Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Strugglinglady on January 22, 2024, 04:42:55 AM
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Hi all. I have had recurrent uti’s for years.,I always have microscopic haematuria ( think that’s what it’s called ) so blood in sample not seen with naked eye.,even without infection. I’m going to have a cystoscopy, with sedation. My worry is, of course, cancer, but as far as I know I’ve had this microscopic blood in urine for years. I’m 68 , have VA , so my bladder is irritated a lot. Also had a bowel resection five years ago due to diverticulitis, and I think my UTIs are worse since then.. Any advice. Reassurance's etc. I’m not worried about the procedure, just the outcome. Thank you in advance.
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Hi. I sympathise as I always have microcospic blood in my urine too and every so often get referred for cystoscopy. I don't have sedation though. It's always linked to my having VA. Do you have actual infections each time or, like me, just the microscopic blood? Are you on any VA treatment?
Taz x
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Morning. Has your GP prescribed appropriate vaginal atrophy treatment which will ease your symptoms. VA mimics repeated urine infection-type symptoms really really well.
Let us know how you get on. Your GP should have sent a fresh sample of urine to a Lab for 'growing' to check if there is actually an infection.
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Thanks so much for the replies that’s very reassuring. Most of the time I have infections, but often after infections, when I’m checked, the blood is still there. I was using vagifem but stopped because I was fearful of cancer( silly I know but I have health anxiety) if everything is okay. I suspect she will tell me to go back on it. I think it’s probably good to have a cystoscopy because I’ve never had one and also just in case things have changed since the bowel surgery. Although that has all gone very well.. Il love this board , always come back to it for advice., so much .
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Does your GP then prescribe appropriate antibiotics for the grown 'bug'?
When I get the need2P symptoms I take pain relief.
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Hi all. I have had recurrent uti’s for years.,I always have microscopic haematuria ( think that’s what it’s called ) so blood in sample not seen with naked eye.,even without infection. I’m going to have a cystoscopy, with sedation. My worry is, of course, cancer, but as far as I know I’ve had this microscopic blood in urine for years. I’m 68 , have VA , so my bladder is irritated a lot. Also had a bowel resection five years ago due to diverticulitis, and I think my UTIs are worse since then.. Any advice. Reassurance's etc. I’m not worried about the procedure, just the outcome. Thank you in advance.
I had and have "invisible blood" in my urine. I had a really bad UTI infection that wasn't diagnosed and I ended up in hospital in New York. When I came back I had a cystoscopy following a urine test. I didn't have any sedation. She popped some local up there and it was a piece of cake. Nothing unusual was found but I was told to mention the blood in future when i have urine tests. It was very worrying at the time, I didn't have any symptoms but I frequently got UTIs after sex. I was 58 when I was in hospital and that was my first ever UTI so very likely menopause related. I hope it all goes well. Don't worry about the cystoscopy. It really wasn't a problem. I haven't had any surgery though but I'm sure you'll be fine
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Re the vagifem, I also stopped because I worried about cancer. I really wish I hadn't. I would have been spared some of my problems.
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I think the Urologist is going to try and talk me into having a local but I don’t think I could. my bladder is so sore at the moment. I know it can be fine for some people but I’ve heard it’s painful for others and I prefer sedation. I am a little bit apprehensive I’ve never had one before. That must’ve been a horrible experience for you to end up in hospital with a UTI. I’ve had some really nasty ones in the past. Even some where I literally am weieing blood. I had to go to the emergency department for that one. They gave me IV antibiotics and sent me home. I think I’ve had UTIs in the past that just haven’t cleared up. For a while after my bowel resection I was having the most awful bladder spasms. Thinking back, I think it was an undiagnosed UTI. I have had many more UTIs since that surgery, and I’m not sure why, but I’ll discuss that with her when I see her ( the urologist) next week. So relieved to know other people have this blood with no reason.
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I think the Urologist is going to try and talk me into having a local but I don’t think I could. my bladder is so sore at the moment. I know it can be fine for some people but I’ve heard it’s painful for others and I prefer sedation. I am a little bit apprehensive I’ve never had one before. That must’ve been a horrible experience for you to end up in hospital with a UTI. I’ve had some really nasty ones in the past. Even some where I literally am weieing blood. I had to go to the emergency department for that one. They gave me IV antibiotics and sent me home. I think I’ve had UTIs in the past that just haven’t cleared up. For a while after my bowel resection I was having the most awful bladder spasms. Thinking back, I think it was an undiagnosed UTI. I have had many more UTIs since that surgery, and I’m not sure why, but I’ll discuss that with her when I see her ( the urologist) next week. So relieved to know other people have this blood with no reason.
