My turn

Jim; Glad to hear things are starting to get back to normal.
Whatever normal means now days!
Right now I seem to be progressing well, but i must admit when
i hear you guys talking about all these complications, i get a little nervous!
Wishing you the best.
Duke

Thanks KC, That's just what I needed to hear!
That's why I love this Forum, no matter what comes up,
somebody has been there, done that.

Jim,

Glad to hear of the great results!
As far as the continence issues go, after both the streaching procudure and the two surgeries I experienced the same thing, a slight loss of control. It returned rather quickly. If I remember right it was a week or two and then I went back to the same level of continence I had before.
KC

I removed my catheter yesterday, and what a huge difference the balloon
procedure made. I can actually void with a good stream and minimal pushing.
On the down side, I can't hold like I used to. I worked very hard to to become continent.
I don't know if it's because I had a catheter in for four days, or what.
It's very frustrating. I hope this is short term. My surgeon said it
"shouldn't" affect my continency, so maybe my sphincter is still asleep.
If so.......WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!!!!!!

About 6 or 8 weeks after my RC they did the streching procedure, only they did not use a balloon, they used flexible rods. They inserted rods, with each rod bigger than the one before. That relieved the problem for about a month. When the problem returned, they went in and did surgery to removed scar tissue. I dont know if it was the proceedure that Pat posted or not. That fixed things for about 3 months, so they had to do that proceedure a second time. That was Three years ago and I have had no problems since. Hopefully the streching will fix your problem, but if not you know there are other alternatives for fixing this.

KC

Thanks KC,
I hope this does take care of it. But then again, it is my second time.
What type of proceedor did you have to take care of it, once, and for all?
I would be all for that!!!!!!! I would like nothing more to be able to quit
cathing every other day, to encourage the scar tissue to grow out, not in.

It's good to know, there are other options.

Jim