Bloody urine all of a sudden?

[Lazlo]

Last night I went to cath and was surprised when the urine stream started out brownish-red in color. It cleared up to normal as the stream continued. Then it turned bloody again at the end. When I pinched off the catheter and pulled it out, the entire length of the catheter was dark red/brown, and there were some small clots in it.

I'm used to seeing small amounts of blood when I cath but this was way more than I'd ever seen before. The previous cath was completely normal. I cathed again three hours later, and that cath was normal too, no sign of blood. Things seem normal again today.

I will be seeing the urologist next week for a urodynamics test because I've been experincing increased leakage during the day as I've mentioned in this thread and this thread. I will certainly mention it to him then.

My question is, should I go to the doctor before then? Or is this something that can wait until next week, assuming it doesn't happen again or get worse?

[Art454]

I would get myself to the ER as soon as possible...better be on the safe side than not.....Art
PS...I have been cathing for 33 years now and never have had blood...so if I did I would get myself to the ER if it has been doing what yours has.

[NorthQuad]

I've had this happen twice. Freaked me out both times. I'm not exactly sure what caused mine but ever since I stepped up my water intake it hasn't happend.

[Art454]

You may have stones or a false passage...Art

[dunwawry]

If you have been seeing small amounts of blood for a long time, and the next cath was clear, I can't see any harm in waiting another week until you see the urologist. To me, this doesn't seem particularly out of the ordinary for you, you merely had a little more blood than usual. I would address it with your doctor however. Either there is some kind of infection/inflammation or structural problem present or perhaps something needs to be changed in your technique or the type of catheter you use?

Just my thoughts, but other than not considering it a normal event to get blood when I cath somebody (and I sure hope it wasn't my technique, but you men have trickier anatomy than women), what the heck do I know about such things.......

[rdf]

I've had blood when the cath kinks pushing it in, before I realize it and pull it out and insert again. This causes an injury in your urethra, which can take a week or so to heal, but I only saw blood during that initial kink session. Meaning only that single time did blood come out from the kinked cath injury. I don't know if this is relevant to your case.

Also, I've inserted the catheter in wrong end first, causing similar problems. But that only happened back in the days when I was newly injured, and got hammered on a regular basis, and wasn't paying attention, obviously.

good luck, but I agree that it doesn't seem like you can't wait til your appt. unless further problems such as dysreflexia start to occur.

[SCI-Nurse]

Make sure you use extra lubricant. If you don't have symptoms of a UTI, it sounds like irritation which can happen. I don't see any reason to go to the ER if it is just occasional.Any stones?
Have you had a renal ultrasound recently?
You should call your doctor and get a UA sent, CBC sometime soon.
CWO

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by SCI-Nurse

Make sure you use extra lubricant. If you don't have symptoms of a UTI, it sounds like irritation which can happen. I don't see any reason to go to the ER if it is just occasional.Any stones?
Have you had a renal ultrasound recently?
You should call your doctor and get a UA sent, CBC sometime soon.
CWO

I can feel my bladder spasming now, and there's more blood. I did call my doctor earlier today and she thought I could probably wait until Monday, but now it is getting worse so I'll probably call my urologist directly tomorrow morning.

I'm starting to wonder about the stones. I haven't had a renal ultrasound or xray done. I'm one year post, I know my SCI doctor said I needed that done every two years, but I suppose I could have a stone already. In fact my dad had kidney stones when he was my age, without the SCI.

[Mikefxstb]

I developed a bladder stone 11 monthes after accident that sometimes when i would cathe the catheter would sometimes push the stone into wall of bladder causing me to cathe blood. Other times no blood. Stoned turned out to be almost the size of a golfball. But havent had another one in over 4 years. I also cath blood when i have a UTI.

[Lazlo]

Reflecting on all of this, I realize how much my attitude toward my health has changed since my injury. Two years ago, if I started peeing blood, I would have shrieked like a little girl and passsed out. Now I just post some questions, call some doctors, and wait around calmly for a response. Two years ago, a prospective trip to the ER would have freaked me out. Now, I'm thinking "maybe I'll have to go to the ER, at least it will get me out of the house for a while".

Still waiting for a callback from the urologist, by the way. More blood, more questions. Stay tuned!