Living With A Urinary Catheter › Forums › Urethral Strictures And Their Treatments › Major Urethroplasty
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Chris.
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December 16, 2013 at 6:03 am #725
rafael 74
ParticipantHi Guys,
I’m so happy I found this forum.
I had a major Urethroplasty 4 weeks ago. The stricture was 23 cm long, skin was grafted from both sides of my mouth as well as from the flap.
Surgery went great and I took my catether off yesterday. It was great to urinate by myself again, although a lot of insecurities come to haunt me. Is it gonna last? i Think this time was not as strong as the last one. How’s gonna be my sex life from now on?
I’m with very little pain, my scrotum and penis are sore and swollen and I have this weird pain on my calf. It only hurts when I stand still, if I walk or lay down, it’s gone Im gonna talk to my doc tomorrow and will discuss this. I think it’s maybe from the time I spent laying down the last 3 weeks.
It is great to write this here on this forum. I found difficult for people that didn’t go through this to understand our feelings and concerns.
I have a loving mom and dad that helped me tremendously through this. They tell me al the time to stay positive, refrain from negative thoughts and I try to do that but there’s an insecurity that keeps creeping back.
Anyway, thanks for the initiative of putting this forum together, I wish all of you guys the very best and hope to stay in touch here.
God Bless!!December 16, 2013 at 10:41 am #727Chris
ParticipantHi Rafael,
So glad you found this site. Ken did a great job putting it together. I know that it has helped me a ton and I hope it does the same for you.
Yes, stay in the positive. I know that I had many negative thoughts running through my head too.
I am now 5 months out from my surgery and this is the best I have felt since.
Once that catheter came out things seemed to go at a quicker healing pace too.
You will get better. Everyday is better than the day before.
All the best,
CDecember 16, 2013 at 6:20 pm #729luke
ParticipantHi Rafael,
I’m jealous of you and the other guys who have already had this done. I actually can’t wait. I asked my surgeon about sexual dysfunction, and he said there was almost zero chance of there being any physical reason for that, though most guys have a mental block at least for a little while as they think “I just had surgery on my penis.” I bet you will be just fine with time.
LukeDecember 17, 2013 at 6:36 am #730rafael 74
ParticipantHI Chris,
Thanks for responding. Im so glad all is well with you 5 months after the surgery. It’s really encouraging.
Today was my fourth day urinating without the cat ether. It really is an amazing feeling. My flow is wide, and urinating is over so fast; it really is a wonderful feeling I hope it stays like this. My doctor schedules an urethroscopy for 4 months after the surgery when he will check how the grafts are healing and the state of the urethra and only after that exam he will declare the surgery successful.
I keep thinking about what can I do to help myself so my healing is good. Maybe eating habits have something to do with scarring? Who knows??
I am 39 years old and I’ve been dealing with strictures since I was 28. I didn’t know what I had, they performed me a dilation. I had a couple of these made, but I didn’t know they were palliatives.
Then in 2006 I had an Urethroplasty, but instead of fixing the whole urethra, my doctor at the time did a small part without any grafting.
I was well for almost 6 years after that, but then the stricture came back and my doctor told me it covered almost the whole urethra.
But my doctor is great, I think I finally found the right one; and he told me he did everything he envisioned during surgery.
So now it’s just a matter of healing.
I had a great day, up until today there was a bit of pus coming out of my penis but it stopped today. So I think I’m on the right track.
Anyway, thanks for reading. Hope you keep doing great Chris!
All the best, Cheers!!December 17, 2013 at 6:44 am #731rafael 74
ParticipantHi Luke,
Thanks for responding.
Good for you that you’re doing your surgery.
I wish you all the best. How soon is your surgery going to take place?
It is a great feeling when you put the surgery behind you. The biggest hurdle is gone so we can go back to living our lives to the fullest 🙂
My biggest frustation with this condition is that I never learned why I developed it… but after the surgery, the thought of leading a great life again became so real that I stopped thinking about that. (or thought about it less 🙂
Hope everything goes well for you and to stay in touch!!
Cheers!!!December 17, 2013 at 7:08 pm #732luke
ParticipantHi Rafael,
I’m scheduled for February 11. I’ve been writing about my story at this thread here. It is frustrating not to know the root cause of your stricture. I don’t know either, only that I’ve had it a long time (in retrospect — I just didn’t understand my symptoms were symptoms for a long time). My best guess is that I got kicked in the groin playing soccer when I was young, and that caused the damage and scarring.
I do plan to keep updating my thread, since I’ve found this resource so helpful. Heal well!
December 19, 2013 at 1:18 am #735rafael 74
ParticipantHey Chris,
I have a question for you.
Today is my day 5 without the catheter. I’ve been urinating very well.
