I'm sorry to start a new topic, but couldn't find anything on this in the other threads. I know there are some that mention flexible cystoscopy - which is done under a local anesthetic or no anesthetic at all - but my urologist wants to do a rigid cystoscopy, biopsy of bladder and hyperdistention of the bladder under a general anesthetic in hospital. I'm resisting this as you can imagine, because I'm deathly afraid of generals as well as whether the hyperdistention will make the bladder spasms worse. If anyone's had this done, can you please let me know what it was like, if you had any after-effects and if you felt it helped. He's doing this apparently to determine if I have interstitial cystitis, tho I've only had a couple bladder infections over 30 years ago. I've had what feels like a painful spasm in the urethra, and sometimes (not always!) the bladder is sensitive when I press on it if it's full. I find it gets worse when I walk, so I can't walk far of late - it seems to irritate the bladder and cause it to feel as if the bladder is 'falling out', tho I've been to a gyno who says I have no prolapses. Please, if someone can give me some info on this, I'd really appreciate it. I'm inclined to think I may have a form of pudendal neuralgia that's affecting my bladder, as I've had terrible sacroiliac joint problems and piriformis muscle spasm. And of course, my anxiety and depression is in full swing. :-(

I've had no replies to this, so am assuming no one's had this done. This makes me even more afraid of going ahead with it. Can anyone who's been diagnosed with IC please tell me how their doctor/urologist came to this diagnosis? What tests determined it? Thanks for any info you can give me.

Mobi: I'm so sorry no one seems to have had this experience. My daughter's boyfriend's mom has IC...she calls every night (my daughter does) and I'm going to ask her about it tonight. I'll get back to you with the answer as soon as I know something. Hang on sweetie. Try not to be too afraid. It doesn't sounds like you'll be "under" for too long. Do you smoke? If not, you should breeze right through general anesthesia...if you do, try to quit a couple of weeks before the procedure (it'll go easier for you.) In terms of the spasms getting worse, I hope this is something your doctor is going to monitor closely. Speak up; the squeak wheel gets oiled fastest (or in this case, gets prescriptions the quickest.)

Talk to you soon!

Hmmmm -- there was someone who has IC. It's one of the "oldtimers." I'm pretty sure it's joliejacq. Look her up and send her an IM. She's very knowledgeable.

Mobi,
I have had a couple of cystoscopies done this past spring, but since I am not sure which type was done while I was under the anesthesia, I was hesitant to reply.
First, a little history-
I ended up at a urologist for a possible kidney stone and chronic blood in my urine. The stone issue resolved itself, but the dr. felt we should do a cystoscopy due to the blood in the urine (there was no infection). The first cysto they did was in the office with NOTHING for pain control or anesthesia - it was a horrible experience - very painful. At that time he saw a reddened area on the wall of my bladder, and said he would repeat the test in 6 months and if the red area was still there, he would do a biopsy. Immediately after the procedure, they had me leave a urine to do a cytology study on - to check again for blood, etc... They called the next week and said there were some "atypical cells" found in my urine. Of course, I freaked out and had myself convinced that I had bladder cancer! This time I insisted on the same day surgery and anesthesia. They repeated the cysoscopy and took biopsies. I should tell you that for the first 24-48 hours after both cystos the urge to pee was horrific and there was much discomfort when trying to void.
Anyway, long story short - there was no cancer found, but the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis was made, which is a fancy term for chronic inflammation of the bladder. Well, I have been a frequent goer for years, with other symptoms as well, so I was relieved to have a name for what I have. The nurse that gave me the results really had no coping strategies for me, and I was so relieved there was no cancer that I did not think to inquire further. I have since tried to educate myself using the internet and books about IC. I am to return to the urologist next spring for a recheck and another cystoscopy. We'll go from there, I guess.
My main symptoms are the freqency, and sometimes pressure in my abdomen and urethra when I void. I think I have lived with this most of my life, and so I am used to it, and it feels normal to me.
I probably have not been much help in answering your concerns, sorry! But, if I were you, I would insist on having the cystoscopy done under a general anesthesia - that will save you much pain!
Take care,
Di

Thank you everyone who's replied! I've decided not to go ahead with the rigid cystoscopy, simply because my back pain is so bad, I truly believe it's related. And frankly, I feel since this urologist told me 18 months ago after a regular cystoscopy that my bladder was 'pristine', this is simply overkill. I'm going to pursue my back pain problem first, since it's so bad I can't sit or walk. Di, thanks so much for your candid recount of your experience. My bladder problem changes - mostly it feels as if there's a painful spasm in the urethra...not the regular 'urge to go' that we all know and love. This is very painful. And it changes over to a burning sensation in the vagina, and sometimes the rectum. This is why I'm thinking it's related to the back and perhaps a pinched nerve. I feel the urologist could've done other things prior to this very invasive procedure. But a urologist will only do what he knows. The pain of all this is debilitating - if the back doesn't have me flat on the bed, the bladder makes it impossible to walk. I hope to get to the bottom of it soon - and thanks SO much for everyone's input. The fact not many have had this done indicates to me it's not really necessary for me.

Round Robin, thanks for asking your d-b's mom. I'll be interested in her reply. I don't smoke, but am very much against general anesthetic if there's a lesser approach to the problem. Frankly, I don't believe all avenues have been looked into - for instance, the urologist seemed totally uninterested in the fact my sacroiliac joint and piriformis muscle were so bad I couldn't sit. And the pudendal nerver runs right around this muscle which feeds the bladder, vagina and rectum. Thanks again!