urinary incontinence... anyone had a TVS procedure?! help!

[beaniebaby25]

Hi everyone

Embarassing one, this, but i've been suffering from some wee-control issues... my thread last week explains more for those interested in background... here

I spoke to my GP, and he recommended that i see a urologist and have some other tests including blood test and pelvic/bladder exam. I've managed to get some appointments lined up for the new year thanks to being able to go private (health insurance with work) and I've got to go and have a pelvic examination which they've called a TVS? i can't find much info online and wondered if anyone had any experience of this? They mentioned the words 'trans-vaginal' and it's apparently done with a probe

From what i've read it sounds hideous - anyone with any experience of this to confirm my fears put me at ease?

x

Sorry to hear you're suffering. The trans-vaginal probe is the same sort of probe they use for scans, but it's slimmer. The sonographer (?) will carefully stick it up your fanjo (sorry to be so crude) to get a picture of your bladder and/or uterus and ovaries.

I've had 2 TVS scans and I promise you they're not uncomfortable. The person doing the scan was vvv considerate. The embarrassment was the worst part

lol at 'stick it up your fanjo' Thanks Sub, you've put me a bit more at ease. i had visions of hoover nozzle-sized metal thing looming at me.

i'd imagine its just as embarrassing as a smear... eugh. just want it out the way tbh. thanks sub x

I've had this procedure, was a bit shocked when sonographer put a condom on the probe before inserting it but then realised that was probably to stop infections so a good thing! It didn't hurt at all and was over with very quickly. Good luck beanie.

You're welcome Beanie

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I've had this to check my ovaries- not the most interesting way to spend your day, but just like a smear, except it is in semi darkness and they do cover you up for modesty! The probe is a bit flat-spoon shaped at the end- not sharp.

I wonder though, if you have got the info right?

If you have incontinence, aren't you being referred for the TVT procedure- transvaginal tape? This is where they put a "sling" round the urethra, via the vagina, to help keep the opening from the bladder in the right position, and stop leakage.

I would be surprised if you were having a transvaginal ultrasound probe for incontinence.

re-read your original post- if you have not had children, you are unlikely to need the TVT procedure.

However, it still seems odd to have the probe..

have you asked what the procedure is meant to discover? I'd ask a few more questions if I were you and see what's going to happen!

If you are having incontinence problems, try to keep track of when it is the worst. In my experience doctors (even the expert urologists) forget the hormonal aspect of women's bodies. I had urinary incontinence for years after having my dd. I visited a series of gp's and urologists in the uk and the usa and none of them seemed to be able to tell me anything except that it wasn't bad enough to warrant a surgical cure. They gave me biofeedback (yuck!) and told me to do lots of pelvic floor exercises (useless). Finally I got referred to a hormonal expert in the uk (and saw one in the usa right around the same time who agreed) who said I was perimenopausal and put me on the pill (monophasic, low dose) and within a month my incontinence problems were solved (along with a few others that I did not realize could be cured, like heavy painful periods, mood swings, bad skin and bad hair). After a few years, the incontinence started coming back and I went onto a slightly stronger (more estrogen) pill and it was cured again.

honest friend, this pelvil exam is part of a few investigations. as part of the urologist's exam apparently they'd have a look at the bladder then and there and assess whether or not its weak and if they can tell, they will inect botox into the bladder which apparently stops any weakness.

its all happened quite fast actually and i seem to have accepted the doctors word without really understanding exactly what he meant. he had quite a strong indian accent and i didnt fully understand some of the things he said. but i did get the impression he wanted to help me and he seemed keen to help me and stressed that i was too young to be having these problems, especially without having any dcs.

botox sounds quite radical to me!

beaniebaby, the botox is for "irritable" bladder, iirc it was pioneered at Guy's hospital and it is a fantastic treatment for people who've tried other things with no luck. (irritable bladder is not the kind you get eg when bouncing on trampoline after having too many 9lb+ babies! it's where the bladder wants to empty even when it's not full, with signals getting "confused" and the botox needs to be repeated in the same way that the facial/wrinkle ones do!)

PLEASE read up on the www.cobfoundation.org forum about Botox for bladders- it can work with over active bladder- but if it goes wrong, you can be left unable to pass water . I really don't want to alarm you, but you really should ask more questions about what they want to do and the treatment. You can post your questions on the forum and get replies.

A uro would not usually do a transvaginal scan as far as I know - that would be done by a gynae.

Please find out what they have planned as you need to be in charge of your treatment, and not leave it all to them- Botox is usually the last resort after lots of other things such as drugs and bladder training.

Hope you get sorted!