tremdously!

So sorry I got off track, but do not worry about the blood. When you have IC, you have an irritated bladder with sores and they will bleed and get into your urine!

Good luck with your treatments and remember somebody on this board has had it, been there and done it, so we can all help each other with questions!

Amy

[aok]

I have since found that blood in urine is commone for inflammation too. I was given doxepin and it REALLY helped. It's so much worse at night which makes me think it just gets aggravated all day. I'm still having a CAT scan tonight and am TERRIFIED.

[traceann]

Don't worry - you will do just fine!! And pretty soon it will be over and you can move on to the next steps! :) Keep us posted on how you do!!!

HUGS!