First trip to urologist, what to expect?

So I’ve got my first appointment with the urologist Thursday for incontinence. Im a little nervous and I’m wandering what to expect? Any and all feedback would be much appreciated.

Evan

The two urologists I've been to will give you an in house urine test (pee in a cup) to see if you have an infection. DO NOT use the bathroom before your visit.

You might get a DRE - a digital rectal exam (a finger up your but) to see if your prostate is enlarged or has a bump on it.

And you will be sent for a blood draw to check you PSA level to see if you might have the beginnings of cancer. You're young so probably not.

When I first went to see the urologist I had a prostate exam followed by a blood test. Then I was given another appointment and had a scan done and a flow test.I then saw the consultant who asked various questions and refered me back to my Doctor. I was then given my diagnosis that I had an unstable bladder caused by diabetic neuropathy. I was then refered to the continence nurse for practical help in managing my problem. All very matter of fact and nothing to be embarrassed about.

The first visit is mostly just to talk about your symptoms and see what might be going on. You'll give a urine sample, and the doc might want take a look at you so be ready to drop your pants IF it comes up (which it may not). They absolutely do not care if you have a diaper on, in fact it's kind of expected being a urologiy clinic. So don't feel embarrased about it if you're wearing one.

You'll probably walk away with prescription for some sort of pill and a three month follow up for later re-evaulation. Depending on the severity of your problems the doc might also want to schedule you for a cystoscopy (which feels the same as a catheter insertion), or a urodynamics test. This one is an uncomfortable procedure at best, but a necessary tool for them to figure out how your bladder and sphicters are working (or not).

...and an ultrasound if you've not had one yet.

My first urologist appointment was done at the hospital as my urologist schedules all first time appontments there so he can do the tests that are required. Just be prepared for him check your bladder with a camera its a bit uncomfortable when the camera passes the sphincter. the most embarrassing time was the waiting room when all I had on was a hospital gown (was scared I was going to have a bladder issue at the wrong time.)

dont stress about the appontment and be open and honest with your answers and remember you are not alone in dealing with bladder issues and they see diapers daily.

Good luck with your tests

One urologist I saw did a cystoscopy on my first visit. The other just talked with me and gave me some meds to try. I think whether you have tests done at first depends on the doctor more than anything else.

On my second visit with my current urologist, she ordered a VCUG, a test where they put a catheter in me, filled my bladder with X-ray dye, then took out the catheter and took X-rays while I peed out the dye. That looks at residual volume as well as what the bladder muscles are doing during urination. The face that there were four people around me the whole time made it embarrassing, but it wasn't too bad overall.

Hope your appointment went well. My general advice for folks is just to relax. This is their specialty. Urologists go to school for a long time to specialize in the types of conditions we have here. So, I guarantee he will not be surprised.

When I started seeing a urologist when my bedwetting returned, I explained to him my symptoms and how I manage with using adult diapers. I smirked a bit as I said it so that he would know I wasn't embarrassed. He chuckled and said, "you'd be surprised at how common it is." He said that I seem to be managing it well, and therefore shouldn't worry too much about it.

Hopefully your urologist is as cool as mine!

dd1983 said:

Hope your appointment went well. My general advice for folks is just to relax. This is their specialty. Urologists go to school for a long time to specialize in the types of conditions we have here. So, I guarantee he will not be surprised.

When I started seeing a urologist when my bedwetting returned, I explained to him my symptoms and how I manage with using adult diapers. I smirked a bit as I said it so that he would know I wasn't embarrassed. He chuckled and said, "you'd be surprised at how common it is." He said that I seem to be managing it well, and therefore shouldn't worry too much about it.

Hopefully your urologist is as cool as mine!

Click to expand...

I surprised my urologist just yesterday. He said there was no way my urethra could already be closed back up again just 1.5 months after a turp surgery (which he cut deep and wide). He also said that even IF I was getting closed up, there was no way it could have happened just a few hours after pulling out a catheter (which does dilate open a blocked urethra). Well, surprise. I was on both accounts.

I've also seen about two dozen urologists in the past 20 years. All but the last 2 didn't even believe my symptoms or that I had any problems at all. Not until I got so bad it was like them hitting the broad side of a barn from 2 feet away. Hard to miss- but even they did.

My point to all this, is that urologists are human too. No matter how "specialized" someone is, they are as flawed as the rest of us and are prone to missing even the obvious stuff. IF anyone sees a specialist and isn't immediately impressed, you should look for someone else.