So I went to my new Urologists and mentioned all the test you guys mentioned here and while he said those are good test none are as definitive as a biopsy. I know everyone tolerates pain different but on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst. How bad was it for you?
No pain whatsoever, whilst biopsy was being undertaken a nurse was facing me all the time which took my mind off what was happening.
The 1st doctor that did a biopsy did not numb the area with lidocaine. Ouch! I almost flew off the table. 3 years later I had another biopsy by a better doctor. I barely felt it.
He did use lidocaine prior to the procedure.
Thanks Nigel, I am gonna ask if I can at least listen to some music to take my mind off of things.
I went over the procedure with my Dr and asked about infection. He said the first thing they do is numb it with lidocaine. Where you comfortable driving home after the second time?
Yes, I felt fine
I'm not sure that the local anaesthetic had been fully effective, so pain rating 4 or 5 but only while it was happening, i.e. when jabbing stopped, so did pain. Took me back to olden times when school dentist, with cable & pulley operated drill, didn't bother with a cissy thing like a local for a simple filling!
Having managed to avoid all significant hospital procedures in my 7+ decades, I'd amplify that with a squeam factor of about 100 out of 10. Disregard if you're not the squeamish sort. Whatever happened to me subsequently .... catheterisation, TURP, etc .... was easy peasy compared to that initial culture shock. Must be my sheltered upbringing, confined to falling down steep hillsides, sliding off motorbikes and so forth, with varying degrees of rather painfull injury, though not requiring anything more than outpatient treatment.
My first awake biopsy was uncomfortable but OK - nurse held my hand in front while a crowd of observers watched the procedure from behind! I just reminded myself that women go through much worse during childbirth!
Second saturation biopsy was pain free because I had a general anaesthetic.
coinky dinky, me to. i'm scheduled for an MRI-guided in-bore, so the number of core-samples won't be 12-20 but only 4-6.... or so i'm told. paying $2500 out of pocket, which i'm hoping will hurt more than the biopsy. i'm bein told "don't be a wimp, get a TRUS fusion, won't cost you a dime" - going down to sunny delray beach FL to have it done, keep hearing people say "have fun!" oh yeah, a needle up my butt, what could be more fun than that, i ask you?
Well my biopsy is scheduled a week from tomorrow so I'll let you know. They didn't mention lidocaine but I'm definitely going to ask for it. What sort of pre meds did they give you to take for infection?
Mine was very uncomfortable and pain was 5 on 1-10 scale. It was TRUS biopsy were 12 samples were taken. Cores number 3, 8, 10 were very painful. Drive home was uncomfortable and I had bleeding in urine for about 4 weeks. First time I had #2 I was bleeding from rectum.
Antibiotic injection of Rocepfin which was given intramuscular was also painful for 7 days.
MK
I cannot remember any injection for pain, I know I felt no pain in any shape or form.
Hi BigwiilG
I would say it was uncomfortable rather than painful. Not wishing to be crude, it was like needing to go to the toilet with more than your normal stool feeling. Slight stinging but no more than an abrasive shave with a blunt blade. As I recall I was given antibiotics for 5 days after to ensure no infection. There were three doctors when i had it done. The senior doctor was very careful and apologetic for the slight discomfort. She ask me during the process was I alright, at which I retorted "will this do anything for my tinnitus" The two doctors observing went into the corner and I could see from their shoulder movements they had the giggles. I didn't have tinnitus at the time but I have it now. Serves me right for being too dam clever..
The process is probably more embarrassing than anything else.
Good Luck
G
Rolf, I'm not sure what meds they gave me, not home at the present time but I do know they said that it was 3 days of medication. The day before 2 tablets, the day 2 tablets and the day after 2 tablets. That was one of the first questions I asked once they told me it was no way outta getting the biopsy.
I get you on the embarrassing thing. As I was looking around the office at the amount of women that were his assistants I couldn't help but think how embarrassing this it gonna be lol. But it's a necessary evil.
My urologist numbed the area with lidocaine. The procedure was a little uncomfortable but not painful. I would say a 1 for me. Good luck.
i STILL on the fence about getting biopsy, although scheduled for it feb 28. i've been taking cayenne in gelatin capsules for a week and maybe it's imaginary, but i think i have more control over urination now. trying to get another PSA to see if the 16.6 has dropped. if it has, i may keep doing this ayurvedic herbal regimen and put off the biopsy another month or two.
I have not read the entire thread, but if you refer to a post MRI and pre-op biopsy then if my experience is a guide, with a general anaesthetic I endured no pain during and after the procedure.
A prostate biopsy (I had a transperineal) is a big deal. You should have it done if PCa is suspect.
The experience of the urologist means everything. The more of these he has done, th less chance of something going wrong eg sepsis.
Also choose the urologist wisely. Ask the one you want to operate on you, if you end up going that route, to perform the biopsy.
hi barney - do you happen to know if an MD in Radiology is sufficiently qualified to do biopsy (surgery) or does performing biopsy require an MD in Urology?
Don't you want to know whether or not you have cancer?