Looks like I am having a Cytoscopy next week. Pls tell me not to worry?

[benburch]

My recent physical showed minute amounts of blood in my urine, and they cannot do the normal CAT scans with contrast due to my allergy to shellfish upon which the contrast medium is based.

Now, I know that this is far more likely to be kidney stones or something benign, but now I am worried sick that I might have cancer.

[Shell Beau]

1. Aw, I'm sorry!

But it could be anything from a kidney or urinary tract infection to a kidney stone! Don't be scared. I know it is easier for me to say that!! :hug: I'll pray for you.

[Redstone]

2. Probably nothing.

And you can't do anything about it anyway until you know, so worrying doesn't gain you anything. Except to make you worried.

Have a drink.

Redstone

[MissB]

3. Positive thoughts, Ben.

:hug:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

4. Don't worry Ben. It could be anything but don't worry about cancer.

[Shine]

5. Sending good thoughts for Healing and Protection....

Best wishes,
Shine
:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Attitude Adjustment TIme

You are worrying about what you DON'T know, but are willing to go find out more about what you DO know. Set a reality check boundary for yourself and see the difference.

Instead of second-guessing and causing yourself undue anxiety, accept that you need to find out what, if anything, is going on with your body, and then deal with facts :)

You went to DR., found out you needed further testing to get more info so Dr. can make a clearer diagnosis/report of what's going on with you. Clear up the worrying part, and if you're seeking info re: Internet beyond ANY suggestion of possibility the Dr. gave you, you are setting yourself up for living in fear rather than reality.

Hope all goes well with your test, and that you do get something definitive so you and your Dr. can move forward in helping you be well :hi:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. dont worry

a friend of mine had it done this summer...its a very minor procedure..you will be back on your feet by the next morning...

blood in urine can be the result of a million things..none of which have to be cancer

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. There is nothing to do but find out. Worry doesn't help anything. Good

luck to you!

[benburch]

9. Thanks guys!

I just needed to hear somebody other than myself telling me not to worry.

[fleabert]

10. worry never accomplished anything.

you are in my thoughts, and please update us, but STOP WORRYING! We all know too well what kind of influence your state of mind can have on your health!

worrying you might have cancer won't change it if you do, and does you no good if you don't. As of today YOU DON'T! DU is here for you, and I am putting out all of the positive vibes I can muster for you.

:hug: Let it go.

[djeseru]

11. I had mine last April,

...and I was worried sick - I kept thinking of all the things that could go wrong and that it's probably something huge and life-threatening...and was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't. It was exactly what the Dr. said it was...

Except the anesthesia made me throw-up on the ride home.

I bet yours will go much smoother. Good luck!

Edit for grammar.

[benburch]

12. I'm just glad I have OK insurance!

Blue Advantage HMO. Not the best, but it covers necessary things like this.

I'd hate to see the actual bill!

At least I know we've already rules out everything you can blood test for that might be causing this.

It's not Prostate cancer, though it might still be BPH.

Most likely it is stones. Was that what it was in your case?

I worry about cancer so much after what happened to Andy and also several of my other friends this year. Still, if it is cancer it would appear we will have caught it early, and I am wasting no time following up on it.

[djeseru]

13. My insurance was nice enough to let me see it.

The procedure itself was $6000! (In Texas dollars, may be more or less in other spots around the US) Plus, the Drs., the meds given, etc...I'm not really sure what the final total was. Luckily, we've got pretty good insurance as well so I was only responsible for about $500 altogether.

I have interstitial cystitis, an extreme inflammation of the bladder, in which the pain is very similar to urinary tract infections. So, for a good 6 to 9 months last year I thought I had one hell of an infection! I found a really good doctor, who winced when she made an initial diagnosis of the cystitis. They don't know what really causes it, but it's on the rise in females for some reason here lately. So, I've been working my way through a course of meds since then, and we'll see what she has to say when I go back in a couple of weeks...

Yes, I can see Andy being a very good reason to want to have this looked at sooner than later...I know I thought of him myself in the spring before he had to go...

Really, best of luck to you next week, and let us know how you're doing, okay? :grouphug:

[GrpCaptMandrake]

14. You'll be fine

Remember George on that episode of Seinfeld?

"Is it LUPUS?! Just tell me it's not LUPUS!"

You've got a great sense of humor and that will carry you if you let it. That and a whole boatload of people who care.

[benburch]

15. Thanks!

I just need to hear that.