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[SaraC2773]

Hi all,

I'm back,  with another health issue,  honestly  this whole getting older is not fun.

As I think I've mentioned I have health anxiety,  probably to the extent that it's about as bad as it can get and as I've got older it's led me to avoidance of tests for fear of mainly a cancer diagnosis. 

I realise this is something I have to get over as inevitably,  getting older brings more tests/risk of illness so I have started to accept this but one of my many cancer fears has always been kidney/bladder cancer.

So I've noticed over the last few weeks some symptoms when peeing,  that feeling that I need to go more and when I do dribbles coming out.  No burning as such just uncomfortable. 

Then a couple of weeks ago I got up and after I'd finished weeing,  I thought it looked like it might have been blood running down the side of the pan but the rest of the urine looked normal and as it was the first wee of the day and I was still half asleep I thought maybe it was just darker in colour where I was dehyrdrated,  so I checked following wees and they all looked fine.  Until yesterday!

Last night I went to toilet and as I finished it clearly looked like there were streaks of red blending in with the rest of the urine,   full panic mode set in, so I rang 111 who got an out of hours doctor to see me.

Luckily she was from my practice so she read my notes about my anxiety,  got me to do a sample and said positive for blood (trace) and there were leukocytes starting to come through as well so she suspected a UTI and prescribed antibiotics.  As it was Saturday evening she couldn't send the sample off but said if after finishing the antibiotics my symptoms return or get worse in the meantime,  drop a further sample into the surgery that they can send off.

I shared with her my biggest concerns and she said she understood but she was thinking UTI or possibly stone if symptoms reoccur and they would then send me for a scan.

However,  I'm thinking cancer,  as I'm now worrying that it was blood I saw a couple of weeks ago and I know cancer can cause intermittent blood in urine.

I'm going to ring the surgery tomorrow,  as I just feel like my anxiety is completely out of control and I've tried numerous CBT sessions,  hypnotherapy, self help books/podcasts you name it!  However,  my brain is also trying to be rational and say  this is part of getting older,  no one is immortal and we all have to face up to our fears at some point.

Anyone experienced anything similar?  I do have a friend who for years has had intermittent visible blood in urine and always has trace blood/white blood cells on her tests and she has had all the tests on more than one occasion which has been fine.  She has now finally seen a sympathetic female GP who suggested it was all being caused by VA and put her on Oestrogen cream as she said that can cause the symptoms of UTI's,  along with blood in urine.

[CLKD]

Yep.  It's likely to be vaginal atrophy which mimics repeated urine infection-type symptoms really really well. 

What was seen in your sample is within normal limits for many of us and a dipstick is likely to show this.  Your GP is slow in not thinking about VA, do ring the surgery and request appropriate treatment: usually 'vagifem' for use internally as well as 'estriol' to smear around the labia/vulava area.  U don't need an exam to get this treatment.

Let us know how you get on and your symptoms are unlikely to be cancer!

[jaypo]

I've had traces of blood in my wee on and off for years and also leukocytes BUT as a friend told me,always wash or use a femfresh to clean BEFORE you wee,after I did this,no leukocytes.
As clkd,most likely vaginal atrophy but always good to get these things checked 

[Kathleen]

Hello Sara

Fortunately I have never had a UTI or any bladder problems though many of my friends have. One friend who had never been on systematic HRT discovered that her problems were due to VA and she was prescribed a topical treatment.

Our anatomy can make UTIs more likely because bacteria can easily migrate from anus to bladder.  Perhaps cleaning before urination helps because it reduces this risk.

Hopefully you will soon have a diagnosis and the right treatment.

Wishing you well and take.

K.

[SaraC2773]

Thank you for the replies everyone.

Yes I will call the surgery tomorrow.  I'm actually feeling uncomfortable down below almost sore,  so whilst it's not nice,  I'm hoping it is more of a VA issue than anything else.

[CLKD]

Will U let us know how you get on?

[SaraC2773]

Yes of course, I will update with what they say.

[SaraC2773]

Hi all,

Just a quick update,  I dropped a sample in today and received a text to say it was clear. 

However,  I have booked a routine GP appointment for next week to go in and discuss the VA as I've been really uncomfortable,  sore, itchy and also weirdly it's going up towards the back passage as well.  Does anyone know if VA can go that far up?

Anyway,  will see what the GP says  at my appointment next week.