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Cystoscopy: Is it painful?

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Posted 6/20/2008 9:16 AM (GMT 0)
Two years ago I had blood in my urine. It happened again two months ago. And then it happened two weeks ago. The pain from this was a #10 plus. So bad I saw black like I was going to faint. I have Chronic Pain and my gynecologist doesn't understand what it is. My pain doctor told me I should have the cystoscopy in a surgery center where an anesthesiologist would know what was going on. Pain Doctor said that often people who take Methadone (As I do) can't be helped with the regular pain stuff they give you in the doctors office. Anybody had a Cystoscopy. My gynecologist suspects a Kidney Stone or Cancer.
Thank You,
Pamela Neckpain

P.S. An antibiotic quickly cures this painful situation so I think it's a UTI.
Posted 6/20/2008 10:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Pam sorry your having to deal wit this on top of the other stuff we deal with.

Kidney stones can and so cause horrific pain as well as infections frequently and this maybe whats going on but before going the way of the scope have you had any kind of x-rays or ultrasound yet? As this usually can find stones or even nodules and whatnot and it is NOT invasive like the scope,sorry I just prefer to try any noninvasive procedures before going the way of entering my body and making an opening for all kinds of germs to enter!

I have always looked at a Cysto as a last resort for answers since it is a invasive procedure that requires anesthesia and to answer your question about hurting yes it does if you are not medicated properly and yes if you are on methadone I would not want to do this in the office and without it being done in a out patient surgery center where there is Anesthesiologist on board that knows methadone and its pathology.

Good luck and here is hoping you find some relief soon.
Posted 6/20/2008 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Pamela

 Although a cystoscopy does include anesthesia it is not invasive as they go through your urethra. A laperoscopy is the one throug hyour belly button to look around your abdomen.

When you wake up chances are you wont be in that much pain at all. Infact I had one and only had pain in my urethra because of Interstitial Cystitis. I cant imagine you will be in much more pain than uncomfortable.

With pain and blood in the urine if there doing a cystoscopy and taking a little biopsy for bladder cancer you may want to ask them to do a hydrodistention to make sure you dont have any pin point bleeding or hunners ulcers.

Maybe they plan to. Anyway, just wanted to let you know there is nothing to worry about. And because it's not invasive as in cutting you open, you wont be given a huge amount. Enough to keep you under for a short time. Shouldnt be a long prosedure at all.

Freya

Posted 6/20/2008 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry brain laps...a hydrodistention is to fill your bladder with fluid 3 or 4 times its capacity and then to drain it out to see if there are any abnormalities when your bladder returns to normal size.
It was just a thought while reading your post. It's a quick thing.

Freya
Posted 6/20/2008 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
NVR:
Thank you ever so much for the information. This is NOT information that doctors' tell you about. (Not mine anyway) I wish my pain doctor would give me some kind of documentation about Methadone and how it differs from other pain meds. In a ER, I doubt that anyone would look up Methadone before giving me another Opiod to stop the pain from a car accident or other problem. We patients really have to know what's going on with our bodies and our meds.
Pamela Neckpain
Posted 6/20/2008 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
Freya,
In California, anesthesia is not a routine thing with Cystoscopy.
I guess my main fear here is that NOTHING will lessen the pain from this procedure because I take Methadone for pain from my back, neck and scoliosis, etc.
This is a great place to get a diversity of opinions! We all are blessed to have a genius in our spare bedroom. Genius, of course, is our tiny computer. : )
Pamela Neckpain
Posted 6/20/2008 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
NVR:
I'd like to write my pain meds and diagnoses under my signature. I don't want to type it every time. How do you do that?
I suppose I've "broken the law" by posting an urelated question, but I gotta know!
Pamela Neckpain
Posted 6/20/2008 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
Pamela,

Go to "Control Panel" at the top left side of this page. Then hit "Edit Profile" That will allow you to write whatever you want to in your signature section.

As for a cystoscopy, I have had one without anesthesia into the bladder only though. The procedure was not painful, except to urinate afterwards caused a lot of burning. But that all went away quickly after drinking a lot of water and urinating several times afterwards.

Hope that information helps.

