Does cystoscopy get easier?

Yeah I don't think anyone is going to be truly relaxed during the process.

I think knowing what is going  to happen next time will help a little.

Trying to think back about the numbing gel and I can't recall the wait time before they inserted the camera.

However when they insert my BCG catheter they do give it a couple of minutes.

Trevor 

Hi BFG definitely could never relax and just the thought of lying down and then the nurse saying try to relax still makes me squirm now thinking about it. I do like the idea of the screen though, impatient and want to know straight away and it actually takes my mind off what's going on if you know what I mean. The same with colonoscopy though , bit of a wimp when it comes to all that to be honest. Like you say it's the thought of it. 

Hi  I opted for the rigid cystoscopy - had anaesthetic and they saw bladder stones that were too big to pass naturally but this frst time they cleared what they could.

I then opted to the full operation and the surgeon removed big bladders stones and had a good clean out.  It only took 40 minutes.  Pain for a few weeks where they cut into me but where the incision mark is in good place so you cant see it-hidden by boxer short waist band.  Just hope no more stones.!  Only needed a catheter for 10 days and it was clear when it removed.  Can pee fine now.

Excellent news and outcome. Keep well. Garviv

I came on the forum to ask the very same thing.

I was in so much pain during the cystoscopy that they gave me gas and air but that just made me dizzy, didn't help with the pain.

Through the haze ai heard them say I had cancer and tbh it took me days to mentally recover.

I honestly don't think I could voluntarily go through that again.

Whimp? yes maybe I am.

Hughmann, No one on here is a whimp, and that includes you. Be kind to yourself, what you are going through is mentally and physically very tough. Cystoscopy is not easy. I would tell the nurse how you felt about is and see what other options they have to be without the pain. Take care

I had gas and air when the manipulated my ankle when I bust it before having an op to fix it, it was amazing stuff for me I was out of it.

But yeah you are not a wimp it's never going to move having it done but speak to them and ask for other options in the future. 

I did mention it to the guy at my follow up with the surgeon when he took me into a room to discuss how I was feeling and doing. I did say I'm not sure how can I keepngoing through cystoscopy every 3 months and I'm sure he said if it comes to it can be done under GA if it gets too bad. Unless I was mistaken about what he was saying.

Chin up and ask for help if you need it, it's a hard journey everyone is on and some are on a much harder journey than others.

Reading your reply I seem to think that in the haze of pain I was told everything else would be under general. Meant nothing to me at the time but aI wonder itf they meant it.

At my first cystoscopy the nurse said it's something you are gonna get quite used to having done as will need it done a lot more times. 

I was hoping that wouldn't be the case but it seems not in most cases. 

But I'm sure if it is that hard they are struggling to do it then other avenues would have to be explored. 

You would think scans would be a start to look for anything that seems suspect and then if anything looks amiss further camera investigation but I guess it's easier to just got to camera solutions every time. 

I think they said every 6 months as that cystoscopy but I'm sure the surgeon said every 3 months. Lucky me 

You will have a GA or epidural for the rigid cystoscopy if they need to remove a tumour. It seems the surveillance uses the flexible cystoscopy as far as I can tell. For me one of the biggest issues is being a bit incontinent for a few days after, it plays havoc with my waterworks. But I guess that's the same for most people. But thankfully it settles down.