Help, so embarrassed

[twiggy]

First, thank you for this site. It is a great comfort! Second, I am scheduled for a hydro-distention and cysto this Thursday. Moving onto to the second uro. The first one took two years to tell me I have IC! Even after three scopes and his own hydro-distention. My problem is this--I wake up night because I am soooooooooo embarrassed about being put out and physically examined. It is humiliating beyond belief to me! I want to know what is going on. I hate going under. I HATE MEN LOOKING AT ME. I HATE LOSING CONTROL. I HATE DOCTORS TELLLING ME WHAT TO DO! PLEASE HELP! As well, since I have been feeling a little better--not in a flare--can this second uro "see" what he is looking for to confirm IC dx? I should have went to med school! 5:30 a.m. and awake.

[lalarainbow]

Hi
I know that is a bit embarrasing. But there will be female nurses around and if there isn't then something is wrong! I'd rather be put out then awake for that! My Dr told me cysto-hydro would be too painful to be awake for..
it doesn't take long and you are awake in no time.. I used to get sick from anesthetic but now I make sure they know that and they give me something for the nausea and I woke feeling just fine and ready to go!!
All the best~
~~Pam~~

[lalarainbow]

Hi
I know that is a bit embarrasing. But there will be female nurses around and if there isn't then something is wrong! I'd rather be put out then awake for that! My Dr told me cysto-hydro would be too painful to be awake for..
it doesn't take long and you are awake in no time.. I used to get sick from anesthetic but now I make sure they know that and they give me something for the nausea and I woke feeling just fine and ready to go!!
All the best~
~~Pam~~

[kelly McC]

You can talk to the doctors before you may be able to do a spinal and be awake. I was given the option but chose to go under. The anesthesiaologist should come talk to you before your procedure and you can discuss your options with them.
Good luck on thursday,
Kelly

[ICNDonna]

I choose a spinal for a hydrodistention. When I talk with the anesthesiologist before the procedure I make my wishes known. They do give me medications to help me relax, which helps a great deal.

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[indiana]

Hi Twiggy,

Is this your first time going under? I had 8 surgeries, 9 if you include my tonsils when I was 8. Tubal pregnancies, hematoma, splenectomy, the list goes on.

Going under is not a bad experience. Your doctor is going to come in and talk with you about what they are going to do. The anethesilogist (sp) will come in and talk to you about what they will do, the feeling you'll feel right before and so on. They will even ask you if you like a little something before you even go in. I'd say "yes". It just something that goes through your IV and calms you....it's quite nice actually.

After waking up you'll be groggy and they'll want you to urinate before leaving, it shows them that your body is working properly again. You'll probably be groggy for the rest of the day so just go home and nap and relax.

If you don't like doctor probing and touching and all of that, which I don't either! :rolleyes: I much rather be put out than awake with a spinal because then you'll be aware of everything they do.

It's your choice, I hope I've helped a little bit. Just make sure you express your feelings to your doctor. They will listen, if they don't chance doctors.

[Sarojini]

Hi :)

I was scared about going under general anesthesia for my cysto/hydro too! It was my first time under general and I was terrified, and I made sure everyone in pre-op knew about it (I was loud and totally embarrassed myself :shake: ). The nurse anesthetist had to come out and inject me with something (perhaps Valium) to relax me and make me be quiet... LOL :lmao:

BUT -- it turned out to be pretty trivial for me. The anesthesiologist came out and talked to me about everything and answered questions my husband & I had. Then I was taken in the OR and asked to climb up onto the the operating table, which I did, giggling all the while because of that Valium ;) At that point I didn't even care if my hospital gown was flapping open and the nurses wrapped me with freshly warmed blankets to keep my :toosh: covered.

