cystoscopy - What is it really like?

[joan41]

I'm having a cystoscopy done soon for recurring UTI's and pain while urinating.  What is the procedure like and how much does it hurt?
Thanks

[McGyver2]

I just had a cystoscopy for a ureteral stent implant and a foley catheter put in on 04-Sept-2010. My Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL rock-shock) on 02-Sept-2010 didn't work on a 5x9 ureteral stone causing colic. The cysto was quite mutilating (I'm sure superficially), it left me with a very irritating blood squirting cath setup (19 French), but with the anotomical difference of the male urethra I'm sure that's very common. My bladder still spazzes during and, or, induces me to urinate--there may be slack (excess) stent irritating my bladder. I definately prefer this to knives and scalpels.

[Dr_Veena]

Hi,
   How are you? Cystoscopy is a proceedure to visualize the inner lining of the bladder and the urethra. It is usually done under local anesthesia.

It is done for conditions like interstitial cystitis, haematuria, frequent urinary tract infections, loss of bladder control or over active bladder, stones in the urinary tract etc.

Recurrent urinary tract infections can occur due to interstital cystitis, abnormality in the normal structure of the urinary tract, immunocompromised situations etc.

So, cystoscopy would reveal the cause for recurrent urinary tract infections and help in treating.
All the best.