Blood in Urine
 

Hello there,

Recently i went to do the medical test and unfortunately, the doctor found blood traces in my urine dipstick test.
He advised me for further examinations and do a micro blood urine sample test at a pathology lab.
Did a three day, with 2 samples per day for analysis.
Once again, the result showed that 1 sample resulted negative, but the others were positive and have traces of blood.

Now I have to have an appointment with a urologist and check what's the problem.

I'm really worried about all this, that I could have something serious such as bladder infection, stones or even cancer. The thing is that I don't feel any pain whatsoever. Did other urine tests before and had no problems. So now I'm really confused!! :sad:

Do you recommend buying dipsticks before going to the Urologist? What type of dipsticks?

Thanks a lot for your attention....

Have been in your spot -don't let your imagination run away with you. I had a stone. It's inconvenient, but not the end of the world.

Buying test sticks lessens the chances of surprises at results, but there must be a good reason for the blood.

Most likely, I'm told, is a kidney stone. They'll do checks to eliminate other possibilities. If it is a stone, the last thing you want is to lose it (you'll probably know) -having the stone allows them to see what type it is, and it's positive proof of what the problem was. Drink tons (3 litres a day - more with exercise) until you see the quacks, but pee through a tea strainer to catch the stone, if it's small. I'm not joking.

Good luck.

My brother had something similar years ago and his own was very serious he was lucky my mum is a nurse and it was easily treated with drugs and like you he felt no pain. In a couple of days the urine was back to normal.
I suggest you see a specialist as it is likely to be an infection or like the above poster said kidney stone. Dont let it get you down.

I had this only last year. Weird sensation in my bits and feeling pretty grotty. Went to doc and the urine test showed traces of blood.

Blood test AOK and Ultasound clear - 1 x course of antibiotics and all gone.

My dad has just had bladder cancer and that started with an eruption of blood all over the bathroom from his JT - a bit like Custer's Last Stand. Straight into A&E and admission to Urology. Even then, one quick operation to remove growth and all cleared - nothing shown back up at all.

As already said, don't panic and don't let your imagination run riot. It'll probably turn out to be OK. If they were really worried, they would have had you in for tests stat.

hey guys thanks a lot for the positive comments!! I really need it at this stage...

Hopefully all is Ok after having the appointment with the urologist and a go ahead will be issued for my medical test.

I will let you know my results ....

Thanks a lot!!
cheers

Trace of blood in the urine can come from something as innocent as jogging.
Tiny microtears from bouncing around causes some bleeding and it ends up in the urine.

Get it checked. I did. It was jogging that did it. :ok:

Hi,
I had the exact same thing when I went for my initial class 1. Was of course worried sick-had more tests with my GP-urine, blood and an ultrasound. The urine tests showed a slight trace of blood, but nothing was actually found. I felt fine, apart from a little paranoid as I had convinced myself that it must be something serious. After the tests, my GP wrote to the CAA to tell them I had jumped through the hoops and I was issued my class 1-with much relief!
It appears to be quite common. I work at a flying school and two instructors who teach there had the same problem. So try not to stress yourself out. I know it's very worrying when you're waiting around for results. I was particularly worried about having to have an endoscopy-luckily my GP didn't think it necessary!
Good luck anyway!:ok:

Okay....
Not medical man but some experience....

Dipsticks...

Combur 9 made by Roche.
Blood in urine.
Could be from after sex.
After exercise.
False trace after eatiing beetroot.


Could be kidney stone.

Simple X ray of kidneys and lower abdomen will show some stones.
Ultra sound will show some stones.
CT scan will show some stones.
CT scan with dye will show 'all' stones.
All non invasive.
If stones in kidney - lithotripsy..day procedure-mostly painless.
If stone in ureter then maybe day procedure, full anaesthetic and remove.
Send for analysis.
Usually calcium.
Diet..avoid Oxylates.

Could be Prostate.

Blood test for PSA.
Nocturnal pissing habits.
Rectal examination.
Is there blood in semen?
Not necessary to drop everything and find out just now.

Could be bladder problem.

Bladder examination is like stone removal.
Day procedure.
Think it is a cystoscopy.

The blood is more worrying that it is worth but must be checked.
Also - some people have haematura as normal course of life.
Quote from letter....
40% of people have asymptomatic microscopic haematuria with no underlying cause.
So get it checked but do not worry otherwise the blood pressure will be your next problem.

Also, do not forget that if you have had clear samples before and now you have blood trace which indicates a real problem, you have probably caught the real problem in time for something to be done to cure it. I know the worry about cancer!

