Should catheter hurt that much?

[zeus]

Hi, my name is Zeus, new user-female, age 32. I have not been officially diagnosed with IC. I have had UTI infections occasionally over the past 14 years-but never enough to think there was an issue. My fiancee and I started having sex a year ago(after a period of no sex for almost a year for me). I got a UTI and it was treated but then the symptoms didn't seem to stop after there was no bacterial infection. Doctor prescribed Uritact which I took for a couple months and gradually phased off. Since then no problem, until two weeks ago. Had some pain during sex and I knew I might be in trouble. Culture last week showed no bacterial infection(thus my doctor going in for the purer sample today).
My symptoms are:
Frequency of urination-feel like i have to go almost all the time, and don't feel like i've emptied all the way often
Pain in bladder area, sometimes sharp, though its been a bit better since I cut out coffee and cokes(boo hoo :(
Urgency in that sometimes I really gotta go badly-but I have not had any accidents or anything close to that
Lower back pain

I do not wake up at night due to my bladder


Today I got a urine sample done with a catheter and wowee was that painful-not when she initially put it in but when I started to empty. The entire time that was happening it felt like she was sticking a pencil in there! Should it hurt that much? Is that indicative of a particular diagnosis? I realize my doctor has to diagnose me officially but was just curious to hear others thoughts.
Your help is appreciated-i admire the support everyone gives each other on this site!

[emilyrose197377]

:welcome: to the ICN. Yes catheters can hurt that much depending if they numb the area before they put the cath in. I cathed for a year and it hurt alot,you also could be irritated when they put in your urethra and that could hurt also, .

[ICNDonna]

Catheterization can be painful --- it's even more painful when we are tense. I find that if I really concentrate on relaxing and breathing deeply and evenly, it really helps.

I hope you'll get some answers very soon.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[zeus]

thanks for the reply! I was rather tense during the procedure. Also, if there is something i should have learned by reading the posts it is to be assertive with the doctors and nurses. I asked her if she would be using anethesia and she said it wasn't needed. Next time I will insist!

[Dixiefireball]

I agree being cath. exp if you have a real UTI can be painful even if you don't have one it still can. depending on what type of cath the dr's office used the size how they did it etc. there is a lot of factor to the way its done.
a few things that may be helpful is have them use non latex cath for some reason if you don't have a latex alergry latex can cause burning down stairs. have them to use some numbing cream even with the in and out caths. ask them to tell you right before they put the cath in so you can take a deep breath in while its going in for some reason that relaxs more muscle down stairs and makes the enter less painful. when there going to take it out do the same but let it out slowly.
these are some tips that may help you the next time your having to be cath.

Also any time your cath your hold a high risk of getting a real UTI. its always best for the Dr. to at least give you one sample anti. from there office to provent this from happening.
the whole key to being cath. is to relax!!!!

b.t.w. I would also like to welcome you to the ICN you will notice we will offer you a lot of support here. we do understand what your going threw and most importantly we do care!!
I know your haven't been dx with IC yet, but it wouldn't hurt to start reading up on the IC diet. the diet alone may help you start t to feel better. it wouldn't hurt to read up on some of the test they may do on you or some of the medicine they may try on you to help you. You can read this information at www.ic-network.com/handbook we look forward to seeing updates from you. sending you lots of hugs and prayers for better days ahead.
Rhonda

[ihurttoo]

Just want to say hello, and to welcome you to the ICN. Caths used to hurt me like that too. There are a few things that help alot. 1) ALWAYS insist on a numbing jelly, like Lidocaine being applied first. It takes 15-10 min for it to work for most people after it is applied. (No matter what someone may tell you.) 2) Applying an ice pack down there prior to the instill also helps. I clean the area first with the betadine, then apply the lidocaine, and then hold an ice pack there untlil they are ready to put the cath in. 3) Bear down when they are inserting the cath to relax the mucsle and widen the urethra. If you are tense, it actually makes it tighter and it hurts more. 4) I always ask them to use a 5 French cathetar. It is very small. It is the same size as an infant feeding tube. It is WAY smaller than the standard caths they use in an ER. Most of those are about 3 times bigger than these. Believe me, size matters! 5) Do NOT allow them to draw any urine out of you with a syringe. This ALWAYS causes me to go into spasms. Make them wait, and let it come out on it's own. 6)Do NOT have sex and get cathed in the same day. I would actually wait 2 days, if possible, just to help minimize the chances of a flare. 7) If you have a muscle relaxor or pain pill, take it before, as it is easier to prevent pain than it is to get it under control once it starts. 8) After getting cathed, if you are still hurting, take another pain pill when you can, then get in the tub and soak when you get home. Then after your bath, apply the ice pack some more. 9) Ask for a prescription of Lidocaine to use afterwards. There is a little cone in the box of it that you use as an applicator. Take a mirror so you can see what you are doing, and shoot the Lidocaine up in the urethra. This should calm things down. 10) Lastly, I also agree that it is usually helpful to take a single dose of antibiotics preventively. I hope this helps you. Hugs, Amy

[zeus]

I go in to see the doctor today and am going to mention the information about the catheter so that doesn't happen again! Right now my main concern is getting this under control as I am going out of the country in three short weeks from today-15 plane ride sounds impossible at this point!