Urethrotomy Experiences Anyone?

[Perd Hapley]

I had a urine flow test at the urologist last month, and it went pretty poorly. My flow is terrible and leaving a lot in my bladder. The urologist reckons I have a stricture.

So they've scheduled a Urethrotomy in a couple of weeks which I was perfectly happy with until I googled it (I know) and started reading stuff like this: Success is less than 9% for the first or subsequent urethrotomies. Most patients will be expected to experience failure with longer followup and the expected long-term success rate from any urethrotomy approach is 0%. Although the pamphlet the hospital gave me is a bit more positive.

Anyone on here had a Urethrotomy, and how long was it effective for? What was the experience like overall?

[Autopilot]

Perd Hapley said:

I had a urine flow test at the urologist last month, and it went pretty poorly. My flow is terrible and leaving a lot in my bladder. The urologist reckons I have a stricture.

So they've scheduled a Urethrotomy in a couple of weeks which I was perfectly happy with until I googled it (I know) and started reading stuff like this: Success is less than 9% for the first or subsequent urethrotomies. Most patients will be expected to experience failure with longer followup and the expected long-term success rate from any urethrotomy approach is 0%. Although the pamphlet the hospital gave me is a bit more positive.

Anyone on here had a Urethrotomy, and how long was it effective for? What was the experience like overall?

I've had one but for slightly different reasons. I'd had a couple of kidney stones and as I passed some blood (again), after scans and ultrasounds etc, I was required to have a bladder examination via flexible cystoscopy. They couldn't get the camera in to my bladder and said it was because of a scarring presumably caused by sharp bits from a kidney stone. To get access in to my bladder, they had to remove the stricture so had the op and examination done together.

While the Dr's said I needed one, there was nothing wrong with my flow and if I'd not had an unsuccessful attempt with the camera, nobody would be any wiser as there was nothing wrong.

After the Op, there was a noticeable increase in flow which after about a week or so returned to 'normal'...baring in mind that I say I didn't have a (noticeable) issue in the first place. I had the op about 3 or 4 years ago now and it remains exactly the same still.

If the success rates were really bad then I'm sure they'd either not do the procedure or only perform it if the patient had the best possible chances of it working.

The overall experience wasn't fun really to be honest. The procedure was done under general anaesthetic so no problems there. I was catheterised for 4 days and while I was able to watch all the lord of the rings films without taking any breaks, I found being catheterised very unpleasant. I'd imagine most males reading this will wince at the thought, but in reality it doesn't hurt, it's not really uncomfortable and you don't really know it's there. I struggled with it though and whenever I did walk to the kitchen or anything, I'd literally shuffle as I didn't like the feel of the pipe moving about.

I had the catheter taken out and was forced to drink litres of tea and water so they could measure the output to make sure I could pass water ok now the catheter was gone. The first 5 or 6 wee's sting, there was blood and blood clots, but after that, it all felt very normal. I did drink a LOT of tea, so time-wise this meant about 2 to 3 hours and I felt right as rain and there was no discomfort.

Part of the follow up procedure I had to do was to self-catheterise to ensure the wound healed properly and didn't leave scar tissue. I really struggled with this to be honest and again, it didn't hurt or anything, it just wasn't something I ever really wanted to do!

[Perd Hapley]

Thanks for that post, Autopilot. It was helpful.

I decided not to go ahead with the operation. I looked at the chance of the stricture returning (probable within a couple of years) and the possible complications (including self catheterisation, which I really don't fancy!) and the low impact the condition currently has on my quality of life and came to the conclusion "better the devil you know".

[Evolved]

Wincing.

[Autopilot]

I'm glad it helped and seems like a very rational choice to me! If I had to go through it again, I would, but given a choice, the risk involved and the fact you can manage as you are, then I'd say it was a good decision.