First cystoscopy

New member here. Having my first cystoscopy tomorrow. I have had a catheter in for a week now due to acute urinary retention. I had the cath removed two times however still have AUR. My mind is going through all different scenarios. Anyway any thoughts about the procedure that can calm me down would be much appreciated. I'm thinking that it's as painful as having a catheter inserted?

A staple? Part of your diet? Ouch.

If you relax and trust your doctor it is nothing.. Anxiety will tense up the passageway making it mor difficult for them to do it and thus causing irritation after the fact. Its all about conquering fear. BTW the same goes for biopsy and anything else you encounter in life. I like your word play!

Its not big deal if you make sure they put the freezing gel inside your urethra AND wait 4 minutes for it to take affect.

Then try to relax as much as possible so its a quick and easy procedure. Its not that bad.

Fun ? No.
Painful ? No
Just slightly uncomfortable

Fortunately both Uro's who have performed cystoscopy's on me believe in administering a general anaethetic. So never felt a thing.

If I had to do it over again I would have taken 2 Hydrocodone before the procedure.

The female nurse part was another oddity in this journey. She preps the entire area with a very slippery antibacterial soap with a stroking motion at times.

Had it been under different circumstances...

It's a bigger diameter than a catheter. I had to self-cath for 30 days and that was not big deal, more of a mental hurdle than a physical one. My cystoscopy was painful, likely due to the stricture they found and couldn't get past.

I'm sure you will do great. Like many guys have said relax, it's over before you know it. If you end up having to self-cath afterwards that too is not that big a deal. I had one of those block-out moments after he told me to self-cath where I didn't hear anything he said after that but it was unwarranted.

If you need to cath and have a choice I recommend the once use speedi-cath in saline. I used a 16F with a curved tip. You use it and toss the whole works. Otherwise you rinse, sterilize, lube and repeat with the same one several times. Works but a pain in the behind.

Again, I would take a couple of Hydro's before the procedure if that's possible.

Insist your uro give you something, either hydro's or shoot you up with something. The oral Hyrdo's take at least 30 min to work. An IV shot of something is immediate.

Make sure you have a ride home. That was my downfall. After it started getting painful they offered some IV pain meds but I didn't have a ride. All I got was a nurse to hold my hand.

I really think my procedure was out of the norm. Most of the time it's no big deal as many have said.

I have underwent 8 scopings over the years. Only the 1st one while awake, very painful and traumatic due to strictures and scar issues. The other 7 were while I was put under completely, either to clear the strictures (all of them were failures), and the last one just last week, while I was being operated on for another reason. He attempted to break through the bladder neck one more time, but couldn't even pass the smallest wire. 100% sealed shut for good.

Jose - Let us know how your cystoscopy goes today.

Just had one last week. Not a big deal at all. I would take a tranquilizer if you have one and are anxious, but the procedure itself was uncomfortable, not painful. Just breathe through it. It did hurt to pee for a few days afterwards, but this too shall pass. Good luck.

It's done. Less pain than a catheter. The catheter is out. Hopefully I can pee. Otherwise back to cath and possible surgery.

I am hopeful too. I did dribble a bit of urine after procedure so that could be good.