Urodynamics? Sounds fancy....

[yvette]

But what am I in for? I was given a BRIEF rundown...that I'll be awake and be gradually filled and have to say how I feel. And that they're only available on Mondays because that's when they have the equipment (?) So maybe my procedure will be slightly differnt than yours...But I want to know, what happened when you went? And Why? , Do you feel crappy afterwards? Thank you all so much!!!!!
Hugs,
y.

[icnTerri]

I had Urodynamics done twice, 2 years apart, so it was interesting to see the differences. The nurse that did the testing for me was the same for both, so I'm thinking there's one person who specializes in it who will do it for you. The lady I had was very nice and she did all she could to help it all be "comfortable". It's a series of placing wires and catheters in different places, to measure muscle tension and spasm, and see what your bladder capacity while awake is... that kind of stuff.
Before you go, they tell you to drink a gallon of water and not pee beforehand - so just make sure you tell them not to make you wait too long so you don't hurt yourself.
They'll start by having you sit in a special chair to pee so they can measure the force and whether it's a steady stream or choppy, which indicates internal spasms, how much actually empties from your bladder and how much stays in there when you think you are done.... they fill your bladder again while you lay there to see at what capacity you are very uncomfortable, and how much causes the first have to pee sensation... they use a couple of catheters that measure internal muscle tension... it's really very interesting all you find out from the testing. It's a little uncomfortable just because it's a big computer and you hooked up to it with someone between your legs, but it's not awfully painful. I found out that my internal muscle tension started at a scale double that of a "normal" person, and my urethra is on a scale of 1-4, 4+ hypersensitive and spastic... you get to watch it all on the screen.

Does that help? Feel free to write if you have more questions.
mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>

[Ange]

Hi Yvette! I had a very similar experience as Teri says in above post. There was a specially trained nurse in my uros office and the uro came in and out at different points of the procedures. Also I was Xrayed I cant remember why except to see if I was leaking urine as I had told the mit seems I do. Make sense? I was up tilted on a table and had to bear doen as if going BM and then they took pictures with the dye already in me. It seems I do leak a little although my uro says its not IC, I have seen others here say they leak too. Also, the most trouble I had was when I had to hold the urine in during the test. They left me alone to pee and I COULD NOT PEE NO WAY NO HOW! They checked in with me and told me thats normal for IC patients. So dont worry if you cant pee then. Just try to think of a way to relax some and know that they will wait for you and they are used to it. I havve severe IC and pain 24/7 so I was on my normal meds. I asked them ahead of time if I needed to stop any and they said no. Only the Detrol. I felt bad some after and asked for pyridium because at that time I was not taking it all the time like now. THat helped me make it home and the next day or so. Overall I would say the rigid cystoscopy was worse and this was not as bad as any other test theyve done to me. Best wishes for an easy time of it! Ange