Cystoscopy with just local?

[pamptracy]

I'm scheduled for a cystoscopy with just a local anesthetic July 2. The uro said it won't hurt but I just started seeing him and am a bit nervous about it. I don't think he is doing a hydrodistention. He is questioning the IC diagnosis another doctor gave me and thinks my problem may be from adhesions instead. I did have microscopic blood in my urine when I saw him so that was another reason why he wanted to do another cystoscopy. Other than that my pain is pretty much under control with Cystoprotek and diet. My biggest complaint now is nocturia. I think that may be why he's questioning the daignosis.

[jen74]

I had an in office cystoscopy and I would never do that again awake. For me it was very painful, and I have a very high tolerance for pain.
Not to say you will have pain. There are alot of people who said that it was not so bad, so maybe it depends on the doctor who is doing it. I had an idiot, because he had the nerve to tell me and my husband that there was no such disease as IC.
But anyhow, after that I insisted to be sedated when I had my next cystoscopy and the urogyne I saw the second time said he never does in office cystoscopies anyways. I figure they sedate you for colonoscopies and EGD's why not cycstscopies.
Good Luck and hope you will do fine.
Jen

[humpieumpumkin]

I have had 2 cystos in the office. The first one was terrible since my uro hardly numbed me, and then didn't wait for the lido to kick in. What a jerk. The second one was a breeze! (different uro!) He appled the lidocaine,waited for 5 minutes then came in and did it. It didn't hurt at all! Just ask your doctor to make sure you are numbed enough first, and it will be a piece of cake!

Erika

[GriffsMommy]

I agree with Erika. My first cysto was horrible. I had nothing to numb me and he wasn't gentle. My second one was a different uro and he did numb me and though it was still uncomfortable it wasn't nearly as bad as the first one. I was able to get through the second one pretty easily.
Good luck with yours!

[BadKitty]

I had my first cystoscopy in office this past monday. Actually it hurt worse when they applied the numbing solution on my urethra beforehand. The procedure was a little uncomfortable but tolerable. The urologist irrigated the bladder and that was a little uncomfortable because then it felt like i had to urinate pretty bad. After the procedure I was pretty uncomfortable and had bladder cramps.

I had asked my urologist about cystoscopy with hydro just to hear her views on it and she said none of the urologists in her practice actually recommend it (these were the most reputable urologists in South orange county, CA - one of whom performed my dad's bladder cancer operation) and she said that they all agreed that they don't recommend cysto/hydro because of several reasons - one of which it exposes the patient to unnecessary general anesthesia which is always a risk. I know every doctor is different in what they recommend, and I heard some patients have benefited from it as well as got more accurate IC diagnosis from it so I didn't question anything she said. I would just personally rather go through another in office cysto anyday rather than be put under for one...that scares me.

[bunnykinb]

My first uro did a cystoscopy in the office. It felt like a gigantic pinch. I was very uncomfortable. When he wanted to do another one, I went to another uro for a second opinion instead. The 3rd uro did a cystoscopy in the office last month. I was so terrified, but I was told it was a flexible one like a catheter. He put xylocaine gel and it didn't hurt. I just felt like I was going to pee all over the place.

[Charisse]

My Uro-GYN has offered to put me under anesthesia at the hospital although he performs most of them in-office. I had a catheter and cystoscopy in '02 with a urologist and had no pain at all. However this past spring I've had two catheters and some pretty significant flares after receiving them. The lidocaine does help with the insertion pain but once the lido wears off I still felt very bad. I tend to think it is a combo of the skill of the person and how inflamed your urethra and bladder are to begin with.

[kuntrygurl78]

I had mine done in the office and it really hurt. I drove myself to the apt and I live about 45 minutes from the doctors office. I would advise you to have someone take you to the apt in case you have a bad experience. My drive home was absolute horror, and I havent been back to that uro since.

[ICNDonna]

I have had cystoscopies in my doctor's office and, while they aren't my favorite pastime, they weren't horrible either. I was working when I had my last one and I went back to my office and worked the remainder of the day after a cysto.

Donna

[bunnykinb]

My 3rd uro is very gentle. I have had lidocaine with the nurses and the cath still hurts; on the otherhand, I the uro puts xylocaine and the cath doesn't hurt at all.

While I would admit that the cystoscopy isn't fun, I did drive myself to/from both times. I was given pyridium too and an antibiotic.

[Ginny]

Cysto in office

I'm not surprised he wants to do it. Usually when you see a new Uro they want to check for themselves.
I have had many. I even had my biopsy done during a cysto in the office.
I agree with Donna. It's not my favorite pastime but they are not terrible.
I would ask if you can take a valium before going. Personnally I think the anxiety is worse than the procedure.

Good luck.

Ginny

[bladder]

I am confused...can the tests show false negatives?

I had a cysto and UDS done last week. They did not even give me anything to numb it. It was painful but nothing I could not handle. The Uro said that from the tests I do not have IC but overactive bladder. I am thinking of another opinion. I researched overactive bladder and that does not seem to include the following symptoms, that I have:

pain in left side, cramping in bladder and kidney area, lower back pain, uncomfortable sitting long periods of time or traveling, intolerance to carbinated beverages, caffine and fruit, symptoms are worse during my periods, frequency (some days as bad as every 15 mins) and I am up at least 2 times per night.

Does that not sound like IC, or is it all just in my head? Not! I have had every other blood tests and ultrasounds to rule out any similar disorders. This Uro told my to stop my Elmiron and Hydroxyzine and just take Ditropan. I am 2 months into my meds. and just starting to feel pretty normal again. I am afraid that if I stop the symptoms will get worse. Maybe that is why nothing showed up on the tests?

[Charisse]

Kate I think I recognize your situation from another thread. Did you ever follow up with your GP? He's the one prescribing you the Elmiron and Atarax right? I think most here would agree that it's not wise to stop the medications if you are feeling better. I would definitely seek a second opinion. Your symptoms are very similar to mine -I am also noticing left side pain more when it used to be smack dab in the middle. I also suffer from fibromyalgia so it's difficult to know how much of my back pain is fibro or from the bladder/urethra. I don't have an IC diagnosis yet either but am not sure what else it could be at this point.

[mortisha]

No problem for me.

I had a cysto done in the 80's and it was awful. I've had 3 done in the past year and the doc used a thin flexscope with some lidocaine jelly and I hardly felt it. No more awful than a Pap and Pelvic. Things have gotten much better over the years. I know when I go in in August he'll probably want to do another but it will be no big deal. Good luck!

[GriffsMommy]

Kate, usually doing a cysto in the office can not diagnois IC unless you have a really severe case. Usually it is used to rule out other things like bladder cancer. A hydro/cysto w/ biopsy done while you are under is how a lot of people have been diagnoised. Most people's bladders look normal during an in office cysto and the bladder needs to be stretched out during the hydro to see the signs of IC. Maybe you do need to get another opinion.