My cystoscopy is scheduled for next Wednesday. I am REALLY scared of anesthesia (they are doing conscious sedation). On the plus side, once it's done I won't be scared anymore and then I can get the colonoscopy I've been putting off for a year. On the other hand, I have never had children and have never had any kind of anesthesia or sedation other than nitrous oxide and novocaine at the dentist.

I guess I'm scared of something going wrong and being the 1 in 3000 that doesn't wake up.

Looking for your experiences with this procedure so I know what to expect.

NewCrone: Conscious sedation is not the same as general anesthesia, which has many more complications. I've undergone conscious sedation many times (colonoscopies, laparascopies, even some dental surgery). It was a breeze. They'll put an i.v. line in, and for about 2 minutes after the drug enters your system, you will be the happiest person in the world (LOL)...I'm not kidding, the feeling is incredible. You're happy, no anxiety, you could care less if they chop off your head, that's how good you feel. Then you blink, and....it's completely over. It's kind of weird; I've come out of this type of sedation convinced that no more than 5 minutes had gone by when in reality it was 3 hours.

I hate going for colonoscopies--because of the prep the night before. I already have irritable bowel syndrome, so the prospect of searing pain, diarrhea and cramps for 8 hours makes me dread and postpone this procedure. But I LOVE the sedation part.

Don't worry; you will be absolutely fine. Doctors these days do not want to be sued, and they are very careful. Hundreds of thousands of people undergo these procedures every day and only a miniscule amount ever have any sort of reaction, so I'd just go and get it done. Good luck!!!

I've had a cystoscopy. I had it in the urologist's office, but I don't remember any type of anesthesia, other than the anesthetic gel they use to numb the area and urethra before inserting the cystoscope.

It's not a comfortable procedure, but it's not a long procedure either, so I didn't find it too bad.

I've had numerous cystoscopies (one with, and the rest without anesthesia). I don't find them difficult at all. No pain, just the discomfort of the bladder filling, but joyfully - they let you pee very quickly!

Good luck - let us know how it went.

JJ

Well, aside from the high anxiety about the sedation, I can't tell you how it went because I was out cold -- one minute I was in the O.R. and they were setting me up to be taped down, and the next thing I knew I was waking up -- if that's what you want to call it; it feels more like going from a state of nonexistence to existence. Very strange.

Doc found nothing seriously wrong; he dilated the urethra which was supposed to help me empty bladder better, but I have seen no effect; I am still peeing every half hour in the AM, somewhat less in the afternoon.

This is really making me nuts.

I suspect some of this is weight-related, so it's time to try to do something about this weight (I am about 50 lbs. over a healthy weight for me) -- not that that is going to be easy either, based on the trials and tribulations I see others here going through.

I go back to the uro next week; I suspect that the next step will be meds.

NewCrone, sounds like all went well. Glad to hear it. When I have "the problem," I take Cardura, which is actually a blood pressure pill prescribed to men with prostate problems. That gets me rolling and I stop taking it. I suspect that's your next step.

You are probably right that meds are the next step, though I really hate to think about it. I've always been very healthy, and have lived med-free up till now. I have hotflashes, though they aren't bad. I use a diaphragm for BC, so I haven't taken hormones.

I hate, hate, hate to have to go on meds. But just today, I have been in the bathroom at 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:20, and it is now 11:45 and I am ready to go again. And my hubby wants me to meet him in NYC tonight to go to a concert and I have no idea if I can get from the office to the club without my bladder feeling like it's going to burst or I'm going to wet my pants.

Frankly, I have to say that at least during the mornings, the problem is WORSE since I had the cystoscopy. It was bad yesterday and worse today. It seems to calm down a little bit in the afternoon, but from 7 AM to noon it's terrible.

Good Morning Newcrone, I was also wondering what seems to be your fluid intake. Like do you drink coffee or sodas (Yummy but murder on the bladder) ? I know this sounds like a small thing but sometimes an accumaltion of small things help irrated the bladder. I know If I slip and have coffee or dark sodas I pay for it I just stick to my herbal teas and cranberry juice and a lil orange juice and water. Also if right before my period it starts not to irratate the bladder I dont drink as much to give The other thing I had already shared were the salves I use , these are just a few things that work for me. I use to really panic because its hell when you have this, hope you are having a better day, Tinkybug


Sorry brainfog or brainfart setting in I should have reviewed my post I meant to say I give my bladder a break on the 5th sentence. I think I am going to stop posting for a while I am feeling pretty good just the wiring with the brain is off, cant write cant spell anymore, dont like this.

NewCrone, did they give you an antibiotic to take after the cystoscopy? I had a course of Cipro to ward off any impending doom. Don't worry about taking the meds; you probably only have to stay on them until the good flow starts, and then you can go off of it. At least that's what I did, and I'm doing well (knock wood!)

Yes, I am on a 3-day course of Levaquin (which is like Cipro). I was only sore the first day. Mostly what I feel is "exit point" urgency rather than bladder fullness, though I am still peeing a fair amount each time.





I drink coffee in the AM, though the day I had the cysto I had no coffee and still peed 3 times before the procedure, though that could have been nerves. I drink 1-2 cups at home and that's it. I used to drink 4-5 cups a day but have cut way back. I only drink soda with dinner. I have read that coffee, soda, and acidic juices (including cranberry and orange) are murder on the bladder if you have interstitial cystitis, but the doc did not say I have that; on the contrary, he said everything looks fine.

I also usually have a cup or two of tea at work.

Today I just had coffee at home, no tea, no soda. And I still have the urgency, though now that it's afternoon it's more like every hour than every half hour.

I will try the things from the link you sent me. My hubby just found a job so I can spend some money.