FAQs

Clinical

Is it normal to have blood in my urine after a cystoscopy?

There may be blood in the urine for several days or even a week after cystoscopy. The bleeding should not be heavy and may be intermittent. If a biopsy or any other procedure was performed at the time of the cystoscopy the bleeding may persist a little longer. It is usually not a problem as long as you are passing water comfortably with a good stream and do not have any significant pain. If you take anti-coagulant medication such as Aspirin, Warfarin or Plavix the bleeding may last a little longer but Dr Ende would have discussed this with you prior to your procedure.

How long should I have discomfort for when passing urine after cystoscopy?

During cystoscopy a telescope is passed through the urethra into the bladder. Even if the procedure is only to have a look at the urethra and bladder it does cause some irritation and patients may experience burning or stinging when passing urine for several days. The procedure is rarely complicated by infection even though there may be some inflammatory and red blood cells in the urine if checked by your local Doctor. Most patients would have been given antibiotics at the time of the procedure and usually do not require post-operative antibiotics except in special circumstances which Dr Ende would have discussed with you. If you think the discomfort is excessive you may contact Dr Ende’s rooms or your local Doctor who should arrange for a urine test to exclude infection.

What should I expect at home after surgery to relieve obstruction by my prostate (TURP, laser, 'rebore')

Your catheter would have been removed a day or 2 after your procedure in the hospital when your urine had become clear with no signs of ongoing bleeding. The nursing staff would have measured the residual urine volume in your bladder and would have been happy that you are emptying adequately. Even though you may still have some discomfort or burning when you pass urine, it is time to go home.

The surface of the prostate will take some time to heal and will be a little sensitive and may ooze a little blood. When at home the burning will gradually settle over time. It may take up to a week or two but should improve fairly quickly and be easily tolerated. URAL from the chemist may help. You may also notice blood stained urine intermittently over the next few weeks. The amount of bleeding is often related to the amount of fluid you consume and the amount of activity you undertake. You should take in enough water to keep the urine as light as possible but remember, the more you drink, the more urine you will pass – so there has to be a balance. You should not undertake any heavy physical activity for 3-4 weeks as this will also increase the amount of bleeding. If you notice an increased amount of blood, you should increase your fluid intake to help clear the urine.

After 10-14 days, the scab that will have formed over the raw surface of the prostate may come lose and dislodge. It is soft and may look like a blood clot. At this time you may notice an increase in the amount of bleeding. This is normal. You should increase your fluid intake for a day or so. In most cases, the bleeding will settle spontaneously after 12-36hrs. There is often very little bleeding after this point.

If you have been on blood thinning agents such as Plavix , Warfarin or others, Dr Ende will have discussed with you an appropriate time to recommence them. These obviously will increase the risk of bleeding but this has to be balanced against the risks of being off the medication.

Very occasionally, if bleeding persists  or if it is significant, clots may form in your bladder and block the flow of urine. If you think this may be the case, you should conatact Dr Ende who may feel that a catheter should be replaced to drain the bladder and wash out any clots. It will usually remain in place only for a day or 2. AN ultrasound or bladder scan may be required to determine if this is the case.

Lastly, it may take some time for the bladder to get back to normal function.You may experience frequency and some urgency to void while the raw surface of the prostate heals. You may even feel as if you have an infection although this is actually quite uncommon. Dr Ende will discuss with you techniques to help settle your symptoms. Sometimes medication can help but in most cases, the symptoms will settle within a few weeks and not require any specific treatment.

When can I drive after my prostate surgery to relieve a blockage to the flow?

It is usually recommended that patients wait at least a week or two before driving. This is to ensure that the patient has good urinary control without sudden urges to void which might cause problems if stuck in traffic. After a week or two, if the patient is feeling well with no significant voiding symptoms, the patient should be able to drive without difficulty.

Should I have discomfort while I have a stent in my kidney?

JJ stents are placed to ensure that the kidney drains urine without the risk of blockage from either stone fragments, small blood clots or bruising and swelling. One end of the stent is in the kidney and the other in the bladder. The stent itself causes irritation in the bladder and patients often experience a feeling of significant frequency to void. During voiding some urine will reflux along the stent up to the kidney which can cause an ache in the back. There may also be intermittent bleeding while a stent is in place. All these symptoms are simple side effects of having a stent in place. Patients must be aware that stents are placed to protect the kidney and will only be in place for as long a time as necessary. It is important to drink plenty of fluids to keep the stent clean and free of encrusted material which may make removal of the stent difficult. Symptoms related to the stent usually settle within 24 to 36 hours after the stent has been removed.

On some occasions it may only be necessary for a stent to be in place for only a day or 2. In this situation, a small string may be left attached to the stent which will be visible hanging out of your urethra. Dr Ende will have made an arrangement for the stent to be removed in his rooms or by your local Doctor a few days after you leave the hospital. This is an extremely simple procedure, taking only a few seconds. It is essentially painless. It saves you from having to be readmitted to the hospital to have the stent removed. Rarely, the stent may become dislodged before you see Dr Ende or your GP. This is not a problem and if the stent has not completely come out, you may easily pull it. You must let Dr Ende know if this is the case.

What should I expect after a prostate biopsy?

Generally you should not have significant pain but rather a feeling of discomfort or pressure to void. You may have blood stained urine or blood in your bowel motions for several days. There may be blood in the semen for several weeks. The urine flow may be slightly weaker due to swelling of the prostate but this is not usually significant. These symptoms will rarely cause any lasting problem.

A very small number of men will get an infection following the biopsy. Symptoms including fever, sweating, feeling generally weak and unwell usually begin about 24-48 hours following the biopsy. You may feel as if you have a flu like illness. These symptoms should not be ignored and you should contact Dr Ende or present to the nearest casualty as soon as possible. You must explain that you have had a biopsy of your prostate and in almost all cases you will be required to remain in hospital for observation and intravenous antibiotics.

Can I take medication to get rid of my kidney stones?

This depends on the composition of the kidney stone. Dr Ende can discuss this with you in more detail.

Administration FAQs

Parking is available at St Vincent’s Hospital in commercial car parks beneath both the Private Hospital and St Vincent’s General Hospital. There is limited parking on the streets surrounding the Hospital which is metered.

St Vincent’s General Hospital, St Vincent’s Private Hospital and St Vincent’s Clinic are all co-located within the same precinct. The Clinic building is on the corner of Victoria Street and Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. St Vincent’s Private Hospital is next to the Clinic and the General Hospital is on the other side of the Private Hospital. Please note that the traffic in Victoria Street is one way toward Oxford Street

What to bring to your appointment:

  • Medicare card or DVA card
  • Referral letter
  • Any imaging (xrays, CT scans, ultrasounds etc) related to the condition
  • A list of your medications
  • Any recent blood and urine tests
  • List of questions

If necessary, any further imaging will be arranged as required

Cancellations:

Telephone the office during business hours and allow at least 1 day’s notice so that we can offer your appointment time to patients on our waiting list.

We recognize that your time is valuable, and we make every effort to run on time. Occasionally emergencies or patients require a little more time, and these cause scheduling delays beyond our control. We apologize if we keep you waiting.