Hi there, I have been suffering for awhile now and I was wondering if anyone could help with advice or maybe someone has the same thing going on. Here's the deal: When I was a toddler, the dr. told my mom that I had a high amount of lead in my blood. I guess it was nothing, as they did nothing about it besides mentioning it. As a child, the dr. found blood in my urine but did nothing except say I might be getting ready to start my period. I didn't start that until I was 13 and they had been finding the blood in my urine well before that. I was a pretty healthy teen, except severe allergies and sinus problems. I had endoscopic sinus surgery when I was 21 and have been OK on that problem since. In 2003, when I no longer had medical insurance, and was going through the most stressful time of my life (divorce and custody battle), things started to fall apart. I began to get frequent UTIs, I'd say one every 2-4 months steadily. A year or so later, I began to have severe kidney infections EVERY month. The doctors keep finding so much blood in my urine (it's not visible to the eye) and say that E. Coli is the culprit. I have been on every antibiotic and I'm sick of taking them, as they don't help but for a few weeks... then back to square one. Last year I went to the ER with a kidney infection and HIGH fever. They told me the infection had gone to my blood and I was close to dying. Again, more meds and still have the same problem. I have other symptoms that are nagging me this year and they only keep growing. I have a lump in my groin area, my shoulders are hurting all the time, my teeth seem to be falling apart, my jaw keeps locking and clicking, my feet and hands are always cold, they've been falling asleep easily, and my heart has been pounding faster and faster. Any over the counter meds I take upset the kidneys, I obviously can't drink alcohol, and I have to be careful of these things. Drs keep shrugging me off because they claim I am too young for this or that. I don't get it, but I'm only 28 and I feel like I am dying. I do not have insurance or I'd have myself looked at. I do go to Planned Parenthood for my paps and STD checks on time-nothing has EVER come back positive or odd looking. They've dipped my urine too, and they saw lots of blood like everyone else that's checked it. They treated me for a UTI, but seriously... NOTHING IS WORKING! Any help or advice?

Blood in the urine is not always visible. If the amount of blood is small, the urine looks normal. This is called microscopic hematuria because the blood cells are visible only under a microscope. Typically, this is discovered when the patient has a urine test for some other reason.

When there is enough blood to be visible, the urine may look pinkish, red, or smoky brown (like tea or cola). This is called gross or frank hematuria. It takes very little blood in urine to be visible —about one-fifth of a teaspoon in a half quart of urine.

Of course, we can't diagnose, but one thought comes to mind and that would be kidney stones which is also irritated by alcohol and reflects blood in the urine.

Lead can cause a lot of problems. I would get retested.. you need to see a kidney specialist.