Hi, I just wanted to share my story with others as I have been able to find very little information posted on the net from other woman with urethral diverticulum.
I am 44 years old. I have never had a UTI in my life. About 6 weeks ago i felt a strange sensation after peeing and then burning. It got worse as the days went by. I went to my GP who put me on antibiotics although no infection showed up in a pee sample. The pain got worse it was like a terrible heavy period dragging sensation that would keep me awake of a night. I googled my symptoms (as you do) and diagnosed myself with a UD. I saw the GP again and mentioned i think i might have a diverticulum, she went mad at me and told me not to be silly. My pain got so bad i went to Hospital Emergency, they put a catheter in straight away as by that stage my urine flow was getting blocked. I was admitted and had an ultrasound and MRI that diagnosed a Urethral Diverticulum that was so infected with a big abscess within it. I was sent home with a catheter in for 2 weeks to wait for the infection to settle. I needed a urogynacologist because the diverticulum was bulging into the anterior vaginal wall so badly it had almost completely filled in my vaginal space. I found a great URO/GYN AND she removed the catheter last week and i had a cystoscopy a couple of days later so she could see where the diverticulum connects with the urethra because the higher up it is above the sphincter the more dangerous it is for incontinence problems. My diverticulum is a horseshoe shape and is very complicated so she is going to do a marsupialisation until it gets small enough to do a diverticulectomy. The marsupialisation is where they open the diverticulum up into the vagina so when you pee it will also come out your vagina instead of filling up the diverticulum. This only works if the UD opening is below the urethral sphincter otherwise pee will just flow out all the time. My surgery is booked for the 3 June 2011 so I will let you know how i go. I am not sure what the post op recovery is. Hope this helps someone like me, that likes as much info as possible and googles everything!
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Omg I have a urethral diverticulum as well and I feel like each day it is starting to get more painful. I have a cytoscopy on September 9, and then I will have to schedule the surgery. Im so scared to get it done but I have no choice. Im only 30 years old : (
September 2, 2011 - 9:44amThis Comment
How did your surgery go? I'm only 35 and I believe this is what I have as well, I go back to the dr. next week.
October 26, 2011 - 10:29amThis Comment
Hi,
June 22, 2011 - 7:48pmIt bulged out at the bottom right near the urethral opening. However the actual diverticulum starts up higher about 2 cm.
Mine started blocking off my flow so i had to have a catheter in until it settled. (2 weeks) I found when it was at its most painful was when it had an abscess within it which only showed up on an MRI. Strong antiobiotics helped.
Hope this information helps please if you have any other questions dont hesitate to ask.
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Hi All,
June 14, 2011 - 8:27pmHad my surgery and am currently recovering. Had complications post surgery and lost a lot of blood. Had to go back to surgery and have vagina repacked with adrenalin soaked dressings to stop the bleeding. Nearly needed a blood transfusion. Stayed in hospital for 6 days. Need bed rest for 2 weeks post op, having 3 weeks off work in total. The marsupialization itself has worked as i do not have any urine dribbling problems and i may not need a diverticulectomy at all.
Hope this helps other readers with the same problem.
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How far down was your diverticulum? I also have one and it's located at the end of urethral where the pee comes out.
June 20, 2011 - 2:39pmThis Comment
Thank you for sharing your story, and we wish you well for your surgery in June. Please do keep us posted!
I am wondering if you ever gave feedback to the original doctor who "became mad" when you self-diagnosed (and were correct!)
May 22, 2011 - 6:15amThis Comment
Hi Alison,
May 24, 2011 - 6:04amThank you for good wishes. When I went back to the GP in question, she seemed suddenly very eager to help me and gave me a doctors note for 3 weeks off work! I think it was her way of apologizing.
I will let you know how my op goes.
Regards
Sharon
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