moderate blood in urine dipstick test

[allthatglitters]

Hey everyone . . .

I'm a longtime lurker (I'm an anxious woman by nature, especially with health) and a first time poster. I guess I just want to be able to put this down and get some feedback, because my husband isn't really communicative about the whole thing. As a bit of background, he's not the type to worry (inwardly or outwardly) about things, so I need to bounce this off of other people.

My husband (36, active, healthy) recently had a physical where they found "moderate" blood in his urine via a dipstick test. The doctor had him come back two days later to retest and they found small-moderate blood via the dipstick. The doctor said that based on his age it was unlikely to be anything bad, but he did recommend my husband see a urologist just to rule anything out. His appointment is this coming Tuesday and I am freaked out.

The doctor said this could be due to physical activity, and my husband did have a basketball game a little less than a week before the test where he got pretty banged up. Still, I can't shake the fear that it's going to be cancer and the love of my life will be ill. I might be being irrational, but any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Melonpony]

I would listen to the Dr. And, if it is cancer, it would be bladder cancer which is curable. My mom had it last year, and it is no longer an issue. BUT it's doubtful your husband has that. Bladder cancer happens mostly in people over 65, smokers.
Is your husband over 65 and a smoker?

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[Anne1989]

Hi!

Some people have blood in their urine and are completely OK. There is actually a medical term for it which I cannot remember, it can also be genetic.

A couple of months ago my best friend ( a woman) told me when she went to doctor for a checkup they found blood in her urine. When she went home to tell her mom, her mom told her that her, and her brother both have significant blood in their urine every time they take a dipstick test. It is actually quite common, so please try to not worry. The specialist will know what is going on + by the time he goes there is a chance there will not even be anymore urine if it was just from that basketball game.

[allthatglitters]

Thank you for your responses!

Melonpony,
My husband is 36 years old and has never smoked. He brews beer, so he does partake in alcohol, but not to an extreme extent. That's really his only 'vice.' The doctor he got his physical from mentioned that it could be all sorts of things, but - of course - did say cancer is a possibility; I'm sure he's obligated to say so even if he feels it's not as likely.

Anne1989,
That is a reassuring story! I know that his mom had blood in her urine a few years ago (I don't know if it was gross or microscopic), but that checked it out with testing or a scan and found nothing. So, maybe it is genetic. The anxious part of me just keeps thinking it will be terrible news :(

[Anne1989]

Please let me know how the appt goes, although I'm sure it will be totally fine.

[Mel_82]

I'm in the same boat as your husband. I went for a routine urine test about a month ago and they found microscopic blood in my urine. I'm 34-years-old and quit smoking 7-months ago now.

Anyway, my doctor sent me to a urologist who then sent me for further urine tests as well as an ultra sound on my kidneys and bladder.
I went for the follow up and there was still blood in my urine, but my ultra sound was normal (aside that they did find a cyst on one of my ovaries).
Because they didn't find anything on the ultra sound and because I'm an ex-smoker I have to go for a cystoscope at the end of the month.

I'm pretty freaked out too. My mom had the same thing happen to her and she was completely fine. I do feel pain in my lower abdomen tho, which I'm assuming could be the cyst or the gallstones they also found.

Anyway, I go for a second ultra sound next Thursday and the cystoscope on June 26. I hope things go well for your husband.

[Arukaia]

Hello!
I've had some too and it came from infection. If he doesn't have that, it is probably because of physical trauma. I know that first thoughts lead to cancer, mine did too. But all you can do is observe it for some time and if it doesnt come back, I wouldn't worry. Plus, as mentioned, bladder cancer is curable. And if you absolutely can not stop stressing, he can ask for a biopsy. I don't know about the bills tho, they might want you to pay for it, as they don'T see it as neccessary.

[allthatglitters]

Anne1989,

Thank you; I will keep everyone updated! Anxiety is just a bitch, isn't it?

Mel_82,

I hope that all goes well for you; I will be sending positive thoughts your way. I would think that not finding anything during the ultrasound (related to the blood in urine) would be a good thing, but - of course - more testing is just more fodder for worry when anxiety is involved.

Arukaia,

Yes, my first thoughts have definitely been related to cancer. I've heard and read all sorts of terrible stories about it being worst case scenario (like kidney or bladder cancer), but I know that cancer is curable and treatable these days if caught early. Plus, it may not be that at all. I had wondered how likely it would be for a younger male to have an infection, but apparently it does happen and it's just that males don't usually exhibit the same symptoms as women when it comes to things like a UTI. I'm glad to hear that yours was only an infection; I am hoping for the same! I know that a lot of people have hematuria for no good reason too.

