Blood in urine but no infection and health anxiety

Ct on my hubby shows no tumors, urine test ( simple  for your doctor to order to look for cancer cells and some things up quickly ) negative.... 60 + occult blood. Ct shows  beginning of bladder wall . Doc suspects ulcer. We will know soon. But whats good is NO cancer red flags. 

Thought I'd share my experience with blood in urine.  Over the past 15-20 years I've had several UTIs, most of them treated with Cipro.  This past January I saw blood in the urine (I usually end up seeing blood when I have a UTI), went to the doctor's and was prescribed Cipro.  Went back 10 days later and there was still microscopic blood.  Went back 2 weeks later.... same thing.

So now, scared like hell, I made an appointment with a urologist.  Though I have severe health anxiety, the urologist managed to calm me down.  She struck me as a very competent urologist, nothing fake about her, really seems compassionate and understanding.  Anyway, she told me that in approximately 80% of cases, blood in urine is not due to a serious medical condition such as cancer.  She also said that bladder cancer is quite treatable, etc. etc.  Of course that only helped so much, 'cause who would want to hear the big "C" word??

I had a cystoscopy.  She asked me if I wanted to watch and I quickly said, "NO!" - afraid of what I might see.  Within what seemed seconds she said, "Aha, yep, it's cystitis cystica and trigonitis... pretty bad too".  Never heard of that before.  So she explained.  Trigonitis is a chronic inflammation of the bladder; Cystitis cystica is similar to a chronic infection but when they test for infection, nothing shows up.  Both seem to be caused by infections that were not treated completely.  The bacteria ends up hiding in the bladder wall causing inflammation. 

She put me on a low-dose antibiotic, one every night before going to bed.  I was given a bladder diet, very similar to the one they use with Interstitial cystitis.  Some urologists believe that IC and C. cystica are the same thing, but my urologist disagrees.  She told me they look different and the exact cause of IC is still pretty much a mystery.  She said to check which foods on my "Do not eat" list cause me irritation, and the worst one for me is coffee.  If I drink more then 2 cups of coffee a day for a couple of days and then I check my urine using the dipstick, it will show microscopic blood :-(     Many doctors believe the conditions are chronic and you have periods when they improve, but you never get rid of them completely.  My urologist disagrees... as long as you stay away from the offending foods (many of them!) and drink plenty of plain water, you should be ok.

Going back tomorrow for a second cystoscopy to see if the inflammation has improved; I hope so!  The urologist also told me that it is usually the GPs who grow very concerned when there is blood in the urine.  For urologists, she said, once the cancer diagnosis is ruled out, they do not concern themselves with the blood.  I know, easier said than done for us... when we see blood we freak out (well, I do).

My tests included urinalysis, urine cytology, cystoscopy, urodynamic studies.  I live in the USA.

I hope I helped someone who is experiencing anxiety over the condition  :-) 

Hi there I have just came across this post and I have been suffering for years with pelvic pain and constant peeing. Also tested for UTIs and came back clear. I did have uti recently and was prescribed antibiotics. I got 3 days worth but was still there. I sent another sample in and was told there was blood in my urine but nothing to worry about. . I was referred to a gynaecologist and he said that because I had pelvic pain and heavy painful periods that I could have endometriosis. He booked me in for a laparoscopicy and said if they found endometriosis they would treat there and then. They did find it and I was treated. However my symptoms are back again and I have been put into a medical menopause but not really helping. I do have an overactive bladder as well which doesn’t help. Has the doctor ever asked you to have your bladder stretched or to go for urodynamics? This is when you have a tube inserted into your vagina and rectum and they get you to sit on a bidet type seat and they fill your bladder with water. It is hooked up to a machine and records how long you can hold for. I did this years ago and I get Botox for my bladder. I’m thinking that it could be either of those. It can take 10 years to be diagnosed with endometriosis and my gynaecologist said there was evidence that I have had it for a long time. Hope this reply helps 

I have severe health anxiety. I was peeing bowl after bowl of blood in the toilet bowl. Pain urinating, clots in the urine, severe urgency. Went to urgent care. They gave me antibiotics and it went away. I had cloudy musty smelly urine yesterday so I called my PC and spoke with the nurse. She said the lab work on my "UTI" show no infection. So now I am FREAKED OUT.  I'll go today to repeat a urine test. I can't even concentrate on work. I'm so terrified right now.1

I signed up because I had to reply to this thread.

A good few years ago I discovered that I had blood in my urine (not visible) at the doctors. It comes up on every single urine test. My bladder control also isn’t the best, but that could be related to the fact that I’ve had 2 kids!

About 4 years ago I also started to get pains in my kidneys, around my sides and back. But i never had pain urinating and uti tests came back negative.

Originally my doctor hadtold me that some people just generally suffer with microscopic amounts of blood in their urine for no real specific reason, and if it isn’t causing any other problems then it’s of no real concern.

But once the pain started he wanted to send me to get an ultrasound done and a kidney function test. These came back ok.

When the pain continued he sent me to have a biopsy done on my kidneys - I had anaesthetic and  it was a needle put in and pulled out, very quick.

Anyway the results came back that I have a form of kidney disease, that was only discovered because of the biopsy. The pain ended up stopping by itself and I don’t really have any symptoms now just the blood in urine, but that could be unrelated as my kidneys are functioning fine and filtering everything it needs to out. I now just have an annual blood test to check if it’s doing it’s job. 

As for the name, it’s something with ‘Collagen’ in the title ?? but back when I researched it doesn’t normally cause any real issues and doesn’t normally get any worse, so it’s just one of those things you can have! 

I’d recommend all of you to just get a biopsy done on your kidneys, that’s the clearest way of finding out anything! 

Hey Everyone

So I’ve been dealing with a lot of health anxiety for the past few months. A few months ago at my physical they found a microscopic trace of blood in my urine. So they sent me to urologist who did a cystoscopy on me and all was well. They then sent out my urine for special testing to make sure I had no malignant cells in my bladder. All came back negative. They have done sono on my kidney and bladder all came back clear. Had fresh batch of blood work done and came back excellent. So the doctors said some people have Microscopic blood in their urine with no reason and it’s ok. But why can’t I accept it?? Also they found an abnormal cell in my urine cytology but it said most likely was reactive meaning it was do to an inflation or infection. I have to wait a whole other week now for a cytology report......anyone ever have this? 

I went in to the doctors thinking I might  have a uti. They called me with my results and told me I didn’t have a uti but a lot of blood in my urine. They asked me to come back to retest in two weeks. I was called yesterday and was told I still have a lot of blood in my urine to come in for a hysteroscope.  They told me they don’t think it’s cancer because I’m to young.🙄(35) The doctor thinks it might be uterine polyps. I’m so nervous! I have abdominal pain and when I bend over it hurts. I don’t know if those are related. Praying it’s not cancer. 

Hi Louise,

I have microscopic blood in my urine + sometimes protein. I also have the feeling of a UTI a day after sex, but no nitrates. It always feels better after Trimethopren... so that tells me there must be some bacteria somewhere. I have also been diagnosed with low iron, so I'm hoping I'm not loosing blood anywhere, but can't help but feel anxious!

Its good to hear that people have this and it's nothing to worry about.