I’m relatively new to blogging and, for some reason, I feel compelled to be completely honest with all my readers. The line of honesty and sharing here is sometimes blurred by fear or…well, probably just fear. It’s tough to know how much to share. It’s hard to write some posts without being 100% honest and, if I can’t be honest and open here, then what’s the point?
I’ve thought a lot about sharing what’s been going on with me over the past three weeks and, I decided to write about it because #1 it may help someone else in the same situation and #2 I don’t want to lie to you and tell you that the two days missing from my training log last week were because I was “sick.”
About three weeks ago, after an amazing 14 mile treadmill run, (do I have to note the dripping sarcasm?) I went to the bathroom and basically peed all blood. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. I held it together long enough to get out of the gym and dial my friend who had been running with me. She was totally calm and insisted I not Google anything, that she would do a little research and get back to me.
As I waited for her call, I met my husband and sons at the boy’s basketball practice and didn’t mention a thing. That’s how I roll.
My friend called me back and said it’s actually kind of common with runners after “strenuous” exercise. Interesting. The only problem was that 14 miles on the treadmill was not very strenuous as far as my workouts were going, and I’ve run 10x more then that over the course of 15 years, and never had this issue.
So I Googled it. Basically it was either “hemateria” (bleeding) from exercise, kidney stones or bladder cancer. There wasn’t much in between. I feared going to the bathroom pretty much every time after, but each subsequent time, everything was good. It only happened that once.
So here are the events that followed, bulleted for your convenience:
- I saw my gynecologist three days later and there was still microscopic blood in my urine
- He sent me to a urologist. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a urologist. It’s actually for the walking dead since it was me and six 80 year-old men, all peeing in cups. They are hardly discreet there. #GottaLoveIt
- The urologist didn’t like what he saw or my “family history” (my mother dying at 43 from ovarian cancer) so he scheduled an ultrasound
- The ultrasound showed nothing (they thought it may have been a small stone that passed) but the urologist insisted on a cystoscopy. You don’t even want to know what that is. In a word? Painful.
- Through the cystoscopy the urologist saw “something” on the wall of my bladder. He told me it didn’t look like cancer but they would have to preform surgery to biopsy and remove it. Awesome.
And this all happened before I went to Las Vegas.
If anyone should see a urologist, it’s this guy. You know, just the statue of David in Caesar’s Palace.
I’m not sure how I held it all together, and if I’m being honest, I didn’t some a lot of the time. I tried desperately to think positively and to lean on the few people who knew what was going on. We all agreed that if the doctor thought it was “bad” he would have told me to stay home from Vegas and would have performed the surgery as soon as possible. I called him twice just to make sure.
This past Monday I checked into the hospital at zero dark thirty, was given an IV, escorted to the operating room and then it was lights out.
Before the procedure my aunt took this picture as proof I was “ok.” If I’m holding my phone then everything is clearly ok.
When I woke-up the doctor was in my face saying “it’s gone, there was nothing there!” Um, say what now? What’s gone? My bladder? I was so confused. When the fog of anstehsia lifted, it was explained to me that whatever the doctor saw on my bladder two weeks ago, was now gone.
Gone.
His best guess is that it was severe inflammation and it healed itself.
If you look up hemateria and exercise, it will tell you that it’s a “harmless” condition, but I’m not so sure. Here’s what I do know:
I’m so unbelievably thankful it’s gone and that I don’t have bladder cancer
I need to hydrate the hell out of myself because I think there’s a strong correlation
I want to figure out how to prevent this from happening again or figure out why it happened in the first place
Post-surgery, showing proof of hydration.
As I’m recovering, and so happy I only had to rest for 48 hours instead of the 7-10 days I was looking at if a biopsy had been done, I’ve been trying to research this as much as possible.
I’ve also come to the conclusion that some things just happen, there’s no explanation, and it’s probably best to just accept it and move on. At least I’m sure that’s what some people would do…
Have you had any experience with this or know anyone else who has?
Have you ever had a bad health scare? How did you handle it?
Do you always follow-up with your doctor or do you let things go?
Wow I cannot even imagine how stressful that was and I’m so glad to hear you are doing okay. I’ve had a couple of health scares…they honestly scared me enough that I now follow up with my doctor whenever possible. It’s always better safe than sorry!