Yes I was peeing thick blood in JFK airport. It was very scary. I was taken to hospital as I went faint in the taxi queue. I wasn't sore when I had the cystoscopy. I really found it fine but I know everybody is different
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Strugglinglady - ring the Dept and ask what is avialbel in the way of sedation, if nothing then ask your GP for valium to take the night B4.
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I am the same as Jules re the procedure. The gel around the urethra works well and I had no sensation of the camera going into the bladder. All over in ten minutes and I went straight back to work each time. Everyone is different though. I had conscious sedation for an endoscopy which worked well.
Taz x
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Strugglinglady, if you tell them when you arrive or phone beforehand I'm sure they'll look after you. I told them I was nervous on arrival. The doctor was great. And ask your GP for advice if you need to. I wouldn't ask your doctor for anything specific especially if you might have sedation. Leave it to the clinicians to help you with the most appropriate thing. Try not to worry, as someone said, it's done and dusted in no time and I just didn't feel anything.
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Please make sure you are wiping yourself correctly! So many women are not and transfer faecal bacteria to the urethra opening! Lots of videos on how to wipe correctly from front to back if you google it!
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Please make sure you are wiping yourself correctly! So many women are not and transfer faecal bacteria to the urethra opening! Lots of videos on how to wipe correctly from front to back if you google it!
Good advice.
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Sorry for the delay in answering, . it’s the time difference I’m in Australia. Also, I’m finding it difficult to answer individual posts so I hope you’ll see this. Yes I definitely think I will have some sort of sedation and I will ask her on Tuesday when I have the appointment just to chat about things. I don’t think I would ask for Valium because it literally does nothing for me. It just doesn’t seem to affect me at all. To the lady that said do I wipe properly yes I do. I’ve been doing that forever. Nothing helps and I think a lot of ladies in my position with this problem Find exactly the same thing. I think it’s probably the VA that’s causing this. I’m very sore and burning today but no infection. I can tell, and as soon as I have one, I have the form and the pot to take straight to the clinic and I have an antibiotic on standby, but I never take it until I’ve done my sample because I’ve had several different bugs. Different antibiotics for different bugs. Can I ask with your infections of any of you had different kinds of bacteria besides the usual E. coli?
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I honestly don't know what my bugs were. I'm prescribed Nitrofurantoin. I've not had any for a while but have an emergency pack since the hospital event. I'm also prescribed trimethoprim as a profalactic after sex. I'm not in a steady relationship though so don't use them frequently. We have breaks. The doctor wouldn't prescribe for regular use. I had started getting the odd episodes of the symptoms of UTI withoyt the infection though before I increased the topical estrogen. It's unpleasant.
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Thanks Jules. My usual anti b is trimethoprim , my doctor will give me a prescription , as long as I get the sample in before I start it a few times I’ve had different bugs and needed different antibiotics. I don’t understand why there are different bugs, but I’m hoping that the urologist explain that to me. Still think this is all coming from the VA because I’ve had some really unpleasant symptoms from that in the past . Will have to go back on the vagifem. Thanks for your answer .,
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Ah Down Under - how's the weather ?
Ellibee - good point!
Trimethoprim I think is a broad spectrum AB?
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Ah Down Under - how's the weather ?
Ellibee - good point!
Trimethoprim I think is a broad spectrum AB?
Hi CLKD , it has been so hot today 40° here. We have lovely weather most of the time but it can be incredibly hot in the summer and yet we have a very cold winter. Yes trimethoprim is a broad spectrum and I usually have good success with that. Lovely to hear from all of you.
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Struggling lady, I've also had visible blood in my urine in October and it frightens the life out of you. I had all urology investigations done including cytoscopy...for me it wasn't painful, just uncomfortable I would say(I had local anaesthetic), but as others have said we are all different and I don't have your bladder/bowel issues. Unfortunately my nightmare continues as I'm still waiting for a hysteroscopy and biopsy (finally on the 31st Jan) to see if it's cancer. It'll be over 3 and a half months since my symptoms began and as many of these ladies know my mental health has taken a real battering...sorry ladies if you're sick of hearing it. MM is one of the few places I feel I can talk openly so thank you all
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It's great to vent or take a meander on the Forum ;-)
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Northerngirl, so the 2 weeks wait didn't work due to backlog or your doctor didn't think the symptoms met the criteria? That's a long time to wait. I really wish I could afford private health care, I've no confidence in the NHS response time now
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Yes it's due to backlog and doctors strikes I think. I have all red flag symptoms. I have no faith in the NHS system at the moment either, don't blame the staff though they're amazing "when" you finally get to see them.