[Mel_82]

Anne1989,

Thank you; I will keep everyone updated! Anxiety is just a bitch, isn't it?

Mel_82,

I hope that all goes well for you; I will be sending positive thoughts your way. I would think that not finding anything during the ultrasound (related to the blood in urine) would be a good thing, but - of course - more testing is just more fodder for worry when anxiety is involved.

Arukaia,

Yes, my first thoughts have definitely been related to cancer. I've heard and read all sorts of terrible stories about it being worst case scenario (like kidney or bladder cancer), but I know that cancer is curable and treatable these days if caught early. Plus, it may not be that at all. I had wondered how likely it would be for a younger male to have an infection, but apparently it does happen and it's just that males don't usually exhibit the same symptoms as women when it comes to things like a UTI. I'm glad to hear that yours was only an infection; I am hoping for the same! I know that a lot of people have hematuria for no good reason too.

Ha, I actually never thought them not finding anything was a good sign. My initial thought was "great. It's hidden and the ultra sound didn't pick it up."
That's actually a very good way to look at it :)
I'm sure everything is fine and it'll be fine for your Husband too.
Keep us posted!

[allthatglitters]

Hey everyone,

So . . . an update from my husband's initial urologist appointment.
He still was showing some blood in his urine, so they sent that urine off to a pathologist. The urologist said he was 9/10 sure it was nothing, but because my husband's parents were both heavy smokers around him as a kid that he wanted to do a renal ultrasound. He said even if it's the 1/10 he's young enough that the tumors would be like 'picking little weeds.' He scheduled the ultrasound at the local hospital and then scheduled a follow up appointment with my husband to discuss the results 5 days later.

That renal ultrasound was this morning, and my husband came home with really no news. I had hoped the technician would tell him something, but apparently that isn't always common (and goes against HIPPA since they aren't licensed to diagnose). I, of course, wanted all the details but he merely said she did the ultrasound, zoomed in for pictures, then when it was all done said she'd send the pictures off to the radiologist this afternoon and then his doctor would likely hear from the radiologist tomorrow. His follow up is Tuesday to discuss the results and I'm a mess. I am so worried.

Mel_82, I know your appointment is coming up and I hope it all goes well.

I hope we all have good news.

[Fishmanpa]

It really sounds like they're practicing "CYA" medicine. Their expertise and experience is saying this is not an issue. Getting it in writing from tests affirms this and again is just good practice.

Positive thoughts

[allthatglitters]

Fishmanpa, thank you for your message. I hope you're right and it's nothing . . . that the doctor is just making sure a check is done for the CYA medicine you mentioned.

I realize that it's highly unlikely to be anything. I've read all sorts of reasons for people to have microscopic blood in their urine, some of them being that it's just normal for that person. Still, I have so much fear and anxiety that he'll come home tomorrow after his appointment to deliver terrible news (and maybe that sort of news wouldn't scare a lot of people - just take care of it and move on, but when you have anxiety it's crippling). I am just hoping that his ultrasound was clear and that the urine analysis doesn't show anything major.

Thank you all for your warm thoughts.

[allthatglitters]

I hate to post again and be a bother, but I'm having some major anxiety tonight. My husband goes in for his results tomorrow around noon and I feel so anxious that I could be sick. I just want good news . . . I don't know if I can handle this.

I keep fixating on what the ultrasound technician told him - "I'll send these to the radiologist and he should have them to your doctor by tomorrow," as if the "by tomorrow" should indicate a pressing need or urgency of passing along bad results. I've read so many stories of results taking forever to get, so would she say this because she saw something bad and knew it would be passed along quickly?

Please, if anyone is around right now I could do with some thoughts.

[Aleman200]

I don't have much to add but it sounds like the doctors have it under control. Sending positive thoughts and do let us know what the results are.

[Mel_82]

How did it go?
I go on Monday for my cystoscope - I'm pretty nervous for the results. They're going to give me the results at that appointment from the cystoscope as well as an ultra sound I had a few weeks ago.
I'm grateful it's not a wait, but nevertheless terrified.

[allthatglitters]

Hey everyone,

Thank you for your positive thoughts; my anxiety was quite terrible there for awhile.

Aleman200, thank you for your recent message!

