Urodynamic Testing?

[Sailorsong]

Well so far the VA hasn't canceled my Urodynamic test that is scheduled for next week.

For those who have gone through this test is there anything I should know about the test? Things I should do before hand? Things I shouldn't do afterwards?

Dennis

[Lulu54]

Dennis, you are probably asking the wrong folks here since most of us are women and plumbed different than you men.  :-)

If you don't get an answer here, you might ask over on the urology forum at
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Urology/show/52

It appears they have a doctor available to answer questions, too.

[Sailorsong]

Lulu,

I know the plumbing is different, but I wasn't thinking along those lines.

I was thinking more along the lines of stuff you shouldn't eat or drink before or after due to possible sensitivity. That would have nothing to due with specific plumbing.

I also seem to remember at least one other man on here that has had this test done.

Goodbye!

Dennis

[Antalya]

I just went thru this a couple weeks ago and can't say it was fun.

As a female, with shortened "plumbing" as was noted, it wasn't too bad.  I don't know the normal procedure for males, but I would definitely ask how they numb you before putting the catheter in.   And tell them you aren't doing it without something!

After that it is primarily uncomfortable - and unsettling to have to pee sitting next to a stranger!  But then they fill your bladder up  - and then when you have to urinate it hurts as they have irritated your urethra (sp?).  Not awful, but definitely uncomfortable.  

I was glad to have a very nice nurse - easy to talk to and who made it just very matter-of-fact and comfortable.

I wish you luck.  Just make sure they keep you informed of what they are doing every step of the way.

------ Marcia

[Antalya]

You were writing your last post as I was writing the above to you.

I don't think you have to do anything before hand - but I would say just prepare to drink a lot of fluids to clear  your system of the dye or whatever radioactive stuff they put into your bladder in order to take an X-ray of it.

I was given an antibiotic directly prior to the procedure, but none afterward.

Definitely don't plan on doing anything too energetic afterwards!  I found it to be draining --- pun intended.  But not as bad as I had feared.

Good luck!

[SarahL2491]

Dennis

Ask them to use lidocaine jelly before they insert the catheter; it will feel strange (some nurses put it in a syringe) but it will help and they need to wait a couple minutes so it can work.  That's what I always used in the ER before "cathing" men.  Some people have reported that they also insert a probe into the rectum to measure some sort of muscle reaction.  Not sure, but yeah, check the urology department of the forum.  Or you can google it perhaps?    Let us know how it went....

[Guitar_grrrl]

Most urologists now use ultrasound, instead of xray w/dye. I like the lidocaine gel idea.  Good luck, Dennis!