urethral dilation-- works for me

[zimmer]

I'm 53 years old, and when I was in my twenties had chronic bladder infections. Back then, they used to dilate sort of as a preventative measure, so had it done a few times when being treated for bladder infections.Then went for 15 years or so with an occasional bladder infection-- nothing out of the ordinary. When I was about 40 I started having a horrible sensation of having to go to the bathroom all the time, but not really pain. Went to a few different Drs who checked for bacteria in urine, told me I didn't have a problem. This would keep me up at night and was just so UNCOMFORTABLE. Finally found a urologist who said I had Urethritis, (urethral syndrome). He dilated me and put me on a low dose antibiotic for about a month or so. Problem solved!!! Now, every couple of years I can feel it coming again-- and go in and get dilated. It works every time-- I take one antibiotic when leaving the dilation just so I don't get an infection from the procedure, but not the low dose longer term antibiotic anymore.

Yesterday went in for dilation. Yes it really does hurt. They put some lidocaine or something on there, but it really hurts. HOWEVER it doesn't last more than 5 minutes from start to finish. I drive myself, etc. You will be bleeding when you leave. They give me pyridium (sp?)-- the orange stuff to help with the burning upon urination for the next couple days. Then I'm good to go for a long time. The pain on urination afterward is by far the worst part, but again, certainly bearable. Other than actually urinating it is at most uncomfortable for a couple of days, and you can go about your business.

Your urologist should be able to tell almost right away when dilating you if it is really tight-- if it isn't, this isn't going to help.

Bottom line-- yes it hurts. Yes you will survive. For me it ALWAYS WORKS! Well worth it. It has now been about 21 hours since the dilation, and although it burns to urinate, nothing like yesterday. By tomorrow a.m. it probably won't hurt at all.

[jul2873]

Hi Zimmer,

I am so glad of anything that works for anyone! But I will tell you my experience with dilations. Like you, although I'm older, in my sixties, I was routinely dilated when I was in my twenties and early thirties, and then again about five years ago when I had a prolapse (Go figure: that urologist didn't have a clue). They hurt like hell, and, after not having any for years and years, I couldn't see that they made any difference. In fact, although I was always told I needed a dilation because I wouldn't be able to empty my bladder, my uro-gyn put a catheter in me after I voided, and it turns I can almost completely empty my bladder. He said the small amount of urine remaining was completely normal.

I'm wondering if the long term antibiotics you were put on at first were what cleared up the discomfort and subsequently, when you felt the discomfort returning, the shorter term antibiotics did the trick--rather than the dilations. It's just something you might try next time.

But mainly I am so glad you are feeling fine, and have been able to get rid of the urethral pain.

[Bella Spirit]

Excellent news on your urethral dilation. I'm glad that some of us are finding relief.

I'm only just coming back to normal (normal pain) 1.5 weeks on from my urethral dilation. For me it was horrendous but I suppose all urethral cases are different and we can't generalise the pain or lack of. I haven't noticed any difference in pain relief after having it done but that is probably due to all the scarring caused by an undiagnosed and ongoing ureaplasma infection that I've had.

Anyway, thanks for the positive spin on dilations.

[Tuckersmom]

I went through weeks and weeks of dilations to no avail. It didn't help at all. Just goes to show how we are all different, and not everything that works for someone is going to work for us. Glad it works for you, though!