First Instill

[Want2BPainFree]

I had my first instill on Wednesday. My cocktail was heparin, sodium bicarb, lidocaine, and sterile water.

The cath hurt, and I had some relief about half hour after the instill while I was still holding it, and was able to hold it for quite some time.

However, have any of you also experienced lower back pain and kidney pain on both sides after an instill?

I can say that overall, it did nothing for me. After I peed it out, the symptoms were just as bad and have gotten worse since the instill.

[ICNDonna]

It usually will take more than one instillation to feel any effect. You might want to practice some relaxation techniques before your next one --- and be sure to ask for the smallest catheter they have.

Donna

[L. Thomas]

Lidocaine gel applied before the catheter is inserted helps numb the urethra. I use an 8fr catheter (actually it is a pediatric feeding tube).

[aleet7]

Sonja,
I know exactly how you feel! I've had one instill and after I peed the pain was unbearable(actually worse than before I had the instill). I had pain on both sides of my back with burning for hours after the instill. I had my instill at 2pm and by 8pm I was starting to feel better(with pyridium). Some say that it may take more instills to get the benefits.
I'm really afraid to have another one. If I do I will make sure the nurse uses lidocaine!
Best Wishes,
Teela

[Want2BPainFree]

Well, as it turns out, I kept getting worse and worse, so I had an appt Monday with the gyno, and I was diagnosed with and STD...trichomonas. She said it could have hiding for years. I've had exactly 1.25 hours of consult with her regarding how it could have been missed for so long considering I haven't been sexually active on so long. She said it is easily missed when other infections or situations like atrophy are going on. I'm on Tindamax this week, and we'll just have to see how it goes.

I suspect, and she did not rule this out, that I've had this for many years, and putting that instill in my bladder may have raised the pH in the bladder and vagina enough to let it proliferate into full blown infection.

I am praying this is all it was, as I am still concerned about the kidney pain after the instill. If I do another, I'm going to ask them to leave out the bicarb.

[waterflow]

I tried the bicarb 3 times and it killed the bladder. It does take more then one instill to see if they will help. It took me 8 months having the heparin/lidocaine done once a week. There are still times when I will have lots of pain after I pee it out but most times I'm better off. Using lidocaine on the cath makes it much less painful too. Also it depends on the person doing it. Some are better at it then others.

[Want2BPainFree]

The NP who did it used lidocaine on my urethra and she put some on the catheter. It was a very small one, but it hurt like hell anyway.

I really think the whole issue was the trich, since it does infect the urethra and the vagina.

I don't know if I have IC at all. I do have to scratch my head in wonder that it possibly could have been this infection in there all along. Now the question is, how much damage did it do living within me.

As usual, doctors don't know, and neither does the NIH, CDC, etc.