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

@Worridoncemore I had similar to you a few heads ago, dip test showed microscopic blood in urine, same with a repeat test a few weeks later. Though more worrying than your case, I had some symptoms - pains in lower abdomen and feeling 'off.' Turned out to be nothing. Shortly after the second dip test I began to feel better: then a further dip test was completely fine. My GP said some people just do have microscopic blood showing up and it's not a sign of anything sinister- it's just one of those things.

Try to look on it as positive when medics do these sort of screening tests so that if something is picked up, it can be treated quickly. But honestly there must be so many samples sent off to the lab which turn out to be nothing.

You're stressing about this so today, can you set yourself a time when you'll ring the surgery (say, 2 pm) and keep busy til then. I highly doubt you'll need to wait over the weekend; labs turn these things around pretty fast; I imagine they can't have urine samples sitting around for ages!

It'll be a UTI, it's not the end of the world & nothing to be terrified over. Antibiotics will sort it out & id suggest taking cranberry capsules to stop you getting further UTIs

Not heard anything, scared to phone and working on the basis of "no news is good news". Said they'll only phone if issue. Sample was dropped Tuesday am, presume lab had it by the afternoon. Would they have finished testing it by now, nearly 3 whole days later?Terrified everytime my phone goes.........

Can't say for certain of course OP but I think it should be back by now, it rarely takes more than 2 days here. I think you are right to believe no news is good etc.

They say 48 hours minimum so depends when they got it and what they are testing for & when it’s in the system but usually unless there’s something showing up you’ll not hear and most gp don’t give results over the phone. Hope it’s all fine, perhaps a uti or cystitis. I had 2 horrible uti recently one following a colonoscopy which I had urinary retention and other where I just kept going and doing nothing but horrible pressure no burning etc nothing on dip but loaded on lab check. Then kidney stones etc not been a fun time!!

Still heard nothing so into the weekend now. Hoping they would've called by now if a problem but who knows?

You're honestly massively over worrying. Culture for bacteria can take time & they are probably being thorough if nothing has grown quickly. Here it can take a week or more depending on what the bacteria is. It means they can give you better targeted antibiotics.

In the meantime get yourself some cranberry juice or cranberry supplements, it helps with infections & things like IC

I still have periods at almost 56.

Final period at age 58 and 3/4 here!
I was a bit stunned at the ‘you still have periods at 50’ statement. It did sound ageist and really quite ignorant.

This sounds more and more like health anxiety to me op. Do you suffer from it?

This sounds more and more like health anxiety to me op. Do you suffer from it?

Yes, and I'm having cbt for it. Doesn't get away from the fact that my dipstick test was abnormal (for the second time) and has been sent to the lab for further analysis, so my worry is not without reason.

Not without reason, but hugely magnified to a somewhat ridiculous level. I agree your anxiety is the problem here. UTIs & blood, bacteria in urine etc is very common & unlikely to be anything serious

& I didn't mean that to sound snipey. DD suffers with anxiety at times, so I know it's not cut & dry & very debilitating. I was more reassuring you that your worry is way bigger than your actual physical problem

51 here and having periods, as are most of my similar aged peers. I'd say it was more unusual to be through menopause at 50.

If you're bleeding now it's highly likely it was microscopic menstrual blood finding it's way into your urine, as it can happen before you even see the blood on the tissue by a few days either side

OP I don’t know if this is helpful, but my DM in her early 60s had this exact scenario, they found traces of blood so sent her for a scan. I was absolutely petrified and I think she was too, but the scan revealed nothing at all, they told her it was cystitis/bladder irritation. They like to check when there’s blood because they want to rule out anything serious, not because they actually suspect it. I really hope this isn’t hanging over you for much longer!

Thank you. I'm going to try to hang out until Tuesday before calling them and hope I don't get a call in the interim. I'm not even 100% sure I trust they did actually send it off as they had no record on their computer and the receptionist was very vague when she came back after putting me on hold. I'm skeptical as I've been the victim of a few anxiety provoking mistakes & misunderstandings lately including 5 weeks chasing results for a CT scan that it transpired I didn't even need and was meant for another patient and having to repeat blood tests because they couldn't process them (and then having a nightmare getting the repeat results). If this turns out OK I intend to keep away from the GP for a very long time, with the help of CBT.

@Worridoncemore no but it's the reason why your worry is so over the top and misplaced. Seeking reassurances just makes the health anxiety mind worse

Hopefully the CBT will kick in soon

Update: got lab results, all clear for blood and infection, although dipstick showed red & white blood cells which is why they sent it off. Feel a bit more reassured, although earlier in the week, I saw what looked like blood in the toilet when I went to flush after a wee at work, although there was nothing on the tissue other than normal looking wee when I wiped. May well have been already I the loo before I sat down (don't recall looking so can't be sure) and there was a half empty bottle of pink toilet cleaner by the loo so may have been that lol.

Anyway, dropping off another sample today to double check.