Thanks Hollie! It’s all part of being healthy, right?
Oh Allie! What a scary thing. I’m so glad you are ok. I would have done the exact same thing – head straight to Dr. Google. And btw – I’ve had a cystoscopy. Most painful thing ever! I had a health scare last summer. I had a mysterious black spot appear on my leg. It started to get larger and odd shaped so I immediately went to Dr. Google who told me it was melanoma and I was going to die. After going through the medical rounds (yay!) I finally had dermatologist remove it and waited 2 weeks to find it was all good.
All the waiting is the absolute worst part!! And yes, according to Dr, Google, you’re always a goner. Thanks Angela and so glad everything worked out for you too.
Yikes. I’m so sorry, Allie! What an awful scare. I think I’d try to take confidence in the fact that the doctor isn’t worried and that he’s had a good look and all was clear. Definitely keep that water bottle handy, though, as that sounds like a great idea in this situation. I really hope that’s the last you see of it!
It was really bad so just glad it’s over! I’m definitely staying well hydrated from now on!! Thanks Amanda.
I am seriously just so glad that it turned out to be pretty much nothing in the end and can only imagine how scared you must have been. I agree with your friend though about not Googling stuff like this, because they truly always do have the absolute worst case scenario on there. Hugs and just so happy you are indeed OK.
It’s just so hard to resist Google!! Thanks Janine.
I am so happy you are ok!!!!! Love you Miyagi.
P.S you know I would have put on a pink-red tutu and run an awareness race for you
I love you too and yes, I know you would be leading the charge!! xoxoxo
Wow. Just wow. First I’m so so sorry you had to go through such an ordeal. I can’t even imagine what your mindset was like considering what you went through with you mom and the correlation with your age. I’m so happy and relieved they were able to remove whatever it was–and thank God for good friends that tell you NOT to google things. I can’t believe you did all of the BEFORE Vegas!! I totally would have been so dense not even to realize that you missed 2 training days lol. Thank you for sharing your story here!! I have had a really bad health scare 3 years ago and when I shared about it so many people told me they went to get checked out as a result of my post. Big hugs!!
That’s exactly why I decided to share it. Thanks so much Nellie!!!
That is scary! I’m so glad everything is ok. I always immediately google my symptoms and I come up with brain cancer every time. Probably should stop doing that.
Yes definitely stop doing that! Why is it always a death sentence? Crazy!! Thanks Danielle.
I’m so sorry you were going through that Allie! That is so scary. I think it is really good you shared it with us because someone else may encounter the same thing.
I also think it was really smart that you saw the doctor and you spent so much time going through uncomfortable procedures to ensure that you are healthy. My brother had colon cancer about 3 years ago. He was diagnosed at a very early stage because he took his symptoms seriously and saw a doctor. I am a huge proponent of taking control of your health and not letting scary symptoms go just because you are scared of the possible outcome. And yes, I google ALL of my symptoms. So bad.
Exactly!! You have to be so diligent about your health and your brother is so, so smart for being his own advocate. I have to say that my doctors were very persistent and were ALL over every aspect of this. I’m just so glad it’s over now. Thank you Britt!
I’m glad you’re alright now. Health scares can be pretty scary.
Exactly! Thank you.
Oh Allie, I am so sorry!!!! It all sounds very scary and I am sure you are glad to just take a breath of relief! Things like this really do cause us to do some life evaluating for sure!!! I have never really had any major health scares…I was quite scared when my daughter had the kidney infection and was in the hospital for 4 days though. I did have a little something last week and my husbands knee injury that had me google searching and oh my! For my husbands knee you could find anything from it is not that big of a deal just watch it to he could loose blood flow and have a serious infection. Sometimes it can be helpful, but sometimes not so much!!! I would definitely follow up for something like this. This does remind me too that I need to find a doctor for my husband and I. The kids have a pediatrician, but since we moved to MD my husband and I don’t have a doctor. I am so glad it turned out the way it did and you are ok! Now for the speedy recovery! 🙂 Keep hydrated! I am trying to stay better hydrated too so I will keep you accountable 🙂
It’s always scarier when it’s our kids!! Miles was in the hospital for a nasty infection once and it was one of the worst times of my life! I hope your husband’s knee heals up well and yes, let’s keep each other on the hydration train!!
dang girlie – I’m beyond thrilled that you are okay! Our bodies are such strange machines that it doesn’t take much for their inner knickers to get twisted.
