Urethral Dilation

[Bella Spirit]

I just had my first urethral dilation yesterday and was it EXCRUCIATING! They just couldn't give me enough Pethidine to rid the pain!

Happy to say that almost 12 hours on I'm feeling a whole lot better.

Is there anyone with urethral pain that has had a urethral dilation?

[Dakota]

Hi Bella Spirit - I've been thinking of you and wondering how things were going, so I decided to check, and here you are! You do not mention if you were under anthesia for the dilation. I had one done two years ago, but was asleep and I really did not have much pain afterwards other then the same IC symptoms. It really did not help me at all, and I wonder why this procedure is ever done in the first place. I also had the cystoscopy and biopsy at the same time.

I'm really having a hard time with the burning pain the last few days. I used the test strips today just to see if anything showed, but nothing except the usual high WBC count. No nitrates.

[Briza]

OUCH...makes me cringe just thinking about it, Bella!! Thiat is one procedure I don't know if I could submit to...
I am glad you survived and are feeling better now.:) I hope it helps your symptoms??? I don't suffer from urethral issues normally but have had the cysto/hydro experience and that did a number on my urethra for a while til I recovered. OUCH!
Take care and feel better soon!

[Bella Spirit]

Hi Dakota

Oh yes, I was definately put to sleep for a while! I don't think I could have handled it if I wasn't.
I have never felt such agony afterwards. I went to the loo about 9 times in the hour and the amount of blood was ridiculous. For about 8 hours after the procedure I would scream when I went to the loo. My husband was so worried about me but I just tried to calm him by saying I was releasing the pain verbally. I usually have a pretty good pain threshold but not with this.

I should find out the results at my post-op appt in a few weeks. It looks like there is something sinister going on in my urethra.

I wonder why you are having such an intense burning flare? Are you under stress? Stress always does it to me without a doubt.

And as for "our" insomnia, I was up at 3am this morning lol.

[Bella Spirit]

Thanks Briza. I didn't actually know I was getting the dilation. They said they were just going in there for a little looky at my urethra with the cystoscope. When I awoke they gave me the news that they'd done a dilation :( I'm really glad I didn't know until afterwards because I would have refused it! I'm glad I had it done though. Hopefully it's for the better.

[Briza]

It really did not help me at all, and I wonder why this procedure is ever done in the first place.

Dakota
Hi...were you given a reason as to why the dilation was done and what results you should expect? Just wondering...have always been curious (and wary) about urethral dilation...well, not ALWAYS, just since I first heard about it some years ago here on this board! Thankfully it has never been suggested to me by my drs as it does sound very scary and painful and like you my wonderings are the same...regarding how effective it is, why it is done, etc....

[bamagirl]

I just had my first urethral dilation yesterday and was it EXCRUCIATING! They just couldn't give me enough Pethidine to rid the pain!

Happy to say that almost 12 hours on I'm feeling a whole lot better.

Is there anyone with urethral pain that has had a urethral dilation?
I have had SEVERAL dialations in the past and all they gave me was a little numbing medication in the urethra. Yes, it hurts a lot and I would cry afterward. They never mentioned that they could put me to sleep for this. The nurse called it an in office procedure but always acted like I should be able to handle it. I would grip the table in pain. I always had to have my husband take me because I could not drive afterward. When my doctor did the dialation he would also put some type of (what they called soothing medication) into my bladder. He said it was to wash it out. I also have hunner's ulcers so I believe that just made it worse. They would tell me to relax. I thought "right why don't you have someone stretch your urethra and try to relax". They didn't like to even give me pain medicine afterward. I ended up going to a pain management doctor because the pain is so bad on a regular basis. I think in my case after having this done so much it has only made it worse.

I sure do hope it helps you. I would ask to be knocked out since we know now that they can do that. Good luck!!!!!!

Hugs,
Kristi

[bamagirl]

Dakota
Hi...were you given a reason as to why the dilation was done and what results you should expect? Just wondering...have always been curious (and wary) about urethral dilation...well, not ALWAYS, just since I first heard about it some years ago here on this board! Thankfully it has never been suggested to me by my drs as it does sound very scary and painful and like you my wonderings are the same...regarding how effective it is, why it is done, etc....
Briza,
The reason they do dialations is to open the begining of the urethra. Sometimes the opening will close and make it difficult to pee. This is suppose to help keep it opened enough to allow the pee to come out. In my case it would just aggrevate it and close back up but they kept telling me it would get better in time if I kept doing it. Worse mistake I ever made. It just made my IC worse.

