Recurring uti female cystoscopy under general anaesthetic
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi I have been getting uti for the last 2years my gp referred me to a urologist, he wants to do a scope and look at my bladder.my appointment is in 4weeks time I am totally freaked out and my anxiety levels have gone through the roof!! He said it's not a very nice procedure so I'm better off asleep for it. I never asked any questions at the time as I was in shock at the thought of having a general anaesthetic. I'm questing I'm getting a rigged scope as I'm putting asleep. I have thought about cancelling the procedure as I'm so worked up about it. Has anybody else been in the same position?? Thanks
0 likes, 10 replies
caz11527 lesleyanne2017
Posted
Hi Lesleyanne, you sound just like me! I had to have a flexible scope to check out microscopic hematuria. I cancelled an NHS appointment because they wouldn't give me sedation. the receptionist on the phone began by saying she wouldn't recommend it without sedation but the ward staff said its done with local numbing gel only as the scope is narrower than the urethra and should pass in easily. I was stressed out at this stage and ended up going private to a lovely consultant who gave me a choice of sedation or a general. I opted for sedation and had the procedure on Monday. I have no recollection of the procedure itself, I "lost" around 15 minutes and am so glad. They also gave me numbing gel and fentanyl/diazepam IV. If yours is a rigid scope I understand that a general is almost always used. For a flexible you should have a choice. You will have stingine when you pee for about 2 days but after that no ill affects. If you have had lots of UTI's that could be why they are talking about general. They may think that your urethra is inflammed or scarred and you may not tolerate a scope if awake. I'd speak with my GP if I were you. See if he/she can put your mind art ease a little. the consultant really should not have said that to you, it's enough to make a nervous person cancel the procedure and that's not good. Please don't cancel, just try and get speaking to your GP. A general isn't the worst thing, all you remember is getting the injection and then waking up. They will also give you pain meds. My only downside is that I have ended up very constipated as a side effect of the drugs
. Good luck and keep us posted x
thamina69285 lesleyanne2017
Posted
hi,
please don't cancel. like yourself i was getting utis very often the last 2 yrs, once every other month. i was totallu freaked out to.find i would need a cystoscopy. but i am glad I did it. because i found out i had narrowing of the urethra. i later needed the urethral dialitation under general anesthesia. that really sent me into a panic. the idea of putting me to sleep really didn't sit right with me. but it waa really quick and simple.
you will feel stinging after procedure-just make sure you drink loads.
i have been infection free since November.
good luck. x
jimjames lesleyanne2017
Posted
Sometimes a rigid cystoscopy is indicated over a flexible. Sometimes it's simply the doctor's preference. Also, unlike with men, rigid cystoscopy with women can be done without putting you to sleep.
Because there are options here, I think it might come down to how confident are you with the doctor. If it's a new urologist, and you have doubts, or if you don't have a strong opinion either way, a second opinion is always an option.
The procedure itself, is generally well tolerated with women, both flexible and rigid, both with and without being put to sleep. So on that score I would not be concerned.
Jim
lesleyanne2017
Posted
Thanks for your replies I forgot to say that I am private and my urologist is ment to be very good he specials in recurring uti so I'm not worried about him. It's the procedure and been put a sleep o have never been in hospital for anything before. I don't know what scope he is using it has to be a ridget because I'm asleep. Or maybe is standered procedure to be a sleep if your private. What's the difference between general anaesthetic & sedation? Thanks
caz11527 lesleyanne2017
Posted
For general you are asleep, they use more of the drugs than they would for sedation. You cannot breathe on your own and are on a ventilator. You have a throat tube in to breathe for you. You cannot be awakened unless they reduce the amount of drugs going in to your bloodstream. You definitely wouldn't remember anything from the time of the injection until you wake up. Recovery time is a bit longer than it is with sedation.
Sedation means you are relaxed and pain free but not asleep. You can sometimes hear staff speaking and you still have a cannula in to keep the drugs at the right level. Recovery time is normally faster and nausea less than with general. You don't have a breathing tube for sedation and they normally give painkiller along with the sedative. I remember nothing of my procedure using this method, that was the desired effect for me!! With both types you need to fast for 6-8 hours prior and cannot drive for 24 hours afterwards. I felt well enough to stop off at a few shops on my way home after the sedation so I'd think this is adequate if you are having a flexible. For the rigid I think you have to be asleep. Hope this helps.
jimjames lesleyanne2017
Posted
Lesley and Caz,
Caz said previously: "...For the rigid I think you have to be asleep. "
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Rigid's with women, are often performed with only a numbing agent. If more is indicated or desired, the next step would be conscious sedation, sometimes called twilight anathesia. Here, you are not asleep in the same sense as with general anathesia, although you may not remember anything afterwards because of the drugs used.
Jim
caz11527 jimjames
Posted
caz11527
Posted
irma_61723 lesleyanne2017
Posted
Hi I been with uti since October,
On Monday I saw doctor again I told him I need Uti medication I am not feeling okey, so he did. Ones again he did send urine samples.
Tuesday I come for sonogram of bladder and kidney, everything normal.
Today wednesday I just finish cystoscopey and for me was a little uncountable but that is it,and culture from Monday come normal but I still have the feeling, sensation and urge to go, everything looks normal.
But I am not feeling normal.
Don't Think you need anaesthisia.
Pardon my English!
Good luck 😉
lesleyanne2017 irma_61723
Posted
Thank you for your replay I have made an appointment with my gp for Friday to talk things through as I personally don't think I need it done and I really don't think there is a need to put me to sleep. I have had a scan done of my kidneys and bladder and all came back normal I have never had blood in my urine and never suffered from pain unless I had an infection which wasn't even pain just uncomfortable. I'm normally fit and healthy. I have only had 4 uti over the last year and the last 3 was the same infection that didn't clear up with antibiotics. I will see what my doctors says but I'm way to freaked out about the thought of being under general anaesthetic I feel it is not necessary. I am now taking cranberry tablets and probiotics and doubled my water intake. I would like to see if this helps first and if I get another uti then maybe I could go and get a flexible scope done.