Time for a change

[Steve]

Heyitsme,

Happy that you are peeing well. Feel bad that you are so sore. I still have my cath in. Will not be removed for two more week. Total of four. Can not sit very long. Hurts a lot. Based on your results I will have a long time till I can sit normally. I have been sore in that area in the past and I found something that worked pretty good.

When you sit on the toilet do you feel OK?

I went to home depot and purchased a round (do not use elongated) toilet seat that was soft on top. Removed the hinges and the top that closes. Had home depot cut two 2″ x 2″ x 13″ pieces of wood. Drilled holes through the 2″ x 2″ ‘s. Screwed the wood to the bottom of the toilet seat (this keeps the toilet seat higher off chairs so your bottom does not touch) using 4-#8 x 2″ screws.

I tried my old seat and its works pretty good now, but I expect that when the cath is removed it will work even better.

Note: my wife purchase a soft beach bag that we placed the seat in so when I am out nobody realized what was inside. Plopped it on chair in restaurant and sat on it. Nobody noticed.

The cost of the seat (Glacial Bay) $14.95. Screws $1.88. One 2″ x 2″ x 8’ cost #2.00. Total less than $20.00. Time to make 20 minutes.

Keep me updated.

Steve

[heyitsme]

I’m now 5+ weeks post-op. Still walking very gingerly. Pain seems to be mostly in the scrotum, perineum, and where legs connect to the trunk of my body. Penis still a little sore but nothing major. Stream is still excellent and I look forward to every time I have to go pee. Be glad when the pain becomes an afterthought and I can move at my normal pace.

[heyitsme]

I am not 7+ weeks post-op. I think today is 1st day that I have been walking around more freely without really noticing the pain / sensitivity that I have previously had. I’m certainly still sore but happy to finally have some improvement with the pain. Still peeing fantastically…. went to a movie today and had 1 of the big drinks. About 3/4 of the way through the movie, I had to go. In the past, it would have taken me at least 5 minutes to get all that urine out, if it even came out. Now, it’s pretty much gone in 20 seconds or less. Awesome!!!

[Steve]

Hi Heyitsme,
So glad to here some of the pain has subsided. I have been experiencing pain in the same locations (5 weeks out). Was wondering if you are taking any meds for the pain? I have been taking Tylenol. Works a little but when I get burning pain Tylenol does not cut it.
Thank you,
Steve

[heyitsme]

I have not taken any meds for pain. I did try a sitz bath a couple of times using epsom salt w/ magnesium sulfate. I tried Advil and Tylenol but really didn’t notice any improvement. My pain level has been pretty consistent until I posted the update on Sunday, literally 7 weeks after surgery. Still have pain but I can tell a positive difference.

[heyitsme]

Thought I would provide an short update for posterity… I am now at 17+ weeks post-op. For several weeks now , I have been basically pain-free. Beginning at the 7 week mark, things got better pretty quickly. I still have some low grade tenderness but truly has no impact on me. The urine stream is still excellent. I look forward to peeing now… never thought I would say that.

[heyitsme]

I was so relieved just over a year ago when I discovered this procedure after having multiple dilations that were painful and short lived. Fortunately, I was able to find an excellent surgeon and get to surgery pretty quickly after discovering the procedure existed.

Now I am almost 1 year post-op. NO changes since my last update 8 months ago. The experience has been truly life altering for the good. Just realized as I was writing this that I have not checked to see how the scar healed in several months. I’ll take a look when I think of it.

I’ve read many others updates throughout the year and it seems my experience was one of the better ones. I partly attribute my success to selecting a highly skilled surgeon who had literally done hundreds of these procedures. He was confident in his diagnosis, recommendation, and ability to execute.

I think many make the mistake of not fully researching who the best in the business are and end up w/ shoddy work and/or recommendations from a novice urologist. My recommendation for anyone thinking of this is to be willing to travel wherever it takes to have someone of high caliber do the work. Be prepared to stay in a hotel for a couple weeks at least. I was fortunate to have a top surgeon where I live.

Good luck to everyone going through the symptoms of a urethral stricture and contemplating urethroplasty.

[heyitsme]

I am now 2 years post-op and no changes. Still peeing very normally with no issues. Not more to say than what has already been said. Happy to answer any questions. Good luck to everyone.

[heyitsme]

Now 4 years post-op and all is well. Best decision I ever made.

[Author]

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