I need to talk to a urologist

Hi Customer (name blocked for privacy), welcome back to JA. I don't believe we have a urologist available, however I have worked as a surgical nurse, I am familiar with the procedure and I would be happy to help if that is acceptable to you.

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I hope my information is helpful. If you have more questions, just ask! I will gladly help, otherwise please click "accept".
Positive feedback and any bonus would be appreciated. Thank you, Christy

Yes, Thanks you can help.

Welcome back. I have a few questions if you have a moment. What condition do you have that requires the reattachment surgery? Have you had any issues, thus far, with incontinence or urgency? Do you take any medications, or have any chronic health concerns? What is your age and general health?

__________________
I hope my information is helpful. If you have more questions, just ask! I will gladly help, otherwise please click "accept".
Positive feedback and any bonus would be appreciated. Thank you, Christy

I had a hysterectomy August 16th 2007. The GYN "burned" my right ureter with the cautery during the hysterectomy. She brought in a Urologist to view the ureter inoperatively. He said he could not see any damage and that they would place a stent in my right for 3 weeks to prevent scar tissue from forming while the burn healed. September 5th I was having the stent removed. Septemeber 4th I called the Urologist and told him that I think I have a kindey infection. I had all the signs...burning urination, odor, cloudy urine, extreme back pain, fever. The urologist told me not to go the ER it was NOT a kidney infection that I was going to have my stent removed tomorrow (sept. 5) and I would be all better once he removed the stent. Sept 5th I was beyond worse with the kindey infection. I could barely walk, I did not want to even breath. I went to his officeat 11:00 Sept 5, he did not check my temp or my urine. He said that I will feel soooo much better instantly after he removed the stent. Removing the stent was the most pain I have ever endured! He gives me a pill and sends me on my way. At 4pm I was vomiting, shaking uncontrolably, and I started leaking urine. The urine was just pouring out. No matter how hard I squeezed I could not stop it. I ended up at the emergency room at 8pm. They started my on Cipro and said I had a roaring kindey infection and was also extreamly anemic. I stayed there until Thrusday 6pm Sept 6th. Went home and by then was wearing diapers. Friday Sept 7th called my GYN to fill her in she wanted to see me on Monday. On Monday Sept. 10th she did an internal exam of the vagina and urine came pouring out. She said that she thinks I might be leaking urine vaginally. She said that she would get me in to the hospital for some tests. I went to the hospital Wednesday Sept 12th they did an IVP and a voiding cystogram. They said they could see urine in the pelvic cavity but were unsure if it was the ureter or the bladder that had a hole in it. The urologist that assisted my GYN during my hysterectomy called me later that day to say I need to have a cystoscopy performed at the hospital the next morning. Thursday Sept 13th the cystoscopy was performed and the ureter was indeed damaged. The urologist said that the burned ureter skin must have sluffed off and allowed urine to leak in to the pelvic cavity and leaked out the vaginal cuff that was stitched up where the cervix was . He could not find a fistula in the vagina. He said that I would have to keep the stent in for 8 weeks. I followed up with him 2 weeks later on Septemeber 27th and he said I will actually need to keep it for an addtional 10 weeks. I hate this stent I have soooo much pain from it I did not want to have to have it an addtional 10 weeks. I went and saw new urologist for a second opinion. He seems very nice and said that we would keep it for only 6 more weeks and not 10. He also said that in his experiance has never seen a ureter heal on its own. He said from my medical records that the hole in the ureter was 2 cm and said that it was a large hole to heal and since it was burned. The medical records said (from the sept 13th cystoscopy) that there was a large amount of edema and necrosis. When trying to pass the guide wire up the ureter the path was essentially lost. adn also said FORTUNATELY poked a smaller wire up and through and were able to find the rest of the ureter. The new urologist said that if it is healed we will monitor it every 2 months with an ultrasound to check for scar tissue. If it is not healed we will have to reattach the ureter to the bladder. He said that this can cause frequent and urgancy issues. I want to know if that is the case for everyone. I have been through soooo much and just want to be normal agian. So ultimatly my question is if that is the case for everyone? Thank you so much for all your time.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

I am so sorry to hear what you have been through. You were perfectly right to seek a second opinion. The surgery you would have to repair the damage and reattach the ureter does carry the risk of frequency and urgency. The procedure has been refined over the years however to lessen the long term effects, and there are medications to counter them when they occur. You asked does anyone recover complete healthy bladder function, and the answer is yes. Your surgeon would be irresponsible if he promised you complete relief, and your urinary system has been put through a great deal of trauma lately. I suspect that you could expect some amount of urgency and frequency that would hopefully improve over time. In your case, if your condition does not improve soon, I think you would consider the results a great improvement over what you are experiencing now. The most recent study I could find, done on women with similar issues and having this procedure stated that approx. 75% of women had mild to moderate issues with frequency, urgency and retention. Of these, more than half reported improvement or resolution of the symptoms within one year. Twenty percent of patients had few, if any, lingering symptoms after 6 weeks, and 5 % reported serious ongoing symptoms and incontinence.

This is only one study, and not necessarily predictive for your situation. I wish I had a more optimistic answer for you but you have the right to know the risks and benefits to any procedure before comitting yourself. I hope you find relief very soon. Please let me know if you have more questions.

__________________
I hope my information is helpful. If you have more questions, just ask! I will gladly help, otherwise please click "accept".
Positive feedback and any bonus would be appreciated. Thank you, Christy