There’s always a little bit of pus that comes out of my penis, my doctor said it’s normal.
I’m going to talk to my doctor again but I went to urinate about a half hour ago; everything flowed normally, no pain, but at the end I noticed there was a little bit of blood in my urine. I was urinating seating down and as I stood up away from the toilet another 2 drops of blood hit the bathroom’s floor. It is not a thick blood, it’s really thin and not deep in color..
I was wondered if something like this ever happened to you when you were fresh without a catheter.
Thank you, I got stressed out over this 🙂 .December 27, 2013 at 2:07 pm #737Chris
ParticipantHey Rafael,
Sorry about the delay in answering. I was away for the holiday.
I never had blood during or post void. I do recall them telling me that there may be some due to the bladder healing from where the cath balloon was touching though.
It sounds like this could be what is happening to you. Please let me know how you are doing.
Hope all is well and that you are peeing like a champ!
CJanuary 30, 2014 at 9:30 am #763rafael 74
ParticipantHey Chris,
I’m so sorry for taking so long in responding.
So, right after my post I went to the doctor for a check up and turned out I had a big infection.
Odly enough, I had no fever but it explained all the pus that was coming out of my penis.
There was a ball of pus on the bottom part of my scrotum. My doctor had to make an incision at his office, to release most of the pus and from there I was admitted to the hospital. Stayed there for 5 days, in antibiotics and after that released.
My doctor had to insert o foley for about 10 days just to protect the repair.
All is good now, I’ve been without a caterer for about 3 weeks.
I am peeing really well. It is really nice; no pain what so ever, nice flow. There is quite a bit of spraying, so this is something that I have to get used to.
My urethroplasty was really extensive. Doc used 23 cm of graft. So my penis looks different. It’s a little weird. He used the flap. The skin is different and it appears to be smaller. I think it’s all in my head. Why it would be smaller if nothing was taken out right? But the mind plays funny tricks on us when we’ve been through something a bit traumatic. Have had a couple of chances but did not have sex yet. I am wondering how that is going to work.
On March 21st, I come in for a cistoscopy. My doctor only declares the surgery a success after this exam. I am praying that it will go all right, and I think it will; everything is goig well :).
I’m so sorry for taking so long is responding, i went to the hospital and after that, went back home(I live in SF and my surgery waqs in L.A). I will come here more often.
Hope all is going well.
Please be in touch,
RafaelJanuary 31, 2014 at 7:28 pm #764Chris
ParticipantHi Rafael,
Glad you got it worked out. Sounds like just a little hiccup to deal with.
Did you have your surgery done at the Center for Reconstructive Urology by chance?
Hope all is well.
CFebruary 1, 2014 at 2:23 am #765rafael 74
ParticipantHey Chris,
I did. Did you have yours there as well?
Best,
RafaelFebruary 1, 2014 at 3:17 am #766rafael 74
ParticipantHey Luke,
I was going through the thread and realized your surgery is probably coming up.
The 2or 3 days before the surgery were the toughest for me. When the surgery is behind you, everything becomes easier in my opinion.
Anyway, sending positive thoughts and I’m sure that you will have a great outcome.
Stay strong,
RafaelFebruary 1, 2014 at 1:57 pm #767Chris
ParticipantHi Rafael,
I didn’t. I have seen so many articles on the interweb about the center. Seems like they have it all “down”. Is that true? Man, you had a major stricture! 23cm! I am so happy to hear that you are doing well.
I went to the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA.Luke, Best of luck with you surgery. Check in when you feel up to it.
Chris
February 4, 2014 at 8:37 am #769rafael 74
ParticipantHey Chris,
They are really good. Dr. Gelman is highly experienced and is very specialized. I think that’s what a patient needs in this procedure. Dr. Gelman has done this so many times he’s probably seen everything. Having said that, my case was really complicated; so there’s no guarantees…
It’s 2 months now from my surgery. I’m doing well, still don’t really feel back to normal but i think it will probably take over a year for that.I feel a little sore in the region still, specially if I stay on my feet for a long time. Did that happen to you as well?
My surgery was really extensive. Can’t wait to reach the 4 months mark and do the cistoscopy. I really hope all goes weel then 🙂
All the best,
RafaelFebruary 5, 2014 at 5:12 pm #770luke
ParticipantRafael,
Sorry to hear about your complications — you have truly gone through a lot, and I’m glad you’re feeling better. A 23-cm stricture is a big deal. Thanks for checking in about me — you too, Chris. I am on the schedule for surgery on Valentine’s Day, which my wife thinks is pretty funny. I’ve got a lot to keep me busy between now and then, and my dad is coming to stay with us for a couple of weeks to help out while I’m recovering. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll check back in here after I’m home from the hospital (hopefully just the one scheduled night).
L
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