On my 69th birthday went to a Phillies game and while in the bathroom my urine was a dark chocolate color.This has happened to me previously in my life 3 other times.The first time I was in my young teens and was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with a infection and treated and it cleared up.The second and third times were within the last two years the last being a week ago at the game.The second time my urologist prescribed antibiotics and it cleared right away.I have an appointment sched.for my third instance but it cleared the next day on its own.Anyone with similar problems.I have bph and take a muscle relaxant which helps but still get up to go 3-4 times a night,during the day everything is normal.Thanks for any help.
Only a urologist can check all possibilities, but be sure to be checked for urethial cancer. This can only really be done by a cystoscopic examination - a visual inspection of the bladder by inserting a thin tube into the eye of the penis. It has a lens and light at the end. It is uncomfortable, perhaps even painful (my first was just a sudden sharp pain as it went through the prostate area; others varied with one or two being quite painful I'm afraid).
Cancer is mainly a disease of ageing; so the older one is, the more likely it is to occur. If caught early, it is treatable with a good chance of success.
I say all this because my GP did not refer me for nearly two years with a similar symptom, so it had advanced quite a bit.
Having said all that, such cancers are only the sixth most common, so there's a good chance your problem is only an infection. But don't take any chances.
I've had three (modern ones) and not at all painful unlike the old rigid ones when I first had one in 1983.
Yeh, I've been unlucky - I think I was used as a training aid for newbies!
I would not be overly concerned. Sure, cancer is always a possiblity, but given your history sounds like typical bph symptons. I've had brown colored urine several times myself. If you have a good urologist, they should know what to do and what not to do.
As to your night time symptons, do you know what your retention is? If not, your urologist should be able to tell you. Almost all urologists have portable bladder scanners their office for this purpose.
Jim
Jack see a doctor when you can It better to be safe but I don't think you have cancer you may have a infection being you had this kind of problem before. It's better to clear up the infection that could make things worse Drink lots of water and relax Ken
I had a blood in the urine for several years following TURP surgery. Any form of exertion would bring it on. Starting about a year after the surgery. Went thru all the requisite exams with no conclusion as to source. The last event blocked the bladder and my ability to pee. Introduced to Mr. Foley. The diagnosis? Xarelto. The blood thinner for AFIB was the culprit. Now I can work/workout with no blood. Trying to keep the Urologist and Cardiologist informed is another story. Happy to be rid of blood thinner but unsure of consequences.
Hi Jack!
I strongly recommend you see your urologist ASAP; While there may be an easy explanation (BPH, as you mentioned), you really should have an evaluation including something called a "cystoscopy" to evaluate your bladder to assure there is not something else that can be the cause.
-Dr L
How are you doing now. Did you look into having the A-FIB taking care of. Last year I was a mess was in the hospital 9 times from A-FIB attacks. I finelly change doctors. November 29th I had 9 hour abalation done they burnned the left side of my heart. after 2 month's I go to the gym I lost some pounds and inches and off one of my blood thinners Still on one but may stop that in august. also off my blood pressure pills. Have it taking care off it has changed my life. Ken Have not been in the hospital in 8 months it's great I hated them attacks
I had an angiogram like. It took him 50 minutes and he kept asking for different sizes of catheters. Then when he could not get round a tricky bend he asked the nurse if she coukd do it. No fear, she replied so he stopped then saying I think that we have seen enough.
I was told that dark blood was old blood.
HI Derek,
I think that's more true with rectal bleeding. Blood from the bladder can range from brown to ice tea colored to bright red.
Jim
Mine was in my semen for weeks after my first prostate biopsy. Any other bllod in my urine was red and probably froma burst blood vessels in my prostate.
It may be.
Regardless, you should have that evaluated.
Hi Derek,
I've had it all colors in my urine from several different causes. The recommended work up as the doc says is cystoscopy and cytology and perhaps other blood work. That said, Jack may have already had that done with his previous episodes.
Jim
Jim
Go to a doctor who isn't too old, in his 40s and at University hospital if possible. Make sure he/she uses a flexible scope for the urology, and that there is a screen that the patient can see.
I would say that a "University Hospital" may be overkill for this problem; at our practice, all of our doctors were trained at University Hospitals, but are able to treat our patients faster and with fewer hospitals than they may have had to endure at our prior hospitals. In many University Hospitals, it will be a new resident doing your procedure vs an experienced surgeon (depending on the practice you choose.)
It was a very experienced surgeon (mid 60s or so) who did the disasterous Greenlight procedure that left me totally incontinent about 16 months ago. He was from a top medical school and did his fellowship at Cal Berkeley, so I felt good about his CV. He was at a large practice (over 12 urologists), but his office equipment was--I know now-- really dated. For cystoscopies, the old CRT scope was positioned at my shoulder where I could barely see by twisting my neck. I now see a doctor connected to a university hospital, and the procedures and the equipment are so much better than before.
Glenn,
I had a rigid without any anathesia from an old school doc. I learned what the term "hitting the ceiling" really meant Never again. I actually left my last uro because he practically insisted on a rigid, when two other younger uro's said they could get the same result from a flex.
Jim
Had the ablation. But Cardio prescribed the thinner anyway. (Low dose aspirin will thin blood enough to cause bleeding too.) Urologist said stop.No heart attack yet.