I would be interested to know if anyone on heart meds has experienced traces of blood in their urine. Several urine tests have been positive for traces of blood although none is actually visible. My GP says it is unlikely to be a side effect of any of my heart medications. She is suggesting another urine test and a blood pressure check to see if this is something to do with my kidneys and if these tests are normal says she will refer to urology specialist for checks for bladder cancer. My father had this and it is one more worry on top of all my concerns regarding my heart but I am sure it can be a result of medications. Has anyone taking any of the following meds also had issues with traces of blood - Ramipril, Eplerenone, Bisoprolol, Forxiga, Clopidogrel, Aspirin. The same GP told me my back ache was unlikely to be a side effect of my heart meds but my pharmacist said it was back ache was quite a common side effect of Forxiga so not sure what to think.
Traces of blood in urine? Heart Medic... - British Heart Fou...
Traces of blood in urine? Heart Medication Side effects possibly?
You could talk to a pharmacist about any side effects from your medication that might cause blood in urine. They are often more knowledgeable about medication than a GP because that is their specialism. As for your GP wanting more tests (given you have already had several ) if your GP suspects it could possibly be early signs of cancer I would have thought it was best to refer you to an oncologist or urologist asap for an evaluation, as time is important. And if that happens and you are referred, if you have not done so already, I suggest you research the current NHS guidelines regarding the timing of treatment in the event it is needed because they have recently moved the goalposts, and that will assist you should you need to chase things up, as I found out in a similar situation to yourself. Otherwise has your GP mentioned kidney stones, one symptom of which can be back-ache, and also the possibility of bladder polyps which can be benign as well as malignant, which affected a close family member of mine. Hope this is useful, and apologies if it may seem a little blunt and to the point but sometimes it is important to say these things. Hope all is well for you at the end.
Many thanks for responding. I'm struggling to take in so much bad or potentially bad news after my heart failure at the end of January. Every health proessional I speak to simply makes me feel worse and more worried than ever. I know it is best to catch things early but I am convinced the blood is related to my meds and every side effect from meds I have had has been dismissed by everyone I speak to. I will contact the pharmacist as it seems to me that doctors and nurses don't even know what it says on the warning leaflets that come with medications. Thanks again.
Hi so sorry to hear of your very understandable concerns. The medication issues can be very difficult to deal with but this is a real issue and needs dealing with promptly No one can know the reasons for this without proper testing. I had a similar issue a couple of years back. It was a big worry but thankfully was not serious. However I was advised all blood in urine even if only once needs further investigation so push for it. That is what is says on the posters in GP's surgeries. Hope all will be well. Take care
Thank you. I just find doctors won't consider the side effects of medications, even when these are very clearly stated on the leaflets provided with them. I do know it can be a very serious issue. My father had bladder cancer and full urostomy.
My dad had bladder cancer too but it was a different type. He went every 3 months to have little patches destroyed the he'd go to 5 months then back to 3 if anything showed. It took 10 years before he was told he was totally clear but they never worried about it and he felt completely well. So it's not always a bad outcome.
Aspirin did this to me.....Have constant blood in urine not viable but strip test and machine show traces....
Changed to nuprin a gastro coated aspirin and things have eased..
Was on aspirin uncoated 75mg..and was rinn down from cnstant high levels of blood in urine...
Am good now
Had 3 stents put in January 24
No symptoms no cholesterol no high. BP and the shock of it was unbelievable..
I am begining to live again after constant kidney infections since the procedure and feeling stronger
Taking pragusel 10mg and bisoprolol 1.25mg and feel good...
Don't worry about it...
Asprin is an irritant
Hope u get good results and don't let it consume you and take over..
This happened to me after stents and every niggle and dart I thought.....
This is it... am gonna meet
. Jesus..!!!
Carry onn and try to put it to the back of your mind.......
X
Hi I'm on bisoprolol and digoxin and I too have this problem on occasion so possibly bisoprolol?
Thank you for responding . I take Bisoprolol too but I have assumed the problem is likely caused by the aspirin or possibly Clopidogrel. I will speak to a pharmacist to see if they can help.
hi
I am also in my mid 60’s, heart failure on same medication. Last year had painful back ache going into thighs. Urine tests showed sugar and invisible blood. Numerous repeat urine and blood tests to rule out other causes before fast track for bladder cancer. Scary +++but after two examinations ( camera in bladder and ultra scan ) by consultant urologist no cancer found. Seen in 5 days, results same day.
For me I was told Apparently sugar is S/ E from heart failure tablet while invisible blood leaking ? Age and gender play a factor. Annual urine test and to keep eye on BP. My Back pain eased with daily stretching exercises and pain relief- an x Ray revealed osteoarthritis which was contributed to lower back pain
However keep asking for onward referral - you don’t need additional stress.
