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paul_hest · 10-06-2006, 02:38 PM

Hi all,

For two years now, I've had trace amounts of blood in my urine, with abdominal discomfort (flank pain, upper-abdominal pain and sore ribs, and a burning sensation down my right side when urinating). I was diagnosed and treated for prostatitis in January 2005. The only tests that have come back abnormal are my urine tests (trace blood, but protein and ketones negative, normal glucose and pH 7), and an abnormal complement (two different complement tests that were low).

I'm emigrating to the US in December and won't have any health insurance for 6 months, so I'm anxious to rule out anything serious while I still have free healthcare.

What could blood in my urine and low complement indicate? Is there anything you would recommend testing for?

Thanks,

Paul

georgie04 · 10-06-2006, 04:37 PM

A lot of what you have described reminds me of the symptoms my father experienced with a particularly tricky kidney stone which got lodged at the top of the bladder. So I'd definitely get that checked out. I'm assuming you are in NZ? If so you may like to know my father's problem was misdiagnosed by his gp, undiscovered by a specialist he was referred to, and not actually found until he was in intensive care on full life support. Not trying to scare you, but just want to make the point that you should see a good urology specialist.

And, if it is anything like that, it can turn very nasty very quickly (so quickly you wouldn't have time to get on a plane home) so I would not be going to the States without insurance. Are you able to get some kind of travel insurance to cover you for those months?

paul_hest · 10-06-2006, 04:57 PM

Hi there,

Yep, I'm in NZ. I'm seeing my GP tomorrow and will try to be vigilent about getting a diagnosis.

And I'll definitely get travel insurance for my time in the US until I get proper medical insurance.

Thanks,

Paul

georgie04 · 10-06-2006, 05:09 PM

Good luck - hope it goes well for you.

regards
Georgie

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