stretching of the uretha

[bocabob]

What instruments are available to the patient for stretching the uretha?

[rem223]

I'm terrified of this procedure and I'm a wuss (although I'm a pilot who has flown in 2 wars)...still, the urologist scares me. I recently saw a great urologist, a really young woman who made this procedure tolerable.....after a previous bad experience, I wince at the sight of a catheter;  the feeling of "peeing glass shards" after a cysto is something I will never forget.  Not with this doc; before the procedure, she gave me antibiotics and a few days of percocet and told me to take them.  I hate  sedation but she had a nurse anesthesia person "stand by" with propofol in case the procedure was to bad, it wasn't...going home taking a strong painkiller for a day was all the difference....what a doc.........

[bocabob]

Shelly;Your experience under like circumstances helped me make a difficult decisiion,
I now consider my problem "elective" surgery and after balancing the pro's and cons decided to do nothing at this time.
I get yearly cystoscopic exams and at that time I will ask my urologist to reevaluate the choices that I have .

Thanks again

[MSKshelly]

Sounds like you better have the Valium honestly it frustrates me that the uro doesn't
automatically give people something for pain and use lidocaine,,, such a easy way to save unnecessary pain!

It depends, honestly as little as one day to up to two weeks.  

I have a gel compounded with lidocaine, MSM and silverbiotics, that helps heal things
too but I am allergic to preservatives.  You might try asking your uro for a script for the lidocaine gel and take AZO while it heals. If you want to try to order the gel just pm me for the contact info,

Hope all goes well!  

Shelly

[bocabob]

Thank you for the info. I am terrorized of any invasive procedure.
Almost had a nervous breakdown before my first cystoscopic exam.
I will give you a rundown of my experience if I decide to have the procedure  
What is the healing time after the procedure?

[MSKshelly]

Not as bad as I had expected! The thought of it was 10x worse the doingit!  I do however come "Prepared"!  I make sure I have
a driver and take pain meds before I leave the house.  The the doc using a lidocaine gel for the stretching, afterward I keep an insta ice pack with me and apply ice immediately under my clothes.  I have some small ones.  I also find taking AZO before hand and for the first day or so afterward helps.

Truthfully, I have done it with no pain meds and with something to relax me etc.  Though I handle it, (My doc is really good and will stop when it becomes unbearable) and make it through all the rods,( the get progressively bigger),  I did notice  huge difference in  healing time when I did not take anything.  I really think it is because I was more tense, it felt like it hurt the muscle or something.  One of the top IC docs who does the procedure recommend Valium before hand for that reason.

For me it works for about a year and then we have to redo it... except seems like i might be able to go longer this time, I hope so anyway!

Good Luck and hope that helps!'

Shelly

[bocabob]

How uncomfortable was the stretching procedure in the urologists office.?
Did you have to repeat the procedure again.

[MSKshelly]

That is a strange question!  

I have had urethral stretching in the doctor's office and it is NOT fun but does bring some relief.  I can not imagine however doing it your self... the ONLY thing that might be able to do that would be a larger size catheter!  I would however suggests you see a urologist first.  If the problems is a stricture of nerve pain of infection you could make things worse!

Shelly