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I wonder about the difficult placement of the Foley. It could have been difficult because of the scar tissue, difficult because of poor technique or both.
I bring this up because an alternative might be Self Catheterization, even if there is some scar tissue this can work, besides it has a dilatating effect. This might sound scary for you now, but you should give it a thought.
I do it myself for 6 years now for a congenital bladder neck disorder that resulted in a lame trabecular bladder with virtually absent muscle function.
I selfcath 4 times a day and enjoy good quality of life.
At least discuss it with your uro and tactfully inquire about the very reasons of the difficult Foley procedure.
I have self catheterized, something I thought I could never do to begin with. Sounds worse than what it is. On that night I tried a few times until cath came out with a small amount of blood. Enough, waited to go to hospital.
Just got off the phone with the uro who did the dilation. He says my problem is the scar tissue is thick and may have gotten into the muscle due to both radiation and salvage prostatectomy. The plan as he sees it is to do another bladder neck incision and hope it heals without closing off again. Slow stream, stay continent but able to completely void. If this doesn't work he says AUS is next. He's confident that we'll get good results even if it takes a few months.
Until next surgery I have to keep in the foley. A constant nagging reminder I have issues. It amazes me how much urine is produced in a day (or over night).
I had this problem for 2 years..now Im ok as far as the strictures go.
I was back and forth to hospital having some kind of metal rod inseted to the opening of my bladder. this was not a pleasant experience at all.
Then I was self catherting? for almost 2 years,started off 3 times a week then over time reducing the times I had to do it.
Never thought it would finish..its been 3 years now and all ok Hope this helps John Madden
