1. Community
  2. Men's health
  3. Prostate Problems

Comparing Urolift vs Greenlight for BPH symptoms

Posted , 6 users are following.

tom86211
tom86211

I am considering my next treatment procedure for BPH symptoms and would like to know if anyone has had both Urolift and Greenlight, or TURP, and would be able to compare the results and side effects? 

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • j12080
    j12080 tom86211

    Posted

    Tom may I ask, why would you not consider FLA? It is the most accurate procedure in my opinion and you can see before you do the procedure what actually needs to be treated and how. With FLA there are zero sexual side effects. I had this about 16 months ago and I had great results.
    • tom86211
      tom86211 j12080

      Posted

      FLA procedure has to be done in Houston and cost if out of pocket. So, I would have to pay for a week of travel to Houston for me and my wife, a week of lodging, 20k of medical expenses - total cost about 25k plus a week away from the house. We run a small business and can't be gone for a week. If the procedure was done closer to home and was covered by insurance, then FLA would be at the top of the list. 

    • j12080
      j12080 tom86211

      Posted

      I fully understand and wish you the very best.
    • jay111
      jay111 j12080

      Posted

      Hi j12080- The FLA is good, but there is no guarantee of no sexual side effects. I had the FLA in Houston and now have a partially numb meatus which, at my age of 64, definitely interferes with maintaining of erections. I have to use Viagra now, whereas before I did not need it. My flow has not improved either post-FLA. So, the FLA has worked for many, and not for some. Cheers- J
    • j12080
      j12080 jay111

      Posted

      Thanks Jay for the information. You are in fact the first and only person I have heard of that had any sexual side effects from FLA. I am sorry to here that and I hope you will improve. 
    • tom86211
      tom86211 jay111

      Posted

      Jay,

      I also experienced a partially numb meatus a year after radiation for prostate cancer. There are nerves running through the prostate and my radiation and your FLA must have hit one and the numbness was the result. I am really understanding that the penis/bladder/prostate is a linked, complicated system and any treatment can have unexpected and unwanted side effects, that vary from person to person. 

  • derek76
    derek76 tom86211

    Posted

    If anyone had two or three of them then the earlier ones were not successful or it regrew like the weed it is. I had GL on my 75 grm prostate in 2004 and it cured my problems until it grew again . I had absolutely no problems with GL and life was really back to normal on day three.

    It regrew to 135grms over the next eight years and I then had Thulium/Holmium laser that is similar to HoLep in that it saves tissue to check for cancer cells. That recovery was a bit longer as the catheter was left in too long and I got an infection but the overall result was just as good.

     

  • derek76
    derek76 tom86211

    Posted

    Next treatment indicates that that you have had an earlier treatment. Which one was that?
    • tom86211
      tom86211 derek76

      Posted

      Derek,

      I had a PAE last August. Result was a slight improvement in symptoms, but not much. The improvement was slow to "take". I have a median lobe - not big, but apparently the PAE didn't really help all that much. I am going to ask for a volume study to find out how much the PAE actually shrunk the prostate. It as 56gm before. I could have another PAE but this time around I am looking for a much faster and more dramatic result. With the median lobe not sure if a Urolift would help, unless I got a GL to reduce the median lobe, then a Urolift. I don't think these procedures can both be done at the same time. I have never heard of this double procedure before. 

    • derek76
      derek76 tom86211

      Posted

      It was unfortunate that the PAE was not the complete answer for you. I would just go for GL it is tried and proven for most prostates. Here in the UK it is now the NICE preferred procedure over TURP and the NHS are doing about 13,000 a year for patients where PC is not suspected.. My median lobe was not too bad. Now all those years later my median lobe has a nodule on it. The lateral lobes were my problem and were described as being like the cheeks of a floppy bottom.
    • tom86211
      tom86211 derek76

      Posted

      Thanks for this info derek. Very interesting. 
    • derek76
      derek76 tom86211

      Posted

      My only complaint after each was that the flow is not as good as expected. I had a cystoscopy and every seemed to be in order.
    • j12080
      j12080 tom86211

      Posted

      Tom, FYI: I do know that you can get an MRI followup of the prostate and it will show you and the doctor the actual areas and tissue that was removed during the embolization in the PAE procedure. It is very interesting to see which parts of he gland were effected and how much of the random effects transpired  in the areas were reduced. If you decide to you have any interest in this, just look for a Pelvic Coil 3T MRI as it is much more comfortable and just lays over you lap during the MRI. 
    • tom86211
      tom86211 j12080

      Posted

      Very interesting and valuable information. I will look into this. 
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.