Here we go again!

Warren,
I am glad things are "looking-up" for you. It sounds like the self catherization might be the ticket. You are right - if it hurts or you have difficulty stop and call the doctor:)

Nix

Warren, when I was having the same problem my nurse send me home with a catheter and a tube of the gel they use. But she always uses on me the smallest diameter one they make....forgot the size? But I was able to get the catheter to open things up for me. So I hope you can have the same success.

So here's the scoop. First my urologist was pleased with my uroflow, but then I explained to him that when my bladder is irritated I always have a great stream. I assured him the stricture was back. He looked in with the cystoscope as far as the stricture and saw that it was back, but not as bad as last time. He didn't want to dilate in the office because he wants to do an injection of steroid into the stricture, so I have to schedule another surgery. And then we agreed we'd try self catheterization 3 time a week to see if we could keep the stricture open. He seems more worried about my reaction to self catheterization than I do. Hey, if it makes me miserable I can always stop, but if it solves the problem, it's worth trying.
Meanwhile, I think things feel a little better this afternoon... but maybe that's because the lidocaine gel hasn't worn off yet.

Warren good luck. I always appreciate your opinions and support that you provide to all of us.

All will go well.

Joe

Boy, I sure get lots of support here. Thanks all. I'll report back tomorrow after hopefully a successful dilation and cystoscopy. And yes Nix, this is the 4th bout of "stricturitis" in 2 years (or is it 3 years? who remembers) It's been 10 months since the last procedure and that's the longest I've ever gone without a poke and peek or any intervention.