Self Catheterization

Leigh wrote:Thanks Leigh,
I'll be trying to focus more on the wedding and less on the pee... if I can .

Dear Warren,

It has been a while since we chatted...the last time when I had my stricture opening op.

I am sorry to hear you have been having continued problems...which I know can be very painful and stressful.

Luckilly I have had no further problems and wish for you a speedy resolve to this problem too.

Wishing you many decent pee's with no pain and a wonderful wedding for your daughter.

Leigh

You do have a plan Warren, and that alone should give you some relief.Hopefully, you will have a vacation from the pain to enjoy your daughter's wedding, and cross the next bridge when the celebration is over. Hang in there.............

Nix

Patricia wrote:Yes you are trying, and I appreciate it. I know others have had to deal with constant burning from BCG and the like. Don't know how they do it. I do go about my business - work, baking cookies for my daughter's wedding - but I'm getting a headache from always having my teeth clenched. It's been going on since right after Thanksgiving, and the attempted self catheterization probably set me back another two weeks. Like I say, it isn't the pain of catheterization I have a problem with. It's the stricture symptoms that just won't go away and seem to have been perpetuated by trying self catheterization.
Somehow I missed your last answer even though it posted before my most recent update. You really try to help everyone, me included, so you deserve to feel appreciated. I'll try to stop being so cranky. I'm impatient, but the symptoms are finally starting to improve... and I have a plan of action. See my last post.

Happy New Year everyone!
Today I visited my urologist for a cystoscopy to look at the stricture. We agreed in advance that he would not try to pass the stricture or dilate it. Urinalysis still shows 4+ blood which is consistent with the fact that I am still inflamed (= in pain). He said the stricture was back but not bad, although he said that it didn't look bad in March and when he tried to dilate it found that things were worse higher up since he couldn't even pass the smallest follower (dilator). In any event, my uroflow wasn't bad and I had no residual, which doesn't surprise me since I never have obstructive symptoms, just pain and bladder irritability.
He said he didn't see any inflammation (but I feel it, and if it's not inflamed, what's bleeding?!?) He offered to just pass the scope through the stricture but I suggested we not do anything at this time since

1. I just had surgery 3 weeks ago, so why would opening things up traumatically last any longer or be any better
2. I just self-catheterized 1½ weeks ago and the end result was enough swelling that I couldn't pass the catheter 2 days later
3. I need a break from these symptoms. I've been hurting since just after Thanksgiving. Another procedure will mean at least 2 more weeks of healing. Even just looking up to the stricture has irritated me.
4. My daughter is getting married in 5½ weeks . I need to be feeling better then, and I need to work on baking cookies now!

We agreed that he would take another look after the wedding and if the stricture was not too tight for me to pass a 14 French catheter, I would try it in his office then, and see if self catheterization is still a viable option. If not, he will refer me to Dr. Noel Armenakas in Manhattan for urethral reconstruction surgery. Thankfully, Dr. Armenakas participates in my insurance since I have no out of network benefits.

Warren......the post about the guy who got the lidocaine from canada and lubes his entire catheter.......!!!! I know there was not a specific as to yours not being able to pass but i thought maybe it was a place you could post?
I'm trying!! Pat