Cystoscopy

I had one done a few months ago. It was no big deal. The nurse injected the lido jelly into my urethra and held it close while she massaged in through. Wait a few minutes in the stirrups. Doc came in and slid the camera in, looked around, and slid out. The weird thing was on entry and exit, it made something feel like I wanted to cum.

I guess that just like beauty being in the eye of the beholder, our level of comfort or discomfort with a cysto runs the entire spectrum from nothing pleasurable to something near an erotic experience. Due to the removal of a bladder tumor nearly 15 years ago, I had, for a time a cysto every six months for several years, but because the cancer has never come back, I do an end of the year cysto in December, and I'm sort of looking forward to Thursday, at 8:30 am. It helps that my urologist is female, and her nurse is attractive with a great sense of humor. I enjoy the way that she handles me to inject the numbing gel; and places the clamp on the end of my semi-erect member to keep it from leaking out, and I enjoy the sensation of the bladder wash. But as one other member pointed out, I enjoy catheters, too. if anyone has any questions about a cysto, shoot me a message!

Last one was Feb 2014

I'm always awake usually . Had two under GA very recently.They were rigid cystoscopies. Left me sore after for a few days.

Supple cystoscope for my wife and me. She is sore for some hours because urethra is short. I am sore for 3 - 4 days urethra is longer, evidence male genitals. That equipment is maximum 6 monthes old. Before they use also a supple cystoscope who was thicker and no so supple as last one. Such exams are not funny.

As previously stated a cystoscopy is a medical procedure used to examine the inside of the bladder using an instrument called a cystoscope.

A cystoscope is a thin, fibre optic tube that has a light and a camera at one end. It's inserted into the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) and moved up into the bladder. The camera relays images to a screen, where they can be seen by the urologist (specialist in treating bladder conditions).

There are two types of cystoscope:

- flexible cystoscope – a thin, flexible tube used when the only purpose of a cystoscopy is to look inside your bladder

- rigid cystoscope – a thin, straight metal tube used for passing small surgical instruments down through the cystoscope to remove a tissue sample or carry out treatment

Most cystoscopies are carried out as outpatient procedures, so you'll be able to go home on the same day.

A flexible cystoscopy is usually carried out using a local anaesthetic gel or spray to numb the urethra. This will reduce any discomfort when the cystoscope is inserted into the urethra.

A rigid cystoscopy is usually carried out under general anaesthetic (where you're asleep), or a spinal anaesthetic (epidural) that numbs all feeling below your spine.

However, for some people, the procedure may feel uncomfortable and can lead to mild side effects afterwards, such as muscle pain and nausea. For a few days after the procedure, you may feel a burning sensation when passing urine and you may also pass blood in your urine. This is normal and isn't something to worry about, unless it's severe and lasts longer than a few days.

There's also a small risk of developing a urinary tract infection that affects your urethra, bladder or kidneys

You should only be concerned if:

- your urine becomes so bloody that you can't see through it

- you notice clots or tissue in your urine

- you experience severe pain while urinating

- pain and bleeding lasts more than a few days

- you're unable to pass urine more than eight hours after the procedure

- you develop a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above

- your urine smells unpleasant

- you have nausea or vomiting

- you have pain in your lower back or side

My first "flex" cystoscopy was Dec. of 2014 and was used to diagnose a bladder tumor. The tumor was removed on Jan 12th 2015, under general anesthesia in a hospital, via a rigid cystoscope. It was in and out surgery, same day. Back into urologist's office 4 days later for bladder irrigation and removal of Foley cath. Back to his office about 4 weeks later for flex. cystoscopy to remove a stent he put into my left ureter; he yanked it out of the ureter, through the bladder and out the urethra in one quick motion (me awake!). Then, every 12 weeks since, I go in for another flex. cystoscopy to check for new bladder tumors. None found so far, but he did find a kidney stone embedded in my bladder wall.

We are now waiting every 4 months between scopings and eventually, he will only scope me every 6 months, for life. He may also order an intravenous pyelogram (IVP) to look for any tumors in the kidneys or ureters. An IVP is done with a contrast media injected via I.V., so it circulates and "lights-up" the renal system for X-Ray viewing. They usually tell you they want the entire large bowel empty, so as to not block the views of the ureters and lower parts of the kidney. Years ago, you got SSE's to clear the bowel, now they tell you to drink PEG solution, as you might for a colonoscopy.