I hope that any person with more medical experience that reads what I have written will feel completely free to correct what I have written. I only use my own experieince and that of my friends when I write this. So I apologise now for any errors in what I write in something which is not my speciality.

Please take me back to the wine cellar and the cigar room.

I also had traces of blood in urine. Had it checked out via an ultrasound and given the all clear. Apparently, the dipsticks themselves can give a false positive reading due to the chemicals on them!! As others have said here, can also be due to exercise, eating certain foods...even drinking water before your medical, just so you can produce said specimen in the first place!

Try not to worry too much....it's probably nothing more than a slight infection, and in any case, you're getting it treated quickly.:ok:

Hi Likair,

I have blood in the urine which was first discovered by the Air Force when I went for a flying scholarship medical at the age of 16. I subsequently went for a check up at my local hospital where they examined my bladder and found nothing. The next time it became an issue was when I went for an interview/medical with my University Air Squadron. They sent me to RAF Halton where I had quite extensive tests culminating in a Kidney biopsy, not the most pleasant experience however they discovered that I have a condition called Iga ( can't remember what it stands for ) but basically when my kidneys filter my blood they allow some red cells to pass through ( never been visible to the eye ) and are therefore present when I pass water. So every time my urine is tested it shows blood cells being present. The Airforce did not appear too concerned and allowed me to continue flying with the UAS. It was recommended that I have an annual check up with my local hospital every year, which I have been doing for the past 12 years and there has been no change, I have still to this day never seen any blood present when I pass water. I hold a class 1 medical and currently fly long haul. The CAA have never been unduly worried, they just require my NHS doctor to sent the annual check up results for their records. The only advice I have ever received is to limit my alcohol intake and that unless I ever suffer from high blood pressure in the future this condition should never give me cause for concern.
I hope this is of help and I have not bored you too much, my advice is that unless you have felt or seen any physical characteristics not too worry, certainly in terms of keeping your medical in both the short and long term.

Perfectly good assessment, Hammer. Nothing significant to add. I hereby grant you a medical degree. (That's how I got mine!)

Graham MD

Yippeee.....
Now may I please stop this flying thing and come to work for the NHS on >£100k pa?
I am able to do the same outlines for liver disease, erectile disfunction and schizophrenia. Also I have been to Bombay and can show certificate from Taj Mahal Medical School as Professor in Clinical Pyschology and Pathology although not so hot on the last part of that.
Thank you,

Thanks guys for the posts,


Yepp, it could be the type of food I'm eating right now, since I moved from my home country, I have to admit it, that I changed my diet....Regarding physical training, I can say that at the moment I'm not doing any .... although I did some simple gym exercise, a week before the medical test. But I think that's negligible...

Drank a lot of water before doing the micro urine test, but still, 2 out of 3 samples resulted positive .... :bored:

Anyways, to keep it on the positive note, let's hope for the good for the ultrasound or whatever the next test is at the Urologist.

Thanks for the input!!!

:ok:Perhaps you have been drinking Chinese Baby Milk complete with melamine additive?

'Had the same thing a while back. I was worried as they sent me to hospital for consultation followed by a prostate examination! :ugh:
That produced nothing so 2 more trips to hospital culminating in the endoscope being shoved where nothing should go!!! :{
They tell you it won't hurt...it fecking did! Then they told me that if they had advised that it would it would have left. They were right.
Anyway, I saw the live pictures myself with the doctor and there was nothing. Nothing at all.
Since then get renewed each year with no dramas so I would suggest that although it can be indicative of a problem, it generally is not. They just like to make sure thats all.

How old are you, and what is your sex?

Gingernut,

I'll take a 28 year old (Swedish blonde) and yes please.......

......or have I misunderstood the question? ;)


PS. If the blood in the urine is a by product of above occupational hazard, I'll take my chances!!

No, 2c, it wasn't a proposition!

As every good clinician know's, the secrets in the history:)

..... but pee through a tea strainer to catch the stone, if it's small. I'm not joking.

I'm not joking either when I say that I passed a kidney stone into a milk bottle some years ago. I took the "evidence" into my doctor's surgery in Bath for her to check out, and to ask her what she thought. She held the bottle, complete with what actually looked like a vey small shrimp in it, up to a bright light and replied "I think that I'll never drink milk straight out of a bottle again"!:)

Jack

PS Drink lots of cranberry juice too - it's marvellous for sorting out kidney infections, which I believe it does because something in it stops the infections from adhering to the bladder wall.

I've also had blood detected in my urine after a test. No problems for me, just repeated the test a few days later and made sure i didnt play sport or go to the gym the day before, I also drank lots of water. Result.. all clear. Dont panic its probably nothing.

