My 26th cystoscopy in August was eye-wateringly painful and bloody. It felt like my bladder was going to explode and I cried out to stop the procedure. Maybe we’d been inspecting the screen for too long and too much water had entered the bladder – I do have pain when it’s full. No tumours thankfully but bright-red-patches-of-inflammation again / still. Bladder inflammation isn’t new, pathology reports from my operations mention ‘TURBT cystitis’ as recently as February this year. My question is:
What can I do or not do to improve things?
My urologist and I agreed to postpone BCG and have another cystoscopy in October.
6 weeks later October’s cystoscopy wasn’t painful just uncomfortable and the results were similar. Bright red and inflamed! Not everywhere but in most places. I asked if I had interstitial cystitis (IC), and was told no but it was like IC. We agreed to postpone BCG again and to use Gepan instill.
So we were happy that there were no tumours but worried about the inflammation. My inner voice was very loud and it was telling me to take ‘massive action’ as well as Gepan.
- Gepan installations with my urologist – helps to build up the damaged glycosaminoglycan (gag) layer (see post about it here)
- Cistiquer tablets – a natural-based product for interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome an anti-inflammatory that regenerates the bladder mucosa
- Aloe vera tablets – soothe and help to build up the damaged (gag) layer
- Silica – helps with the bladder connective tissue
- Horsetail tea – strengthens mucus membranes and is anti-inflammatory (but after a couple of weeks take a break – don’t take it continuously)
- Marshmallow root tea – soothes the bladder mucosal membrane
- Myofascial release for the bladder – helps almost instantly with pain
- IV Vitamin C infusions – helpful for inflammation
So with all this I can say my bladder feels better, there is less pain and less urgency.
Let’s see how it looks at the next cystoscopy in January 2024.
Fingers crossed!
Bladdergraffiti 