Due to have a flexble cystoscopy on Thursday as part of investigstion into recurrent prostatitis, just wondered what other peoples experience was of this procedure?
Hey there Maddison
I have them 3 or 4 times a year because of a stricture.
The nurse is all way very nice and the doctor is gentle. I have never had a problem
Take care Ken
Its not too bad.
Easy easy - takes less than a minute. If you are lucky you will have a monitor to watch the inward journey - fascinating!
Very quick and easy procedure and interesting to watch. Ask questions they are always ready to answer and that gives you an instant diagnosis if anything is amiss.
Ken - can you explain the stricture? In other posts you say that you are wide open. Thanks much!
Tim
Tim
No problem
My prostate is still wide open from the having the Urolift. The stricture is just before the prostate. It has been really good lately. When I first found out about it.My doctor said that I would have to either have a 12 or a 14 FR catheter because the others are to big if I had to have a catheter put in. I got it from kidney stone surgery. Found it in 2014 had 7 infection and sepsis.
When we first found out he thought he may have to do surgery or we even talked about balloon dilation. But for right now I have to just deal with a tight external sphincter.
All is good in the world. Ken
Maddison,
I have had cystoscopy three times.The least painful time was when they inserted lydocaine into the urethra first. They insert the lydocaine then let it set for 10 minutes or so before starting the cystoscopy. Make sure they do this before they start.
The fear of the procedure is worse than the actual procedure.
Thomas
Maddison,
I have had cystoscopy three times.The least painful time was when they inserted lydocaine into the urethra first. They insert the lydocaine then let it set for 10 minutes or so before starting the cystoscopy. Make sure they do this before they start.
The fear of the procedure is worse than the actual procedure.
Thomas
it’s a little uncomfortable. not too bad
had it a couple times. before that i never even had a cath. wasnt bad at all.
It’s a good idea to ask the “operator” if they have ever had it done. Depending on the answer you will have some idea of how sensitive they are to your experience of the procedure. My own experience is that it is uncomfortable up to the point the scope reaches your prostate, at that point it becomes very uncomfortable as it passes through but subsides a little after. The discomfort is proportionate to how open yours is. There should be some numbing beforehand but it doesn’t reach much beyond the entry point so don’t get your hopes up. The key, paradoxically, is to relax. I know, not easy, but I found holding the female Nurses offered hand was actually helpful.
no problem…didnt feel a thing..very quick procedure
I tried hold her hand but she was using it to cover the laughter while see looked at my penis. 
Good morning
Yes that is very true. The lydocaine gel only works to a point. About the prostate you can feel it more but most of the time it quick and it over before you know it. What everyone is telling you just relax. Your doctor is not trying to hurt you.
Have a good day…Ken
Hello
Uncklefester
It can’t be that bad. They are use to seeing the body. When you see one you see them all. I had to do that years ago. 30 years ago I worked in a nursing home for 5 years took care of men and women. Was also a ward secretary for a year.
Do that it helped me in later year. Took care of my parents and my in-laws when they got sick.
The only thing I had to get use to was learning that my friend and neighbor was my Urologist nurse. It was kinda weird the first time she put the gel in. After 4 years we don’t have a problem. It’s just something we don’t talk about.
The procedure is over before you get use to it. Have a good day Ken
Hi, Truthmatters,
Right on! Relax, but what or how? My experience: bear down a bit as though to urinate. And, of course, much depends o the “operator”
I wish you good luck and, if you have the time and inclination, please post your experience, good or bad. Warm regards, alan86734.
Alan..
Good Morning
Yes it does help to relax. They tell to to lay flat. I never do. I sit more up because I want to watch what is going on. My urologist has never hurt me. Most of the time you will not feel it has the camera goes in. It’s when he get to the prostate were you need to relax your body.
You guy’s have talked about watching the monitor. For me my doctor has never used the monitor. But I have seen my insides. One time after he did it and was done he asked me if I wanted to see what everything looked like. I said Yes
He held the camera but he put it in the bladder first.
Then he told me to look through the glass and started to pull it out slowly. I saw the inside of my bladder, the prostate and the urethra. He also showed me the stricture I have. I found it all very interesting to see what the insides look like.
I think he did it because I was asking many question and I wanted to know what was going on.
God Bless you all…Ken
Thanks everyone for the reassuring comments, very much appreciated.
I’ve had many cystoscopes over the last 15 years, including one as recently as last month. I too had a urolyft procedure but previously had bladder cancer so I have to undergo cystocope procedures once a year to monitor possible recurrence. I’ve found them painful and extremely unpleasant and definitely anxiety producing. not to mention the day or two afterwards when I have some pain (burning) on urination. I’ve persuaded my urologists that rather than give me a little valium (their idea) prior to the cystoscope that they do my procedure as an outpatient but in the hospital. Then I am given anesthesia --versed - which then puts me under and I wake up and all is well although there is still some discomfort for the next couple of days upon urination (burning). So it may be the case that this is an option for you. My health insurance is with Kaiser.