Heightened anxiety following urine test

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I am still.waiting for the call re the results following the pathology after my lymph node removal and hysterectomy two weeks ago and am trying not to think about this at all. At the weekend I developed sinusitis and ended up feverish and had a high temp to went to the GP and he asked for a urine sample as I am needing to go very frequently. The urine test results have been put on my NHS app and have been passed to the Duty Dr to review and ring me, but I have been told to "give it a couple of days", the urine shows positive for blood and leukocytes and a fairly low pH.  I used the online chat and the nurse was very evasive of my question as to whether the leukocytes and blood could be due to the cancer cells being in my blood stream (the reason the lymph nodes are being tested). She sent me a couple of links around urine results but ended the chat saying she could not answer further and I should ring the GP again. I am now worrying as I have read that ph of 7 and over can lead to bacterial UTIs but is unlikely in lower ph.  

Not sure why I am posting, just trying to stop my mind going round and round

  • Understandable to worry. 

    I have been to hospital twice with UTIs. Once during chemo when they put me on sepsis alert. And once a couple of years earlier. I can remember them saying about the blood and the leucocytes. The blood is due to the irritation of the sensitive tissues and the leucocytes are there to fight the infection. I did remember them saying the low ph was something to do with kidneys- like the infection had spread a little towards kidneys (rather than cystitis- which is the bladder) UTI's can be unpleasant. 

           

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • Thank you for sharing, I need information to get me back into my thinking self, this has caught me off guard and sent me spinning which I am not comfortable with and I suddenly feel really teary and that's not helping the congestion I already have. I need to get back in my head as I cannot afford to feel this way when I have noone here for support

  • I felt quite low and teary at times after my surgery. Its very normal. And on top of that you have not been well with sinusitis and a potential UTI. Take care, and we are here to support

           

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to B74

    Hi  

    I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. Like all the ladies that have answered you, I would say it sounds like a urine infection. Any infection in the body can cause agitation (or confusion in older people). This could be the reason why you need answers now and can't relax. Cut yourself some slack, see your GP and get on some antibiotics, have a lie down and read a book. Be kind to yourself.

    Cancer wouldn't be detected from a urine sample. Hope you have a better day today.

    A x

  • I have sent an e consult this morning in the hope a GP will ring me as they are currently only accepting urgent calls, so when I rang yesterday afternoon they told me to give it a couple of days and ring back if I hadn't heard.

  • Well done for sending in an E consult but don’t be afraid to call because a UTI *is* urgent, especially a post-hysterectomy UTI. 

  • Another option is to phone your CNS and let them know you likely have a UTI and that your GP Is being slow to respond - they might then be able to contact them and gee them up. You are important and you matter - so try not to be afraid to stand up for yourself and your health. 

  • I feel.like I am making a massive fuss , my CNS is on annual leave and I emailed her colleague yesterday but had no reply (she doesn't work Wednesdays). The duty GP has called back and I feel reassured as she has said she is not worried about it being the cancer, more likely to be injury and irritation from the catheter (as it wasn't draining properly for hours), she said it could be a UTI but the nitrates being negative makes this inconclusive, she offered antibiotics or said I could wait for the cultures to come back from the lab (a GP will call back on Friday); I have opted to wait as I don't want antibiotics if I might not need them and, other than frequency and difficulty voiding my bladder, I don't have any other symptoms of a UTI. 

    Thank you for your responses, I feel like a proper drama queen (which is not normally me)!

  • I’m glad you’ve had a call from the duty GP and I hope that’s left you feeling a bit more reassured. Bless you, you sound like you feel you may need permission to stand up for yourself. Well you have mine if that helps! It’s okay to stand up for yourself and to make a fuss if needed and even to make a bloody nuisance of yourself, if it gets things done! If people caring from us don’t hear from us they assume we’re okay. And sorry to be a bit cheesy but it really is okay not to be okay, especially after a cancer diagnosis and major op! You’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster since the start of this, and it’s understandable and okay to feel all over the place, frustrated and overwhelmed by even small things and desperate to move back to some kind of normality even if it’s a new normality. It’s also very difficult living in this kind of no man’s land between op and histology results. Please try and be kind to yourself and cut yourself some slack as you learn to cope and walk through this. You’re doing better than you think and please do try and not feel bad about keeping on at these people because honestly they sometimes do need us to.