They consider it a surgery, but it’s not unlike a colonoscopy where there is no investing, just instruments entering orifices.
I’ve had two ureteroscopies while awake without any kind of anesthetic. It’s likely the worst experience I’ve had another human inflict on me. You’re in a very vulnerable position, it’s very painful, and it induces the sensation of urinating uncontrollably.
After my first, the doc decided he might as well do a prostate exam as well. I went in not knowing either was going to happen. I was shaken for about a week afterwards.
> two ureteroscopies while awake without any kind of anesthetic. It’s likely the worst experience I’ve had another human inflict on me
well, that makes me feel good, because there were trace amounts of urine in my blood not long ago and they wanted to do one of those to me, but instead I got a second opinion and test done and the trace blood had disappeared, so hopefully I dodged that bullet. it sounds terrifying
Oh no, I was fully asleep. I remember nothing of the surgery.
The bad experience was after I woke up. The pain was excruciating. They had first tried to zap it with ultrasound but it didn't work. Then they went in and did some kind of scraping of the urethra. I know this because there was a descent amount of discharge that I can only describe as skin scrapings. It was insanely painful to pass each of these and I think it was that painful because it was passing them through the raw skin that was scraped off itself (within the urethra).
To alleviate the pain I was put on some kind of opioid pain meds for 2.5 weeks that had an insidious effect on my personality. During that time I was (without realizing it) a total unhinged ass it had a terrible effect on my working and personal relationships.
Beforehand I asked the Dr. do I need the surgery? He said "Well we don't really know. You haven't passed it yet (2 weeks) and the only way we can be absolutely sure is with with surgery." There was no real explanation about the tradeoffs of how painful scrapings etc would be.
After the fact, the cynic in me wondered, was this guy gaming the system by tipping the scales in favor of surgery (since he was the one to do the surgery in private US medical healthcare system). FYI It was a 4-5mm stone.
I’ve had two ureteroscopies while awake without any kind of anesthetic. It’s likely the worst experience I’ve had another human inflict on me. You’re in a very vulnerable position, it’s very painful, and it induces the sensation of urinating uncontrollably.
After my first, the doc decided he might as well do a prostate exam as well. I went in not knowing either was going to happen. I was shaken for about a week afterwards.