medical conditions?

Question

took a drug test today for a new job, in the process they found blood and protien in the sample.......what may be the problem?
yes i am a truck driver and do alot of driving and bouncing in the drivers seat, but they said it was a moderate dose....
please send me info or answers if you can help...thanks

Answer 1

Blood in the urine is referred to as hematuria. It may be visible to the naked eye (gross hematuria) or only detected by a dipstick urine test or microscope (microscopic hematuria). In any case, there are a variety of causes for blood in the urine (such as stones, infection, cancer/tumor, filtration problem/kidney disease, etc.), the source of which may be anywhere in the urinary tract; kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. However, since the list of differential diagnoses is long, I will limit this reply to your specific questions. The only thing that I would like to indicate is that the work-up of hematuria is a IVP and cystoscopy (one of which you have had) to evaluate both the upper and lower urinary tracts respectively. Usually the results are negative, and the hematuria is attributed to benign causes such as “exercise induced hematuria”. However, at least after undergoing the work-up, one can usually conclude that nothing really bad is going on. The major part of the situation that you describe that leads one to believe that the problem may be related to your kidneys is the protein found in the urine. Under normal circumstances the kidneys are able to filter the blood in a manner that prevents large proteins and blood cells from passing through into the urine (which is the filtrate plus and minus other things that are secreted or removed) and any small proteins such as immunoglobulins are reabsorbed in the tubules. If protein is detected in the urine it is referred to as proteinuria. There are three types of proteinuria which may or may not be associated with hematuria. If there is a filtration problem it is called Glomerular Proteinuria (there are a variety of such disorders with different medical terms). If the defect is in the reabsorption of small proteins that are filtered, it is called Tubular Proteinuria. In the absence of kidney disease, one may have Overflow Proteinuria which is referred to the overflow of small proteins (such as immunoglobulins) that are abnormally present in large quantities in the blood and surpass the normal absorptive capacity of the tubules. In order to differentiate the above a referral to a nephrologist is probably the best next step. Especially since this has not resolved and possibly become worse over the past couple of years.

You seem to be worried about kidney cancer. Although the hematuria may be one sign of kidney cancer, proteinuria is usually not part of the disease process. Kidney cancer usually has a classical triad of symptoms of hematuria, flank pain, and palpable mass. However, since it is a slow growing tumor, it is frequently not detected as a mass or large enough to cause pain before it is detected incidentally by an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI that may have been ordered to evaluate another problem. Therefore, I don’t think you need to worry yourself about kidney cancer at this time, but would recommend you see a nephrologist and urologist who can evaluate your specific situation and make the appropriate recommendations. As far as what you “can do to take better care of your kidneys”, the list would depend on what disease process you are worried about. In regards to renal cell carcinoma, it would be advisable not to smoke (or to quit if you are currently smoking) since it is considered a risk factor in the development of this type of cancer.

I hope this information is useful and wish you the best.

Answer 2

If it were a problem they would have directed you to your doctor. Sorry, to hear you are a truck driver. My hubby was one for 6 yrs and then another truck sideswiped him while he slept in his bunk-and left the scene. Deputy Sheriffs found him 45 minutes away boring on it. To make a long story short he isn't a trucker any more he is disabled. Be careful out there good buddy. If you'd like someone to talk to out there on the road, we are available. dj and jack P>S> this is why I didn't ask any questions when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Everyone is an expert. You had to have seen a physician to get your DOT-I assume he did a urine test, how long ago was it? If you are really concerned, next time you are near your doctor, have him check it. Good Luck. Alarmists, piss me off.

Answer 3

"When red blood cells are detected in the urine — but the urine doesn't appear red from blood — this is called "microscopic hematuria." Blood in urine can be caused by many conditions, including:

Urinary tract infection (cystitis)
Bladder or kidney stone
Noncancerous or cancerous enlargement of the prostate in men
Bladder or kidney cancer
Kidney disease, such as nephritis
Medications such as warfarin, aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen
"

Answer 4

Kidneystones would be the first thing to check for. Check the link below or Google hematuria