cystoscopy - how bad is it?

Hi, I had cystoscopy done. It was one of the worst experiences in my life. No one can like even a vision of an instrument being pushed up your penis, no matter how useful it is for doctor t get a picture of your condition. But, some men report not so painful experiences as they expected. The procedure of cystoscopy is to use a device which is inserted into the urethra via the opening at the end of the penis. It enables the doctor to examine the complete urethra plus the bladder for polyps, strictures and other possible problems. By prostatitis patients it is a practice to use a flexible fiber optic scope rather than the traditional rigid cystoscope.

I had a cystosopy done today and it was excruciatingly painful. Don't believe that stupid description about slight discomfort that is copied on all of these medical sites. It's not at all true. I had the flex scope and they used the Lidocaine Gel 15 ml for 15 minutes. That was like putting a band-aid on your toe before cutting off your foot! This test is absolute agony and I was literally screaming like a Banchee Indian on the war path by the time the scope reached my bladder. The procedure was performed by a very experienced and highly recommended urologist. They paused midway because they said I was about to pass out from the big breaths that I was taking in between screams. My arms were flailing and they don't strap them down so I had to sit on them to keep from knocking the scope out of my doctors hands. It was miserable beyond my worst expectations and that's the God honest truth. David Craig, San Jose, CA

David,

This is much later and I am not sure it will help a lot, but since I just joined I will send it. I had bladder cancer 3 years ago it was removed. Since then I have had over 14 cystoscopies done, they do this every three months to check for cancer. Most of them have been uncomfortable, some not bad at all, but none extremley painfull. The last time I had three of them in a matter of hours for a biopsy.
I wish you luck if I can help let me know.

:-D

Anesthetic gel was only in for about 15 seconds before the scope and it burned for a second and then I felt like I had to pee when the water went in. Burned a little on the way out. Then it was over. Took about 1-2 minutes all told. There was a slight burn first time I urinated but clear after that. It really isn't that bad. Water in the shower or peroxide on an open blister stings worse than this, it's just the thought of someone sticking a rod in your penis that makes it worse. I'm sure everyone's experience varies but all told it's not as bad as you might think -- more discomfort than pain. Surely not something I want to do again, but it could be a lot worse and 24 hours later you'll feel normal.

Oh my dear God. I am a woman, and I just had this done two hours ago. I've had three children and recovered from major surgery, and I swear this is the most excruciating pain I've ever endured. They told me my pain reaction was completely abnormal so I googled and found your statement. I'm still sitting here in shock over how incredibly painful this was and continues to be!!! -Ryan, Alabama

Hi guys, it’s been 3 months now since I had a cystoscopy done to check for an Overactive bladder. I’ve been experiencing the following symptoms:

. Random sharp shooting pains in middle of shaft of my penis (at very same spot which was extremely tender and sore when cystoscope was pulled out) • A noticeably weaker erection and weaker force of ejaculation with mild pain/soreness felt immediately after ejaculation at middle of shaft of penis (same spot as mentioned before).  . A Loss of sensation with sex and masturbation. It feels like nerve damage at the head of penis.

This has severely affected my mental health for the past 3 months. I’ve been getting depressed and I’ve seen two other urologists who all said ‘I need to let my penis heal and the sexual side effects are all in my head’ which is not true because I had no issue with this before.

Urologists need to be banned from doing a cystoscopy just as a safety check so they can make money from us. It should only be carried out if they identify something wrong from prior tests/scans.

Please Please Please if any of you have found a solution which works then I would greatly appreciate it if you could share. I can vouch for the fact that it’s not all in your head. 

I am really scared about this test. I had blood in my urine that is now clear but I also had some lower back pain so my urologist wants to do a CT scan with contrast and also the cystoscopy. I am really afraid....

Quite a few years back my wife was having bladder infections. We went to a Urologist. Talked with him and explained what had been going on. With absolutely no fanfare no hospital no sedation he told her remove everything from the waist down. She looked at me with some hesitation as he pointed her to the chair in his office. You could see it was an examination chair with special features. He told her let's look in your bladder and see whats going on. As she was getting situated in the chair he pulled the sterile cover off of this metal rod over a foot long. She saw it and I could see the fear in her eyes. He showed me the lens and the lighting system then showed that it was a scope that slides in a stainless tube. This was in the early 80s she was around 21yrs old and a small girl 5ft 6.
I was very concerned about the diameter of the shaft on this scope approximately 3/8" I watched him lubricate the shaft of the scope also a little on the opening of her urethra. He inserted the scope with smoothly with a slight lowering of the lens in a 2 second motion. Her eyes got big she nodded to me the she was fine. The doc looked then let me look describing to me the texture of the interior of her bladder after filling her bladder with water. He then removed the scope. Inserted a short glass tube and drained her bladder. He then took a syringe without a needle filled it with siver nitrate put it against her opening and pushed it into her bladder. We walked out five minutes later she was in no pain. She said it smarted just a little. We are still married today and she has never had another bladder infection. What are these doctors doing today to over complicate and hurt patients with what used to be so simple quick and ez procedure