AIBU to want to avoid Urodynamics testing?

[BobbiPink]

I know I’m acting like a child, but after reading the description of the procedure, I really, really, really don’t want to have it.

Just for background, in addition to a whole host gynaecological issues (suspected endometriosis), I’ve been getting random pelvic pain, the urge to wee every 15-30 mins and apparently my bladder is not emptying properly.

So the consultant has asked to to do a scan (which is fine with me) and and Urodynamics test which involves a catheter, a balloon up my bum (!!!) and weeing on a special toilet in front of an audience.

My immediate reaction is no thank you. It sounds painful, I’ve never had a catheter or anything up my bum!!! And it’s impossible that I’d even be able to wee with an audience. I can’t even do it if someone is just outside my bathroom door, let alone an audience.

I also wonder if the consultant is overreacting maybe? Is frequent urination and bladder not emptying properly really so serious that it would warrant something so invasive? And if the tests come back clear, I’ll have put myself through the misery and humiliation over nothing.

Feel free to tell me off if I’m being silly. Also, if people can share their experiences of the same procedure with any tips, it’d be much appreciated!

If they wants you to do the test then your problems are serious enough for them to want to do it. They need to investigate why this is happening so they can give you treatment for it. So yes, it is very important for you to get it done.

If you don’t empty properly it can put back pressure on the kidneys over years.
We like to protect kidneys.
Also peeing every 15 minutes is very restrictive.
You won’t know yourself when you can sleep all night without having to get up to pee

@Weenurse

If you don’t empty properly it can put back pressure on the kidneys over years. We like to protect kidneys. Also peeing every 15 minutes is very restrictive. You won’t know yourself when you can sleep all night without having to get up to pee

Oh I see. Yes, I would like to protect my kidneys. Strangely I don’t wake up frequently to wee, but I’m awakened much before my alarm with a bursting bladder and an uncomfortable urge to pee. Sorry, one more question- can’t this test be done without the rectal catheter? And how long does it take?

If my frequent urination isn’t bothering me much, what might the benefits of this test be?

Do you have a job, a relationship, hobbies?
Frequent urination was impacting all of that for me. Travel was impossible. I couldn't go to the cinema as I'd be back and forth to the loo. I couldn't go out with friends unless toilet stops were planned. I wore black trousers thinking it would be less noticeable if I leaked.
Getting to hospital appointments was actually a big challenge in itself.
Honestly if you have to pee really often it is worth getting investigated.

@Pepsimirror

If they wants you to do the test then your problems are serious enough for them to want to do it. They need to investigate why this is happening so they can give you treatment for it. So yes, it is very important for you to get it done.

You’re right 🙈 I was fine with colposcopy, D&C, and various other painful procedures, never got nervous.

But the thought of things being put inside my urethra and rectum is where I really draw the line 🙈

@BlackGoldSun

If my frequent urination isn’t bothering me much, what might the benefits of this test be?

Do you have a job, a relationship, hobbies?
Frequent urination was impacting all of that for me. Travel was impossible. I couldn't go to the cinema as I'd be back and forth to the loo. I couldn't go out with friends unless toilet stops were planned. I wore black trousers thinking it would be less noticeable if I leaked.
Getting to hospital appointments was actually a big challenge in itself.
Honestly if you have to pee really often it is worth getting investigated.

I do have all those things, I just hold it in 😂 Thankfully, I don’t leak. It does get uncomfortable and painful, but I’ve survived. I just thought that Unless the test is going to diagnose something that might be serious, I’m not bothered enough by my symptoms to go through it.

And after all this, they might tell me it’s the 3 cups of coffee that are causing frequent urination 😂😂😂

I have only ever done a male without the rectal catheter, the doctor already had a good idea on what that patients problem was.
I think the rectal catheter is necessary to get all the information required. Ask for the local anaesthetic lubricant to numb the area.
It takes about 1/2 hour to 1 hour, depending on what triggers your bladder and what they find.

Like others have said, this really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The nurse stayed with me throughout and the Consultant came in for parts of the test. I was treated with respect and dignity and it helped me (at the age of 35) to get the diagnosis and (life changing) treatment that I needed. Good luck.

@Weenurse

I have only ever done a male without the rectal catheter, the doctor already had a good idea on what that patients problem was. I think the rectal catheter is necessary to get all the information required. Ask for the local anaesthetic lubricant to numb the area. It takes about 1/2 hour to 1 hour, depending on what triggers your bladder and what they find.

Ok, I will still ask if we can somehow skip the rectal catheter, it’s just horrifying. An hour of this procedure sounds like an absolute nightmare...

Do you think they should be ruling out lifestyle factors first? Maybe my anxiety or caffeine dinking is causing this. It just seems so extreme to jump to procedures before trying something less invasive. Imagine if I go through all this and they find nothing and it turns out to be a lifestyle factor! It’s a private consultant too, so I wonder if the excessive testing is about making more money.

