They found WHAT and they sent me home???!?

[figmo]

I finally saw the doctor today and learned some stuff about my test results from the bloodwork done at the hospital Monday. She laughed as she told me I wasn't pregnant (I was disgusted that they even wasted time and effort on such a test). OTOH, they found blood in my urine sample.

WTF????!?

Yup, blood. She did a quick rectal exam and the test showed blood there, too.

Speaking of blood, my BP was something along the lines of 135/53. I asked the nurse who took it if the second number was unusually low. She said it sometimes balances out the other number.

I'm not feeling any better.

I had to submit a set of urine and stool samples, and I need to make an appointment for a renal ultrasound. When I asked the doctor if it could be "The Big C," she said, "Given your history, I doubt it." She went on to say the kinds of cancer that present themselves with the symptoms I've got are "smokers' cancers."

I am terrified of what could be wrong with me. At the same time, I want to find out ASAP so I can get it taken care of, whatever it is.

Comments

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Remember that there are *lots* of very simple, very treatable conditions that could cause those symptoms ... and that they are a *lot* more likely than anything really serious.

You're logical and sensible ... you understand statistics and probabilities, so you know that it's very likely something minor that can be cleared up in days once they figure out what it is ... and yes, of course you're human and emotional too and worry about the worst that it could be ... but hold on to the hope and the logic and use that to keep as level as possible and as full of positivity as possible.

And that there are lots of very rare things (asteroid impact, lightning strike, The Rapture (grin!)) that could end your life with no warning ... so anything that gives you a warning and time to get it fixed is a *good* thing ...

... so hugs and best wishes, and whatever happens, do your best to enjoy life now, as you never know when the next asteroid with your name on it might come along!

Hugs

[capplor.livejournal.com]

Whenever I'm in a situation like that I carry on with a line from a play I was in once. "Good news will keep, and bad news won't leave" (It helps me wait.)

Didn't you have similar symptoms, a few years ago, the time you had surgery? I forget what the term was for the growths you had removed (I remember you called them "Moe, Larry, and Shemp") That's the first thing I'd be looking for?

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

*hugs* good luck.

[firedrake-mor.livejournal.com]

It could be something as relatively simple as kidney stones -- that's what it was with me.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

(hug) Best wishes that it will be something minor and easily cleared up.

I sure hope you feel better soon.

[howeird]

*Hugs*

As they say in Hitchhiker's Guide, Don't Panic. I think you have flipped the message backwards - the main message is medical professionals sent you home. If it took lab tests to find blood where you didn't expect it, then we're not talking about anything immediately life-threatening.

The BP reading is strange, and no, they don't "balance out". On the contrary, they show the difference between pressure coming into and going out of the heart, two separate sets of pipes. You take your own BP at home, don't you? Keep an eye on it. Bottom line - if your BP was really that low, you wouldn't be able to stand up for being dizzy.

Renal ultrasound usually means they are looking for kidney stones. But you knew that.

Glad to hear you aren't preggers. One of my long-time folkdance friends went to the doctor with similar symptoms to yours at the age of 47 and is now a proud mommy. Boy, was her husband surprised.

[cat-herder.livejournal.com]

Ulcers? It'd make sense given that you burn your candle at both ends, as well as the middle. Hope you find out, get treated, feel better, and feel calmer.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

You'd have to be an insensitive lump to *not* be terrified of some of the possibilities. At the same time, it sounds like they're not all that likely this time; we can hope for that.

Re: Hugs

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I didn't have blood in my urine; I had difficulty passing bowels (because one of those three you mentioned was pushing against my intestine).

Btw, they were Moe, Larry, Shemp, and the rest were smaller, so I named them after some of the Little Rascals -- Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Stymie, Froggy, Darla, Butch, Farina, and Petey.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I have been dizzy lately whenever I've stood up.

I didn't know about "renal ultrasounds" and "kidney stones." I was asked if I hurt in the area of my kidneys (the doctor tapped them); I don't. At all.

As for pregnancy, I can't be pregnant unless sperm can fly.

[catalana.livejournal.com]

I once got an abnormal reading in one of my 6-monthly battery of bloodwork (that they use to see if my meds are destroying any major organs). So I got to spend several weeks worrying about whether I had an immune system failure. (As it turns out, the reading was just a fluke.) I therefore completely sympathize with you - it's incredibly scary waiting out things like that. I hope they figure it out soon and that it turns out to be minor (and easily treatable.) *hug* I'm thinking of you.

On kidney stones

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Many ((hugs)) your way, and best of luck in finding out the truth behind your current symptoms.

I am all too familiar with kidney stones, bladder stones, and the like ... been there, done that, really did not want the T-shirt. I used to joke that my insides were "stoned" and that something wanted me to support the legalization of marijuana (referring to the message put up by the PC Stoner virus of many years back :-).

That said, I realized that I would be walloped by one of these nastinesses whenever I moved to a new city, but not when I avoided allergens such as dust and such. I do know that I did not get walloped when I was living with you-know-who in Britain, and that person insisted that the house be swept and mopped practically daily. Perhaps there was also a difference in the mineral quality of the water; I don't know.

Wishing you all the best ...

[patoadam]

Good luck! the_magician has already said what I was going to say about the probability of a serious problem more eloquently that I could.

Ouch

[urban-terrorist.livejournal.com]

Any time you hear anything negative from a Doctor it can be scary. After all, we aren't 20 any more.

But a lot of times the Doctor is just being careful (after all, if he/she missed something they might get sued). So hang in there.

[valydiarosada.livejournal.com]

Sending positive thoughts your way.

[johno.livejournal.com]

{hugs}

ditto on the encouraging words.

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

*hug* hope it's nothing serious

[figmo.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, my doctor never mentioned kidney stones. Go figure.....