Just got back from my 1 week post surgery check up with my uro/surgeon. He was surprised that I wasn't even in more pain after what he did last week.
The basic plan is this. To leave both the SP and the foley caths in place for 2 more weeks to encourage general healing. In 2 weeks, if all is well, remove the SP cath from my stomach, to let the bladder wall start to heal. At that time, he will replace this foley cath with the next size larger diameter tube to help increase the opening. Two weeks after that, he wants to replace the foley again, with still a larger size diameter tube. 2-4 weeks after that, if all goes well, take out the last foley catheter. So we are talkingabout 6-8 weeks more catheter time.
He re-told the story to me about the most recent surgery. Said he had never seen such a complete closure in such short time. Made a believer out of him in how much swelling radiation can directly cause. He said he could not get any opening through the scope up my penis, so they took out the SP and put a 2nd scope through that hole, still no go. So they pressurized my bladder with a dyed liquid, and by forcing it, he was finally able to see a microscopic opening through the penis scope. He then forced a tiny wire through that opening. When through, he attached a bigger wire, then a series of hard dialation tubes to open the bladder neck.
Even with that, he said, he could barely pass the smallest diameter foley cath in place, the one that is just dangling there between my legs, capped off of course.
He said I would still have to endure some moderate pain where I sit, because that was the area that took most of the surgery. He did use a laser to clear away some more scar tissue, and he does these neat cuts at the 5 and 7 o'clock positions to each urinary flow. He said he is well aware where my one remaining nerve bundle lies, so that's why he is so careful cutting the knotches, so it doesnt suddenly give me ED where there is no ED.
In general, all things considered, he thinks I am doing well, but is still astounded by how much radiation burn I got going through my salvage radiation. And to think, the rad clinic was supposedly protecting me in those touchy areas.
Still have full confidence in my uro/surgeon, is he perfect? Of course not, but I do trust him, he knows my plumbing better than anyone else alive.
David in SC
P.S> 6-8 weeks more of this is a long time, but considering how long this recent bout of troubles began ago (10-1-9), whats a few more weeks?