How much do you drink in a day?
Cutting down on tea, coffee, alcohol, juice and fizzy drink will decrease irritation to your bladder and may reduce your symptoms.

@Gotofriggingsleep

Like others have said, this really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The nurse stayed with me throughout and the Consultant came in for parts of the test. I was treated with respect and dignity and it helped me (at the age of 35) to get the diagnosis and (life changing) treatment that I needed. Good luck.

If it’s not too personal, could I ask what sort of diagnosis was made and what the treatment was? One of the reasons I’m struggling a bit is because they didn’t explain to me what kind of thing they’re looking for here and what the benefits might be

@Weenurse

How much do you drink in a day? Cutting down on tea, coffee, alcohol, juice and fizzy drink will decrease irritation to your bladder and may reduce your symptoms.

2-3 cups of black coffee. Sometimes just one! No fizzy drinks and I haven’t had any alcohol for 3+ years. To be honest, it would be so hard to cut back On coffee, but I could try. So shouldn’t I try those things first and see if the symptoms go away? Or do I need to do the test anyway?

Had this done about 14 years ago. Wasn't traumatic, had completely forgotten about it until just now. There's only one nurse in the room with you.

Keep a bladder diary and note what you are drinking and when, also how much you are peeing and when to see if there is a trigger.
My concern is that you are not emptying properly and your frequency .
This does need investigation to see if it is contributing to your other issues.
The doctor would not suggest the test if they did not think it would help

I had a bad experience. Had to arrive with a full bladder , assured that I'd be "done" within a short time of arriving. I waited for over an hour, I was in tears by the end of that wait, with a nurse telling me "Maybe you can just let a little bit out , he really won't be long !" It was horrible. Then he came buzzing in with an entourage of students who he talked to ( about me) while I sat there on the "toilet" with tubes hanging out.

I declined to go ahead with any further treatment, and put in a solid complaint to him and the facility.

Sorry I can't tell you it's fine, because for me it really wasn't .

From your very brief history here I wold suggest a bladder diary and then urodynamics to see what is actually going on with your bladder.
3 cups of coffee is not a huge amount unless you are also drinking 3 litres of water.
Please do not be put off by the short term discomfort as you may gain life changing information and treatment

@starrynight21

I had a bad experience. Had to arrive with a full bladder , assured that I'd be "done" within a short time of arriving. I waited for over an hour, I was in tears by the end of that wait, with a nurse telling me "Maybe you can just let a little bit out , he really won't be long !" It was horrible. Then he came buzzing in with an entourage of students who he talked to ( about me) while I sat there on the "toilet" with tubes hanging out.

I declined to go ahead with any further treatment, and put in a solid complaint to him and the facility.

Sorry I can't tell you it's fine, because for me it really wasn't .

That’s outrageous. I always say at the start of any treatment that’s intimate that I will not consent to students in the room. I have also insisted on a female doctor for procedure, the nurses in that department happen to be women anyway. If there was a man there or students, I’d just get my stuff and walk out. Not happening.

Was it painful?

@Weenurse

From your very brief history here I wold suggest a bladder diary and then urodynamics to see what is actually going on with your bladder. 3 cups of coffee is not a huge amount unless you are also drinking 3 litres of water. Please do not be put off by the short term discomfort as you may gain life changing information and treatment

Definitely not drinking 3 litres of water. I’m not the best at hydrating myself anyway, although I’m trying to improve.

I think I have urge incontinence, I keep wanting to go to the loo and sometimes very little comes out. Other times I’ll go and wee a lot, and then ten mins ,after the bladder is full again (this is what happened at the doctor’s clinic today, they told me to give a urine sample and I thought I had emptied my bladder rather well but ten mins later on the ultrasound it was full and bursting.

Have they not given you any medication first before doing these procedures?

Or seen an incontinence nurse?

Before you go down the road of medical intervention have you been tested for an embedded infection?

@Pepsimirror

Have they not given you any medication first before doing these procedures?

Nope. Nothing. It’s a private consultant and I went to them for gynaecological issues but they noticed on the scan that my bladder wasn’t emptying properly and that the symptoms of frequent weeing and pelvic pain could be related to that. Because they’re private, I wonder if they’re just jumping to procedures to make money

I was diagnosed with stress and mild urge incontinence (no real shock there) but also bladder, cervix and bowel prolapses. I had a TVT fitted in Spring 2018 and this has been an absolute life changer. I didn't quite realise how bad the incontinence was truly making me feel until it was no longer an issue.

I will require surgery on my prolapses at some point I have been told but for now I am managing pretty well.

@Helendee

Before you go down the road of medical intervention have you been tested for an embedded infection?

I think so... Not by this doctor, but my GP did a full blood overview just a few days back. I don’t have any signs of infection at all, although the consultant has done more blood tests to check further.

But again, because it’s a private consultant, I don’t know if they’re trigger happy with procedures because it makes money.