Instillations when having your period?

[Wallander]

Maybe this is a silly question and belongs in a different subsection. If so, let me know

I was just wondering if the instillations will/can be done when you're having your period? If so, can you use tampons?
I heard/read that during cystoscopy they sometimes prefer no tampon, so I was wondering if that goes for the instillations as well.

I can ask the urologist on Friday, but I'm not sure if it's just an appt to talk about this treatment, or that one will be done as well. And I'm close to having my period right now, so I'd just like to know. I hope someone can tell me

[kadi]

Some urologists will do instillations when you have your period, some will not. I do home instillations and I generally do not do them during that time of the month. I'm prone to infections under the best of circumstances, so not worth the risk, but I'm lucky - my IC symptoms go way down when I have my period, so it's not a problem.

[skybluesoul]

My doctor's office will perform them during my period. They said if I was comfortable with that, they were too. (I think I've had one during that time of the month.) I wouldn't recommend going in with a tampon, but really it's just a matter of asking your doctor what s/he is willing to do or not do. You could always call before your appointment on Friday.

[healingthoughts]

my IC symptoms go way down when I have my period, so it's not a problem.

I wonder why? Most ICers flare during their period. I myself have not noticed any difference with my IC, except I'm generally more uncomfortable during my period, but thats expected.

[Wallander]

Thanks for the replies

Suppose that it may be best to just call the urologist's office and ask.
The thing is, they rescheduled me due to my pains, so I hope that they won't tell me that 'in that case we need to make another appointment.'
But I guess that's just wait and see.

[polygon]

I was able to get an instill done when I was near the end of my period. Tampon was not preferred, and the nurses are used to any yuck factor they're faced with.
I hope you can still do it if it's helping you

[Wallander]

Well I called yesterday, and the nurse said that it wouldn't be a problem:
"of course that's possible, the vagina and urethra are two different things"

I was about to say: "uhuh...why don't you explain that to all the docs and nurses who keep sticking a cath tube in 'the wrong opening and insist that it's placed correctly ", but I decided to just say that I knew, but that I heard/read different things from different hospitals and couldn't find any information from their own.
She made me feel like I was a 12year-old who doesn't know female anatomy yet

But at least, I don't have to worry about not being able to get my treatment. Not that I'm excited about having my period right at the same time, but well. One has to make choices, I suppose

[waterflow]

I have been having the instill done many years and it seems last few years Mother Nature seems to want to go along with me. Sometimes she arrives right when I get to the Uro' office. My Uro (Who is a male) does the instill and he said he didn't care if I used a tampon or not. Doesn't bother him at all. It sure did me at the beginning and I have had to start using tampons (finally figured out how to use them 3 years ago..go figure...ha). Think it is harder on the "tampon wearing person" then the doc or nurses.

[Wallander]

I got my period yesterday, so the worst will be over for me on Friday, should the instillations start then.

But, it's good to read about your experiences in this, it makes me feel a little less 'oh my gosh, what if!'-ish.