GP has sent urine sample off to lab as dipstick abnormal - terrified!!

[Worridoncemore]

I dropped a urine sample to the GP this morning to be dipped as a previous dipstick had shown traces of blood. My period was due so they thought it likely that but wanted to repeat to be sure. This time I am nowhere near period.

They've just told me sample has been sent off to lab as shown "something". In my panic I didn't think to ask the receptionist what the "something" was (probably wouldn't have told me anyway) but assuming blood again.

They were a bit vague about when they'd get results but said they'd only call if the results showed something so I could make appointment with GP. If clear, they wouldn't call. They said I could call back in a few days to check if results were in if I wished.

I have health anxiety and am absolutely spiralling. I've had a number of investigations for various things so far this year, all negative but very stressful to go through. I'm now terrified that this time something is actually wrong - bladder cancer being my biggest fear. I'm over 50 so not too young. I have no symptoms of a UTI.

Thanks for reading. If anyone has any advice I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you x

@angeltattoo

I'm 53 and still have periods - every 28 days.

@angeltattoo you may wish to educate yourself for when you approach the menopause. The average age is 51. An awful lot of women will still be having completely regular periods at the decrepit old age of 50 ..

PLUS you’ve had a clear scan! Please let this put your mind at rest 100% for bladder cancer

Initially it did and why I didn't rush to get the dipstick test redone (irhe original one was more than 2 months ago in a&e for something unrelated). However, my GP said CT scans are unreliable for bladder cancer and can miss smaller tumours and that camera scans are the preferred scan for ruling it out. I'm now worried I've let something potentially serious fester for more than two months. I honestly expected the dipstick to be clear, am shocked and dismayed that it isn't.

@Worridoncemore I had months of UTI symptoms and invisible blood in my urine. Lots of antibiotics but dip tests never showed infection, just red and white blood cells. I was utterly convinced I had bladder cancer. I eventually had a cystoscopy (camera test) and nothing was found. The consultant said some people just have blood in their urine

Most bladder cancer is men, particularly those over 70 who smoked and/or worked with chemicals. I know it's hard not to worry (believe me, I have health anxiety and I've been there!) but it is very likely nothing to worry about

Blood, which is sometimes a symptom of bladder or renal cancer, will show up on a dip.

But it’s only the blood which will show up- a dip or a path lab test of urine can’t diagnose either of those cancers.

It can diagnose a UTI, which is the ‘something’ they are looking for.

Consistent blood in the urine may be investigated further by your GP if the absence of an infection is confirmed and you continue to have blood in your urine.

There are lots of other (more likely) causes.

Hopefully your GP or practice nurse can make time to have a thorough discussion with you about this.

Please try not to worry op. I've been through this (I'm 49) about five years ago. Blood always shows up on a dipstick for me. I've had all the gold standard tests (bladder and kidney scans and cystoscopy) and it's just normal for me. Some people just do have micro blood on a dipstick but no specific cause.

I went to see a consultant privately when it happened to me as my first thought was bladder cancer but he actually laughed me out of his office. Very very rare for it to be anything like this.

However if it's continuous be prepared for a referral for a cystoscopy (which incidentally is nothing to worry about, no more invasive than a smear I thought). That's the good standard test to rule out bladder cancer.

I still have regular periods by the way 😆

The average age for the menopause in the UK is 51 so some women will be younger than this but it is perfectly normal for women to be having periods well into their fifties.

Also, a UTI is by far the most likely cause of any abnormality and very easily treated.

I'm not sure if it's psychological but yesterday evening, several times I was bursting for a wee so went to the loo expecting Niagara Falls and not much came out. Come to think of it, this has happened before occasionally. I also find that sometimes I go from not needing a wee to bursting very quickly. Never really thought much of it/thought it was my age. Some days I need to go lots, others I can go for hours without going. My wee is often very strong smelling/concentrated but I'm terrible at drinking water and it goes back to normal if I remember to drink. Are these all signs of a uti? I know I need to wait for results but am still panicking. Doesn't help that getting info from our surgery is like getting blood out of a stone, communication is awful and vague.

LOL I was merely curious, I made no mention of decrepitude and found it interesting, that’s all. Educating myself, if you will. So no need to project non-existent ageism into a post that alluded to nothing of the sort.

@angeltattoo oh come on. Your 'you still have periods at 50?' was full of astonishment that this may be the case. If that's not ageism I don't know what is.

Because as you're in your 40s yourself, I can't believe you literally have zero clue here

54 is the average age in the UK for last period.

Not unusual. I'm 53 and periods still going strong.

Dehydration increases the chance of getting a UTI and given current weather for much of the country it is something to take into account. Try not to worry too much and get swigging!

PS If it is a UTI, for a youngish healthy person, some antibiotics should see it off quickly.

Sounds as though you need to drink more.

From your last post, you have a UTI. That's what they will have found. ask for 7 days of ABs as 3 isn't enough.

I had a urine dip recently before a procedure. I think it was primarily to rule out pregnancy (I'm 52!) because the treatment isn't compatible. They checked for UTI and found some signs of infection and sent it off to be cultured. Some HCPs don't bother, some do.

NICE guidelines state that a urine dip showing blood ( of any amount) and NO infection = a 2 week wait for cystoscopy and pelvic scan.
In my case the pelvic scan showed nothing but cystoscopy found the cancer. I then had a TURBT and since then (2018) I have had 3 monthly cystoscopy’s which luckily have been clear.

Thanks for the ongoing support. I went to the loo earlier and I appear to have started a period! Very light atm. As I said, I'm perimenopause and periods quite erratic. Lately they've been getting further apart so assumed I was far away from next period - only day 18 and last one only finished a week ago. Last time I had positive dipstick I started period next day too! Google said you can have blood in urine up to 3 days before and 5 days after period, so sort of fits. Still won't stop worrying until I have confirmation what's going on though.

Having periods at 50 is pretty normal. My mum's stopped about 52/53. I am 49 and still having regular periods (just closer together).

I had traces of blood in urine in 2017. It was in 2 samples, was sent for kidney scan and cystoscopy under 2 week wait and it turned out to be nothing. If you have no symptoms I wouldn't worry x

Sorry - me again, still stressing. Does anyone know how long it takes for urine samples to come back from lab? Receptionists very vague & didn't seem to know. Just said they'd only call if there was a problem. However, I'd like to know either way so will call them after sufficient time has elapsed.I find calling them very stressful so don't want to ring too soon. Sample was with GP at 10.30 on Tuesday and I know that, if they are to go to the lab, they need them by 1pm so presume collected around that time.

I don't have much faith as was told I'd be called if problem with dipstick. I never received a call and only found out it had gone to lab as I called them!

Thanks - I jump every time my phone goes in case bad news. Really hope I don't have to wait over weekend.

I’m 48 and no signs of period stopping