Can post-menopausal bleeding cause abnormal urinalysis results?

Posted by jrmt26 @jrmt26, 16 hours ago

Hi, I hope someone might be about to offer their perspective. I can't tell if I'm dealing with an oversight because of a busy office or a reasonable behavior in a busy office because of the overall situation. Last week I saw a new primary care provider when I experienced light post-menopausal bleeding that has since stopped. I can’t get a gynecology appointment until next week.

I had some pain in my sides when the PA examined me, and we also discussed relevant family history. He ordered a stat vaginal ultrasound, blood work of various kinds, and a urinalysis with a culture test. The ultrasound showed a thickened endometrium with cystic changes and small fibroid tumors. The CMP blood work was normal, and the hepatitis test was negative. The urinalysis was not. It revealed occult blood; a leukocyte esterase 3+ result; a WBC count of 10-20; an RBC result of 3-10; and epithelial cells. The bacteria result was “few,” but the resulting culture showed no growth.

I liked the PA, who seemed to take the situation seriously and said he’d be in touch today. Hearing nothing, I reached out late this afternoon specifically about the abnormal urinalysis in light of the pain in my side. The message from an assistant said that the pain could be from the cystic ovary/fibroid tumors, and there isn’t a need for an antimicrobial for cystitis. Ok. Got it. However, I don’t understand why there was no mention of the various abnormal results in the urinalysis. Is that omission reasonable in light of the other findings or maybe an oversight? Could the bleeding have been the cause of the abnormalities? I sent a follow up question, but it may take a while to get a response. In any case, I will share all the results up when I have my gynecology appointment.

I’m in area that seems to see doctors come and go. The PA is the third primary care provider I’ve had in less than 5 years, and I've gone through multiple speciaists in various areas in the same time since they keep leaving the practices. I worry about the level/consistency of care, and I’m separately dealing a few other medical issues with at least one major surgery in the works. So, I'm trying my best to manage a high stress level while trying to figure out which problems having priority, and wanting to make sure other providers have relevant info. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

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@jrmt26
I understand your anxiety about test results. I have had urinalysis come back with similar results. My primary had me redo the urine test, 2nd one was OK.

I am glad you have a gynecology appointment next week. Gives you time to prepare for an appointment.

I usually try to organize my symptoms and questions, so I do not forget anything at the appointment.

The following article on Mayo's site can apply to any clinic/provider. There is a section, "Be ready to answer questions." It might help organize your concerns.
"How to make the most of your Mayo Clinic appointment."
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-appointment
Have you started a list of questions/concerns for next appointment?

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Thanks for your thoughts! Much appreciated! I have started a list of questions for the gynecologist. I am definitely adding my questions about my urinalysis. I reached out to the primary care office again to ask specifically about those results, and all I got back was to "continue the current treatment plan."

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