Even with xylocaine viscus injected inside the penis, the scope still gets stuck at the prostate and again, at the muscle entry into the bladder. I HATE GETTING CYSTOSCOPES!

I had one a few years ago to rule out some possibilities when I was having some issues. It was no big deal for me. Swabbed, gel injected into urethra and massaged in - that felt kinda nice!, flexible scope inserted through prostate as Doc says "This might be uncomfortable" but truth was it felt great! He looks around, fills me up with saline until I'm going to pop, removes scope, and I have to stand up and pee in receptacle to measure it, followed by ultrasound.

I didn't have any negative side effects and rather the opposite actually. If only my urologist had been some hot lady doc!

But if someone had a serious blockage or issue going on there, I imagine it might be difficult.

I had a cystoscopy when I was ten years old and still bed-wetter. The doctors thought that there were physical reasons for it. I got some ultrasound exams of the bladder, one catheter exam without sedation to check the volume of the bladder and after all a cystoscopy. After I resisted during the catheter exam I got a sedation for the cystoscopy so I can't remember of the procedure itself. I just know that I had some pain after it when peeing. And the doctors decided, that I had to undergo a bladder surgery which was done some weeks later.

Recently had a Cystoscopy done. Pants and underwear dropped to my ankles, seated on the exam table and reclining against the back. Had the numbing lubricant injected into the urethra, clamped for a minute or two to let the gel work and then scoped. Entire procedure took less than ten minutes.

I've yet to have one myself, but I've witnessed many where flouroscopy was used. Typically patients don't need sedation if they're only scoping as far as the bladder, but if they go up the ureters at all I've never sen that done on a conscious patient. And I've seen sedated patients moan, so I'm pretty sure it's very uncomfortable. I enjoy the cases where they're sedated. No attempts at modesty or anything then. They just put everything out there for anyone in the room to see, and not nearly as professional then either. I've never seen anything really inappropriate, but I have heard Doctors make comments about penis size or things they were feeling on internal exams. Also I have seen people that I know, laying there in the stirrups for a length of time with me standing down by the left foot running the flouro, clear view between their legs the whole time, watching scoped and fingers going in and out of their bodies.Strange feeling next time you see them face to face.

I've yet to have one myself, but I've witnessed many where flouroscopy was used. Typically patients don't need sedation if they're only scoping as far as the bladder, but if they go up the ureters at all I've never sen that done on a conscious patient. And I've seen sedated patients moan, so I'm pretty sure it's very uncomfortable. . . . .

You really don't want patients having their ureters catheterized to be moving around. It could be bad news for those delicate 3mm vessels.

Removing ureteral catheters after surgery is no big deal and not painful.

For my bladder tumor removal and ureter stent placement, I was not sedated, but put out cold! I was glad I wasn't just sedated.

Have had several flexibles, and a few rigid's. The flexibles are a non event, the rigid's well, your put under, but go fine also. Good Nurses make sure your ready for the invasive procedure.

Just had my every 6 month scoping yesterday. It was quite uncomfortable, but no frank pain. Good news is after the next 6 month scoping, if no new tumors are found, then I get scoped yearly. In 2 more years, if there are still no tumors, he's gonna stop the scopings.

Going to have one in a couple of weeks to check for uti. Have had about five already over the past few years, no big deal. Going to go without numbing agent this time as I hate any kind of anesthia . Don't take any for colonoscopies either.

I think they like to numb you so you don't get erections during the procedure. You are going through this so might as well have some fun.

Going to have a cystoscopy procedure shortly. I have had five over the past few years always with the numbing agent. I hate using any kind of anesthesia products for anything if possible. That includes going to the dentist, colonoscopies and major surgeries , go spinal for that if I can. Wondering if anyone has experience of flexible cystoscopy without the numbing agent. Any info would be helpful on making that decision. Haven't found previous procedures uncomfortable at all. Thanks.