Deck Shoes:

it is called IgaN - Immuno Globulin A Nephropathy.

I also know the fun event that is a kidney biopsy!

IgaN however is a bit more than your kidneys letting a bit of blood leak into the urine.The blood shouldn't be there, it is in your urine because there is some degree of damage to your kidneys already, and with IgaN, the damage is ongoing, it is just how quickly the damage occurs that varies from person to person.

Only advice I can give is to find yourself a good nephrologist and have as a minimum 6 monthly blood and urine tests and a sit down review with the specialist.You can go from being stable and having mildly impaired kidney function to needing dialysis in a very short space of time!

Have a look at this website, it has a pile of great info:

The Foundation for IgA Nephropathy

Hi Likair,
Ditto to all the above twice (blood and protein), including the kidney biopsy. The first time they diagnosed Henoch Schonlein Purpura which you probably don't have or you would have noticed a purplish colouring on your legs. The second time, 10 years later, it was called Vasculitis which I think is an umbrella name covering several variations of the condition. On this occasion it was accompanied by little red bloodspots around the ankles which the consultant described as typical.
On neither occasion did I notice anything visually in my urine, it was spotted during a routine medical.
Both times were thoroughly investigated and monitored over a prolonged period, two years for the vasculitis; but at no time was my working life offshore affected.
As I am also hypertensive the treatment was, and still is, strict BP control to protect the kidneys.
Be patient (no pun intended) and good luck.:ok:
s37

Hi Likair
I had the same when younger. Turn out to be a kidney stone which passed but unfortunately not into a tea strainer so with rolled up shirt sleeve off I went to the Urologists. It didnt stop me from getting the class1. I remember watching a programe about a power boat driver one symptom he had after a race was blood in his pee from all the jolting about on the waves, how crazy!! So dont get too bunched about it.
As mentioned in other post drink cranberry juice and plenty of fluids.
BF
P.S - suggest you dont do any power boating before your medical either!!

Had the same thing about a year ago. Saw a Urologist, had a 'flexible cystoscopy'. Something about a larger filter in the kidneys. Given all clear, watch for blood(visible) in urine. Good luck.

These Medics love to throw a wobbly & it's all about justifying their existance & generating funds. I had the same indication & before issue of Certificate was directed to Urinologist for Scan. I too was told that it could be stones, cancer, early ident of some ghastly other disease etc !

On the table, radiologist asked if I was in any pain. I replied, "no, should I be ?", "Not at all" was his reply because he wandered why I was there in the first place. I told him the story & was informed that he wished he had my kidneys ! There was no indication of stones, cancer, or anything else. I am 62 & the Consultant advised that it was not uncommon to find small traces of blood.

I was on medication for flu which actually seemed to hit me quite hard in the Kidneys but the boffins dismissed that.

Try not to worry. My stress level went through the roof & I nearly got a heart attack with the worry. But then, the quaks we think are monitoring our health are actually knee jerking and doing very little else.

Stay off medication, flush out with lots of water before your next test & listen to your inner self. Much more enlightened than the Medical profession !

Blood was found in my urine on medicals from time to time
 

In the end the CAA insisted I had a biopsy performed on the bladder. The biopsy came back with zero which was a relief.

However 10 days after the biopsy I started to pee blood (Diluted of course) I I was told not to worry and contact them if things got worse. (you can't make it up can you!) The blood stopped for a few days.

On a flight from LHR to BRU I went to the loo only to find that having a pee was not happening. I tried harder and then sprayed the loo with a mixture of blood etc.

After operating back to LHR I contacted the docs who sent me to hospital. They discovered that I was (and always have been) a hemophiliac. Only mildly in that 'factor 8' was missing or not working correctly.

The fact was the medical found the blood in the urine which was caused by the hemophilia. The biopsy caused a bleed which would not heal by its own. The bleed was cured by an infusion of something or other by a drip. All very clever stuff by the Docs. Well done.

The CAA told me that had they known I was a hemophiliac they would not have issued me with a license in the first place, but since I'd been flying for 34 years that would be OK then. Whats all that about? I'm hardly likely to bleed to death on the flight deck just because I looked at a plastic knife am I.

Anyway tis a funny thing that I have discovered this condition and several others over the years that have had some quite serious effects on my life. Anyone ever heard of HALB27? Got some issues over that one.

Keep well my friends and seasons greetings.


Regards
Exeng

:D

:D:D


One of the better informed posts I've seen on here for a while.



Having said that, blood in the urine, whether visible, or detected by microscope/dipstick, shouldn't be ignored, and does need some sort of follow up by a professional.

