Bladder surgery changed one truck driver’s life who knew something was wrong when he’d go to bed at night and wake up soiled in urine.
Todd Robyt, Jamestown, suffered from urinary incontinence. The incontinence didn’t bother him during the day, but after sleeping, he’d wake up wet. Robyt suffered for about a year before a colleague suggested he visit with Dr. Robert Bates at Jamestown Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Bates is a Harvard-trained urologist with more than 30 years of experience. Urologists can help with incontinence and bladder issues. Urologists can also help with kidney stones, prostate issues, sexual health, diseases of the urinary tract, male infertility and permanent male birth control.
In his teen years, Robyt said he knew his body was a little different. He was usually in the bathroom for 10-15 minutes at a time, much longer than other students.
“When it came time to drain my tank, it took longer than the average person,” he said.
By 2017, Robyt said he’d wear diapers to bed at night and still wake up wet.
Dr. Bates works with patients like Robyt daily. Robyt’s condition is called urinary retention. Urinary retention is the inability to empty the bladder. It can happen when the tube carrying urine narrows, which can occur in men and women at any age.
To help Robyt, Dr. Bates recommended a surgery called urethral dilation. In his career, Dr. Bates has performed more than 300 of these surgeries. Dr. Bates can perform a urethral dilation in a clinic setting or the operating room, depending on the severity of the case and what the patient prefers.
Robyt said he was impressed with his smooth surgery. He arrived early for the 9 a.m. procedure. He said he was on his feet walking again by 11:30 a.m. and was discharged in time to go out for lunch.
After the surgery, he had a foley catheter for four days to ensure proper healing.
Today, Robyt is back to good health.
“I ain’t wetting my drawers,” he said. “I haven’t had one single problem since the surgery.”
Robyt said he’s looking forward to a spring in which he can tinker on his vehicles and organize his collections of antiques like oil cans, tin signs and tractors.
“I’m pretty thankful for the staff and the nurses,” Robyt said.
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