Well I had a long wait for the results but the bone scan, the CT and the MRI all came back clear, which was obviously very good news. The pain in my knee miraculously righted itself so god knows what had caused it.
That's the positive, now for the negative. The burning while peeing continued unabated. The Instillagel, like everything else I have tried, made no difference whatsoever. Then to add to the problem I started passing blood in my urine four weeks ago.
I was called in for an urgent flexible cystoscopy two weeks ago. They found a stricture in my urethra just below the prostate, which the camera couldn't pass through. I was given the option of going back to have it dilated under a general, or she said if I could tolerate it they'd continue and do it just using the Instillagel. As I wanted answers I opted for the latter, which I rapidly came to regret. There followed one of the most painful and unpleasant half hours of my life.
They discovered no abnormality in the bladder so the pain and bleeding was put down to the stricture. I was told I could go back in periodically to have it dilated, or I could be taught to self-catheterise. Given a follow up appointment for a few months time.
While it was good to know there was nothing nasty going on the downside is that, prior to the cystoscopy I had burning and discomfort while peeing, but since that day I now have pain. I almost dread going to the toilet. Am very worried that I might be like this for the rest of my life.