“Achy Breaky Heart” is a hit country music song written by Don Von Tress. Originally titled “Don’t Tell My Heart”, its name was later changed to “Achy Breaky Heart” and was recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus on his 1992 album Some Gave All. As Cyrus’ debut single and signature song, it made him famous and has been his most successful song. It became the first single ever to achieve triple Platinum status in Australia and the 1992′s best selling single in the same country. The song hit number 1 on 3rd October and remained there for 7 weeks. OH THE UNDENIABLE SHAME AUSTRALIA!
I have suffered from urethral strictures for most of my life. A urethral stricture is a blockage of the urethra. The impact of which is a gradual slowing of urine flow with eventual complete blockage. Once blocked a need for intervention sees a catheter installed of either the sub-pubic variety or the traditional variety. The sub-pubic catheter involves an incision and pipework installed directly into the bladder. The traditional is where they slide a plastic pipe up the natural channel. Over the past 3 years I have had both.
On these occasions surgical intervention is required and I have had 2 surgeries performed to unblock my waterworks. I have also endured several in office procedures to keep the pipes clear. Basically the doctor inserts every increasing objects to expand the urethra to ensure water can pass.
After my last surgery my urologist suggested that perhaps some more radical treatment could be in order given the “gently bentley” approach was not working as was hoped. Basically my visits for maintenance works were becoming too regular for his liking. He then referred me to another urologist who performs the more radical procedure known as urethroplasty.
Urethroplasty is a surgical procedure that removes the damage urethral tissue. This is performed by one of two methods. Method 1 involves the removal of the damaged tissue and the remaining tissue stitched together. Alternatively it involves the removal of the damaged tissue and grafting of non-hair bearing skin tissue from other parts of the body, such as the inside of the mouth or bladder. The method depends on the length of the impacted tissue. The idea being that with the impacted tissue being removed that the condition will be at best eliminated or at worst more manageable (i.e. longer between maintenance).
Today I met the new urologist, and he was very impressive. He had clearly read up on my Anhydrotic Ectodernal Dysplasia condition (I may write about this in a later blog), the first doctor to have done so. The outcome of today is that I am heading back to surgery at the end of October. This time though the doctor will be taking a good look to formulate options for further treatment.
I have new hope that this is one condition I can put behind me. If you are so inclined there is a YouTube video on Urethroplasty below, play at your own discretion.
1992 was an Olympics year. The city hosting was Barcelona in Spain. This was the song for those Olympics and brought a spanish tenor José Carreras and Sarah Brightman a british singer together. The music was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and has all the hallmarks of his work. The song hit number one on the ARIA chart on 15 August for 6 weeks.
Bobby Brown, or Mr Whitney Houston, hit number 1 on the ARIA charts on 26th September and lasted a single week. The song is a semi-catchy light hip hop song.
I visited the Killalea State Park today (10 minutes from Shellharbour) and soak up the fresh air and the beauty of the area on what has been a stunning winters day in NSW. It was really needed and gave me a great opportunity to clear my mind and just relax. I also managed to have a full hours walk along the water front and to the mouth of the Minnamurra River. Safe to say that I will be back, and I will be taking a camera.
