Had very dark/blood in urine for 2 weeks now... anyone had this??

Ive been getting blood in my urine since boxing day, sometimes its heavy (lots of blood/very dark) other times its clearer with a pink tint, particularly when I drink water. I started to feel very weak/tired on christmas day and my mum (being a nurse) tested my urine and said it had blood. I went to the walk in centre a few days later the nurse said temp was ok, bp was ok I had no pain nor symptoms of cystitis so she wouldnt prescribe antibiotics. She said it was probably just a virus and that the blood might just be a one off.

I felt that I needed them really to be on the safe side (untreated ifection can permanently damage kidneys) so Ive had course of antibiotics. Ive not been feeling as weak Ive felt better with myself but there is still visible blood 2 weeks later, urine is very bloody/dark in the morning. Also had a blood test at the gp's testing bone profile,fbc,serum folate,iron, liver function,thyroid and urea/electrolytes. All came back normal and gp said there was no sign of infection from the blood tests.

I went back to the gp taking a urine sample with me and he tested it and said it wasn't right there was heavy blood in it. So he has referred me to a urologist but I have to wait 3 weeks and Im just worried, in case I have kidney disease or :/ I asked him what he thought it might be but he just said 'it needs investigating'. He doesn't speak much or reassure, he's more of a pragmatist lol. This could be something or nothing but I have been feeling a slight twinge of pain in my left side/lower back when I cough but its only mild. I have no family history of kidney disease and am not a drinker nor smoker.

So yea Im just going to be worrying for 3 weeks and I wanted to know have any of you experienced this? Or are there any medics who might be able to help me figure it out a bit?

Reply 1

Anonymous #1

Hi- I'm a junior doc so may be able to help in some way.
Usually when there is blood in the urine, there is a problem in the urethra (drains from bladder), bladder, ureters (from kidneys to bladder) and kidneys.

There are many many causes, including kidney and bladder stones, UTIs (which may or may not travel up to kidney like you mention), people who need lots of catheters in and out, inflammation of the kidney, foreign bodies, trauma and certain side effects of medication (assuming because you didnt mention you're not on them?), autoimmune diseases and other rare diseases of kidney, thin blood (coagulation problems) and of course, in the very rare instance: cases cancers of the kidney and bladder (cancers can be attributed to almost every symptom out there if you look at all of the causes of something). Also eating beetroot, weirdly.

You mentioned your kidney tests were OK, so GPs have to refer to urologists (they look at the structures further down than the kidneys) unless they are are suspecting diseases of kidneys first (then you would go to nephrologist). The GP is likely to have examined you to feel for any kidney masses which otherwise may have led him to refer to the kidney doctors. It may be that the urologists (well I don't know if the GP has. organised.) send you for an abdominal USS to look at your anatomy..eg, are there any stones there? You mentioned you get a slight twinge sometimes. Having said that, kidney and bladder stones may pass and may not then be detected on a scan! Or a urologist may decide to do a camera test, to look at your bladder, which is a cystoscopy. The GP has to go through the process of referring you to a urologist due to the government guidelines, as scarey as it may seem to be referred to a specialist.

I'm afraid I can't really comment on your individual case never having met you or examined you, but I hope some of this explains what it is happening. Do let us know what happens.

Reply 2

username1060288

Wait the 3 weeks and the urologist will help you. Unlikely TSR will provide much reassurance. If you feel severe pain or feel faint (i.e. an emergency), go to A&E in the meantime.

Reply 3

civilstudent

Original post by Anonymous

Hi thanks for that. Yea the gp did examine my stomach it was quite a drama. Everytime he pressed on my stomach I tensed up lol he seemed annoyed and kept shouting 'relax' 'relax' but I couldn't for some reason so he probably gave up ha.

Yea my mum keeps saying my gp can be over cautious and is too quick to refer but that explains it he has to follow guidelines, better than being laid back. People would be complaining if he didnt lol.

I was wondering if viral infections can cause bloody urine as its weird how it just came on suddenly at the same time as me feeling weak/tired. How common are viral kidney infections.. Ive been drinking lots of water and as expected that makes my urine a lot clearer though it still has a pinky tint.

If my blood tests were normal then this will be a good indication that the problem is not with my kidneys..? I know part of the blood test I had looked at urea levels but Im not sure if it will have measured creatinine levels etc too.. I don't mean to be an hyperchondriac or anything I just tend to go looking everything up when I get concerned about health lol.

As for medication Ive only been on nasonex (nasal steroid spray) and antihistamines (everyday indefinately).

Guess I'l just have to wait, thanks.

Reply 4

moonkatt

Original post by civilstudent

Because your GP will have taken these bloods to check your kidney function I'd be a bit worried if he wasn't checking creatinine as well as urea. U's & E's (which what you probably had blood taken for) include creatinine as part of the test usually anyway.

Reply 5

civilstudent

Original post by moonkatt

Ah right so yea it will have probably been done as part of the U and E test. Thats what I didnt know whether or not it came under the U and E test.

Reply 6

1201261

I think the junior doctor above me has answered your question but having dark blood in your urine is not a good sign and needs investigating ASAP.

Reply 7

civilstudent

Original post by paula92xo

I think the junior doctor above me has answered your question but having dark blood in your urine is not a good sign and needs investigating ASAP.

which is why Im getting it checked out. Been to see the urologist one of the nurses said there was wbc's in my urine and that it might be infection. They had a look at my bladder (cytoscopy) and said it was fine although the doctor said there was a white patch, wondered what it was and said it must be because Im on antibiotics. The doctor said it was likely an infection even though im not getting any pain just blood. Kidney ultrasound and xray was fine so no kidney stones. Ive been on erythromyocin now though for 2 weeks (for a bad throat infection) and its not helped clear my urine. I was originally put on a different antibiotic for suspected UTI but that didnt help either.

My gp said that the blood tests and uranalysis didnt show any infection so Im not sure if he will do another test... The urology specialists who I were referred to didnt mention anything about treatment for infection they just said it was probably an infection and told me to attend a follow appointment in 2 months..

I dont know what Im supposed to do now. Ive not got a definate diagnosis and I dont want kidney damage from an untreated infection...or whatever it is. Ive noticed there are white bits comming out in my urine they look a bit like tissue paper floating in it (but are not) im guessing they are wbc's..

Had this for over month now I just want to be normal again.