Going private didn't speed anything up either, he said stay with NHS.
At my breaking point now....I know I only have a week to wait but it'll be months since start and then apparently biopsy results are taking up to 9 weeks to come back. I think I'm in one of the worst areas definitely.
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Northerngirl don’t know whether you got my other reply I’m having a lot of trouble negotiating this forum, I don’t know why. I’m really sorry you’re having to go through this. It may not be what you think. Is your blood visible to the naked eye when you wee? It’s a worrying time. In my other post, . I said I had an abscess in my bowel, but for two weeks I thought it was a cancer and it’s horribly worrying. But it wasn’t so fingers crossed for you.
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Northerngirl don’t know whether you got my other reply I’m having a lot of trouble negotiating this forum, I don’t know why. I’m really sorry you’re having to go through this. It may not be what you think. Is your blood visible to the naked eye when you wee? It’s a worrying time. In my other post, . I said I had an abscess in my bowel, but for two weeks I thought it was a cancer and it’s horribly worrying. But it wasn’t so fingers crossed for you.
This is the first reply I've received from you struggling lady so not sure what you've said. Yes it was visible and this was back in October, I was then told I have a 8mm womb lining, a few days later had a heavy bleed. Hence now waiting for hysteroscopy and biopsy under general anaesthetic (first biopsy failed) I am going through the worst time ever and no real end in sight.
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There are so many threads about possible UTIs and vaginal atrophy - don't worry too much. We all get to reply eventually.
Is there high humidity there Strugglinglady which is unlikely to help with atrophy!
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Yes it's due to backlog and doctors strikes I think. I have all red flag symptoms. I have no faith in the NHS system at the moment either, don't blame the staff though they're amazing "when" you finally get to see them.
Going private didn't speed anything up either, he said stay with NHS.
At my breaking point now....I know I only have a week to wait but it'll be months since start and then apparently biopsy results are taking up to 9 weeks to come back. I think I'm in one of the worst areas definitely.
My stomach biopsies took 4 months. I phoned the histology lab myself. Still waiting for some from November 8th. I'm not so convinced about the reliability of good care in the nhs. It's hut and miss. My sister didn't have a satisfactory experience with skin cancer and my dad's last days in the hospital were sadly lacking. You've to really have your own back so don't take any nonsense and tell them what you expect. Don't be fobbed off.
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Thanks Jules, I really think it is hit and miss with the NHS at the moment. I can see this from the ladies on MM, it's scary how your life is literally in their hands. It is a shockingly long time that I have been waiting and all I can think is that if I do have cancer how fast is it spreading and will it be too late ....already at 3 and half months to date and a lot more waiting to come, no wonder my mental health is suffering.I think I might have to start and toughen up but not sure how to because it isn't the staff's fault who you see in hospital is it??
I have been thinking about putting a complaint in but would be worried that this would impact on my treatment.
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There are so many threads about possible UTIs and vaginal atrophy - don't worry too much. We all get to reply eventually.
Is there high humidity there Strugglinglady which is unlikely to help with atrophy! Hi CLKD hopefully this reply will work. We normally don’t have humid weather. It’s usually very dry heat and very pleasant but we’ve had a cool change overnight with a bit of rain and so it is very humid today but it doesn’t usually last long, it’s much cooler though, only 31 today.! 😊
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31 is HOT!
My friend lives in Brisbane where humidity is draining. :-\
There could be a whole thread on how the NHS is not functioning to the best of its abilities and I could save them monies too!
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Thanks Jules, I really think it is hit and miss with the NHS at the moment. I can see this from the ladies on MM, it's scary how your life is literally in their hands. It is a shockingly long time that I have been waiting and all I can think is that if I do have cancer how fast is it spreading and will it be too late ....already at 3 and half months to date and a lot more waiting to come, no wonder my mental health is suffering.I think I might have to start and toughen up but not sure how to because it isn't the staff's fault who you see in hospital is it??
I have been thinking about putting a complaint in but would be worried that this would impact on my treatment.
From my experience of working in public services (excluding the police), those who shout the loudest get further if only to get you off their back.