The past few days ,been feeling a lot of back pain, like you do when you have an urinary blockage, but the catheter seemed to be draining, just not as much as "normal". Starting this morning, lots of bladder neck/rectal/penile pain, along with back aches. Early this afternoon, seemed to be not draining from the cath, instead, massive painful spasms, that forced itself through the urethra despite having the cath in place.
My wife came with me for the 4 oclock appt. Glad she was there. Place was packed, as my uro/surgeon had had an emergency surgery today. While we were waiting, had another mega spasms, basically pissed my pants from crotch to toes, even pooled up on their carpet. Never felt so embarassed or humiliated in my life. No warning, just happened. My wife went up front, and insisted they get me into a room.
While in a room, waiting for the doc, had another mega spasm, but this time, made it useful and filled a sample cup, because they wanted to test for UTI and run a culture.
After examining me, dr. agreed that I was too swollen and sore already to make any kind of scope or dialation attmept. He was encouraged that I had not closed up yet (bladder neck), since under force, urine could make its way out. But, its only been 4 weeks since the last surgery.
He agreed that it was time to change the SP catheter. For one thing, 4 weeks with this one, and second, it appears that it was blocked or blocking up, something I haven't had happen in all my caths. Getting it out started easy, and near the end, pure pain from hell (8-10 pain) as he said it was heavily crusted, which made it painful coming out. Knew what that meant. He deadened the best he could with lydacaine jell, and went to install the new one. With an SP cath, the dr/nurse has about a 2 minute window taking an old one out and installing a new one, or it will close up.
The first half went in easy somewhat, not too bad, then all hell broke loose, the rest of it was a pure 10 pain, and he said the hole was tightening around the cath making it even harder. When it made it through the bladder wall (and I was lying on my back), there was this huge spray of urine that shot way in the air, all over the doctor too and floor. I was begging him for it to be over with, and he quickly filled the balloon, completing the task. I did not expect this change out to be bad, neither did he.
I lay there a while, and he had to help me up, as it was hard to sit up let alone walk. New cath is in place, I believe this is #15. He told me to take 2 Loratabs (something I have never done before), and he even helped me get re-dressed. Wants to see me in 4 weeks, and we wil re-evalute the situation. He said next time they change the cath, he will inject lydacaine all the way down the tube so to speak, and let it sit a few minutes.
He said that this is one of the worse cases he has seen of radiation burn/damage in that area in his experience, and that after almost 4 months after SRT, it still has that much swelling and damage going on.
Home now, freshly showered, took the extra pain med, and trying to un-traumatize myself. This is why I only ever wear black slacks out in public, at least it covered most of the wetness. The dr. told me not to worry about that part, as he sees that all the time, but you guys know how it would feel in a public waiting area.
Geez, the bizzare and twisted journey goes on and on. Thanks for bearing me out on this one.
David in SC