If this needs to be moved please do so but send me a link or I wont find it. questions questions, topic urologist. last November was my first bad and degrading experiences with said profession, I had a UTI last month this month no UTI, whooopee instead i got bladder issues again

If you want to private me your answers that is ok because I am uncomfortable with this whole thing, I don't want to go back don't want another thing probed into me "SMACK"

anyone who has had a number or urologist issues to deal with, talk to me please, I realize we are both different genders and the procedures are a bit different, How do you handle it, its degrading, humiliating, embarrassing, especially when you opops lol sorry doc its just so uncomfortable in so many ways, yes I know its dang near childish, my behavior, I just cant get past the mental aspect of this whole procedure, and yes I have an issue I have lost approx 1/3 of my capacity, i just don't want to go through all this again, sorry about being such a wuss, this is just something I dont care for at all, pretty sure I am not a freak about these feelings, at least I hope so

sorry about the whine

NOTHING is sacred once a lady has had a baby.

I asked my doc why he always leaves the room when I have to get dressed after a pap smear . . . "just keep on yacking, it'll save us both some time".

Sorry to hear you are having issues, Frank, and hope someone can give you some ideas. Just don't leave this problem untreated, because infection (that tends to occur) is very bad for us.

Cherie

LOL Cherie, so true!

Kinda like the nurse handing me a blanket and saying "Here you go, for some privacy". Uh, privacy? Are you kidding me?! LOL.

No, Frank, you're not being a wuss. And yes, those feelings are normal. It's tough talking about sexual issues and bladder/bowel stuff. It's worse when you have to go to a doc and talk about them and let them do things to you for the problem.

I've not had the bladder issues other than some urgency, but boy I hate going to the gyn. The probing around.... the staring at parts..... handling parts..... it's just plain ole embarrassing. Doesn't get easier.

My grandmother at 93 would tell anyone anything they asked. She said at that age she had no dignity or secrets left. So maybe it does get easier. I sort of lost my dignity with childbirth with everyone coming in staring and not at your face. Then when I had my car accident in 1994 I lost it again--my husband had to shower me, my PT got to help wash my armpit and put powder there because I couldn't and smelled bad..... it sucked. But I'm still modest, still embarrass easily when it comes to going to the gyn or discussing sexual or bladder/bowel stuff with docs. I just do.

We're so ingrained to think that those subjects are taboo or that they're totally private. We hide things away. Sometimes I wish we wouldn't think or act like that so it would be easier.

You have to get things taken care of--for your health. I hate getting a speculum shoved into me and a swab with some guys face close to my crotch. Wow, that's touchy. And I feel slimy afterward. But I do it because it means that I'm staying as healthy as I can. I put up with it. Doesn't mean I like it. Doesn't mean I want to do it. But I do. And so should you because you're important to people and you need to stay healthy--not just for you but for those who love and care for you.

On the clinical side of it, I can say from working in a hospital for 10 years that you get to see everything. Not much surprises or shocks you. After a while, you just see body parts. It's not personal. YOU are a person, but your body parts aren't--it's just part of the job. You see what you see and you forget it. I saw so many men's and women's genitalia that it didn't even phase me after about a week. You've seen one, you've seen them all.

Hang in there (no pun intended) Frank.

Oh dear Frank of all things... this IS a difficult one esp for guys~!! My DH Frank could put up with tape torn off his hairy chest or arm.. 2 brain operations where he could hear the drill into his skull..BUT.. the worse was when in front of EVERYone in the operating room .. they had to .. aahh.. TEST his private part to see if it worked as a nurse showed him sexual stimuli... DURING his brain operation. Remember its DANG COLD in an operating room. AND only other time he'd complain was when he had to be catherized.. he hated that!!

After all.. many of us are taughts its "private parts" and now someone is messing with us!!

Just glad you are able to share this embarassing stuff with us..but as you see.. women have had to put up with this since we were young...

Not to diminish anything YOU are going through tho.

Maybe you can just "go away" in your mind...when they are poking around..its something taught in childbirth...focus...on something..let your mind drift away.. while you do centered breathing...

I do that centered focused breathing whenever I have to go through a procedure where it could hurt.

BEST to you... hugs

Jan

Frank,

A few years ago the urodynamics test was about to be started for me, and the urologist walked me into a small room and she said don't be shy becuase from my perspective all parts look the same. She then said that there are two ways to experience the entire process: (1) feel degraded (which is useless), or: (2) be fascinated by the technology.

I chose the later.

The process was amazing as we spent time discussing that she was doing and what the computer program was evaluating. It was a brilliant way for her to focus the evaluation on the technology. You need to focus on that aspect of the process throughout your MS journey, regardless of the type of test. It works wonders.

-Vic