Blood in urine: Has anyone dealt with this?

I’m posting here because I really don't want to start freaking out my friends and family before I have any actual answers, but I need to vent because what my doctor told me today honestly left me reeling.

Since I’m starting a job on a cruise ship in about a month, I went in for some routine blood and urine tests a few days ago. I just wanted to make sure I was 100% healthy before heading out to sea.

Well, the results came back and my red blood cell count in my urine is through the roof. A normal reading is up to 2, but mine hit 20.
My doctor—who is usually the most chill guy ever, definitely not the type to panic and pretty much believes everything fixes itself without meds—kept asking if I was in any pain. I told him no, multiple times, because I seriously feel fine. Nothing hurts.
We did a kidney ultrasound, and apparently, there's some "sand" (kidney stones/crystals) which could be causing the bleeding, but the weird part is still that I have zero pain. He told me to come back in 3 or 4 days for another urine test. In the meantime, my urine has been looking really dark.

So, I went back today for more tests (bloodwork comes back tomorrow), and he asks me *again* if I'm in pain. I told him no, and that the fact that I'm not hurting should be the most important thing, right? Instead, he tells me that's exactly what worries him. He thinks if it were just kidney stones, I’d be in agony, so since I'm feeling totally normal, he said we have to consider the possibility of bladder cancer.
It makes zero sense to me. How can something like that happen when I feel completely fine?

Has anyone else dealt with something like this?

James Anderson9 said:I’m posting here because I really don't want to start freaking out my friends and family before I have any actual answers, but I need to vent because what my doctor told me today honestly left me reeling.

Since I’m starting a job on a cruise ship in about a month, I went in for some routine blood and urine tests a few days ago. I just wanted to make sure I was 100% healthy before heading out to sea.

Well, the results came back and my red blood cell count in my urine is through the roof. A normal reading is up to 2, but mine hit 20.
My doctor—who is usually the most chill guy ever, definitely not the type to panic and pretty much believes everything fixes itself without meds—kept asking if I was in any pain. I told him no, multiple times, because I seriously feel fine. Nothing hurts.
We did a kidney ultrasound, and apparently, there's some "sand" (kidney stones/crystals) which could be causing the bleeding, but the weird part is still that I have zero pain. He told me to come back in 3 or 4 days for another urine test. In the meantime, my urine has been looking really dark.

So, I went back today for more tests (bloodwork comes back tomorrow), and he asks me *again* if I'm in pain. I told him no, and that the fact that I'm not hurting should be the most important thing, right? Instead, he tells me that's exactly what worries him. He thinks if it were just kidney stones, I’d be in agony, so since I'm feeling totally normal, he said we have to consider the possibility of bladder cancer.
It makes zero sense to me. How can something like that happen when I feel completely fine?

Has anyone else dealt with something like this?

Unfortunately, it could be anything at all...😢

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/blood-in-urine/symptoms-causes/syc-20350313

I'm actually dealing with something quite similar right now—the blood isn't visible to the naked eye, but it shows up on the microscopic dipstick test—and I've been dealing with typical infection symptoms, like frequent trips to the bathroom, lower abdominal pressure, and discomfort when I go... I'm really holding out hope that it's just a standard UTI, because honestly, hearing that blood in the urine could point to something much more serious is pretty unsettling...😢

Joshua Gray75 said:Unfortunately, it could be anything at all...😢

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/blood-in-urine/symptoms-causes/syc-20350313

I'm actually dealing with something quite similar right now—the blood isn't visible to the naked eye, but it shows up on the microscopic dipstick test—and I've been dealing with typical infection symptoms, like frequent trips to the bathroom, lower abdominal pressure, and discomfort when I go... I'm really holding out hope that it's just a standard UTI, because honestly, hearing that blood in the urine could point to something much more serious is pretty unsettling...😢

I just read that part in the link you sent where it mentions "painless hematuria raises suspicion of urinary tract tumors."

That’s basically what my doctor told me. He said if there's pain, it’s usually just kidney stones or a bladder infection, but if it doesn't hurt, that's when you have to start worrying about cancer.

Ugh, I totally forgot to ask her if it’s normal to bleed for this many days after using sand. I mean, usually there’d be some kind of pain or at least a stinging sensation, but honestly? I don't feel a thing.
I'm actually sitting here wondering when the bleeding even started. Like I mentioned, I only went in for a checkup because I'm about to start a job on a cargo ship, so who knows how long I've been dragging this around? I’m not exactly the type to go inspecting my business every time I pee, but lately, I've been paying way too much attention to it.

