Cystoscopy question

I'll be going to my urologist for a cystoscopy next month. Will I be in stirrups or just lying on the table? Any feedback from anybody that's had a cystoscopy?

My cystoscopies have just been on the table, with no stirrups.

It might be different for women.

I had my one and only cystoscopy about 20 years ago. My feet were in stirrups and the backrest raised so I wasn’t laying flat. I had a good view of what the scope’s camera was seeing on an overhead monitor. The doc and I watched together as he explained the meaning of the images. BTW, I was positioned on the table with my butt sort of hanging over a cutout on the edge. This was so I could continually, involuntarily, void the sterile water that was being pumped into my bladder to keep the cameras field of vision clear. The water simply drained out my urethra past the scope into a catch container under the table. An interesting sensation. Be prepared for some serious stinging when you pee for the first days after the procedure. Also some blood until the delicate tissues in your urinary tract heal up. I kept an extra handkerchief on hand that I’d roll up and bite on when I peed to keep from yelling. Good Luck.

@Dixon good to know, thank you

I'm a woman. I had one in stirrups. My husband is a man. He had one lying on his back, no stirrups.

I've had 2 rigid ones and amd 0number of flexible ones. The rigid ones were in stirrups and the flex ons were flat on my back.

I’ve had two. Neither really hurt before or after. However, there was som minimal discomfort when the scope passed through my prostate. Bothe doctors prescribed AZO tablets for post procedure pain. I don’t remember having much though.

My fear was how was such a large instrument going to it in such a small hole. But it does. No worries, it will be ok.

I’ve had 2 flexible cystoscopes and one rigid. The two flexible we’re on by back. A nurse injected a tube of lidocaine into my urethra to numb me, that was a strange sensation. The lidocaine was very cold and did sting a little but not bad. The cystoscopy itself was not painful at all just a strange feeling as it went through my prostate. It feels like something going into you but you can’t tell exactly where it is. Afterwards it burned to pee for a day but not bad. the rigid cystoscope was a little different. First they put a catheter in to empty my bladder and then injected 60 cc of very chilled lidocaine into my bladder. After she took the catheter out the nurse injected 20 cc of chilled lidocaine gel into my urethra. This burned a little and felt cold but not very bad My legs were spread and held up by pads on the bed to keep my legs up and spread. When the doctor inserted the rigid scope I could feel it and it didn’t hurt but it was a little uncomfortable. You could feel the full length of the scope inside. When the doctor removed the center I could feel the lidocaine drain from my bladder over my scrotum into a pan at the foot of the bed. It felt cold and did burn a good bit. All liquid used drained this same way. The flexible scope drains through the scope itself. I actually had a urolift procedure done during the rigid scope. Not bad at all but I was ready to have the scope removed at the end of the procedure. When they wheeled me out of the procedure room I could see the catch basin on the floor and it appeared quite dark red from blood, this blood came from the urolift and not the cystoscope. I did have discomfort and based some blood for a few days

Appreciate it everybody!! You're really making me feel better 😊😊

I've had a few cystoscopies over the years. The rigid were a bit more uncomfortable than the flexible although a numbing gel was injected in each case. The prostate is the point where the discomfort comes in. I suppose that it depends on the doctor's facilities whether stirrups are used. I've had it both ways.

To do the voiding urography, the injection of fluid into the bladder was interesting as was the injection for the scope. I've referred to each as a bladder enema. In the one case, I had to retain the fluid until ready to void into the container as the instrument was placed over the head of my penis and slightly inflated.

I also had a transrectal ultrasound where the probe was inserted into my rectum. It wasn't unlike one of my larger enema nozzles that provides a very comfortable pressure on my prostate.

While feeling a bit vulnerable, it wasn't as bad as some procedures I've endured.

