. . . on Monday, to open up bladder neck, which reconstricted 8 weeks+
after 7/11 TURBN (trans urethral resection of the bladder neck). B4
procedure doc told me this was a bit scarry, since my body is doing
something that is quite problematic (closing down the pathway to the
extent urine only dribbles out, which prevents use of an artificial
sphincter and could require a colostemy type procedure). Said he wasn't
going to do as much resecting as the first go round, but after the
procedure he had apparently changed his mind (this is art as well as
science) and did more resecting than last time. Told him I was glad he
did - that it gives me more HOPE, and he agreed. He said he removed
tissue all the way to ??? and opened my up way big. The result is more
blood (still bleeding a bit after two days) but less pain - last time
had bladder spasms caused by the acidic urine interfacing the wound,
this time apparently the blood coming from the wound so far prevents
that, but just today I feel some irritation there (but no spasms) since
undoubtedly the blood is giving way to the urine as a % of contact with
the wound. Tomorrow will have catheter removed. Doc has me on
prednisone and celbrex to try and avoid the (defective) auto-immune
response that closes down the pathway. Took 40 mg prednisone yesterday
and it put me on edge (higher blood pressure, etc.). This time I'm not
going to do any type Kegels (it must have a negative effect on the
current issue, and now there is no chance in my mind that I will be
able to avoid an artificial sphincter), and am going to try as hard as
possible to not obsess about leakage, which I think may have
contributed to the previous negative auto-immune response. For some
reason I also have no pain in the perenium as I did big time after the
7/11 procedure. Doc said in some cases three or four TURBN's are
required to get the anastomosis to stay open . . . I feel good about
the prospects for this one, and the adjustments made all around to
achieve that result.