Anyway, I layed down and they put the mask on me and told me to breathe deep, and then the anesthesiologist said he was going to put something in my IV and it might feel a bit weird but I should just keep breathing. He did, and I said, "Oh my God my face is numb..." and went right under. :)

The whole c/h process took about 15-20 minutes, and I woke up wrapped in more warmed blankies in the recovery room. My nurse and my uro were there and I was remarkably lucid... I actually sat up, said, "Ow, my bladder hurts and I have to pee...wait, do I have IC?" and my uro laughed and said I most certainly did but that I had to lie down. Then he told the nurse to give me some Dilaudid for pain and I was quiet again.

They watched me for a while, gave me water, made sure I could pee on my own, and then sent me home.

All in all, it was no biggie for me :)

Good luck with yours :grouphug:

[Kimbamor]

I can really sympathise with your discomfort at being examined that close. 11 surgeries later and you think I would be use to it. My big problem with the hydodistension was it was done at my hospital. I didn't want to pulll favours and request anyone specific. I work in our anesthesiology pain clinic and interact with anesthesia every day. I wasn't so worried about pre-op, but post-op gave me anxiety. The thing was I knew if they gave me a resident I would be embarrased to look him/her in the face (kinda hard to hand off the pain pager without doing that). I somehow managed to get our brand new anesthesia staff who had just started on my procedure day. (She is experienced not a new grad). I also had one of your best CRNA's. Since it was the docs first day she was able ot stay in the room the entire time...(usually they start and finish a case but end up running 3-4 rooms with residents). Post-op I know everyone but since am one of the pain nurses they made sure I didn't even have a twinge. The RN who covered me during my RN's lunch was also one of my patients. I had "squeezed" her in (although it really doesn't matter if they are medical or not I manage to "squeeze" all my patients in...) She even stayed on and did my discharge (which included calling uro to get me a stronger script for home). If I ever have to have other procedures/surgeries I won't hesitate to have it at th main hospital again (had 4 done at our satelites). I know from experience that medical staff (docs, RN's and anesthesia)do not even give it a second thought about seeing body parts but it was hard to remember that when it was me at the other end. I always think about one of my mom's favourite stories when I think of being seen....

She had went for her yearly pap smear and was in the stirrrups. Her gynecologist came in said hi and sat at the end of the table (you know the drill... sheet covering you bright light making shadows but unable to see doc). He had asked her how she was doing and was making small talk (truely trying to set her at ease). He then told her "I like your new hair colour blonde looks good on you". She was mortified. She blurted out that she didn't know she should had dyed her hair down there too. He realized his blunder and almost died laughing. He reassured her that he noticed her hair on her head when he walked in and never gave a second thought complimenting her while he was down there examining her. It really goes to show that while we as patients are uncomfortable our caregivers (who try to maintain some modesty and don't realise when they don't) never even give it a second thought.
Hope this helps but believe me even strippers can be sensitive about it just like us

[Katrina]

I wish you the best of luck...I am sure it will be a lot easier than your worries are telling you.....try to remember this will help you get better! Sending you some love! :kiss: :kiss: :grouphug:

[Iris]

Hello, I wish you the best of luck with your experience. I have had general anesthesia with several of the surgeries I have experienced, and been very pleased with the treatments I have received. Usually the anesthesiologist will come and explain exactly what is going to happen, and I know I have had something in the IV before to relax me, before even going into surgery. I know it can be scary if you have never experienced it before, but I am sure they will do their best to make you feel at ease. Personally I would rather be out, than see exactly what is going on, so have never experienced a spinal, or a local anesthesia, except for dental work. I had several surgeries done at one time with my cysto/hydro, so it was necessary for me to be under general anesthesia. Please keep us posted as to how you get on, and hope everything goes well for you, hugs Iris. :grouphug: :flower:

[twiggy]

Thanks for your response ladies. I appreciated it. This is my second hydro-distention but I still hate that most uro's are men. Although I have had some brutal female doctors so I guess my male uro is good in the sense that he is very sympathetic. I still think this procedure is very invasive and I hope in the future better diagnostic procedures are found. In all respects, this disease truly sucks as does the length of time it takes to get a firm dx. It has taken almost a full two years to get a firm dx. I will post once I get the second opinion. My first uro was useless.