urthral stricture recovery suggestions

[Canada3]

Ken,

First thanks so much for this site. Truly awesome I found it before a urthetralplasty surgery and started following. I really didn’t want much info initially I was nervous enough with the complex nature of the stricture. Anyway at home resting after a 4 day hospital stay… I will have catheter for a 3 weeks up from the original projected 2 weeks. Funny it is the least problematic they have given me valium after a previous experience with a foley and I have been sleeping hard along with pain killers. Two questions for you and forum 1) keep in mind things are still tender/fresh from surgery anything that I can do to speed up/lessen testicle pain/scrotium healing. I had my first night of truly amazing pain last night more than I could tolerate to sleep and didn’t get much rest. 2) bowel movments. Still none. I have started eating more solids, but they really went to town on my mouth for material so I was getting food caught everywhere. I have stol softeners, but any foods you might suggest or things to do. I feel like the pressure on the testes and scrotium is directly connected. I am passing loads of gas and feel relief when I do.

Other questions, but I will see how we do with these. Thanks

[Clayton]

It’s good to hear you’re on the road to recovery.

Although it’s not usually what we want to hear after surgery, the best tools we have for complete healing are patience and time. Our bodies know what they’re doing, and all we can really do is take it easy and not cause any setbacks.

Having said that, there are some things that can make us more comfortable in the meantime. One is making sure that the catheter, and your penis, are aimed in the right direction. During the day it doesn’t really matter, but at night when the erections happen it’s usually best if it’s aimed toward your stomach. Another thing is lubricating both the tip of your penis and the catheter tube as far up as your erection will travel, which can help a lot.

As for constipation, it’s not unusual to go several days after a surgery. Take some docusate twice a day, and if that doesn’t work try Miralax once a day.

Clayton

[Canada3]

Thanks CLayton. Very sagely advice for patience and time.

The scrotum was unusually bruised/swollen from my understanding from the surgical team so I thought I’d still ask. It keeps looking better, but progress has been slow. Time and patience as you suggest.

Fortunately, the foley is the least problematic. Érections are nearly non-existant thanks to a conversation with my doctor prior to surgery. The pain killer type and dosage of the vallium are removing any chance of it. I will get names of drugs /dosages and post for users.

I will look/have someone pick up for the constipation items. I’m still not too worried the first couple of days I didn’t really eat- I have severe allergies the hospital didn’t accommodate despite ample time and warnings.

Can’t thank-you enough Clayton. Best wishes.

[Clayton]

My scrotum was really swollen and bruised too, but it went away fairly quickly, within a couple of weeks if I remember right. From my understanding, some surgeons always act surprised when it happens, but my team told me it happens every time, and sometimes to a degree that looks alarming. It’s all harmless though, and eventually goes away.

The soreness in the scrotum is something that disappears very slowly in some cases. It’s not at all unusual to still have some weird aching feelings even nine to twelve months later. I’m five months past my surgery today, and there’s still some lingering pain. It does go away though, it just takes time for the nerves to heal. I should point out that the really bad pain from the surgery is gone rather quickly, and the lingering pain that I’m talking about is minor, but definitely annoying.

Clayton

[Canada3]

Well that is a relief. I thought mine might have been a little more swollen and bruised then usual based on reactions. It’s nice to know depends upon team.

Also great to know what I’m in store for over the next couple of months. I suspected it would take time despite the optimistic outlooks.

I hope your own recovery continues to progress positively.

[Canada3]

Update: bruising has been slowly disappearing. I learned a little known fact too. I have been reading on forum and it sounds like my case may be unique, but others may experience. The bruising shifted to other parts of my body in the more severely bruised places. According to a doctor who examined me (not my normal one), the body can shift bruising in areas when the damage is too intense to handle to areas not bruised. This allows the area to lessen in bruising and speed up recovery. It doesn’t happen often, but my urethralplasty surgery was a little more complex then what is deemed standard so I guess I’m one case where the body needed to do it. Others that may experience unexplained bruising away from the surgery site should know this may be happening.

[Clayton]

That’s interesting to hear.

I had bruising in a couple of other places,but my surgeon said that it was “positional” bruising that usually shows up a little later. Its basically from either the staff handling you or from being in an awkward position for too long on the operating table.

I had a bruise show up on my leg after another surgery that was a handprint, which the surgeon admitted was from him resting his other hand there while working on me. That surgery lasted 18 hours, so I gave him a break.

Clayton

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