Update us as and when you can - best wishes
Blood in urine usually means an UTI or kidney infection . I always know when I have a UTI or kidney infection even without blood in my urine as I feel a pulling low in my tummy and weeing more. Unfortunately dip tests never show an infection and rarely it shows in blood test but my GP knows if I say I have one he gives me the antibiotics. Being odd only 2 antibiotics work on me . I have seen by an Urologist after having 16 courses of antibiotics but after an internal and ultrasound on my bladder and kidneys when bladder full and empty he decided I just had a bad infection that took long course of antibiotics to go.
Please try not to think about cancer . My uncle had bladder cancer in his mid 60's had treatment . Then had bowel cancer which was caught early . He was 84 when he died from heart attack .
I would ask your GP to put in the referral to the urologist now as you don't know how long the waiting list is .
Thank you. I used to be very prone to Cystitis which always required antibiotics to clear up and think I would know if I had a urine infection and none of the urine tests have indicated an infection so it is just the invisible blood, which I still put down to the aspirin. I have had blood in stools too and think the aspirin is causing some internal bleeding but can't get GP to even consider this so I will have to go down the route of being sent to the urologist just so I can be told cancer is not the issue and I'll be back where I am now. The Aspirin and Clopidogrel were meant to be reviewed/possibly stopped following an MRI within 3 months but unfortunately the MRI is still six months away even though I was discharged almost 3 months ago. Just wish I knew what was actually wrong with me.
In situations like this it is normal to be concerned about what is going on - it sou is as though your GP is doing the right thing by referring you to a urologist and requesting investigations
We could offer all sorts of possible explanations but we cannot diagnose you - I suggest you keep monitoring your symptoms, they may be helpful in reaching a diagnosis
But I wonder about why you are being prescribed aspirin and clopidogrel if your heart diagnosis was MINOCA/Takotsubo or heart failure?
Also Takotsubo is sometimes a sign that there is another undiagnosed health issue which is draining your resources, so I feel that it is particularly important that your current symptoms should be thoroughly investigated. Let us know how you get on
Thank you for your usual sane advice. I wasn't given much info at all in hospital but remember the consultant telling me that it could be a microvascular problem even though my main arteries were clear so the aspirin and Clopidogrel are precautionary just in case. Initially I was told broken heart/Takotsubo or angina and then the doctor said I could have microvascular problems inside my heart and only after discharge when I met the heart nurse did she tell me the diagnosis was MINOCA and the MRI was to query Takotsubo? Myocarditis? I know it's best to be referred re the blood but it is just something else to stress about. It makes me reluctant to raise any other potential medication issues as every time I do I am told it won't be the meds it will be something else. For example Forxiga gives you glucose in your urine but my GP insisted I had to be checked for Diabetes and although back ache is a very common side effect of Forxiga my GP tells me the back ache is probably something else. There is a real reluctance to consider what side effects medications can have as doctors only focus on how the medications help. All I know is that I didn't have any of these issues before starting the meds. It doesn't seem logical to me for doctors to assume that I have basically gone from completely well to having instant onset arthritis, cancer and Diabetes all at the same time.
I think I must be a bit more pushy than you... if a doctor tells me something is precautionary I ask "in case of what" and want to know how great the risk is - clopidogrel and aspirin are used in cases where there is a risk of clots, but this has to be balanced against the risks of the bleeding they can cause - so basically I feel that whoever prescribed clopidogrel and aspirin needs to justify this given your diagnosis of ?MINOCA ?Takotsubo ? Myocarditis - also I don't feel a ? ? ? diagnosis is good enough when tests are available to get a more accurate one and your life is affected by the diagnosis
I realise that you feel reluctant to dig too deep and that it can be daunting to suddenly face health issues when you have previously been well, but I am one of those who prefers to know as much as possible about a problem so that I can work out how I will cope with the result - I feel it's my body, I have to live with it and I am the most important member of my health care team
I have not been able to ask why the Clopidogrel and Aspirin. They were prescribed on discharge with the other meds and although I remember the cardiologist saying they were precautionary because they don't know what caused the heart failure I was still in a state of shock from the hospital admission and being told I had something very serious wrong with my heart so I didn't ask the right questions just cried when he said I would probably need some of the meds for life. I have not been able to speak to a cardiologist since discharge - the GP won't change the meds, the heart nurse seems to know a lot about the 4 pillars but has no idea why Clopidogrel or Aspirin have been added and won't change them as this is up to the consultants who I can't speak to. My GP said she did contact the consultant but was told there was a plan and I should just stick to taking the meds as prescribed. The plan was to review the anti-platlet and blood thinners at 3 months (according to the discharge notes) following an MRI to clarify diagnosis but my MRI won't be for another six months because of waiting lists so I am stuck. I have an appointment at the cardiology clinic at the hospital next week and will ask questions then. But I feel increasingly that my only option will be to pay to see someone privately as the uncertainty, side effects and now tests for cancer are just too much to deal with and no-one at the clinic can do anything about waiting lists.
