Urodynamic testing

[squoozy]

I have had stones in my kidney and a number of urine infections. I had a ct scan 6 weeks ago and then received a notification in my NHS app stating that I had an appointment in the urology department at the hospital (today, Saturday) The letter was one line just stating the time and place.

When I arrived a patient in a gown, clutching the back of the gown, walked past the waiting area followed by a male nurse carrying a jug of urine that was not covered in any way. After about half an hour the patient returned fully dressed and then left. Then I was called in and they said they would show me where to change for the procedure. I was completely taken aback and asked what procedure. I was told it was in invasive procedure involving inserting a catheter in my vagina and one in my rectum. I had been given absolutely no information about it, was not prepared, and was completely horrified. I refused to have the procedure. I was shaking and crying. The woman told me I do need the procedure and I will be sent another appointment.

I have been crying all afternoon. I feel so upset that I was not told what would happen and actually shocked by what I saw with the previous patient, which was completely undignified. I don’t want to go when they send for me, and I also want to complain about what happened today. Am I being stupid? I am actually terrified, not of discomfort or pain but of being stripped of my dignity. I felt as if I was in a 1960s horror film today. Honestly the sight of the patient trying to cover himself up and the nurse just sauntering around with his urine makes me really upset. Nothing will make me want to go there again.

Good for you for refusing, and I’m so sorry that this happened. It’s not easy to stand your ground in those sorts of situations and you should 100% have had clear information and expectations beforehand. Can you get a second opinion on your options now? I would feel exactly the same as you, and I think if possible (eg if you’re not in immediate pain or discomfort) a bit of thinking time and some actual information about options would be worth it. And I hope you feel better soon.

YANBU to refuse any medical procedure you don't want, but the shaking and crying is a bit dramatic. Have you never been in hospital before? That's what hospital gowns are like, for every procedure. Not sure why urine would need to be covered either. They don't usually cover catheter bags on the side of your bed, when you go to the pregnancy clinic you don't hand over your urine sample under a cloak of darkness.

Bibbetybobbity thank you for your understanding and kind words.

MeinKraft, I have been in hospital plenty of times, including to have babies. This was not a closed ward, it was an open outpatients department. Asking patients to walk through an open department in a gaping gown is not dignified and shows a complete disregard for patient care. Doing the same with a jug of urine is just appalling. The man I saw was looking absolutely horrified and embarrassed. I don’t care how blasé you feel about it, for me it led to feeling that this was not somewhere I wanted to be. Being asked to take off my clothes and go through an extremely invasive procedure when I thought I was going to find the results of my scan is not reasonable. I think most people would be shocked and upset with no prior warning. You carry on dismissing other peoples’ feelings if that works for you. Let’s hope you’re never placed in a similar situation. Whatever you do don’t cry. It’s over the top.

It sounds like the information leaflet was missed out of the letter along with all the other pertinent information. Did you explain that you thought you were there for results not urodynamics? It sounds like miscommunication but to be shaking and crying is extreme unless there is a backstory to this. You obviously don't need to say anything here but your health are providers need to know so that they can support you and avoid a wasted appointment in future.

www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diagnostic-tests/urodynamic-testing

I'm sorry the procedure wasn't explained beforehand, but what did you think they were going to do at a urodynamics appointment? Did you not look up beforehand what might be involved? I'm surprised you didn't ring to check whether any prep was required- arrive with full bladder, empty bladder etc if it was just a text/1 line invite! You came on here, presumably, to ask for opinions, so that is what you'll get- whether you agree or not. The urine pot could have been covered with some paper, but I wouldn't find it unusual/shocking to see urine, in a urology department doing urological testing!

Gowns in the UK that I've ever seen, do cover you up, when done up correctly, because the backs cross over to cover you back/buttocks. You can always ask for a 2nd gown to put on like a cardigan and to cover the back though. I assume you are an adult? The crying and shaking is extreme IMO- but to be crying ALL afternoon! Do you have health anxieties or some other issues which would account for such an extreme reaction? They didn't pin you down and force the procedure on you! You had free choice to leave- which is what you did.

Would having someone go with you in future be more reassuring for you? Your options are to rebook, pay privately or not go at all. IF you rebook, ask for a nurse or technician to call and go through the procedure with you- if you think that would help? Maybe you'll find that better?

If someone gets stressed with appointments, I would suggest speaking to your GP about prescribing a relaxant, but this might affect the bladder and affect the test. If you are able to speak to someone from the clinic about the procedure beforehand, ask them if there is anything you can take to reduce your anxieties, that wont affect the test. I do hope you do get the test done somewhere and get some answers to your problems.

Just to clarify, and then I will be leaving this thread, I was sent a two line letter that stated I had a follow up urology appointment, not an appointment in Urodynamics. There are 4 hospitals in the trust and I hadn’t been to the hospital before but I have seen the consultant at 2 of the other hospitals so I thought he was just working there getting through a backlog on a Saturday. A lot of consultants around here are doing that. I was asked to go to the main outpatients department, which is where I was sat watching a man go past with his open gown. I knew he was going into the urology people because the nurse came out of the door he went into to tick me off the list. No one said anything at any point beforehand about Urodynamics. I first heard term when I was given the information sheet I hadn’t been sent.

There is no ‘back story’. But if you’ve been through several scans, had the pain of large kidney stones and infections, worried about what most recent scan results might show, and then discovered you’re not only not getting your scan results but you’ve been sent unprepared for an extremely invasive procedure with no chance to prepare (would you take your knickers off and expose yourself so they can put tubes up both of your orifices at the drop of a hat when you thought you’d just gone to see the consultant? ) then maybe you would understand this was pretty bloody awful.

It seems to me most people who have replied want to blame me for misunderstanding or being over anxious. I am a perfectly intelligent woman who was clearly not sent any of the information I should have had and was caught completely off guard. I don’t need pills. What I needed today was the opportunity firstly to make a decision about whether to go to the appointment and have the procedure and secondly to prepare myself for it. And yes I would have called and asked if I had been given any hint that I needed to do that.

YANBU at all @squoozy you should have been fully informed of the procedure prior to the appointment. And whilst the only think I don’t agree with is that urine should be covered- I completely agree anyone being expected to walk through and out patient dept in a gown, gaping or not, is not right. Complain. And raise it with PALS.

I wish you well 💐