Im having my first Cystoscopy!!

[orangeflower]

HI Everyone! I am new to all of this and am having a Cystoscopy on June 15th. He said I may have IC and put me on a new diet. I'm just curious about about the Cystoscopy...is this a test to see if I have IC or not? What exactly is he testing for? I don't think it's with hydro and really don't know what that is but a lot of people have been asking me that. What is hydro for anyways? Please give me a better understanding of all of this. I am in the process of getting a new doctor since mine has not explained anything to me but still need to go through with this test. Thank you.

[Mrs. Peel]

Welcome!

Your situation does sound nerve-jangling. Sorry to hear you're going through this, but I think you'll find support and answers here that will help you keep from panicking. I've been here a couple of months, I think.

You might want to call the nurse at the Uro's office to discuss your case and get the details on these tests. It's a lot easier than getting the doc on the phone.

In a cysto hydrodistention, water is pumped into the bladder (twice) for two reasons. One is to find out your bladder's capacity which is usually limited by IC. The other is to see whether you have the main signs of IC: pinpoint hemorrhages and, in more advanced cases, hunner's ulcers. This procedure is done in an outpatient surgical environment under a general anesthesia.

There is another test where they put potassium in your bladder, and if you have IC you have a strong pain reaction. It is faster and can be done in the office, but they don't get the more detailed evidence of a hydro.

It's a good idea to get your records from the first Uro and bring them to the second. I've started a folder with everything from CT scans to bloodwork results, and it saves time and effort for you and the new doctors.

I hope it doesn't turn out to be IC, but we will sure be here for you if it is!

[ICNDonna]

If your cysto will be done in the doctor's office, he will just be having a look at the inside of your bladder lining. This is a part of ruling out possibilities other than IC. The cysto only takes a few minutes. I agree that it's a good idea to check with the doctor's office about what is actually scheduled --- and ask if your bladder will be distended (stretched), which is sometimes called hydrodistention.

Donna