I understand, it is not easy to challenge doctors
BUT it is your body, if doctors want you do follow treatments they prescribe they have a responsibility to explain why they expect you to do so - you are the most important member of your health care team and you always have the right to decline treatment
There is currently no evidence to support the usefulness of aspirin and clopidogrel (or similar drugs) after the acute phase of Takotsubo unless you have relevant risk factors which make them appropriate
I hope that at next week's appointment the cardiology reviews your medication - try to make it clear that you want thorough explanations of the necessity of these medications in light of your recent issues and your lack of clot risk (I assume that you have not had any clots ???) ...... or just grin and bear it🌺
Thank you so much. I have a lot of questions for next week, including about the medications. Everything is worrying when you suddenly find out there is something serious wrong with you but the lack of information and uncertainty has made it worse. I think the hospital doctor, GP and heart nurse already think I'm making a lot of fuss about medications. The heart nurse even told me 90% of people don't get side effects from heart medications which made me feel like it was somehow my fault or that I was making a fuss about nothing. Perhaps because doctors and nurses deal with sick people literally every day as a matter of routine I think they sometimes forget the psychological impact on patients of being given very frightening news about their health. As you have said becoming well informed about your own health condition is important so thank you for sharing what you have learned.
after changing medication a few years ago, I had what felt like a uti (and backaches) but no uti detected and after repeated trace blood in pee was sent for the ultrasound that protocol dictates. All was ok thankfully. It was entresto for me that seemed to set this off but some of these drugs can be a bit rough on the kidneys as your fluid balances round them or a more specific medical reason. I’m not an doc but that’s my understanding. Obviously it might not have been anything at all but I’m here and still having six monthly electrolyte /kidney blood tests as per my drugs. I wish you luck and the worry that these things cause is horrendous on top of heart issues so sending love. X
I don’t want to worry you,but I had that happen to me a year ago,many tests later and I was diagnosed with prostate cancer
any trace of blood from your urinary or fecal tract is a matter of concern. Contact your doctor asap.
I take Ramipril, Bisoprolol, Clopidogrel and Aspirin among other meds. I recently had a urine test which came back clear without any sign of blood and they were specifically testing for that. Have you looked at the list of side effects for each med? If that side effect is not listed, it's very unlikely to be causing the blood.
It's worth noting that blood or urine tests only test for what they have been requested to check. So, if your GP is suggesting another urine test, it may be to check for markers that were not requested in a previous test, rather than just repeating the same test again.
The next urine test is to check for something specific to do with my kidneys and if it comes back clear that will lead to referral to urology to check for cancer etc. I have read the leaflets and blood in urine and stools is mentioned. Doctors definitely don't read thse.
i had terrible blood in my urine which i had never had before my triple by pass. I was fast tracked for all the test for cancer ( not fun in top and bottom.) Nothing found.
i changed from riveroxan to edeoxan as they thought it might be a side effect of the riveroxan. I was clear for about three months and i was flooded again. During this time i had a ruptured gallbladder and a serious kidney infection , the consensus was “ ah that is a possible cause of your issues Mr B” .
Then again 6 months in it kicked off again, i was well panicked. My GP practise medication nurse was discussing my repeatable prescription and wondered why i was still on reduced Aspirin from the hospital as well as edeoxaban. She contacted the cardiac hospital & was told to do bloods and stop the aspirin if certain levels were ok.
stop the Aspirin two years ago and touch wood no reoccurrence .
excuse the miss spelling of any medicine.
So get it checked out
Thank you so much. You have been through a lot. Glad you don't have the bleeding prblem now. I do blame the aspirin as I know some people simply don't tolerate it and internal bleeding is a sign. I just can't get doctors to listen or consider this. I guess I will have to go through the testing just to have cancer ruled out but I really think it could be the aspirin. This was meant to be reviewed at 3 months following an MRI but unfortunately the waiting list for MRI is more than six months and no-one is prepared to change or stop any of my meds until then.
Did you have a test for an ITU? When I had blood in my urine it was an ITU and I had antibiotics for it. That is the usual reason.
There was no infection/UTI.
Side-effects of medication
Side effects of medications nausea
Side effects of drugs for Heart Failure
