I have Urethra Stricture , need some suggestion for the details below .

It sounds like you've found a doctor that's aligned with your wishes; that's a good thing. Personally I drove toward urethroplasty because it's a permanent and lifelong repair. If my doctor told me what yours did I personally would find another doc.

Above all please remember, the doctor is skilled and educated, no doubt, but he works for you. He is your employee because you pay him. You have a voice and an opinion in your healthcare. You get a vote and by in large you should get the outcome you want because you're paying for it. If you and your doctor are not aligned on the approach to a medical solution, Fire him. The opposite is also true. If you and A doctor are aligned on an approach to a solution to a medical problem, Hire him.

I have never suggested anything to my doctor . Everything is his individual decision .

Do you mean that my doctor is not making the right decisions?

Should I switch to another one ?

I'm not saying that at all. Your personality dictates how in charge you feel comfortable being. Personally I approach the relationship that the doctor works for me. What I am saying is that doctors work for money, the patient and the patient's insurance company pay the doctor; therefore the doctor is the employee of the patient. No one cares more about your healthcare than you do. No one lays awake at night wondering how you're feeling, or what the true cause of your problem or solution is; not the doctor, the nurses or the insurance company. The staff sees you briefly, makes a best guess estimate, takes your money and moves on to the next patient. For me, I don't let the doctor off the hook. Have him explain the what and the what why and don't let the doctor leave until I understand and we both agree. If this doesn't work for you I understand, my point is that I make sure that I get great healthcare because I hold the doctor accountable because he works for me. If you pay your doctor and don't hold him accountable to you that's really your issue.

What I wanted to say is that my doctor says that the chances of recurrance in case of DVIU with self-dialation for a small period (2-3 years) and Urethroplasty is same . Thats why he prefers DVIU with self-dialation . But internet and this forum says that chances of success of Urethroplasy is much higher . Thats what brings me the dilemma !!

Why theres difference in my doc's opinion and the forum ?

I don't know why he would say that. It's a good discussion point for you two to talk about. I think the larger question is, what do YOU want? If you don't want to self cath tell him that self cath is not an option available because you're not going to do it.

You have control in this situation because it's your life and you're paying the bills. Talk to your doctor and ask him to explain his comment so that you can understand his position. Let him know that you have a decision to make and that you need his input, but clearly you are the deciding authority.

If you don't feel confident with him, fire him and find another doctor. You have to get this urinary problem worked out in a way that best suits you and your lifestyle.

Hey there Bill.  I hope this time it works for awhile.  What does your doctor say.  Good news.  Strictures are a pain.  And so are catheters  I will be having mine checked in a month.  I think it got smaller been having some problem with leaking.  I wish you a long happy life with your up coming wedding.  Good luck  Ken

How are you doing now Livewire? 

Hi mate.

I was recently thinking of where I had posted this and could not remember.  Thanks for asking, as I wanted to do an update.

My dilation needs change from time to time.  I can go a week or more without bothering, there are times where I have to do it daily of every few days.  At times it gets a bit tight, but I use Instilagel for those times, this is a syringe with a local anesthetic and helps with insertion.  If I wasn't so lazy and dilated more frequently, I would probably not need to do that.

It has definitely changed my life.  Totally vacating my bladder makes life a lot easier and peeing in a few seconds helps life too.   I would recommend everyone to try this method.

Thank you for this info and I am glad you are doing well. 

 

I have self dialated for about 11 years after a surgical dialation when I closed up (i had hypospadius repair as a child and again as a teen to close up a hole mid way on my penis and the scar tissue eventually caught up with me when I was about 36-37 years old. Now I am 47.  But it appears I am once again starting to close up a bit. It’s either that or some inflammation that is causing it to be a lot tighter.   Hopefully that is all it is as I do not want to undergo the extensive 2 stage repair. 

I can still self self dialate but have to use a thinner catheter.  I only go in about 1.5 to 2 inches as that is where the narrowing is at. 

I have never tried the syringe method. 

Which ever one you pick make sure you get all the information you can get  Either a end to end or a graft. I have a stricture just before the prostate in the bulbar area.  It is fine for now.  But if I ever have to have something done I would have a graft done.  If they do a end to end you can have penile shorten.   1 to 3 in.  You just have to be ready and tell your doctor your concerns.  Don't give you doctor total control.  You tell him what you want.  The was a man on here about a year ago.  He had a end to end done.  The doctor told him that he would not take more then a inch of the urethra.  Well when he woke up the doctor told him it was worst then he thought he took 3 in and now he has trouble having sex with his wife.  The best think you can do it get all the information you can.  Ask all question and tell him what you are concerned with  Ken   

Hey Kenneth,

Just wondering how you've been getting along with that bulbar stricture lately? Has it been getting worse for you recently as far as ability to empty your bladder, flow, pain and so on or is it been staying about the same? My flow is down to about 14 ml max along with increased pain and I'm getting nervous and extremely depressed about it.

I have been doing good.  I was in the hospital for a different reason and had to have a ridge scope done.  My doctor told me if there was a problem he would do a dilation but he did not have to because he had no problem putting the scope in and after he put a 18 fr catheter to open it more.  When this started he was only able to use a coude catheter 12 or 14.  So for now the stricture is fine.  Sometime the steam is small but I still go ok.  Have you talk to your doctor about a balloon dilation for now and try that first instead major surgery.  Something to think about   Ask anything I am here for you  Ken     

Thanks, this is a lonely disease to have other than this site it's impossible to find another person with this problem. I havn t talked to my current doctor about a balloon dialation, but when I mentioned it to my last urologist before we did the urethrotomy he just laughed and said "that doesn't do anything" I wish I would have walked away and never looked back because he made me much worse.

That was the first thing my doctor told me about.  I did not know that I even had a stricture I just thought it was age.  I was in the hospital in 2014 and they could not get a catheter in me. I got it for kidney stone surgery when I was 47.  I was 58 when I found out.  We talk about all the different ways to fix the problem  if I do have a problem.  Balloon dilation was the first thing he talked about.  He did say that it has to be re-done some time and it only last a year but sometimes that is the way to go. To put off surgery.  With what you had you can get scare tissue again.  That is what a stricture is.  If I have a problem that is the way I would go first before I have surgery.  If you need to talk I'm here  Ken 

How are you doing now kdawg?