For a good chuckles, please feel free to refer my story that I like to call “Why Eating Beet Chips By The Pound May Not Bode Well On Your Intestinal Track” or in layman’s terms: BJ’s had Terra Chips Sweets and Beets ginormous bags on sale for like $5. I couldn’t resist. I ate nearly a third of a bag in one sitting – primarily the beet chips only. Approximately 2 hours later, I felt a good ole fashioned poop coming on and once I enjoyed the go, I checked out my used TP and the subsequent contents of the bowl and pretty much thought I was bleeding out. After having a decent panic attack I calmed down enough to Google “beet chips and bloody poop” only to realize that I just scared the bloody $%^# out of myself and that over consumption of vegetables in any form may not be the smartest thing to do on the third Saturday of the month. Conclusion: I love me some beet chips and beets in general but now I only allow myself to eat as much as I can consume in 19.5 seconds. I definitely am not going down that road again no matter how tempting BJs makes it
OMG you are so damn hilarious!!!! And you’re like the 10th person to tell me about their “bloody” red beet poo!!!!…of course this was by far the best story. Love it. Love you!
Wow, this is so awkward but I’m thankful for the ending. You had me on edge there. I call my doctor for weird stuff like that, but my mother always has to force me for colds/bronchitis kinda stuff!
I’m the same way – it takes A LOT to get me to my regular doc for a cold. I always want to wait it out and then, 2 weeks later…I finally go and find out I have a sinus infection or something. It’s crazy but I hate taking drugs if I don’t have to. I know that’s your biz so you’re probably hyper aware of it!!
So glad you’re ok! That would have scared me shitless!
I absolutely did. I’m just so, so glad I can put it behind me. It’s such a relief not to think about it all.the.time. Thanks Laura!
Oh my gosh! My heart was pounding just reading this, wondering what you were going to say you found. So glad it was a false alarm. It’s easy to think we’re invincible until something like that happens. Rest up and I hope you feel 100% soon!!
So true!! You gain a ton of perspective. Thanks Laura.
Allie, that had to be so scary!!! I’m glad that you pursued it and didn’t just brush it under the rug (easy to do as a busy mom!!). Mostly I’m glad that everything is OK.
The biggest scare I’ve ever had was a couple years ago when I had an MRI and CT with contrast and my orthopedic surgeon said I had bone cancer. It was a month and a half before I could get into the specialist (in another city) to find out that it was a stress fracture (hip). Of course, I had been running on it the entire time because I can suck up pain and needed the stress release more than ever.
OMG that is so insane!! I cannot believe that happened to you. You must have been so relieved to find out it was “just” a stress fracture. Wow.
How scary, Allie – I’m so glad you are okay! I research the heck out of stuff too, even when I now I shouldn’t. Last year my ob-gyn felt something on my ovary and send me to get it examined. For a week I resisted googling it – I don’t know how I found the willpower. Denial, maybe? Anyway, it was a benign cyst. Whew.
You’re so much better off NOT to Google stuff like that. My husband was trying to tell me the whole time to not worry until there’s something to worry about, but it’s so hard!! So glad your cyst was benign. We women have to go though so much with our lady parts. Totally unfair!!
Holy cow, woman, that is some scary stuff. I know I don’t know you that well, but when I read that you didn’t breathe a word at basketball practice because you hadn’t heard from your friend yet, I thought, ‘That is such an Allie thing to do!’ Good for you for getting it looked at immediately – although I don’t know how you didn’t freak out the whole time you were in Vegas. I am SO relieved you are okay. Big hugs, ladycake. xoxo
That is so funny Carly…and you probably know me better then some!! And, I definitely did freak in Vegas but no one but me and my husband knew so it was a little easier to be distracted by the FUN and DRINKING and SUN :-)) I’m so glad I went on the trip because I almost didn’t. Once again, everything worked for a reason. Thanks Carly!