It's odds on that the cause is relatively simple, depth of investigations etc would depend on other factors (eg age), but to ignore this symptom, and potentially miss something which could be sorted out at an early stage, would be negligent.:)

For those with a passing interest, NICE have tried to sort out when we need to refer to the big boys with toys..... http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf...eguideline.pdf

(Page 29).

I don't think it's perfect, but I think it's what's currently followed.

I have just found out I have this problem, but my GP doesn't seem to worried about it, so I have asked the CAA to get on my GP's back and try and get him moving!!

Do what I did and tell them it's going to affect your job (explain the class 1). That had my GP referring me to a consultant and I was seen within 6 weeks. Turned out to be nowt though, usually does.

Quote:
These Medics love to throw a wobbly & it's all about justifying their existance & generating funds.
:D


Quote:
Stay off medication, flush out with lots of water before your next test & listen to your inner self. Much more enlightened than the Medical profession !
:D:D






OK. So let's put some science in this discussion : I see plenty of patients each year who have "listened to their inner self" as has been put, have heard nothing wrong, yet are sitting across from me with scans and biopsies showing kidney cancer, bladder cancer or prostate cancer. Yes, the yield is low if one looks at the number of the population having microscopic haematuria, but that's why the investigations are done in the wider population.

The bureacracy may certainly need to justify their existence, but in this country , no urologist is out there touting with a sandwich board.

As far as pilots are concerned, I would rather know if you have a (thus far) non-symptomatic kidney stone now , instead of you having your first episode of renal colic pain and collapsing half way across the pond, endangering yourself and, oh yes, the paying SLF behind you.

You have no idea how debillitating ( I hope that is the word) a moving kidney stone can be. Without any warning or signs it begins and grinds a way down the tubes, bleeding, scraping and suffering until if you are lucky it comes out. If you are not so lucky it gets blocked and you cannot p properly.
Mine was lucky, not in the air but on a desert island far away from anything like a lithotripsy kit or a urologist. You do not want to play games of chance like marbles with those stones boyos!
Flushing with water or beer is not always going to dislodge a stone stuck either in the kidney or in a tube. It may dilute the blood trace for a medical but you can still carry the problem with you which, I think, can be made worse or started up by the pressure changes in an aircraft making the tubes dillate and contract - like windy passangers perhaps?

A man your age with those symptoms:

Second opinion from urology.

Graham, MD (not urology)

Not even an MD!
But..for starters...have you had a PSA check?
As for Tamsulosin-it is a good drug for BPH-but its efficaceousness(?) will deteriorate in time. The side effects you describe do not seem quite right unless you already have the low blood pressure. Just check the dosage..normal I think is 400 micrograms a day but I do not KNOW that!
Very much a case for the second opinion I would have been thinking.

Hi guys

I had same prob as a marathon runner it was found on a premarathon check up! found a tumour with a harden wall, on my kidney I had it removed just before christmas beauitiful 6inch scar under rib cage. But started flying in mid Jan and now starting to run again!!! Im only 38. Had a gem of a consultant Craigavon Area Hospital.

But hey blood in urine can be loads of things just take care of it mate!

blood in urine
 

had that too. Turned out to be a prostate infection (as I learned, this can be caused by psychological issues, like excessive stress)
Antibiotics/Gyrase inhibitors for a week, and got rid of it for good.[COLOR="YellowGreen"]

Exeng

HLA (human Leucocyte Antigen) B27 is a marker on your white blood cells. It seems to be associated with a number of conditions. That is to say that a higher than expected number of people with certain diseases (diabetes is one example I seem to remember from the days when I needed to know this stuff) will have that marker. Having it doesn't mean that you will get any of the conditions, just that your risk might be higher than the normal population

Hope that helps

Bob

Anaesthetist who can still remember some of the esoteric stuff that they tried to teach me at Med School!

Last year during my class 1 renewal the AME found blood in my urine. Had to go to a Urologist, did all the tests, scans, scope:sad: etc. All results clear. Have my renewal next week and have tested myself usinng the multistrips and it has come back again with blood in my urine.
Am I going to have to get all the scans every single year if it keeps showing up at medicals? or with my previous 'all clear' from my Urologist will the AME allow me to have my class 1 without any further tests??

Rednex, if you have only seen a urologist, I would suggest you track down a nephrologist (kidney specialist). I first saw a urologist and got the all clear, but further investigation by the nephrologist turned up a chronic kidney problem.Worth doing, as persistant or recurring haematuria can be one of the VERY early signs of kidney issues and as with anything else, the earlier you know, the better the long term outcome.Good luck!