Doesn't sound remotely like fun!  No, I haven't had the procedure done but I'm sure they will try to make it as comfortable as possible.  It's a no-win situation for you though if the doc thinks he needs to do it.  Either you tough it out and get the test, or you prolong your own worrying over whether they have determined what is wrong.  My advise would be to tough it out and get the check...especially if they have exhausted all other tests.  Might be painful but you'll have peace of mind and your doc will know more clearly what he is treating.  Good luck...and I do understand your hesitation having had virtually every bodily fluid checked at one time or another in my life.

Hey Man, good luck and we wish you the best of luck and hope the results come back indicating no problem. I will not BS you, the catheter isn't a picnic but it isn't horrifying either. I would describe it as very unpleasant but I have had other procedures which were way worse like the latest being a root canal on a tooth. If someone stuck a gun to my head and said choose one or the other I'm afraid it would be the tube up the willy! Others may say the tooth but you could have a million things worse then the catheter.

I worked in an ER for a while many years ago, almost every guy described it the same way...  Not painful, just uncomfortable.  The longer it's in, the longer it will take to get back to normal once it's out.  If it's in just for a test, then urinating will be uncomfortable that day, but by the next it shouldn't be much more than just noticable.

The secret I always used for insertion, which others don't seem to use, is to pause when the cath gets to the prostate.  Then have them "clinch down" hard for a few seconds like trying to hold it, then relax and actually "push" like you're going to go, which instinctively opens the bladder sphincter and it slides right in.  I'm tellin' ya, it makes all the difference.  Every clinician should do that and for some reason they don't.  Ask your doctor if interested.

btw, a similar procedure works if Tuz is about to plow you with a really big strap-on too

It's maybe a 1 out of 10 on the pain scale.  You probably can look it up on the net.  But, you're nervous and there's never a bad reason to take a valium is there  J/K

Funny story:  When I was ski patrol, a first time skier broke his leg skiing from the ticket booth to his first run.    

He was so mad about all the money he just spent, he didn't seem in pain at all.  I bet he's still swearing about it.

Another time, a teenage boy did a spread eagle off a jump right into a tree.  We called him unic after that.  I don't know the pain level he experienced, but from what you guys say probably a 4 out of 10.

Both times I had to leave because I couldn't stop laughing.  I was young.  

-- Modified on 1/21/2005 6:27:58 AM

I had this procedure done.  It wasn't very painful, but they put me under anesthesia.  Hope everything is ok.