No, you're not put out for it. Basically, they catheterize you and drain your bladder. Then they instill a sterile water solution into your bladder. This should not cause any discernible reaction, and it's used to sort of test your baseline. Then they inject a potassium solution into your bladder. If you have any discomfort, burning, or pain, you can be diagnosed with IC. It was an uncomfortable process, but by no means painful. My doctor had a rescue instillation ready in case I reacted to the potassium, which I did. She instilled the rescue solution (Lidocaine and Heparin) which made it feel a LOT better.
Once I was diagnosed, I started getting instillations of Lidocaine and Heparin once per week, and this has done a lot to help decrease my frequency and discomfort.
The doctor I see is a Uro-Gynecologist. They are the ones most knowledgeable about IC, however are not very common. I think if you go to www.icnetwork.com you can search for practitioners in your area.
Good luck in your quest for a diagnosis! I know how uncomfortable/painful/embarrassing bladder problems can be, but there is hope it will get better!
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Re: interstitial cystitis
