cystoscopy pain

12 years 3 months ago #40205 by warrentug
Replied by warrentug on topic cystoscopy pain
Thanks again for the information and ideas....my pain level is pretty high, I fish commercially and have been to the emergency room a few times. I don't know if it was a one time deal or if that is where I have extra nerves....any how I will bring up these ideas and questions to my doctor after my TURBT next month. He wanted to do it on Nov 15th but I told him I had to catch some fish to be able to pay him! :) So now it is scheduled for Dec 6th.
When I first had my DX I was pretty shell shocked,( I was thinking bladder stone), so I didn't ask any questions. Now with everyones help and ideas from the sight I will be able to ask him what his plan is and what it all means.
Thanks again,
Warren

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12 years 3 months ago #40178 by mmc
Replied by mmc on topic cystoscopy pain
This is the only thing I could find that had an actual recommended catheter size: www.uihealthcare.com/depts/med/urology/research/bladdercancer/bcginterferonalphastudy.pdf

It's from 1999 though so who knows if they've come up with some standard that is different.

It says recommended size for men is 16 French and for women 14 French. (If you go to the link, you can do CTRL F and then put in "Recommended catheter" and it will take you right to the section.

You can ask your doctor about the possibility and pros/cons of using a smaller one if you find it causes a lot of pain each time (even after getting a relaxant). Who knows? Could be some docs like to use the bigger catheter because it's faster.

Like doc says, nobody really knows why some people have a lot of pain and others not so much.

As for me, now that I have a neobladder and no prostate, I can catheterize myself with a 16 French, no numbing stuff, no pain, not really any discomfort and I can do it practically using a windup. :) However, I do not recommend getting your prostate removed just to make catheterizing easier. :) That's a joke!

Again, good luck with your treatments and I hope the extra time with the numbing gel and the relaxant helps.

There are some other things in the article that you may find of interest and you may even want to ask your uro about. It's meant for urologists and it's specifically talking about BCG with Interferon administration but that is likely not much different from regular BCG in terms of how administered.

Mike

Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results....distant mets
2/2014 ct result...spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph...

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12 years 3 months ago #40176 by dieseldoc
Replied by dieseldoc on topic cystoscopy pain
I never use the numbing stuff and I don't have any pain, just some discomfort, it feels like I have to pee really bad. But I do get the spasms real bad after, the doc gives me some anti-spasm meds that turn my pee green. My pain tolerance is not at all that great ether and I to have a slightly enlarged prostate. So I don't understand why some guys have a lot of pain and some don't. :unsure:

T1,NO,MO battling bladder cancer since 2005

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12 years 4 months ago #40170 by Alan
Replied by Alan on topic cystoscopy pain
warrentug wrote:
Here is a quick link on BCG. www.bcgoncology.com/treatment/bcg.html . I don't remember if the cath is smaller or not. It isn't bigger so that is a plus.
While it isn't a cake walk, it is certainly not as bad as the rigors of chemo. Side affects can be cumulative and very rarely serious but, let's not concern about any of that until you cross that bridge.

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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12 years 4 months ago #40158 by warrentug
Replied by warrentug on topic cystoscopy pain
Thanks for the first hand info....I don't know if I will be getting BCG yet, but that is what I am wondering about...if it will be a smaller catheter and so less pain. Also was it so painfull because of the bleeding or tumor, or if that is just normal. I will be asking the doctor these questions to but it's good to here from the members.
Thanks again,
Warren.

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12 years 4 months ago #40156 by Alan
Replied by Alan on topic cystoscopy pain
I sure don't want to pretend this a fun test but, I mentally try to tell myself it is "uncomfortable" for about 30 seconds and then it this over after 2-3 minutes. This is after probably 12 of these lovely tests the past 3 years. I just figure if this is the worst I will face on this going forward-well bring it on. This is not to diminish the fact that all of us have different pain thresholds and diffrent complications. I also tell myself many are fighting chemo among other far worse scenarios.

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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