Hi, I have had this issue for the past 16 years. I have had 12 dilatations and am still living with daily burning & pain. Does anybody know what the limit on these awful procedures should be before being referred for Urethroplasty?
Is the pain when you urinate, or all of the time? What country are you in? I think you can request surgery as that's way too many dilation's.
Hi Jason,
Thanks for your reply, I am in Southern Ireland. How many dilatations would be the limit to be referred for Urethroplasty usually? The pain is when I urinate and for a while after, every time.
I've had a stricture for about 20 years and have had about 15 dilations. I am nervous of urethroplasty - what if it doesn't work, does it leave you incontinent? No doctor has ever suggested it anyway. At the moment I am controlling it by self catheterising every week or so. Let me know if you find out any more.
Hi. I posted previously about my having a urethroplasty last May 2018. Since I am not a medical professional I can’t offer advise, but can only relate my experience.
I am a male and my stricture was scar tissue in the urethra directly in the “tween” area. It was from a bicycle accident 50 years earlier. All I can tell you is that they cut my urethra (tube) on either side of the stricture, and threw it (the scar tissue) in the garbage. They then rolled each end of the urethra back (picture a flange), then holding the flanges against each other, sewed the flanges together working around the urethra. Sorry so descriptive.
I had the catheter in place for 3 weeks and then removed. No doubt the (tween) was uncomfortable for a few weeks, however I went back to my office job one week after surgery. It took a few weeks before I could mow yard on riding mower or ride my motorcycle.
I have no pain when urinating, could hit a beer can at 4 feet, and empty a full bladder in 10-15 seconds.
Erections are much better, as are ejaculations. Full and complete. Was it worth the cost and discomfort of the surgery? For me, no doubt about it.
Hi Kellc, Thank you for your reply, I am delighted for you that you have full function now and find your story very encouraging! Sincerely, Magicv
Hi deb2722, I too am nervous about the surgery but have heard that the success rate is 90% for Urethroplasty. It is now my final option but I think a risk worth taking for the chance of living the rest of my life free of this limiting and nasty condition. Hearing from Kellc is also encouraging!
I have read my post now again and see I failed to mention my point, which was to address your concern about possible incontinence. The feeling of a full bladder and the need to go comes from the bladder. A sort of release valve or sphincter (?) group of muscles releases or relaxes to allow urine to flow. I do not see how having a uroplasty surgery to repair a structure in the urethra would effect it. But I am not a Dr. obviously right? Find a good urologist. And get fixed!
Thanks for your reply, and I'm very glad it worked out well for you. I take your point - I think I am just a bit worried that the sphincter would get damaged during an operation. Anyhow, none of the surgeons I've seen have even suggested surgery - I'm not sure how common an operation it is in the UK.
Hi, Magicv and Others on this Thread,
What about the time frame? Are these procedures done during a single office visit, or perhaps overnight? If this is so, then that is where the difference is. In my own case I had a stricture in the prostatic urethra which I dealt with myself. My Uro felt that, because the origin of my stricture was "nurse-made" -- i.e. accidental -- there was a good chance that my approach would work, and it did.
I inserted progressively increasing sizes of catheter starting at Fr-8 and going up to Fr-18 over a total of 25 weeks or so. Not your one or two office visits by any means!
Does this fit your respective cases in any way?
Warm regards, alan86734.
deb2722,
The best person to do the urethroplasty is Tamsin Greenwell & her team at UCLH London. she has the most experience. They have a very high success rate. The risk of incontinence would be very low. This surgery is specialised for females as the condition is rarer for females than men.
Where are you located? I know that there is nobody suitably qualified in Ireland. Which is why I havent had the surgery and have been enduring dilatations that have been futile.
Hi Kellc1,
Yes, I hadn't thought of it that way, although the surgery for females is more complicated than for men (anatomically etc)
Indeed, it would be wonderful to be fixed for once & for all !
Hi Alan86734,
Self catheterization is not an option for me. All of my dilatations were under general anaesthetic as a day procedure, a size 6 Fr would be difficult to get in..
Dear Magicv,
So sorry to hear that. But, this is one of the benefits of these forums, we help you cover all the bases so that you do not walk alone. I wish you all the best in your search for a solution that does work.
alan86734.
Thanks for that; I live in the south west UK. It is the fact that it is rare in women that worries me. At the moment I am managing with ISC, but I think I will ask about it if I have to have another dilation. Do you do ISC?
I have tried ISC before but found it too painful. Also didnt last, so futile. I hope to get the Urethroplasty later this year, so will let you know how it goes for me. Life is too short to be living with this condition!
Thanks Alan for your input and kindness, for sure the forum is helpful. I hope to have the Urethroplasty later this year which will hopefully give me a new lease on life.
ISC is not easy, and is sometimes painful for me (if I leave it too long in between). Without it, though my stricture just closes up really quickly, so I have to keep on with it. I find it very stressful and difficult to do. I hope you get an op, and please do let me know how it goes. Best of luck x
Yes, it is not pleasant at all. Maybe you should make enquiries regarding urethroplasty for yourself. Tamsin is busy, so the earlier you enquire the higher you get on the list! sure, I will be in touch. Thank you Deb