I’ve lived with elevated red blood cells in my urine for as long as I can remember. I’ve gone through the entire gauntlet of testing, including cytology, just to pinpoint the exact origin of the issue. In my case, the culprit is my left kidney pelvis, which was left structurally deformed following some severe kidney infections and vesicoureteral reflux back when I was a kid. Because of that physical irregularity, a bit of sediment—essentially microscopic sand—tends to collect there and scrape against the tissue. It doesn't actually cause any pain, but it’s always there.
If I recall correctly, you should ask your doctor for a referral for a urine cytology. If memory serves, they usually have you come in three days in a row to provide samples, or sometimes they let you bring them in from home.

Scott Bennett4 said:I’ve lived with elevated red blood cells in my urine for as long as I can remember. I’ve gone through the entire gauntlet of testing, including cytology, just to pinpoint the exact origin of the issue. In my case, the culprit is my left kidney pelvis, which was left structurally deformed following some severe kidney infections and vesicoureteral reflux back when I was a kid. Because of that physical irregularity, a bit of sediment—essentially microscopic sand—tends to collect there and scrape against the tissue. It doesn't actually cause any pain, but it’s always there.
If I recall correctly, you should ask your doctor for a referral for a urine cytology. If memory serves, they usually have you come in three days in a row to provide samples, or sometimes they let you bring them in from home.

I'm sure they'll send me for cytology; today's sample looked pretty clear, and it wasn't even my first trip to the bathroom this morning. Hopefully, it's just some minor sediment.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you; I truly hope this turns out to be nothing more than a false alarm.
Hang in there. 🙂

If you're saying sand is your only issue, then you've actually got two solid options on hand.
Try some nettle tea (it’s basically nature’s remedy) or grab some Rowatinex capsules with essential oils—you can find them at any CVS or Walgreens, just make sure you’re getting the one specifically for kidney issues and not the liver version.

Anyway, I'm pulling for you and hoping everything turns out fine.

James Anderson9 said:I just read that part in the link you sent where it mentions "painless hematuria raises suspicion of urinary tract tumors."

That’s basically what my doctor told me. He said if there's pain, it’s usually just kidney stones or a bladder infection, but if it doesn't hurt, that's when you have to start worrying about cancer.

It really is a strange paradox, isn't it? How physical pain can actually be a sign of something less severe than the total absence of it...
I’m still waiting on my own lab results until Tuesday, and honestly, I'm pretty anxious; even though my symptoms point toward a standard infection, it doesn't make the uncertainty any easier to handle... 😢

I did deal with some kidney inflammation back when I was a kid, though I haven't had any major issues with those organs since then... 🤷... Granted, I've had two or three bladder infections over the years, but whenever I've gone in for an abdominal ultrasound—which covers the kidneys as well—everything has come back perfectly normal... 🤷

Joshua Gray75 said:It really is a strange paradox, isn't it? How physical pain can actually be a sign of something less severe than the total absence of it...
I’m still waiting on my own lab results until Tuesday, and honestly, I'm pretty anxious; even though my symptoms point toward a standard infection, it doesn't make the uncertainty any easier to handle... 😢

I did deal with some kidney inflammation back when I was a kid, though I haven't had any major issues with those organs since then... 🤷... Granted, I've had two or three bladder infections over the years, but whenever I've gone in for an abdominal ultrasound—which covers the kidneys as well—everything has come back perfectly normal... 🤷

I haven't dealt with any kidney or bladder infections myself. But honestly, I'm pretty worried now because I just read that smoking is one of the leading causes of bladder cancer, and I'm a smoker.
So, did you go in for a cytology test, or did you just drop off a urine sample at your doctor's office?

casualbadger22 said:If you're saying sand is your only issue, then you've actually got two solid options on hand.
Try some nettle tea (it’s basically nature’s remedy) or grab some Rowatinex capsules with essential oils—you can find them at any CVS or Walgreens, just make sure you’re getting the one specifically for kidney issues and not the liver version.

Anyway, I'm pulling for you and hoping everything turns out fine.

Thanks a ton

Scott Bennett4 said:I am keeping my fingers crossed for you; I truly hope this turns out to be nothing more than a false alarm.
Hang in there. 🙂

Thanks!! I'm trying to stay optimistic since I don't actually feel sick—it's just what the lab results are saying.

James Anderson9 said:I haven't dealt with any kidney or bladder infections myself. But honestly, I'm pretty worried now because I just read that smoking is one of the leading causes of bladder cancer, and I'm a smoker.
So, did you go in for a cytology test, or did you just drop off a urine sample at your doctor's office?

I took my sample—in one of those sterile specimen cups you pick up at CVS—down to the microbiology lab for a urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity test, as specified on the referral.

I don't smoke. And I am truly hoping this turns out to be nothing more than an infection, though seeing blood in my urine was definitely a shock... 🤷

Now I find myself caught in that endless loop of obsessively Googling symptoms...
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bladder-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20350283
(It provides a small measure of comfort to read about "visible blood"—since mine isn't actually noticeable to the naked eye... 🤷

Joshua Gray75 said:I took my sample—in one of those sterile specimen cups you pick up at CVS—down to the microbiology lab for a urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity test, as specified on the referral.