Wow! How scary! I am so glad you are ok, that must be a huge relief. You are so brave to share your story. And yes, never google anything it will only make you feel worse! Take it easy and hopefully you do not have to go through that again. Hugs!
Thank you so much!! This was a hard one to share but I’m so glad I did. And yes, a huge relief just not thinking about it all day, everyday!
OMG Allie! I am so sorry that you had to go through all of that! So scary I’m sure. And sorry that you had to go through surgery for nothing, although i’m sure it was a relief to find out it was nothing. So happy that it was a false alarm! Rest up friend!
I know!! I was kind of pissed that I had to go though the surgery for “nothing” but I guess there was no other way. I’m just glad it’s OVER and I hope I never have to go though anything like it ever again. Thanks Sue!
Wow – I am so sorry you had to go through that! And it is scary! I kind of understand because I have a few unresolved issues that I wish I knew could be fixed but it doesn’t seem to be the case…the blurred vision that they can’t figure out (after test upon test upon test) and the neck fracture that I have to get xrayed for every year. 🙁 Cancer is scary! I’m glad whatever it was is gone!
It basically just sucks getting old but, the not knowing is the absolute worst. I’m so sorry you’re going though that. I can’t imagine how frustrating it is. It’s difficult enough to navigate though the health care system but when you don’t even know how to treat your symptoms, I can imagine it’s infinitely worse!!
Happened upon your blog with this post, and having recently been through a similar health scare, I can relate to how much stress this put on you. I also know what you mean about going to the urologist’s office– I’ve been there for a few issues and they assure me that girls need to see them, too, but you wouldn’t know it sometimes by the waiting room.
So true!! I’m glad you found me but sorry you can relate. I hope all is well and good! Thank you for reading and commenting.
OMG Allie! I’m so so glad to hear that everything is OK. I can’t even imagine and I can’t imagine holding it together through all of it too. I can only imagine how scary it was with the family history and just not knowing what was going on. That’s the worst. I have to refrain from going to Google for my medical questions. I usually hit up my sister who’s a doctor but she’s absolutely useless! Glad you are OK. xo
Thanks Christine. It was pretty awful and now I’m just so, so relieved!! That’s too funny about your sister. You would think she would be super helpful?? What the heck?
OMG, I have never heard or experienced this. I’m happy to hear that you are ok! I would have probably come unglued if that had happened to me so kudos to you! My first resource is WebMD and I know I shouldn’t because that has made me freak in the past…lol.
Thank you!! Yes, feeling 100% better and that was three weeks of freaking out that I certainly did not need!!
I’m so behind..which makes me sad. Bad data entry. Bad.
I’m so sorry for this scare. So relieved everything is ok. So impressed that you did go on a trip, and even if that was hard, you did it.
I’m here for you! Cookies. Playdates. Anything.
I need all of that – Tamara, cookies, playdates and Cheetos for the boys and Scarlett 🙂
Oh my goodness, I’m so glad you’re okay!
Wow… it’s such an odd feeling, that mix of terror (pain of procedure, fear of what could happen) and gratitude (that, well, whew!!). But I am 100% with your friend’s very first advice: stay off google. That sh*t, at the wrong moment, is dangerous. 😉
OMFG!! I am so glad you are ok! Totally scary and painful. Did I mention I am glad you’re ok? I would have freaked the hell out.
I did. And thank you Tara!!!
Wow Allie. I am SO sorry you were going through this and I seriously admire your courage to share it with us. I am beyond thankful that the spot is gone and that your doctor thinks you are ok. That must be an incredible weight and fear off your shoulders. I can only imagine what you were going through during all that. I’m thinking about you and glad you are ok. Guess getting older really does suck, huh? xoxo
Thanks so much Jes. It was horrible! I was just thinking the other day that it consumed me for weeks and now, I don’t even think about it. It’s so scary how quickly your life can change and I just don’t ever want to take that for granted.
And yes, getting old sucks a lot. Thanks. 🙂
It is a very helpful blog. Thanks for sharing.
For Urological Surgeon in Pune, Visit our website.
https://www.drabhijitgokhale.com/urinary-stone-treatment-pune/