What tests do Uro's do?

[bri1121]

I have an appointment with an Urologist and I am so nervous. Some of these tests sound quite painful and of little help. I have been having bladder pain for six months now. Been on antibiotics after antibiotics but they do not help. My urine only comes back with white blood cells no nitrates but my doctor says thats an infection and treats it as is. I went to the gyno because my doctor thought this was where I needed to be and she said everything seems fine and did a urine test and again it came back with WBC no nitrates. Also my ph was off and there were ketones. Anyway she has me on macrobid again!!!

Anyway what should I expect at the URO?

And what is the IC diet. Did you go on it because you knew food was triggering it? I feel as there is no reason why I get bad days and not. I have eaten pizza and coffee and be fine and not and have a bad day?!?

[greeneyes]

Hello and Welcome, all Uro's are different mine ask alot of questions, drew blood sent urine out for cultures and cytology, also did a cath urine specimen, manual exam and scheduled a cysto in office without sedation. All next we're normal. I have not had a hydro under sedation because I was in severe pain after (no turn during) the cysto, I started a 6 week instill regiman, vesicare and have a follow up appt next week. I hope this helps.

[ICNDonna]

The first visit varies from doctor to doctor --- if you ask when you make the appointment they should be able to tell you.

Donna

[Mothergoose]

I had 4 or 5 in office cysto's and at the hospital, all which came back normal no IC. I finally saw about my 5th uro who did a cysto/hydro under anesthetic and said I for sure have IC. He felt because the other uros had not filled y bladder enough because I was wake and could feel it they could not fill my bladder enough to see the IC. They had not taken i not account that I have urinary retention and there fore my bladder is stretched out more than most people with IC and has a larger capacity.

They just did what they normally did for most pt's, I needed to be stretched out more for it to show up.

Not all uros will want to do a cysto some will diagnose on symptoms alone.

Some want to do an in office cysto, which I won't do again. I almost didn't agree to the one under anesthetic but I am glad I did now, it answered a lot of questions for me.

MG

[bri1121]

So this in office cysto is bad? Why go through it if its not definite? Why can't they do an ultrasound or something!! I have a very low pain threshold and once had a cath while in labor with epidural and it was still not fun!

I definitely want the doctor to see what is going, I guess it could be something else. I guess I just want answers this is very frustrating.

[ICNDonna]

I have had several office cystos and didn't find them horrible. Not my favorite way to spend five minutes, but definitely not the worst. I find that if I concentrate on my breathing and relaxing, it isn't too bad --- and it's almost done before it's started.

The cysto can be an important part of the ruling out process that diagnoses IC --- not all doctors will use this route for diagnosis, but many do.


Donna

[bri1121]

I have had several office cystos and didn't find them horrible. Not my favorite way to spend five minutes, but definitely not the worst. I find that if I concentrate on my breathing and relaxing, it isn't too bad --- and it's almost done before it's started.

The cysto can be an important part of the ruling out process that diagnoses IC --- not all doctors will use this route for diagnosis, but many do.


Donna

Thank you for the hope! I am glad it is a quick thing. I guess I will soon find out. Still waiting for the lab work! Why does it take so long!!

[Mothergoose]

I didn't say in office cystos were bad, I said in my case they could not diagnose me this way.

I assume some people are diagnosed this way, some are diagnosed by symptoms alone, but I sure would not want to be diagnosed and find out later it was something else, because I had not had enough tests for a proper diagnoses.

It can give them other info, I am not sure what but info just the same, but perhaps that you have an other condition.

Other than being cathed which my urethra doesn't like and then I can't pee after wards, the in office cystos are usually quick and unless you are already in a lot of pain my experience is they are not too painful.

Some Dr. do them some don't, in my thinking I usually agree to do tests Dr. want to do, after discussing with them why and what they hope to gain from the test.

I go from the premise they are tiring to help you, and would not be doing the tests unless they thought they were necessary.

I do know some people believe they do the tests to pad their wallets, but I don't believe this they are usually way to busy to be bothered to do this.

I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.

MG

[bri1121]

I didn't say in office cystos were bad, I said in my case they could not diagnose me this way.

I assume some people are diagnosed this way, some are diagnosed by symptoms alone, but I sure would not want to be diagnosed and find out later it was something else, because I had not had enough tests for a proper diagnoses.

It can give them other info, I am not sure what but info just the same, but perhaps that you have an other condition.

Other than being cathed which my urethra doesn't like and then I can't pee after wards, the in office cystos are usually quick and unless you are already in a lot of pain my experience is they are not too painful.

Some Dr. do them some don't, in my thinking I usually agree to do tests Dr. want to do, after discussing with them why and what they hope to gain from the test.

I go from the premise they are tiring to help you, and would not be doing the tests unless they thought they were necessary.

I do know some people believe they do the tests to pad their wallets, but I don't believe this they are usually way to busy to be bothered to do this.

I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.

MG

You didn't! I have just been lurking around and found some to say it was pretty painful but then again if they were already in pain I can see how this would be worse.

I thank you for your explanation though! You ladies are giving me hope that maybe its not so bad! I really just want to figure out what is going on!

[Jinny Jean]

Hey guys, so I am a bit confused... and not really complaining I suppose... but just curious if maby I dont really have IC..... im not sure, (had a cytoscopy that was normal minus the hydro) so never really "officially" diagnosed.... gah this is all so confusing for all of us. I went to the PT specialist today and she tested to see how my muscles up inside were doing. Turns out everything is normal down there and I have "good pelvic floor muscles" that arent to tight or loose. Anyways, she works with ALOT of IC patients and knows more than (get this) ANY dr I have been to as of yet about IC. Jeeze. She was worth every penny of the 90 dollars I spent today for the appt. About time Id say..

Anyways I explained to her my whole situation, how this all started (suddenly after a yeast infection and a ton of antibiotics, which CAUSED the yeast infection) anyways after listening to all my symptoms etc. she wasnt convinced that what is going on is IC. I know that some peple can have IC with no pain, ( I have no pain and never have)... but she was leaning more to a bladder sensitivity to estrogen and bladder irritants (like coffee) rather than having a damaged bladder lining. She said that 99.9 percent of IC patients she deals with have messed up pelvic floor muscles and PAIN.. neither which I have, by the grace by god. In her opinion the bladder is affected most by estrogen, and when trauma happends to the body, the bladder can be the whipping post so to speak. I have only been on Elmiron for 1 month, and off my BC pills for 2 months... which have made all the difference in the world...She figures that b/c of the nasty antibiotics and infection etc, my body could have become extremely sensitive to things like estrogen (hence why I had to go off my pill) but that sometimes it can bounce back, it just takes A LONG TIME to regulate again. I have been symptom free entirley for the last 3 weeks (just avoiding things like coffee, oranges etc)...Im hopeful that this could just be something that over time dissapears (kind of like people who have bladder sensitivity after a bladder infection)....Any thoughts?

Jenn