Bladder Cancer

Hi everyone, 

I am new here and really don't want to seem insensitive to all of you. But, I haven't officially had a diagnosis.....

So I finally went to the GP as my urine had been a strange colour for around 2/3 months now, I initially blamed this on the vitamins and supplements that I was taking. So, I stopped taking them for three weeks to allow then to fully go out of my system but my urine was still a funny colour. St this point I had started drinking 3ltrs of water each day (Too much, I know)

So I take a water sample whilst waiting to be seen, I see the GP, he dips my pee- clear, clear, clear oh..... erm... (concerned look on his face) you have blood in your urine, he sat back down and said its probably a UTI i will give you 200mg antibiotics for 7 days then you must come back in 3 weeks to be retested, he also put my urine in a bag for me to take to the receptionist to be sent off. 

After looking online I realise my off coloured urine is actually bloody urine and am now very worried. I am very paranoid thinking a lot if the things I feel with my body is indeed an indication of bladder cancer. I feel a pressure in my lower left abdomen quite often but not all the time, from the inside it feels st though there is a little ball in there. 

Sorry if this post isn't okay with not being diagnosed but I am scared. Can I ask what did you feel before you found out? Could you tell that there was something there that shouldn't have been? As it blood in urine? A lot a non visible? 

Thank you x

  • Hi Ronnie

    No, I wasn't given anything or told to take any particular vitamins. 

  • Hello Minska another question please. I have decided no more baths when i have had my op. So it will be showers from then on. Do you know any shower products i can use as i have read not to use perfumed soap. Hope you can help. 

    Thank you from Ronnie

  • Hi Ronnie

    There's really no need to give up baths-why have you decided that? You can bath with the bag on or off, and also shower with the bag on or off. If you have your bag on when you shower you can use any shower gel you like as your stoma is covered. Personally I made no changes to the products I use as I tend to bath and shower with my bags on-I have 2 stomas, a urostomy and a colostomy. Even when I shower with my bags off, I still use perfumed products and just avoid washing over the stomas with them. 
     

    Try not to get too hung up on things you can't do before you've even had your op. You may be surprised about what's actually possible! 

  • Thanks for that i was just worried that straight after the op i might get an infection so i don't wont to irritate the skin round it. I wonted to start the showers to keep the bills down. The way things are going we all need to cut down. I am 82 and am finding the getting in and out of the bath a bit harder these days anyway. I cant tell by your name wether your male or female.? BUT YOU ARE A STAR WITH WHAT YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH. 

    Regards from Ronnie

  • I can understand your thinking Ronnie-especially immediately after your op when your stoma will be settling down. I don't take many baths myself as I find it very difficult to get in and out without help since my surgery, which was massive and involved more than the 2 stomas. I've gained the stomas but lost a lot of other body parts! Showers are easier, and we are watching the bills too. 
     

    I'm a woman by the way! I've had my stomas for a long time now, and things do get easier with practice.

  • Thank you for been so honest with me. I hope we can keep intouch through this very difficult time. Take care of yourself.

    Regards from Ronnie 

  • Happy to keep in touch Ronnie-I'm an old hand with stomas now so if I can offer any advice from my own experience I'll do that. A lot of the immediate post surgery time is trial and error trying to find the right stoma products to suit as we are all individuals and different in terms of body shape and everything else. But there are literally hundreds of products out there and you will find ones that suit you and work well-it's not a one size fits all unfortunately. Feel free to ask me any questions as you go through this.

  • I am very grateful for your support thank you.

    TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF

    Regards from Ronnie

  • Thank you Ronnie

    I had very little information before I went through my surgery and really didn't know anything, so if I can help someone else with any information then I'm more than happy to do that. Just ask away if you have questions.