Lindaloo
Posted 6/21/2008 1:35 AM (GMT 0)

Pamela, I have had many cysto's and for me they are very uncomfortable.  I always have mine under anesthesia. I would never do one without it, but that's just me.  When it's over, I have a lot of irritation, but that's probably because I have had so many of them as well as kidney stones, stints, bladder and kidney infections.  I always have blood in my urine and since I had a cysto last year I refused to get another one as it is most likely stones and infection.  It was fine a year ago, no cancer so I'm going to wait as long as possible before I have to get another one.

Melissa

Posted 6/21/2008 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
I agree melissa, even if I didnt have IC which makes cystoscopies really painful I wouldnt want to do it conciously.
But I am surprised Pamela that there goingto take a biopsy for cancer wothout at least giving you something. There done here in NY without anestesia also but in my opinion if there taking a biopst I would ask to be knocked out as I'm guessing that will be more unplesant than just a routine cystoscopy.
Posted 6/21/2008 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Freya,

Multiple posts were deleted.

Thanks,
Lindaloo
Posted 6/22/2008 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Freya going thru your urethra is invasive as any procedure that enters a body cavity with a foreign object. No it isnt surgical per se but invasive with the same risks as a surgical procedure as far as infection and rupturing or kicking something else in the process.

I dont think I have seen anyone do it without meds as it is extremely painful and you must be able to lie still during the procedure.

Pam I would still ask why they are not going with a KUB or ultrasound first if you have not had these and why they are going to a last attempt first for a diagnosis. It never hurts to have knowledge and ask questions concerning our treatment options.

Whatever you decide Good luck to you and I hope you get some kind of answers as well as relief as this can be so painful as well as debilitating while it is going on.
Posted 6/22/2008 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Forum People,
I would have just walked into the cystoraphy cold - just opened myself to who knows what. I do appreciate, again, the feedback.
Pamela Neckpain
Posted 9/26/2012 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
So i had my first ever cytoscopy today. I originally schedualed it one month out and did not really worry about the procedure too much but this morning i made the near fatal mistaje of reading all the horror stories on this thread about the agaonizing pain associated with procedure but i was pleasantly surprised. Dont get me wrong, it sucks. But there is no real pain, only some discomfot. Ide say a 4 out of 10 on the pain scale. it is nothing an average person cant handle. I think Pthe worst part of the whole thing is the following 24-36 hours after the scope is pulled out. The burning is just so awful that my mind doesnt want me to go to the bathroom but it has to be done. Bottom line, the actual test is bearable ( but by no means enjoyable) and the worst part is the somewhat searing pain when you try to go after. Nonetheless, it is definantly worth it to know what is ailing you and i would do it over again in a second for a diagnoses. Hope this helps you anxious people. ITS NOT THAT BAD dont stress
Posted 9/26/2012 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
i am a guy, so i don't know how different it would be for a woman.

i have had at least 10 cyttoscopy done in the previous 3 years. 3 were done at a local dr's office, and they were very painful and rough. then i had 7 cysto surgeries on my bladder neck, but i was knocked out for those as they were day surgeries.

i understand its a bit easier to insert the scope on a woman, because the length up the urethra is much shorter and there is no "curve" to get around, nor a prostate to have to pass through

david
Posted 9/26/2012 6:33 PM (GMT 0)

You are right from my understanding, cycto's are a lot easier on women but I still wouldn't have one without anesthesia. If you are someone who has a high tolerance for pain and discomfort then it probably wouldn't be that bad. Even docs disagree on whether they are that bad or not. My ex-uro thinks they are no big deal but my nephrologist agrees with me that they are better done under anesthesia. Because I have to have so many procedures and surgeries, I have really begun to try and reduce my exposure to anesthesia, and I wish I could tolerate a cycto without any.

Posted 9/26/2012 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Just FYI but this is a thread from 2008..

Skatexxflip...welcome to the boards..you have accidentally responded to a thread that is 4 years old..

We ask that new members start their own thread so that you can introduce yourself and have more people be able to welcome you to the boards..

The button is in the upper left hand corner that reads Post New Topic.

Since a Mod will most likely end up locking/closing this thread...you can cut/paste your post that you've already written for your intro post:)
Posted 9/26/2012 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
As everyone said - this is an old thread. If you want to discuss this topic further.... or you are a new member - please introduce yourself by starting a new topic.

Thank you.

--Tina
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