Warren,
Good news about the clean bladder, but sorry you had to have the catheter. How long did you have to leave it in? Like you, I have had to master the technique of self-catheterization. I completely identify with your description of the pain during urination. It feels like someone is trying to catheterize you from the bladder outward -- and with a large diameter catheter at that.
Just curious --- have you experienced any symptoms of Peyronie's Disease? I have, and it happened almost overnite earlier this year. Off course my Uro disclaimed any responsibility. However my primary care physician feels like the repeated cystos and TURB's could most definitely be a causal factor. Too much poking and peeking and trauma. Since you had chronic stricture problems perhaps you also suffered some permanent damage to the urethra.
Hope all is cleared up before too long...
David