Urethral Stricture

[uk_resident]

Hello I had a urethral stricture which was operated on when i was 19. It was cut open and the stricture widened to allow my urine flow to improve.

I am now 30 and have had the stricture stretched twice since the above operation.

Since doing some research and also being told by the doctor previously I am aware that the scar tissue can over time cause the stricture to close up again and this will require more stretching or another operation to cut.

I looked online and it mentioned about how a coil can stop the stricture re occuring.

Today when I went back to the urologist regarding my urine stream seeming thinner and having irritable bladder symptoms (frequent urgency. feeling like bladder not emptied fully. waking up in the night needing to go etc) he mentioned about getting me back in for another exploratory minor operation and if it has narrowed again to cut away once more.

I mentioned to him about the coil i had read about and if this is a likely permenant solution. He told me that the hospital does not do it but he can refer me to a hospital that does but questioned why at my age it would be considered as normally it is cancer patients and older men who have it. He didnt seem to answer my question at all as to why a coil would not be or should be used. I got another appt with him and have delayed making a date for a operation with them yet as I have some unanswered questions and may even ask for a different doctor who can explain the options available better.

My question on here is does anyone have any information on urethral strictures that are relevant to my queries. Are there any other treatments besides simply cutting the stricture open again and me constantly having to go back and get it cut open or stretched each time it narrows for the rest of my life.

Does anyone know about the coil. Is there any other treatments that have more permenant results like laser or something?

Any help will be appreciated.

[Al1954]

I'm 62 years old.  Recently had urethral dilation (worked fine for about 3 weeks).  I don't trust today's physicians on this procedure (look at 'urethral stricture procedure' vids on YouTube).  They 'kinked' the catheter that was inserted while I was knocked out for the procedure.  This caused further swelling and my urethra remains permanently 'stretched' in about 1 1/2" of the penis shaft (underneath where I couldn't detect it while the catheter was taped down).
  I'm currently exploring homeopathic alternatives.  I found a homeopath who specializes in urethral stricture.  He 'used to be' a urologist and quit the 'profession' because he didn't agree with modern medical procedures for this 'specialty'. I'm 'HOPING' this approach works.  Time will tell.
  Regarding the 'coil', I read (in LOADS of Google searches) about several 'mishaps' in this area.  Same with stents.  The urine flow certainly increased and the bladder was voided.  However, the pain was often excruciating - not just during urination but all the time!  Read some of the comments by using keywords such as 'urethral stricture coil' 'urethral stricture stent', etc..  It's amazing how HUGE of a problem this is for such a HUGE number of people.  In removal of coils or stents, they often damage the urethra - in some cases, beyond reconstruction.  Beware.
  Keep in mind that urine retention is very dangerous.  If the bladder cannot be voided, it loses its elasticity.  If the bladder is constantly full, where do the kidneys empty urine to?  They don't!  And you develop stage 3 renal failure (which is what I was confronted with twice).  I cured the renal failure issue with colloidal silver.  The kidney specialist was dumbfounded saying he'd heard of that but never seen it 'in action'.  
  I'm not a doctor.  But I 'experiment' or 'practice my own version of medicine'.  I'll try something for a couple weeks.  If it doesn't do anything positive, I move on to another 'test procedure'.  I'm stubborn and am determined to FIX this issue permanently.  "IF" I find that 'permanent cure', I'll certainly post a detailed account for the benefit of TENS OF THOUSANDS of people (especially men) who are forced to deal with this malady.   ... Good luck to you all.
  I would welcome any email (questions or comments).
   Al R.

[keyzersoce]

I am not a doctor, but due to repeated BCG treatments for bladder tumors, I developed scar tissue that had to be lasered  away. My urologist also said the scar tissue would reappear and might have to be lasered away again. He suggested I self-cath once a day to keep the passageway open. Since my stream has remained strong, I have not done this yet.

I too investigated the "Urocoil", but found most of the research on it had been done in the 1990's. I did not mention it to my doctor, for I figured if it was a viable solution, he would have mentioned it.

My point is the laser is not a permanent solution and I don't think the research on the Urocoil is impressing the medical community.

Good luck.