GREEN LIGHT LASER SURGERY- HAVE YOU HAD THIS????

I had Green Light 4 years ago because I was told that it would be better than TURP. That turned out not to be the case. The recovery period lasted almost a year with a lot of blood loss, My retention of urine returned after 3 years. Now after almost a year of catherization and being told that I would need TURP my urination is starting to return to about 75 percent of normal, and I don't know how long it will last. Nobody mentions Green Light anymore.

Research PAE on this blog and elsewhere.

For me my Turp was medieval torture compared to the PAE that I had last June. Green light is similar to the turp.

Good luck.

PAE = prostate arterial embolization

Chuck, whatever procedure you have be it TURP, Green Light Laser, HoLEP or PAE there will always be some who don't benefit from it in either the short or long term.

Base your decision on what you already know of your own circumstances and informed comments found in peer reviewed reports and match the treatment to what is best for you.

The internet is a wonderful tool if you use it wisely and in conjunction with information which is based on sound evidence.

By all means take note of what we have to say on hear but what has been good (or bad) for one individual may not be the route for you to take.

Personally I would recommend HoLEP over any other form of procedure designed to remove prostate tissue but I shall leave you to research this particular procedure and draw your conclusions.

As for me, I had a HoLEP and I had some serious issues following the procedure but if I had the choice again knowing what would happen, I would still opt for it.

Good luck.

 

Hi ChuckP-

I posted my situation the other day. (not sure if older posts are hard to find so I am reposting again). As far GL goes - I was pretty active within days (I'm turning 63 tomorrow and am in  great shape to begin with). I couldn't wait to get off the table. I cringed what was done what  was done and going home with the catheter. (you will definitely need help constantly emptying the bag).After the catheter was removed (next day) I had extensive stinging (penis) for 3 or 4 days (to be expected) when urinating. I got used to the stinging (sitting seemed to help). My doctor repeatedly said keep drinking water AND juice/gatorade. The blood did lighten up the more I drank. After about 3 weeks the blood was usually at the beginning of the flow and once in a while quite bloody (also to be expected). Although it looked at times that there was no bleeding there was still a red sediment at the bottom of the bowl. The bleeding did completely stop at about week 5. I started full activities once the blood stopped but I did excercise after about 3 weeks (at an easy/slower pace). The procedure didn't hold me back from doing any of my major daily activities (work, theater,walking,transportation).

My stream is definitley much stronger now but I don't see any other improvement yet.

I have mostly bad nights. every (hour-2 hours). It's hard for me not to drink after a certain hour but when I reduce liquid intake I seem to faire better.

At the 6 week follow up, the Dr. said everything I'm feeling is normal and give it time. So I will have another followup in 3 months. My days aren't too bad (less urges) but I sometimes have to go again immediately after a main urination.

I haven't had any incontenent issues (never did before or after).

The other MAJOR thing that disturbs me is ejaculation. I wasn't informed of the rentrograde ejaculation. I didn't even know what that meant until I logged into this site. It is unsettling but hopefully that will also get back to some sort of normal.

Maybe (too much info) but haven't had any issues with errections. I have a very weak orgasim if any with absolutely no fluids. So strange! (The Dr. says this is also normal and will improve).

I am up to 7 weeks since surgery and I still feel a slight discomfort only when I start a flow. I was hoping that each day/night that I would see differences but can't say I have except the stronger flow (I do drink more liquids daily). I get very down about having the procedure but my Dr.'s seems to have confidence that I will see a major difference with time. So I'm trying to stay optomistic...it will take time per Dr. (I hope). I will keep up to date with my recovery. Can't wait to sleep through the night (or least only one wakeup call).

In a way I do live in the "land of the free" but in this case the land of free health treatment i.e. the United Kingdom and its NHS (National Health Service).

I researched the best in the UK for the HoLEP and found it was situated at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridgeshire and I eventually got on the operating list of the foremost Urologist who specialises in the procedure (Tevito Aho).  A more decent human being you couldn't ask for. 

Incidentally he does the procedure as a private treatment and attracts patients from around the globe for an all in price of around £8000.

I have no idea what the cost is in the US but it must be comparable to the cost over here considering the salaries of all the staff concerned in the procedure plus the equipment costs are similar to here. 

 

Check out the PAE at this blog, or on the web before you decide. Remember, a urologist will NEVER recommend a PAE because they make no money from it. It is done by an interventional radiologist.

Neal

Chuck, I had a greenlight in 2012, a second one in 2013 to stop a hemautia, and also to resection my bladder neck and remove bladder stones, and a standard turp in 2015 to stop a second hematuria and rmove most of the median lobe that was protruding into my bladder. In all this time I have still gooten up 2 to 3 times a night. I use a bedside urinal, pass urine in the dark standing next to my bed, and get right back to sleep. During the first hematuria I needed 8 pints of whole blood, and needed 6 pints during the second one. I would say the recovery from the turp was quite a bit easier than the recovery from either greenlight. Also, with the turp I was able to have the tissue analyzed in pathology to rule out cancer (in the greenlight the tissue is vaporized so can not be tested).

My main problem is a very fast growing very large prostate. After the three procedures it is presently 203g. I'm currently on avodart to shrink it, and will know in 5 months if it has been siuccessful.

Regarding retro, I know many men seem to have a problem with it, but it hasn't affected my sex life at all. I have only ever felt my orgasm, not the semen leaving my body. With retro the orgasm is the same, the semen just is pumped into the bladder in stead of out.

Unless you are in retention, or have a PVR (post vodi residual left in your bladder after urinating) of 200ml or more, I would forget about any procedures and learn to use the urianal so you can get right back to sleep.