[Dakota]

Bella Spirit
I'm wondering what you mean by "looks like something sinister is going on". I sure don't like the sound of that! Did the doctor tell you anything afterwards? What made him decide you needed it done when you thought it was just a regular cystoscopy? As for me, yes I'm under a lot of stress, and that always makes the burning so much worse. I'm out of work right now because of the economy and stressing out about finding another job. I was at a friends house yesterday, and she just makes the best tasting coffee, so l just couldn't resist and had a cup. Then I came home and mowed and trimmed my front lawn, and that sure didn't help either. I know I sound crazy, but sometimes I just cannot except the limits IC puts on me. Believe me I'm paying for it all today. I also did a dip stick test today just to be sure there's no infection, and got the usual high WBC but no nitrates.

Hi Bri,
When I had mine done, it was because the Uro I was seeing at that time determined I was retaining urine. I was having very cloudy urine and after I gave the usual office sample, he cathed me and there was still a lot of urine left. So he told me that stretching the urethra, it would allow me to empty my bladder fully. It did solve the cloudy urine, but did nothing for my IC symptoms. He told me he did not really believe I had IC to begin with. After two years of tests and urine cultures that turned out OK, except for the very high WBC count, I quit seeing him. Every time I saw him, they would cath me which was so painfull. The culture always came back showing no infection, just the high WBC. The only thing he ever prescribed for me was Prosed and Estrace. The Estrace cream increased my frequency so bad that I gave up on it. I probably should try it again because so many here say it has helped them.

[Dakota]

bamagirl
The thought of having it done without anesthesia sounds barbaric. OUCH! I recently read (can't remember the site) an article written by a Urologist who stated his opinion that it can cause more damage to the urethra, so it seems that our experiences with it make sense. That article upset me because it sure did seem like I got worse after that procedure.

[Bella Spirit]

Bella Spirit
I'm wondering what you mean by "looks like something sinister is going on". I sure don't like the sound of that! Did the doctor tell you anything afterwards? What made him decide you needed it done when you thought it was just a regular cystoscopy? As for me, yes I'm under a lot of stress, and that always makes the burning so much worse. I'm out of work right now because of the economy and stressing out about finding another job. I was at a friends house yesterday, and she just makes the best tasting coffee, so l just couldn't resist and had a cup. Then I came home and mowed and trimmed my front lawn, and that sure didn't help either. I know I sound crazy, but sometimes I just cannot except the limits IC puts on me. Believe me I'm paying for it all today. I also did a dip stick test today just to be sure there's no infection, and got the usual high WBC but no nitrates.


I just have a sixth sense that things aren't right in my urethra. The doctor told me very little afterwards. All he said was that they gave me a dilation and that I will find out further results in my post-op appointment. I honestly thought I'd have to agree or be told that I was getting a dilation rather than them just going ahead and doing one while I was under. From all the things I have heard, a dilation could potentially make matters worse. I am nervous because the pain is tremendous today and I'm still bleeding :(
I agree that IC and all this urethral pain is crippling and disabling. I find it so hard to live a normal life.
I am also out of work and struggling financially. Fortunately we don't have kids (can't seem to fall) so that helps somewhat. Hubby's pay is just adequate but it is so much better earning just a little bit more so we can buy something nice for ourselves once in a while.

Kristi - I honestly could not imagine being awake for the dilation. That must be awful. I agree that doctors can say some pretty stupid comments. How on earth can they expect you to relax when you already have so much pain down there and they are going to make it 20 times worse? Unbelievable.

[ICNDonna]

It's possible that your urethra was found to be very small. Mine was and I had it dilated. That was back in 1975 and I haven't had to have the procedure repeated.

Donna

[rgreen]

Bella- just reading your post brings back way too much the memories of my dilation! I had my urethra dilated back in February thankfully under general anesthesia otherwise I don't think I could've bared it. And everything you mention about the aftermath I sympathize with you on! I SCREAMED every time I peed for the first day or so, and my husband thought I was dying. It was one of the worst pains ever and my urologist even told me it was going to be bad. Just thinking about that pain you went through yesterday is making me cringe and hurt. It is definitely not fun. And the amount of blood scared me as well! I could not believe it, but they said it was completely normal. I felt better after a day or two, and I did receive relief from having it done for about a month, and then I was back where I started. I have urethral stenosis, don't know why, but I am currently in urinary retention and my urologist even had a difficult time inserting the catheter the first time (I've had it replaced a couple times) and it's because of the stenosis. Rest up! Hope you're feeling a bit better and hope the post-op goes well!

[Bella Spirit]

Oh it is awful isn't it rgreen! I am still anxiously waiting for the pain to go away and for me to be back to the 'normal' pain at least!
I am quite shocked at how the uro and nurses said that all this is completely normal - it a horrendous !