Burning pain when urinating 5 weeks after TURBT

Hi Whatname,If you haven’t done so already it might be worth dropping in a urine sample to rule out infection..Hopefully people who have had BCG will be along to advise you.I hope you feel more comfortable soon.Best wishes Jane 

Hi Whatname, I have had the full schedule of 27 doses of BCG over three years. I did have times when I felt poorly (flu like) after a dose but not the kind of pain you are describing. However I am female and I know from others' feedback that the process of inserting a catheter through the urethra is frequently very painful for men. It's definitely worth checking you don't have a UTI, but also worth discussing your symptoms with your Clinical Nurse Specialist or one of the urinary nurse team. It may be they can use a slimmer catheter, which I have heard can make life much easier. Also feedback tells me the more experienced nurses are generally more deft. Since you may well have more doses to come, I would definitely let you team know what you are suffering. Don't suffer in silence! Hope your symptoms improve soon. Best wishes Hx

Thank you Jane. 

According to my limited understanding, and my circumstances appear to be identical to yours but a couple of weeks behind, you should not have this severity of burning during urination after the BCG treatments. I have just completed three of the first six BCG treatments, and I do have some moderate burning during urination on the day of the treatment, which is diminishing in the few days afterward, it is not at all as severe as what you have described. I also would suspect an urinary tract infection and I would not wait until the scheduled cystoscopy to address this with a physician. I had the TURBT just over ten weeks ago, and my urethra from the glans through the prostate felt the effects of the invasive procedures until this past week (periodic throbbing and mild soreness), although the severe burning subsided within a couple of days of the TURBT procedure. The (male) nurse administering the BCG treatment reassured me that my experience was not unusual and nothing to worry about. I could find no information about this latter problem anywhere with the exception of some of our friends on this forum.

Please keep us updated and don’t wait to attend to the burning, my friend. 

Thk you Herothedog. I will write to my CNS and ask for advice. You and a previous member, Winkers60 suggested excluding UTI. I will do that through my GP, but my urine is as clear as bell and I’m pretty sure I don’t have a UTI. nonetheless I’ll have it checked out. 

Thank you 

Dear CDN, during my first course of 6 sessions of BCG immunotherapy I had exactly the same symptoms as you described i.e. moderate burning for a couple of days soon after the procedure which subsided thereafter. But as the duration progressed towards the end of the 6 sessions, the burning lasted longer and longer and now that I’ve finished the induction therapy ( maintenance therapy will follow after my next cystoscopy) the burning remains - excruciating at times and seems to me to be more severe towards the terminal excretion of urinating. I’ve also had experience of the throbbing pain you described. My waterworks is completely up the creek as I also have an enlarged prostate for which I’ve just started Tamsulosin 400ug 

I’ve stopped going out anywhere and don’t go out socially purely bec of the waterworks. I’m 75 yrs of age. 
I’ll write to my Clinical Nurse Specialist and see what she suggests. I’m pretty sure I don’t have a UTI but I’ll have that checked too. 

I sincerely hope the problem is treatable, Whatname. The impact on you seems devastating. I am 61 in December and don’t want either of us to be impacted like this from BCG treatment. I don’t think I have a prostate problem at present, but I always feel like “ducking” when I make a hopeful statement half expecting more bad news in the future. I am scheduled for my next cystoscopy January 30. I no longer bothered by the invasiveness of this procedure after so many other flexible and rigid items have been pushed through my urethra. I am as concerned as others in this forum, however, about findings of the next cystoscopy. Stay strong and optimistic, my friend and I will try to do the same.

Thank you for your encouragement CDN. I understand fully when you say when you make a hopeful statement and half expecting more bad news. This is a wicked disease and we should be grateful a lot of research have gone and is still continuing in this field.

I’m trying hard to stay positive and “pretend” to be strong. My wife and children are very supportive and I’m grateful to them.

I too have had a lot pushed through my urethra. More than can be imagined. 2 TURBT in 2 successive days bec of complications and 4 times insertion of Foley 24 size 8mm irrigation catheter with no anaesthesia due to emergency procedures and thereafter another catherisation bec of retention of urine etc. etc. for the BCG therapy.

I’m not surprised my urethra is saying “ please give me a break”  

As you say my friend, we’ll try to stay strong and I wish you all the best. Good luck. 
cheerio. 
Whatname