I have my 1st urodynamic test coming up. While talking to another MSer she explained that it isn't a pleasant test and doesn't feel too great. If you have had one done, what was your experience with it?

Additionally, she had an implant of an electronic device to assist with bladder function. Have you had this done?

Been there, done that, it was unpleasant.

They told me I was normal. Small bladder capacity, but normal.

The worst part of the test, was after they "filled me up" with the saline or whatever it was, and then I had to get rid of it....it took me forever!

I guess, I had "performance anxiety", I sat there for 10 or 20 minutes and nothing would get me to "go". Finally, I asked for a cup of warm water (she brought me HOT water) My thought was to put my hand in the water and that it might trigger something. Nope.

I drank some of the water...nothing.

It wasnt until I was starting to cry and panic about things that I spilled a little of the HOT water onto my knee. That did it!

If I ever have that done again, I'll be begging for an antibiotic to take after the test, to avoid an infection.

I never ever ever want to do that test again. Hated it.

The 10 to 20 minute wait is me on a regular basis. LOL. I sometimes wish that I had a toilet with a reclining back.

She did tell me it is not a fun test. I was just unsure what all they do.

I should mention that I didnt have anything implanted like you did. I just had the ever-exciting pee-pee test.

Even tho it was not fun at all, it was probably a good thing to have done, since it can be a baseline if I ever do develop serious issues in that area.


Oh, as for why I had it done, I'd been having a lot of UTI's or what I thought were UTI's... I'm sure a few of them were actual UTI infections, but I'm pretty sure they missed the rather chronic yeast infection I was having. I didnt even realize what it was until I ended up having to go to the ER about 5 months later with a raging case of bacterial vaginitis. (I'd had oral steroids a week or so before that, and the yeast just had a blast with the steroids)

Apparently my doctor's (neuro, regular doctor, and the uro) were so positive that I was having an MS issue that none of them bothered to check other possibilities. It was my aunt (a nurse practitioner) who suggested to me that it was yeast and to go to the ER and get something for it.

All that time I was suffering, and it wasnt even an MS thing. Stupid doctors.

Been there done that too - it's a breeze.

90% of the test is attitude. Since the nurses do this for a living they are good at it. You will have a catheter inserted into your urethra and one in your rectum. If you relax it is totally painless. They will put saline in your bladder and you will be asked to void on a toilet-like chair.

If you are self-conscious then it is not a fun test because it's all about you. If you figure out that you are the third or tenth patient of the day or the 25th patient that week and it's no big deal because everyone who has the test goes through the same thing then you will be fine.

I was 3 minutes into my test when the nurses asked if I had MS. While they can't give you the results, they might give you a clue if you ask.

BTW - I do not have a dx of MS - just the symptoms.

Life is what you make it - as tests go this one is painless and easy. Treatment for retention or incontience will make your quality of life better, hence the testing.

Good luck!

I'm sorry but a catheter inserted into your urethra and one in your rectum doesn't sound like a breeze to me!

I've never had this test done but I agree with what you said about attitude. I used to be so concerned about how I looked or who was watching me that I would make any test I was having 10 times worse than need be. What gets me through tests that might seem embarrassing is that I keep telling myself hey I'm the best looking patient they've seen all day! Wait til they get a load of the the next one! I know twisted thinking but it works for me!

btw...good luck with the tests tkrik I'll say a prayer that it will go well.

Attitude is important. I know I have to get it done and based on what the neuro was telling me want to get it done to prevent damage from back flow due to retention. My attitude going in to this is that it hopefully will prevent more problems.

However, I never heard of it being unpleasant. Cricket you made a very good point. The more uptight one is the worse it would be as you would tense up. That is true with most things.

Tkrik, I completely agree with Cricket. It is not painful. They insert a cath to infuse the saline, and small electrodes are placed in your rectum and bladder(tiny little wires). Electrodes are how they record the pressure in your bladder while filling, and the ammount of pressure you excert to urinate(when your bladder reaches a "gotta go now feeling").Other important information is how much your bladder can hold.

Relax, and it is a breeze. You will have a nurse and doctor, in my case, while you void.They are busy reading the data recorded from your electrodes.Just remember they are collecting scientific data on you, that can answer lots of questions about the kind of neurogenic bladder you may have.

Never heard of any kind of implantatin during this test.

Bluenurse - She didn't have the implantation during the test. This implantation is a "permanent" device that helps her void. Although, she said it doesn't completely work as well as she hoped it would.

Also, you are correct, the data is so important. I truly don't want to end up with kidney problems due to back flow. I know that by doing the test, should there be an issue, there are treatments for it. (Well, I know there is an issue but what is that issue is the big question.)

I think the uretheral catheter was more annoying than the rectum thing. (think it was more of some sort of sensor and not actually a catheter)

and I was worried about who was watching me too.

At least the urodynamics they just had a nurse/tech doing the test and no one else was in there...made it easier to not be so freaked out