I don't smoke. And I am truly hoping this turns out to be nothing more than an infection, though seeing blood in my urine was definitely a shock... 🤷

Now I find myself caught in that endless loop of obsessively Googling symptoms...
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bladder-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20350283
(It provides a small measure of comfort to read about "visible blood"—since mine isn't actually noticeable to the naked eye... 🤷

I didn't bother Googling anything after the first test because I didn't think much of it since nothing actually hurt. But now that my doctor mentioned it? Yeah, obviously I'm shocked and want to know what I'm in for. My doctor isn't exactly a "panic mode" kind of guy; for every little inflammation, he just suggests tea, rest, or some Tylenol. You basically have to beg him for antibiotics. I only go to him because there's never a wait (which, let's be real, is probably just because he's cheap)

Since you've dealt with bladder infections before and recognize these symptoms, you're probably lucky if that's all it turns out to be. But still, you should probably get your urine tested a few times a year; if you've had issues with this before, you can't really be too careful.

If someone told me they'd be thrilled to have a bladder infection, I wouldn't believe them for a second.

I had blood and protein showing up in my urine—my lab results were a total disaster, three plus signs for protein and two for blood. The weird part? I didn't feel a single thing. If I hadn't noticed my urine looked darker than usual, I wouldn't have even known something was wrong. Turns out it was just a kidney infection. I went through two rounds of antibiotics and that was that.

melloworca6 said:I had blood and protein showing up in my urine—my lab results were a total disaster, three plus signs for protein and two for blood. The weird part? I didn't feel a single thing. If I hadn't noticed my urine looked darker than usual, I wouldn't have even known something was wrong. Turns out it was just a kidney infection. I went through two rounds of antibiotics and that was that.

🤔
I had a kidney infection when I was quite young—though, to be perfectly honest, my memory of the actual pain is rather hazy... I don't recall it being particularly excruciating, even if I hear people describe it as an absolutely agonizing ordeal...🤷
I actually started my course of antibiotics yesterday—and honestly, I can already feel things shifting today. It’s subtle, but noticeable... for instance, I'm not running to the restroom nearly as often, and that sharp discomfort during urination is almost entirely gone...🤷 On the other hand, I can't shake this lingering discomfort in my kidney area—basically my lower back... and after reading through your post, I’m starting to wonder if I might actually be dealing with some sort of kidney infection... ☕
I won't get my results until Tuesday—which is driving me a little stir-crazy, if I'm being honest—so perhaps this entire ordeal is rooted more in my own head than anything else... I’m not particularly worried about the fever, though I am well aware that certain bacteria can be incredibly stubborn and difficult to shake once they take hold. As long as it isn't something more serious... that's really all that matters.😢
The eternal hypocrite...

James Anderson9 Please let me know once you have the results—we’re keeping our fingers crossed for you...😉

Joshua Gray75 said:🤔
I had a kidney infection when I was quite young—though, to be perfectly honest, my memory of the actual pain is rather hazy... I don't recall it being particularly excruciating, even if I hear people describe it as an absolutely agonizing ordeal...🤷
I actually started my course of antibiotics yesterday—and honestly, I can already feel things shifting today. It’s subtle, but noticeable... for instance, I'm not running to the restroom nearly as often, and that sharp discomfort during urination is almost entirely gone...🤷 On the other hand, I can't shake this lingering discomfort in my kidney area—basically my lower back... and after reading through your post, I’m starting to wonder if I might actually be dealing with some sort of kidney infection... ☕
I won't get my results until Tuesday—which is driving me a little stir-crazy, if I'm being honest—so perhaps this entire ordeal is rooted more in my own head than anything else... I’m not particularly worried about the fever, though I am well aware that certain bacteria can be incredibly stubborn and difficult to shake once they take hold. As long as it isn't something more serious... that's really all that matters.😢
The eternal hypocrite...

James Anderson9 Please let me know once you have the results—we’re keeping our fingers crossed for you...😉

I'll have to go back for more blood and urine tests in about 10-15 days, but I should get these results in about 4 days.

There has to be a mistake somewhere because back on February 24th, my iron was at 14.2, and now it's showing as 52.3, which is just impossible. Even my doctor said it had to be an error.

My red blood cell count in the urine is at 3, but it used to be 20.
It’s also weird compared to that first test from Feb 24th; I didn't have any bacteria or yeast then, but now I have quite a bit of both, and I've been drinking tons of tea and haven't even been sexually active since.

I distinctly remember giving my blood and urine yesterday; the nurse wrote down ID 8, but then I got my results back with ID 58.

I'm just hoping the mistake was only with the blood work and not the urine sample.

Joshua Gray75 said:I took my sample—in one of those sterile specimen cups you pick up at CVS—down to the microbiology lab for a urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity test, as specified on the referral.

