Just had a urethrotomy
Posted , 4 users are following.
All,
I had a urethrotomy 6 weeks ago to resolve a constant dull need to urinate. Six weeks later pain has resolved but the sensation remains, stricture was small (2mm) and the tightness is less than before and I only hope it will not return. Although I still feel a slight discomfort ... I can certainly feel the area where I was dialated when I run. The surgeon appears to be unsympathetic to my case and says I have a minor issue and it is nothing to worry about.
Worryingly I was not made aware of success rates prior to surgery and although the feeling of needing to urinate was annoying I was living a pretty normal life.
Reading the stories on here are really scary and make me wonder if I made the right decision. Only time will tell. I do wonder if there is any evidence of successful urethrotomy procedures. Most online forums are pretty bleak places to go.
Cheers
0 likes, 6 replies
glenn77 AnonStricture
Posted
Should your stricture persist, you may want consider a balloon dilation, which seems to have a better success rate. I'm curious as to the cause of your stricture(s). Mine were from TURP and or GreenLaser procedures I had last year. OR possibly, from the two cystoscopies, or the multiple Foley catherizations I've had in the last 11 months following my unfortunate surgical outcomes.
AnonStricture glenn77
Posted
6 weeks post op this week and still feels terrible down below :-(
kdawg2791 AnonStricture
Posted
Hi Anon
Sorry to hear your still uncomfortable. I'm going on 15 months post urethrotomy, my second one and i'm still uncomfortable down there. I think it's safe to say i'll never feel right again plus my flow has already slowed wish I would have opted for urethroplasty. Urethrotomy hardly ever cures except for maybe in your case where the stricture is very short, but if it does come back I wouldn't mess around with urethrotomy again. Urethroplasty is the only cure. What was your flow rate prior to the surgery?
glenn77 kdawg2791
Posted
I'm afraid I'm facing urethroplasty myself. I had a ballon dilation two months ago when my surgeon discovered two strictures causes, I have to assume, by another doctor who performed GL laser and Gyrus TURP on me last year. A month after the dilation, I was optimistic as I was measuring an average flow rate of about 12 cc per second. I measured it by peeing into a graduated plastic urinal and timing from start to stop of the flow. (Amount collected divided by elapsed time.) Then, a week later, I noticed the rate was declining and now it's down to 6 or 7 cc per minute.
I only have to empty my bladder at night (3 to 4 times) of if I've been sitting during the day, as I have a high level of incontinence from the GL and Gyrus TURP last year. If I can get the urethra clear of strictures, I plan to have an artifical sphincter implanted so I can be free of living in Depend pullups or using a condom catheter and bag.
Glenn
AnonStricture kdawg2791
Posted
I was clearing my bladder so am worried I made the wrong choice. Only time will tell.
kdawg2791 AnonStricture
Posted
Same here I was emptying my bladder and flow was exceptable. Did the urethrotomy anyway because of the feeling of always having to go and ended up making urethra worse now I can't empty and I have pain. Turns out my problem was my herniated disc. It got better when I had back surgery. Wrecked my urethra for nothing.