Hello all, 

I am struggling a bit atm. I am a 24 year old woman, I thought I had cystitis about 8 weeks ago. It was different to the episodes that I'd had in the past which were struggling to pass much urine at all, no blood, very painful when passing. This time was urinating a lot several times an hour, was mildly uncomfortable but I also felt generally unwell. I just spoke to a receptionist who was able to get the pharmacy to dispense a 3 day course of Macrobid antibiotics. By the 2nd day I was feeling much better, but a day after I finished the course symptoms came back again. Called the doctors who were able to dispense a further 14 day course of the same antibiotics, then advised to hand in a urine sample if no improvement. Improvement was very slow going, so I took in a urine sample after I finished the course and was told I would only get a call if there was an issue, I got no call so I assumed everything was ok despite me still passing large amounts of urine sometimes several times an hour but generally wasn't uncomfortable. 

I had a telephone consult 2 weeks ago with a doctor and he asked me to go in for a face to face appt, my leg joints seemed really painful and the veins in the back of my right leg were very visible/dark green and twisted. He advised my leg/circulation looked fine and he didn't know the cause of the pain, just one of those things. He did notice I had a lot of bruises, bad ones that take weeks to go and I said I get them very easily so he booked a blood test to check FBC and clotting. I said I think I may be anemic (have been in the past) as I get tired very easily, short of breath, dizzy, periods suddenly become very heavy/longer and I've fainted on the last day or so of them a few times this year. I also feel like I have a sore throat/getting a cold often but never progresses into a full blown on. 

Went for bloods last Wednesday and straight away the nurse asked me to do another urine sample there and then as she advised there was a lot of blood in the one I handed in (now 6 weeks ago) but the doctor never called me as he assumed I was on my period as no infection was found, I advised I wasn't and when she did a dipstick she said there was still a lot of blood in this one so she advised she would send it fast tracked and told me to call for the results on Friday and make sure I get them. She had lots of difficulty getting any blood, tried both arms and hands (which are now heavily bruised!) and finally got some she commented it was very thick. She said don't wait for the doctor to call and I should call for the bloods in 7-10 days time, she said this is urgent especially with the ongoing blood in urine as there is concerns about leukemia. 

I called on Friday and receptionist didn't take my details just said urine tests take 1-2 weeks, I tried to say it was fast tracked but she was keen to get me off the phone and said try Monday (today). In the meantime I was experiencing pain when passing urine etc so I went to the pharmacy Saturday morning and got given cystitis relief sachets which helped a little. I've been drinking lots of water. I called doctors today and receptionist tried to give the blanket response again about 1-2 weeks so I mentioned what the nurse had said and she told me to call back this afternoon, I did and receptionist said 'normal - no further action'. I was a bit shocked so asked about the blood and she said oh yes it does say high levels of blood but no infection so there's no action they can take as I don't need antibiotics. I got a bit upset as I can't go out since I need the toilet several times an hour, I'm passing clear urine (even before I started drinking a lot) etc and she said if I have to I can book another doctors appt, soonest is 2 weeks time. I'm going to try and call at 8am for a same day telephone appt and will have to call for blood results in the next few days anyway, I'm just upset this is being passed off surely this blood isn't normal? Worried the bloods will come back poor but the doctors will pass it off as ok? :(

Sorry for such a long post just unsure what to do! Thank you for anyone that's read x