Falcon, I just had my every 6 month scoping this past Thurs. I have the injected Xylocaine viscous gel every time. It is still one of the most uncomfortable procedures I've ever had. (Not true pain, but REALLY does not feel good, at all.) The only thing that was worse was having an NG tube put up my nose and down into my stomach, awake by an F.P. resident. It felt like he was pushing a spike up into my brain. It was truly painful. I hate cystoscopies! The Dr. puts the scope in and runs into a constriction when going through the prostate. Then he hits another constriction at the sphincter muscle at the bladder opening. This is followed by his moving the scope all around the inside of the bladder.

I've had about 10 of these and I STILL can't get used to this. Everyone has felt just as bad as the previous one. Now, give me a flex. sig. and I'll relish that! They remind me of me inserting a colon tube up myself. I've had a couple flex. sigs. and I don't want them to end.

Jimmy,

At the risk of him saying something silly like "take it like a man," or worse, flatly discounting your real discomfort even with lidocaine gel, have you asked him to do it in a hospital or outpatient surgery center under sedation? I used to give a lot of people anesthesia/sedation for this, because nobody likes it. You'd be trading the discomfort/almost pain you're enduring now for having to go to a different place, prep like you were having a small operation (ie., anesthesia), which would just be no food swallowed after midnight (but take your morning meds if any), and having to have an i.v. placed for sedative meds. Depending on who cared for you, you'd likely have little or no discomfort, or at least not remember having had it. You'd stay in Recovery until you were more or less awake and stable, and have someone drive you home. We do this for cystoscopies and bladder or prostate biopsies all the time. If he says insurance won't pay for it, tell him to write "medically necessary," a valid medical/insurance term, on his orders, billing slips, and progress notes. The (valid) medical necessity is to stop you from having barely tolerable pain for a standard procedure which you require frequently. All he can do is say no. But I think it may work.

Eric, MD

P.S. I'd probably enjoy the sigmoidoscopies, too.

Had this done once in early December, 2007. I had a radical prostatectomy in July, 2007. The Saturday after Thanksgiving I went to the bathroom to pee. Oops, about 5 or 6 drops and nothing. HUH? ten minutes or so later I return to the bathroom and the same thing happens. Long story short, this happens Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Every 15 minutes or so, day and night, I'm going to the bathroom and I couldn't fill a thimble. Tuesday I call my urologist's office and he's out for a few days. Rather than see someone else, I set an appointment for Monday, his first day back. That was a long week.

When I see him and explain my problem, he says the only possibility of it being related to my prostate surgery is a bladder neck closure; but, they usually occur slowly rather abruptly as I've described. Anyway, he asks if he can scope me. Well, YES. Let's figure this out. So, there I am lying down watching a tv screen as the scope starts going up my urethra. I found it interesting that I was seeing the inside of my penis. lol. Anyway, all of a sudden he starts to chuckle at which time I asked what was so funny. Seems I had a kidney stone floating around in my bladder and as soon as I started to pee it was sucked to the urethra and did a great imitation of the Dutch boy with his thumb in the dam. Nothing was going to get by it. Understand, I had had 5 stones in the past and everyone hurt like hell and I didn't feel a thing with this one. The most recent was one I passed in April, 2007. The other 4 were jagged. The 5th one was almost egg shaped and very smooth. After passing it, I measured it at 1/4" long and 3/16" diameter. I had 3 of them analyzed and they were all made of uric acid - no calcium stones. Anyway, doc says since he's in there he may as well remove it so in goes the miniature alligator clips. As soon as he touched it, it broke into many pieces. He made multiple trips in and out with the clips and removed it all. When he was done he apologized for not giving me anything to dull the pain. The funny thing is, there was no pain whatsoever. I've got a feeling the prostate cancer surgery has a lot to do with the decrease of feeling in my penis.

If you have feeling of any degree in your manhood, ask for something to dull the pain.

I've had several cystoscopies, one rigid and the rest flexible. I suppose just using the lube would be enough. I've never felt real pain during the procedures. The procedure with the rigid scope ran long- over an hour instead of 20 minutes like predicted. That's a long time in styrrups with a stick in your urethra and it got uncomfortable. We need the numbing for that first pee after the procedure. That stings. Maybe that tells us the procedure would be a lot more irritating without the numbing.

