Urethral Diverticula

Body: 

Hi everyone,

Just wondered if you have any experience/advice to offer regarding urethral diverticulas. I have a friend who was diagnosed a few months ago with one. She was suffering for over 3 years with UTI's, and urgency/frequency. She is now on 2x daily antibiotics indefinitely. She is awaiting an appointment with an excellent surgeon, but does not yet have a date. She feels that surgery (with an excellent surgeon) is her only option. I haven't done much research into this area, but I'm wondering whether there are any alternatives to a surgical approach. Anyone have any experience with this?

Hi Davemayamom

My brief googling produced lots of results. It sounds like a very localised form of urethrocele, but is obviously different in a few ways. It would seem that repeated UTI's, and possibly related, incomplete emptying of the bladder would be risk factors. I couldn't help thinking that WW posture would prevent development of the condition, and may be some help in reducing the diverticula by cutting down pressure in the urethra, and reducing ballooning out of the urethra into the vagina.

I am wondering if your friend has tried WW posture, and our complete bladder emptying exercises. She may be able to manually empty the diverticula by expressing them through the vaginal wall, just like the nice, caring doctor on the internet says. Being able to express pus and or urine from the diverticula into the urethra, then out in the urine, is one of the ways they diagnose it. Why can't the woman do it herself????? After all, one of the key ways of healing an infected wound is to keep it open and drained. What is the difference? Unlike intestinal diverticula, the urethra is just as accessible to the woman as it is to her doctor, isn't it?

I am totally medically unqualified in this, but it sounds like surgery is how they treat it. It seems to me that this could be another example of doctors doing things to women that they may be able to treat less invasively themselves. I wonder what she has tried already, other than all the antibiotics she must have taken. Give her a hug for me.

Cheers

Louise

I'll talk to her about this website and give her the info. You can tell she is truly struggling. She had a VERY difficult birth 5 years ago to her one and only child. When her daughter was 2, she started struggling with UTIs/frequency. She had the diverticula diagnosed by MRI. I can't believe how yucky she must feel being on antibiotics constantly. Problems with yeast overgrowth, foggy brain etc. are really weighing on her. She really wanted to have more kids, but does not and has not felt well enough. I hope things will get better for her soon!