Need Guidance: Post-Meatoplasty, Flow Getting Worse Instead of Better
Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some guidance from people who have gone through a similar experience.
I'm currently 10 days post-meatoplasty for a meatal stricture. After my catheter was removed, my urine flow was very good for the first 3–4 days, but since then it has gradually become weaker. Now I have to strain quite a lot to urinate, and I often feel like I don't empty my bladder completely.
My urologist (from a well-known hospital) examined me and said the incision is healing normally, even though the cut extends about halfway down the tip of my penis. He has advised me to do self-dilation with Lox jelly 2–3 times a week and to get a uroflowmetry and post-void residual (PVR) test in 2 weeks. He is optimistic that the dilation will improve things.
He also told me that my bladder may be stretched because I had the stricture for a long time, which could be contributing to my symptoms.
For some background, I previously had an OIU for the same meatal stricture, but it didn't provide much improvement, which is why I eventually had the meatoplasty.
I'm feeling anxious because the weak stream has returned so soon after surgery. Has anyone experienced something similar? Did your urine flow improve over the following weeks with healing and dilation, or did you need further treatment?
My urologist also performed a cystoscopy and told me that the rest of my urethra is normal. According to him, only the meatal narrowing was causing the obstruction.
I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you.