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I am 3 days post op, buccal graft urethroplasty w/ Dr Lee C Zhao of NYU Langone.
The procedure was 4 hours for a 4cm stricture, which is a pretty long stricture from what I’ve read. Zhao doesn’t seem too concerned at all and is pretty confident in fixing me up for good.
Day 1 was tough. I had a 50 min flight home, and walked gingerly, sitting in chairs was (is still) almost unbearable.
Day 2 was slightly better, still taking perscribed pain meds every 6 hours to assist in comfort.
Today I feel much better and stopped meds. Sleeping is still very difficult, with nighttime erections. Vaseline at cathater entry helps slightly. This + lack of sleep and the mouth harvest site are my biggest complaints, but WELL worth it if it fixes my bathroom issue. The buccal graft is brutal, and honestly makes the inscision site / cathater a walk in the park.
All in all, I am so happy I “manned up” and had this procedure done. Cathater out April 26, and I pray it’ll be good news then.
To anyone with a stricture, I strongly suggest seeing a member of TURNS, and having someone who specializes in these procedures take a look. If anyone has questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
Just completed my initial follow up apt and catheter removal, at the 21 day mark.
I will say, urinating for the first time was discouraging. Weaker than expected stream, with a severe angle. I also felt like I was leaking internally at the repair site. I was assured that my bladder was completely empty following tests, and the amount I peed was the exact amount that they had injected just prior to catheter removal. Apparently this is normal following a catheter, as the urethra reverts back to normalcy.
Since that event this morning, I have gone 4 times in which each has shown major improvement in stream / flow. It is odd having the bathroom be a non-event, and I just need to work on not letting anxiety creep in. This is the first time in 10 years I have urinated without straining. I don’t regret this surgery at all, and am hoping for the best. I recommend urethroplasty to any and all long time sufferers of urethral strictures.
I am now 6 weeks post-op, and things are so-so.
Improvements following surgery:
-No more straining
-No more pain while urinating
-All scrotal tightness as subsided following surgery (took about 5 weeks)Things that did not improve:
-Frequency of urge
-Force of urination (improved slightly from pre-op state, but not as much as desired)
-Hesitation before going (new issue this week)All in all, if things remained this way, I probably would be content. I have a feeling though that this will progressively revert back to pre-op status, although I am trying to remain optimistic. Days where I drink alcohol or excessive amount of water are better. I feel I clear out much better and am satisfied. The fact that I can go pain free now was a huge step at least.
My follow up is in June, when I’m sure they’ll flow test and scope. I guess then I will know if another urethroplasty is needed.
Stay positive. Six months post urethroplasty my flow was terrible and i had written off my surgery as a total failure. Ive been self cathing once daily now for 8 months and have good flow with no major complications.
Hey, I had the buccal urethroplasty almost three years ago. it’s been a gradual decrease since six months afterwards. I miss the time when I didn’t hesitate to pee, when it was a “non-event” as you write. It is an event again, and a seemingly more and more disruptive event every day. I think this surgery just does not work. Maybe the end-to-end one works fine, but the buccal replacement certainly does not. Luckily we know people have been suffering from this for as long as we can remember. I take solace in the fact that others have endured it before. Despite the fact there are more treatment options now, the incidence of urethral stricture has actually gone up since the industrial revolution despite the treatment of illnesses causing it has gone down. Now everyone gets them from saddle injury or improper catheterization instead of infection. This is our burden to carry. No doctor can tell you otherwise, because their methods don’t work. A better solution would be to look to history for role models. Epicurus had one and he revolutionized philosophy and taught a way of living focused on small pleasures and the reduction of pain. He killed himself when he couldn’t pass urine after getting kidney stones at 72, but he also thought death was nothing to be afraid of. Think of ourselves as brave and stop worrying about the results. It’s only one life to live.
Hey all, sorry for the delayed follow up. My apt got pushed back and rescheduled due to a flight delay.
It’s been roughly 5 months since surgery, and I am feeling the same I was in my previous post. Content with how things are now, I’d rate it all at a 7/10 (compared to a 3/10 pre surgery). Pain is a non factor, but flow / force is somewhat disappointing. I feel empty after going, but some days are worse than others (if I don’t drink enough fluids, I feel there are issues). Intercourse is better, I can ejaculate with force. At the end of the day, I no longer have bladder spasms and peeing is pain free.
Either way, the surgery wasn’t as big a deal as some make it out to be. The only experiences that I’d prefer to never have again, is getting my friend scoped, & having to do the initial pee test post surgery (one of the most uncomfortable things I have EVER felt).
To anyone who has this unfortunate disease, do yourself a favor and find someone who specializes in these reconstructive surgeries. It is a smart move, to at least attempt. You don’t want to wait, and destroy your bladder, kidneys, etc.
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