Re: Question re: Post Brachytherapy problem

[Guest guest]

FWIW --

If feces are getting into your urethra, something is _really wrong_. And I can

imagine all kinds of trouble from it.

What does your urologist say? I'd ask him first.

>

> I had the seed implant procedure back in January and sustained an apparent

> radiation burn to my prostatic urethra. I wrote several postings at the

> time.

>

> I was in literal hell for about 2 months until the prostatic swelling

> diminished and I was able to urinate without a Foley catheter or having to

> self catheterize.

>

> Lately I've had some incidents where when I urinate I might expel gas or a

> turd pellet. I try not to strain to minimize any intrabdominal pressure

> which certainly contributes to the problem but it's happened anyway a few

> times.

>

> Was wondering if there are rectal exercises or similar which might help with

> this problem?

>

> Any advice will be appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

> Sy

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,I appreciate your feedback and didn't express myself clearly enough.What I meant to say is that sometimes when urinating I get a rectal urge at the same time.  There is thankfully no leakage from one structure to another.  That's called a " fistula " and can be very serious trouble.

Any advice will be appreciated.Thanks,SyFWIW --If feces are getting into your urethra, something is _really wrong_. And I can imagine all kinds of trouble from it.

What does your urologist say? I'd ask him first.- Hide quoted text -

>> I had the seed implant procedure back in January and sustained an apparent> radiation burn to my prostatic urethra. I wrote several postings at the> time.> > I was in literal hell for about 2 months until the prostatic swelling

> diminished and I was able to urinate without a Foley catheter or having to> self catheterize.> > Lately I've had some incidents where when I urinate I might expel gas or a> turd pellet. I try not to strain to minimize any intrabdominal pressure

> which certainly contributes to the problem but it's happened anyway a few> times.> > Was wondering if there are rectal exercises or similar which might help with> this problem?> 

> Any advice will be appreciated.> > Thanks,> > > Sy>

[Guest guest]

Sy --

Ah, that sounds much better! A turd in the ass is better than one in the

urethra!<g>

I have a suggestion that might sound weird:

.. . . Practice isolating your urinary sphincter from your anal sphincter.

When doing " pelvic-floor exercises " , we usually think of the pelvic floor as one

structure. But it's not. I suspect that when you urinate, your brain is

saying:

.. . . " Urinary sphincter, relax! "

and _all_ the pelvic floor, including some of the anal sphincter, is relaxing.

So you might try isolating one sphincter from the other. Practice tightening

your urinary sphincter _without_ tightening your anal sphincter. And tightening

your anal sphincter _without_ tightening your urinary sphincter. Maybe ten

second " pulls " , ten seconds apart, repeated 10 or 20 times.

That's the action you'll have to master, in order to pee, and not poop at the

same time.

If you can find a physiotherapist who specializes in pelvic-floor training

(maybe with biofeedback devices), that might help.

If the brachy radiation has damaged nerves in your rectum, you may have reduced

capability in the controlling nerves, and/or reduced sensation. If that's the

case, I would surely try and find a physiotherapist with biofeedback devices;

you may need a machine to help you " feel " when you're doing things right.

PS -- I had some continence problems after surgery, but not that one. My

physiotherapist was very helpful.

> >

> > I had the seed implant procedure back in January and sustained an apparent

> > radiation burn to my prostatic urethra. I wrote several postings at the

> > time.

> >

> > I was in literal hell for about 2 months until the prostatic swelling

> > diminished and I was able to urinate without a Foley catheter or having to

> > self catheterize.

> >

> > Lately I've had some incidents where when I urinate I might expel gas or a

> > turd pellet. I try not to strain to minimize any intrabdominal pressure

> > which certainly contributes to the problem but it's happened anyway a few

> > times.

> >

> > Was wondering if there are rectal exercises or similar which might help

> with

> > this problem?

> >

> > Any advice will be appreciated.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> >

> > Sy

> >

>