So, my husband's ultrasound came back completely clear - the doctor said everything looked healthy but that he had a slightly enlarged spleen (but said nothing more on the matter). His urinalysis was also clear. The doctor said they could do a cystoscope if my husband wanted to, but he didn't say it was necessary. With both the ultrasound and urinalysis coming back completely clear he decided to leave it at that.

A few days ago we learned that his mother has had microscopic blood in her urine for the past few years at every physical; she had a cystoscope done and they found nothing, so perhaps it's hereditary. In any case, I'm relieved that it is over.

Mel_82 - I am sending you lots of love and support for Monday. The wait is the absolute worst part, but at least you will know then and there. If your ultrasound had shown anything major I am sure you would have received a call by now. I am sending lots of positive thoughts your way!

[Mel_82]

Hey everyone,

Thank you for your positive thoughts; my anxiety was quite terrible there for awhile.

Aleman200, thank you for your recent message!

So, my husband's ultrasound came back completely clear - the doctor said everything looked healthy but that he had a slightly enlarged spleen (but said nothing more on the matter). His urinalysis was also clear. The doctor said they could do a cystoscope if my husband wanted to, but he didn't say it was necessary. With both the ultrasound and urinalysis coming back completely clear he decided to leave it at that.

A few days ago we learned that his mother has had microscopic blood in her urine for the past few years at every physical; she had a cystoscope done and they found nothing, so perhaps it's hereditary. In any case, I'm relieved that it is over.

Mel_82 - I am sending you lots of love and support for Monday. The wait is the absolute worst part, but at least you will know then and there. If your ultrasound had shown anything major I am sure you would have received a call by now. I am sending lots of positive thoughts your way!

I agree. My initial ultra sound showed nothing in my bladder or kidnesys and the test they did for cancer cells in my urine also came back negative. I think
More or less they're doing the cystoscope because I was a smoker. Better safe than sorry. Plus the blood was still there on my last urine test.

The last ultra sound I went for was for the ovarian cysts they found during my first ultra sound (go figure lol).
You're right tho. If they were majorly concerned I'm sure I wouldn't have had to wait 3 weeks.

I'm super happy to hear that your husbands results were positive :)

[Aleman200]

Fantastic news, i'm sure it's a huge relief for you and your husband!

[allthatglitters]

Mel_82 - With your ultrasound and urine analysis clean I would think it's very unlikely that the cysto will show anything else. From what I understand, if someone is at high risk (like you said you are as a former smoker) then a doctor will almost always order a cysto just to give it the definitive all clear. My husband's dipstick still shows blood after all of this, but so does his mother's at every physical she has had over the past few years . . . and her cysto found absolutely nothing. I'm finding that what a lot of people say is true, and some people just have that trace blood for whatever reason. Ovarian cysts aren't anything to worry about usually, but at least you know they're there in case you feel a sharp pain and wonder where it came from if one bursts. One of my best friends gets them constantly, and her OBGYN reassures her not to stress about it.
--I know your appointment is tomorrow, so please let us know how it goes! Thank you for your message. I'll be thinking of you!

Aleman200 - Thank you so much! Yes, it is a huge relief and has certainly put things into perspective. All the best to you!

[Mel_82]

Mel_82 - With your ultrasound and urine analysis clean I would think it's very unlikely that the cysto will show anything else. From what I understand, if someone is at high risk (like you said you are as a former smoker) then a doctor will almost always order a cysto just to give it the definitive all clear. My husband's dipstick still shows blood after all of this, but so does his mother's at every physical she has had over the past few years . . . and her cysto found absolutely nothing. I'm finding that what a lot of people say is true, and some people just have that trace blood for whatever reason. Ovarian cysts aren't anything to worry about usually, but at least you know they're there in case you feel a sharp pain and wonder where it came from if one bursts. One of my best friends gets them constantly, and her OBGYN reassures her not to stress about it.
--I know your appointment is tomorrow, so please let us know how it goes! Thank you for your message. I'll be thinking of you!

Aleman200 - Thank you so much! Yes, it is a huge relief and has certainly put things into perspective. All the best to you!


Thank you for the positive vibes :) all went well. My ultra sound again came back ok except for the cysts. They're referring me to a gyno but he said he's not worried about them at all.
So since he's not, I'm not.

The cysto was clear. He said I have a healthy bladder :)
So yay, it's over now and everything is fine.

I do a lot of lifting at work so he said it could be just a burst vein or what's normal for me.
I'm so happy/relieved. Now I can look fwd to my holidays next
Week!