I'm guessing a transrectal ultrasound would be next for me but I hope not lol

I'll be getting enough torture in the front so no torture in the back would be good for me lol

I’ve posted about this subject on prior threads about cystos- since having a bladder tumor removed in the early 1990s, I had one every 6 months for about 3 years, then once a year until 2020, when my doc felt every 2 years was sufficient. I’m scheduled for one in November, and, truth be told, I’m really looking forward to it. That partly because I enjoy the way the nurse at this clinic grasps my penis to administer the numbing gel, then clips the end of my cock to prevent leakage and allow the lidocaine to do its thing. My urologist is female, and I love the way she describes everything that appears on the monitor as she works the scope around. It may be that this procedure is easier for me to endure since I’ve had a prostatectomy. Definitely not as sensitive in some places as I once was.

@Sherema69 ah normally I have a male urologist but it shows on my appointment for next year that I'll be seeing a female urologist. I'm pretty much just getting a rectal/prostate exam and a psa bloodtest every year. Not sure if the appointment will include a genital exam since I'll be getting an ultrasound and a cystoscopy. But I'm definitely not complaining about that lol

Would I be getting a prostate exam after the cystoscopy is done?

@Tingue77 -That’s always included at the end of my cystos - my prostate was sliced and diced in a lab in Portland Oregon years ago, to determine the aggressiveness of the cancer. But my doc explains that she wants to be certain that everything feels “normal” in the area where it used to reside. I did not have the nerve sparing surgery, but some of the nerves in that area have regenerated-and she manages to stimulate those quite nicely whenever she does a DRE. Good luck with your procedure!

Thank you. I was just wondering if a dre was included but I'll have to wait and see. I'm guessing I'll have a follow up appointment after my procedure as well

I have never been in stirrups for a cystoscopy with a flexible scope. The table has adjustments to raise your hips. When I had a procedure using a rigid scope, I was in stirrups. The rigid scope was more uncomfortable but not really painful. The procedure with that scope was significantly longer than just a visual examination so I was sore afterward. The procedure also used a trans recital ultrasound, but no DRE.

I have had more cystoscopies and bladder procedures than i can count and some times she has me in strips and sometimes not , when i get bladder botox injections i am in stirrups and sometimes when she does the injections its with a ridged scope and she moves it into funky positions for the injections and that hurts and other times she uses a flexible scope for the injections but either way its fun for me lol , i dont know how dudes get it done , maybe they tie one leg to the table so you don't run

My doctor wants to give me botox for my bladder. She said she will do it in the hospital under sedation, If i am gonna get it done i want to feel it.. the other reason I dont want it i dont wait to catheter everyday .The flex cysto i had before many times . Hopefully she will give me a ridge one day..

Annie2...When I first realized the extent of my latest exam, I wanted to run like hell. It may have taken several to tackle me and tie me down. The first visual of the equipment surprised me and scared me inasmuch as I had no prior knowledge. I'm glad I capitulated and allowed the exam to proceed. Displaying my package (junk) to those two cute young medical assistants may have scared them as well, or at least provided some snickers or triggered some sympathy.

The bottom line is that all was well with my urologist's ass..essment. Oh...the indignities of aging and peace of mind after the fact!

Think there will be a follow up exam after my cystoscopy?

I has a cystoscopy a few days ago. Because my prostate has been treated the cysto was easy and not painful. Unfortunately something nasty was discovered.

Bladder or prostate problems so the scope is no walk in the park

I had cystoscopy a few years ago. The reason was detecting 2 red blood cells in my urine. There was first an extensive work up with bladder filling and X-ray. The actual procedure was very fast and painless. I was in stirrups. Xylocaine injected into my penis meant no pain, but unfortunately no pleasure either. I found that catheters were more enjoyable! the doctor used a 16 fr flexible scope so no residual pain after my fist pee.

My urologist said I did fantastic during my cystoscopy. All I felt was the scope going in further. It was just a really weird sensation but it did not hurt at all since there was numbing gel inserted into my penis. If you can deal with a bit of pressure with the scope going further, it's absolutely nothing

Never had one. But a buddy of mine who has battled bladder cancer in the past gets one every 6 months. He's posted a few pics of the procedure room and the table in the photos doesn't have any stirrups. (Or if it does, they're still folded up when he takes the pictures.)