After suffering a blood clot in my let last March (2016) surgery was performed to remove the clot. The surgeon told me before the surgery that I might lose my left foot because it had been without circulation for several hours. I was delighted when after surgery I still had my foot. I was then transported to rehab, where I stayed for 3 weeks. After the surgery I was unable to pass any urine. I was on a catheter for 3 months until I had my first appointment with a urologist. One of the first things he did was perform a cystoscopy. While the scope was in, water was also instilled into my bladder. I was amazed because the only time I felt any discomfort was when the scope was when it encountered the urinary sphincter. It was just a few seconds of discomfort. I didn't even feel the water filling my bladder.

Six months later a good friend of mine got out of bed to urinate, and the toilet bowl was full of blood. I don't know why, but he called his doctor the next day, who then scheduled an appointment with a urologist a few days later. (If it were me, I would have gone to the ER immediately). Anyway, the urologist did the same thing as I had done, the cystoscope and inflating with water

The only difference was he said that it was the most painful experience he had ever had. It turned out that he had a small tumor in his bladder. It turned out to be malignant, but a week later the urologist put him to sleep, and removed the tumor through the cystoscope. I was very surprised that his cystoscopy was so painful, and yet mine was almost a non-event for me.

I never had any cytstoscopy. But after read all comment not sure if I would be happy to have one.

Yes, had a flexible one done. Awake and unsedated, seems that that is most common. A bit of discomfort, but frankly I was more concerned whether I was going to spray urine all over the place when the cytoscope went in. I imagine it would be more painful if you were not relaxed or you had a very enlarged prostate that severely restricted the urethra (mine gives some restriction).

It's not something you'd do on a whim, or at least I wouldn't. It does hurt a bit and urinating afterwards burns some, but I've hurt worse. It can give details on what's going on that you can't get easily any other way and beyond the discomfort there aren't many bad things that happen from them.

Had a cystoscopy in the military, and afterwards the urologist told me I'd release urine, but I;d feel like I had the "clap", as my urethra was agitated. I urinated...hurt like hell! Luckily, the exam showed nothing.

I went with her. I loved it. She wasn't quite as happy. She had a lot of tests that day.

I had a few done but so long ago my experiences are probably not too relevant today. About 40 years ago, I had a series of kidney stones removed surgically, and over the 3 or 4 years when these surgeries were happening, the cystoscopies were done, all under GA. I gather from reading this thread that the scopes in those days were all rigid.

The only interesting thing I can add, is that on one occasion, the Urologist told me I had a stone stuck in the ureter at the entrance to the bladder. When he told me he was scheduling surgery, I protested and told him I needed some time to write an important exam. He heard me out and the following day, again under GA, he pushed the stone back up the ureter to the kidney. He told me it would work it's way back down in a week or two. It did, and he then removed it surgically after I wrote the exam.

I recently saw a young Urologist on a routine matter, and he viewed my three large scars with some interest. I felt rather like Exhibit A, as he nodded thoughtfully, probably thinking "So that's how they did it" I realize they still do surgical removals, but not too frequently.

The only other oddity, which I haven't seen mentioned, was the "blowing bubbles" sensation when urinating for the first time, from the air introduced into the bladder obviously.

I had my every 6 months flex. cystoscopy done last week. He found no new bladder tumors, but did find that I only empty about 20% of my bladder. They neglected to give me the usual antibiotic after the scope and sure enough I came down with a UTI. I'm taking a full course of Cipro. I had to sit on a potty and pee into a graduated jar in front on his nurse. Then she did an ultra sound on my bladder. I see him again next week. I'm praying I don't need a TURP. This aging and BPH is a bitch!

I had a flexible cystoscopy about 10 years ago, when there was bleeding and voiding of clots following passage of a stone. A numbing gel was instilled into my urethra so there was minimal discomfort from insertion of the scope, just a feeling of fullness or pressure. There was a little brief pain as the scope passed through the sphincter into my bladder. Water and continuously injected and evacuated from my bladder while the scope was in, and I was fascinated watching the view from the scope on the TV monitor next to the exam table. No trouble was found, and withdrawal didn't hurt at all. What did hurt, big time, was passing urine afterwards. It was like pissing razor blades. I kept an extra handkerchief in my pocket in case I had to go at work; I'd wad it up and bite down on it to keep from yelling at the urinal. This went on for the better part of two weeks when the pain associated with urinating finally subsided. The scope itself is no big deal but going to the bathroom afterwards really got my attention.

I have had this twice, the second time I paid an extra $500 for sedation. Any questions?