Biopsy questions

[Blue_sky]

So far I've had a cysto (showed 4 red patches, which I'm assuming are the Hunner's ulcers I keep hearing about), and a CT scan (came back normal).

My next step is a biopsy on July 8th. Can anyone tell me what information the biopsy will give me? I'm assuming that it can be used to rule out (I hope!) cancer, but does it also give information that helps diagnose IC?

Finally, if I have this at 12:30 on a Wednesday, should I expect to be feeling like my normal self the next morning? My care sheet says that I should have someone stay with me for the next 24 hours, but I would be tempted to send my husband off to work, if I've made it through the first 20.

Thanks for your help. It is nice to have a place to post these questions.

[Briza]

Yes, the bladder biopsy is used to rule out cancer.

My biopsies showed no cancer but inflammation indicative of IC.

My biopsies were done during a cysto/hydro under anesthesia...that seems to be when most people have bladder biopsies. I was definitely not willing nor able to go back to work the next day. Nor for many days.

Hunner's ulcers were found and burned off during my cysto/hydro.

Is your dr planning on doing these biopsies at the hospital during a cysto/hydro procedure under general anesthesia? I'm assuming it will be something like that since your care sheet says for someone to stay with you for 24 hrs. Please get more info from your dr. You may need to plan for more than one day to recover. If it is the cysto/hydro, most people need a least a few days to recover. Often more.

[Claredale]

I also had those instructions to have someone with me for the first 24 hours. I took it to mean someone to be with me the next day. My older son around 15 at the time, so I insisted on my husband going into work and my son would be home plus my MIL lives only a few minutes away. That as a big mistake! Anesthesia makes me very sick for days after my surgery, so I would take home several phenagren supp. The ONLY thing I can remember the next day was my son having a friend over and I was sleeping pretty well (of course I was quite medicated). I remember my son asking me if his friend could drive my car "which was brand new!" so that they could get something to eat and go to a movie. I sort of remember saying fine since I was sleeping anyway and even told him to bring me my purse so I could give him money. My husband called to check on me and when no one answered the phone, he sent my MIL over and I was of course alone and quite sick to my stomach. There was a note by my bed with a cell number on it. I had no idea who's it was. But I guess that one of my son's friends thought to do that! Even a couple days later I was still quite sick, so my husband stayed home with me the next day. I remember reading the post surgical info later and it said that an "adult" should stay with me.

When my husband had his last surgery, he had the same type of after care instructions but he was able to go to work for a few hours the very next day. We are all different!

[Blue_sky]

Thanks for this information. I'm a college professor and so I wouldn't need to go to work in the days following the biopsy. I guess that's the upside about having all of this hit in the summer. But I have a 4 year old who I would normally drop off and pick up from preschool (9-noon), take to the dentist the next day, and then care for in the afternoon (he usually naps). It sounds like I should have my husband plan to stay home the next day as this might be too much for me to do on my own...

[Blue_sky]

Oh, and yes it will be under general anesthesia. But no one has mentioned anything about a hyrdo or about burning off the ulcers. I'll call and find out about that so it is not a surprise later.

[Briza]

That's great you don't have to worry about taking off work. :)
I haven't reacted as badly as Tracey83 to general anesthesia, but it does give me splitting headaches for a day or two, so yeah, I wouldn't be able to manage a 4 yr old! The headache alone after my cysto/hydro/biopsy was disabling. And you will most likely be prescribed (and NEED) some post-op pain meds and if you aren't used to taking them they can make you kind of loopy or knock you out completely. So you'll need someone to go have that and any other post-op prescriptions fillled...a preventative antibiotic and pyridium are usually prescribed in addition to a pain med. Seriously, you may need someone to wait on you hand and foot, so will be nice to have your hubby around.:)

[Briza]

Oh, and yes it will be under general anesthesia. But no one has mentioned anything about a hyrdo or about burning off the ulcers. I'll call and find out about that so it is not a surprise later.


Yes, please call. There could be more planned than you know. Sometimes they DO forget to tell us important things!