Bladder ureteral obstruction/stricture

Hi @alderton, glad to have a chance to share my experiences with you in hopes that they will relieve some of your anxieties about how to deal with urine flow problems. My personal experience is similar to yours -- TURP a few years ago when I was about 75 years old and night time urination every 2 hours. Soon after the operation, my urologist started periodic cystoscopy to check my urethra and the sphincter just below my bladder. He's now scoping me out once a year, and I'm due for my 2020 appointment later this month.

One thing I'm preparing to discuss with him is my reluctant urine flow. My first "output" starts as expected, but doesn't remove enough urine, leaving a half-cup or a little more backed up in my kidneys and/or my ureter from the kidneys to the bladder. After a short walk around the house, I can finish the job. At night, this is a little inconvenient, but not enough to pressure me into more surgery or other medical interventions. I'm glad to report that the reluctant urine is not the result of a damaged or faulty sphincter, which the cystoscope passes through with only a little discomfort. I'd also emphasize that the night time inconvenience is not a big deal -- I get up every 2 or 3 hours during the night, then go back to sleep without much delay.

A suprapubic catheter was my dad's problem. His TURP back in the 1980s essentially immobilized the urine flow through his bladder sphincter and in other points along his urethra. For a few months, he was able to self-catheterize through his urethra, but that caused a little internal damage from time to time, and his urologist recommended the permanent catheter connected to an external bag. That worked for him for several years at home, then his care takers at his assisted living facility helped him with it for several more years. During that time, he was able to dance with some of the ladies without feeling inferior about his special arrangement.

One last comment for now: Colleen as usual was on spot asking whether you have considered getting a second opinion. Both I and my dad had the good fortune of building a team of urologists and other medical personnel to deal with our needs. I hope you'll be able to do that as well. Let us know how we can help and what more information we can provide. Martin

Funnily enough I'm seeing the second opinion urologist end next month. I'm just hoping I won't need a catheter in the interim.

Thank you.

Hi, I too had a uretheral obsructruction where I had to rush to the toilet every half hour to pass small amounts of urine.Eventually i had a suprapubic catheter put in and can now go and drain the bag whenever the bag is is about half to 3/4th full. I have accepted this situaion and find it a much better alternative. My anxiety is reduced and i can go out of the house without worrying.. I have my catheter changed every 4 to 6 weeks. Hope this helps. Victor

Thank you. Do you find the catheter uncomfortable in any way?

I’ve had both types still have Supra pubic in for another month prefer this much easier to cope with & sleep with

Also have a release valve so can go out without leg bag on just empty when bladder feels full.

Not to much with the catheter, but with the leg bag strapped to your calf,, and the constant attention to see that it hasn't slipped down.

@alderton, good question. @victor1930, do you find the catheter uncomfortable?

Had the BNC surgery on Sept. 18 2020 and have been majorly incontinent ever since. So, am currently using condom catheters, which are irritating the underside of my penis. The other drawback is the requirement to always be wearing a leg bag. Thus, am looking into alternatives, especially the Suprapubic Catheter. Are there any downsides to this procedure? Once it is installed, can it be removed? I gather that the catheter needs to be changed every ~6 weeks. Can it be changed by any doctor, in the event that I'm traveling? Is the suprapubic catheter the best solution? I am 70, had prostatectomy in 2016 and radiation in 2019; the urethra blockage started to occur in Nov. 2019. Thanks for any help.