Not diagnosed yet, but a question or two

NH,

It might be better if the guys jump in here.  

But just to give a quick reply, this is basically how it started out for all of us, I think.   "Not a UTI."

However, there are other reasons for blood in the urine, which you will probably be tested for and will be ruled out first.  My first test was for kidney stones.  

I am not at all sure how Coumadin would play in to this, but it is an interesting question.

I hope that things work out well for you.  We are here if you need us.

Take good care,
Rosemary

I'm happy I found this site!

I am a 37 year old male who had an aortic valve replacement in 1991. Since then I have been on Coumadin with few instances of internal bleeding or abnormal clotting.

A couple of weeks ago I started having these flu like symptoms and I even threw up one night. I was nauseous for over a week, had diarrhea and felt the urge to vomit again but somehow never did. This past Thursday night, I go to the bathroom and notice a light red cloud of blood in my urine. I told my wife, who pushed me to go to the ER immediately because of complications with my Coumadin.

By the time I urinate in a cup in the ER my urine is thick and red. Really red. The doctor walked in as I was capping the cup and even he was susprised. He is convinced its a UTI and gives me some antibiotics and lowers my Coumadin intake until the bleeding stops. I told him a couple of times about a persistent gas like pain I have been experiencing in my lower abdomen, which he thinks is just an indication of infection. So, he tells me to go home and call the hospital back in a couple of days to get my urine culture results.

I call today and the nurse on staff tells me that there is no bacteria in my urine and that I need to see a urologist. Panic really set in at that point. I have been scouring the web looking for stories, symptoms of bladder cancer.

I know that I have to wait till I see a urologist this week but I thought I would give some of you good people the chance to react to my short list of symptoms. Any thoughts?

Thanks!