AboutArthur Goldstein, M.D. Expertise Any problems or questions related to the field of urology; ie urinary stone disease, urinary cancers (kidney, bladder, prostate, testis, etc.), urinary infections, impotency, etc.
Experience I am retired from the active practice of urology. My 34 years was totally in the clinical field and involved the entire gamut of genitourinary problems, with special interest in male impotence and endourology.
Organizations American Medical Association, American Urological Association, American College of Surgeons
Aaron wrote at 2009-01-04 23:06:48
Chris - this is probably a beyond dead thread but if someone else finds it when they search (like I did), at least they can read our experiences.
I had a urethroplasty done in August at one of the best hospitals in the USA (and probably the world)...and it wasn't the one in Norfolk. I wish each and every day that I didn't have the procedure done. I have a genetic predisposition to strictures and had been through way too many cuts and dilations and cystoscopies and so on that surgery was looking like the only option to keep everything open. I also realize now that I should have researched the surgeon more than I did the procedure.
One major problem I had pre-op were near constant UTIs due to incomplete voiding and severe pain. I was told by the doctor that these symptoms would go away after the healing process was done. Nope.
I was never told about what might happen afterwards. Here's some of the laundry list: massive infections at the catheter site, cheek tissue that healed as hard as a rock that makes it hard to smile and say certain words, leaking urine, urine spray, E.D., severe pain from the bladder outward, continued UTIs, continued strictures, and blood in my urine.
It doesn't help that the surgeon and his office, upon hearing about these symptoms, has basically thrown me off of the boat by not returning calls, scheduling any appointments, or even asking for local diagnostic testing done since I live four hours from where the surgery was done. My local urologist has taken over the post-op care, but he doesn't do these kind of procedures so he controls the infections and symptoms while I try to find other surgeons to resume care.
Of course the original surgeon has violated any and all medical ethical codes between patient/doctor with his non-treatment of me. He turned into a cut-first, ask questions later kind of surgeon. It appears he doesn't want to take responsibility for a procedure that went wrong while I spend each and every day in a large amount of pain and discomfort. I have explored legal options against this doctor and it looks like the case is going to move forward against him.
Like you, I do feel violated about what happened to me. Not all of the skin and transplanted tissue healed correctly and will take another surgery to correct. I compare it to what might happen if a woman loses a breast due to cancer or some other kind of woman-specific surgery. It is a very sick feeling and I cannot under any circumstances forgive this surgeon for what he did to me (and lied to me about what he was doing and what to expect afterwards) and for his "disowning" of me and what he did.
It looks like you posted this a long time ago so I doubt you will ever read this. If by some force of nature you do, I hope you have recovered from your ordeal and found some kind of medical and emotional closure. You aren't alone with what you went through!
