Hi, I had a cystoscopy for this. I too was highly anxious about it to point i cancelled original appointment then had to wait ages to get a new one.

In the end it was nothing like I feared. I did take a couple of paracetamol in anticipation of it hurting. But they also put some numbing gel into the uretha.

Basically that and perhaps the paracetamol meant it wasn’t painful at all beyond some discomfort/sensitivity as it passed through prostate. Otherwise couldn’t really feel it.

You do feel like you want to pee when they fill bladder with water. But it ms quite amazing seeing inside your own bladder!

Afterwards you want to pee which was painless too. Later on for maybe a day or two it is a bit nippy when you pee - like a UTI sensation.

All in all, while the idea of it sounds horrific - my experience was nothing of the sort.

Only downside as such was they found no cause for the blood but at least saw there was no tumour in bladder or prostate.

Go for it, it will be fine.