I don't smoke. And I am truly hoping this turns out to be nothing more than an infection, though seeing blood in my urine was definitely a shock... 🤷

Now I find myself caught in that endless loop of obsessively Googling symptoms...
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bladder-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20350283
(It provides a small measure of comfort to read about "visible blood"—since mine isn't actually noticeable to the naked eye... 🤷

A urine culture identifies the specific bacteria involved and determines which antibiotic will actually kill it off.
Urinary cytology is what detects whether red blood cells are present in the urine. I’m not sure what specific results > is waiting on, but if this isn't merely a bladder or kidney infection, I suspect the physician will refer you for cytology as well. In those cases, you typically have to provide samples for three consecutive days.

Joshua Gray75 said:🤔
I had a kidney infection when I was quite young—though, to be perfectly honest, my memory of the actual pain is rather hazy... I don't recall it being particularly excruciating, even if I hear people describe it as an absolutely agonizing ordeal...🤷
I actually started my course of antibiotics yesterday—and honestly, I can already feel things shifting today. It’s subtle, but noticeable... for instance, I'm not running to the restroom nearly as often, and that sharp discomfort during urination is almost entirely gone...🤷 On the other hand, I can't shake this lingering discomfort in my kidney area—basically my lower back... and after reading through your post, I’m starting to wonder if I might actually be dealing with some sort of kidney infection... ☕
I won't get my results until Tuesday—which is driving me a little stir-crazy, if I'm being honest—so perhaps this entire ordeal is rooted more in my own head than anything else... I’m not particularly worried about the fever, though I am well aware that certain bacteria can be incredibly stubborn and difficult to shake once they take hold. As long as it isn't something more serious... that's really all that matters.😢
The eternal hypocrite...

James Anderson9 Please let me know once you have the results—we’re keeping our fingers crossed for you...😉

I don't know, I didn't have any symptoms at all. No frequent trips to the bathroom, no pain, nothing. My urine was just darker than usual; if it hadn't been for that, I probably wouldn't have realized I had an infection until much later.

Drink a ton of fluids to flush everything out of your kidneys and bladder. If you're taking cranberry supplements, don't mix them with lemon or anything similar because of the Vitamin C, and definitely don't mix them with uva ursi. Personally, I usually go with cranberry, but I'll add lemon to tea. Uva ursi tastes like garbage to me.

James Anderson9 said:I'll have to go back for more blood and urine tests in about 10-15 days, but I should get these results in about 4 days.

There has to be a mistake somewhere because back on February 24th, my iron was at 14.2, and now it's showing as 52.3, which is just impossible. Even my doctor said it had to be an error.

My red blood cell count in the urine is at 3, but it used to be 20.
It’s also weird compared to that first test from Feb 24th; I didn't have any bacteria or yeast then, but now I have quite a bit of both, and I've been drinking tons of tea and haven't even been sexually active since.

I distinctly remember giving my blood and urine yesterday; the nurse wrote down ID 8, but then I got my results back with ID 58.

I'm just hoping the mistake was only with the blood work and not the urine sample.

Indeed—one must also account for the possibility of false positives, which, in my experience, are far from being a rare occurrence...

Scott Bennett4 said:A urine culture identifies the specific bacteria involved and determines which antibiotic will actually kill it off.
Urinary cytology is what detects whether red blood cells are present in the urine. I’m not sure what specific results > is waiting on, but if this isn't merely a bladder or kidney infection, I suspect the physician will refer you for cytology as well. In those cases, you typically have to provide samples for three consecutive days.

Much appreciated for the information...

melloworca6 said:I don't know, I didn't have any symptoms at all. No frequent trips to the bathroom, no pain, nothing. My urine was just darker than usual; if it hadn't been for that, I probably wouldn't have realized I had an infection until much later.

Drink a ton of fluids to flush everything out of your kidneys and bladder. If you're taking cranberry supplements, don't mix them with lemon or anything similar because of the Vitamin C, and definitely don't mix them with uva ursi. Personally, I usually go with cranberry, but I'll add lemon to tea. Uva ursi tastes like garbage to me.

It is certainly curious that there were no symptoms present—though, after a bit of digging online, I stumbled upon another topic that brought back some unsettling memories. A few months ago, I experienced two rather strange episodes of pain; it was this sharp, radiating sensation that seemed to "flash" through my entire upper torso, stretching from my chest all the way through to my back. At the time, I naturally assumed it was just a gallbladder attack, given my history with gallstones... but looking back, I didn't have any other accompanying symptoms before or after those moments. Now, I find myself at a complete loss as to how to interpret it all. Perhaps the only logical course of action is to stop obsessing over Google and simply wait for my test results in two weeks—otherwise, I fear the sheer anxiety of it all might actually make me sick...☕