Hi Chris and others
I found the a UK expert who takes referrals from all over the country and 2 weeks ago I had my operation as well. I was glad to discover that the route of my problem was not multiple but a single stricture resulting in fact from a badly done hypospadias repair as a young child. My consultant proposed simply a re-do of the repair as the solution to all my problems. This entailed a two-stage operation- the first being the main surgery and the second more of a cosmetic operation. After the operation I remained in hospital for two nights on a catheter, but was hugely relieved when I was told I would not need one to go home with (one of the benefits of an external rather than internal stricture). After a week of bed-rest I went back to have my stiches removed 2 days ago and whilst I still have to refrain from sex and sporting activities for another month, I am able to otherwise return to normal activity.
Having been through a number of unsuccessful and rather painful operations at childhood I was so dreading another surgery to the extent that my life with no solutions became very depressing. Having taken the plunge and sought out a real specialist professional I have, as of yet no regrets. Obviously there was pain, as expected, but it was so much worse in my head and 10 days of varying degress of pain (4-8 on my scale) is so much better than a lifetime of discomfort on a 3-5 scale.
While the flow is strong now, the real test comes after the second operation when I am effectively ‘put back together again’. For this I have to wait 2-3 months for everything to settle down. But I am confident in my consultant who performs over 100 of these operations a year.
I have noticed that most of the people on this forum are from the states, but if there is anyone reading from the UK I can recommend Mr. Paul Anderson in Dudley, Birmingham as the most specialised professional urologist of the 10+ I have seen in my lifetime.
F