Had FLA for BPH done Feb 13

That was mike588. He had it done the day after me. He said he is wearing a Foley catheter for three weeks. He posted in another FLA thread. We should hear from him next week, hopefully with good results.

Thanks motoman If I recall he had other problems  which added to cath time

Motoman,

So is it just you, Mike and John who have had FLA? Mike hasn't posted very much because I believe he's still on a Foley? 

-- Jim

I have no idea about who has had it done. I just happened across Mikes note yesterday. Dr K seemed to have a busy schedule when I was there. Seemed like a procedure a day or something like that, and consultations and phone calls in the afternoon.

Most of the time it's only about 7 days for a catheter.  I don't remember the other problem  Ken

uncklefester I posted in another discussion, looks like they deleted for some reason it so I did not see Motoman's comment.

I wrote that I had kidney issues because I waited too long, bladder thickened and pressure on kidneys retaining 500 cc

Therefore I was advised to keep catheter in for 3 weeks - tomorrow they will do a void test - I am nervous abou CIC. Of course I will keep you all posted, just nothing to say except foley catheter was really good for kidneys. Had a foley in 1 week before FLA and now another 3 weeks, it seems like an eternity!

 

Hi Motoman

Mike here.  I am trying to get in on Dr K's Trail for the 5th of April.  I go to the the University of Michigan on the 13th March for my pre-evaluation 3T-MRI scan.  I have been talking to John since the first part of December and staying in touch with his progress.  I was talking to Jim last night and he was telling me about the two other patients besides John that I was not aware of.  Right now it sounds like there have been a total of 3 patients in for the FLA/BPH procedure.  Two of you had pre existing procedures and John was a virgin?  I am coming in with no pre-baggage so to speak , and right now I am pre-approved for the Trail.  So far there has been no one in the Trail  had the procedure yet?  I think I heard anywhere from 8 to 12 he wanter to use.  You guys are great encouragement for future patients.  I told Dr K that he needs to monitor this website for feedback for prospective patients and how his current patients are doing.  This website forum is the best and I think the only one out there for these prostate issues, there is one that is primarily for cancer patients, but that is it.  I have talked to Peter a couple of times and he is the only active one I know of from England, where this site originates from.  I sure am glad that we have this site and for the excellent feedback from some very well informed patients.      

So it sounds like you have had a little more of a problem with the procedure than John?  I don't know much about the catheters other than in the REZUM procedure I followed on the forum, they were having lots of problems and many of them had to go into emergency becasue they got backed up.  REZUM procedure has to clear out lots of tissue through the urethra after the procedure, not like they advertise that your body will absorb the tissue from the steam process.  I guess the closer I get to my procedure, I want to know more about the catheters.

As I read down through the posts, it looks like things are getting better for you.  Where did you fly in from?  I am coming in from Michigan, so I have to bring my wife down with me and have someone stay with my elder labrador at home who needs constant care.  My wife works for Delta Airlines, so the flying is not an issue - that is free on standby, it is just working around her schedule and Dr K's.  I asked how they handle the situation with a single male coming in and I looked into having an aid for the minimum time. Samantha said it would be about $550, so I am bringing my wife.  I noticed there is a Extended Stay America near the office that has good rates.  They are usually pretty good and this one is 3.5 stars.

Well Moto, you are part of history now and the next thing is to get you better.  I will be staying in touch with all you guys to see how Dr K's procedures are going and to keep you filled in on my progress.  Do you have any ideas how many more are on the schedual for the near furture?  I would assume it is someone from the forum, other wise how would they have found out?  I will write Mike588 to see how he is doing.  

Good Luck Moto and get better quickly.

Mike        

Hello,

I am not sure where you would get the idea I am not doing as well as John. According to Dr K, I am on track. I think I just chimed in earlier than John, and of course everyone heals at a different rate. I also did some stupid things which may have aggravated things too early. Like lifting, shoveling snow, and sex, but Dr K said that was OK. My opinion after was I should have waited a little longer.

As far as having to use catheters, it is nice to have them on hand in case you need them. Better to have them and not need them, than wish you had them because you needed them.

I cannot comment on how many people have had the procedure done, but it would be silly to think that everyone is on this forum. As far as I know, Dr K does them every day. He had a guy coming in from Iraq I think, the week I was there. I do think John helped him by posting here, but probably hurt him also, as he seemed to be busy with phone calls, etc. and that can eat up a day fast.  It is awful nice of him to take the time to speak with everyone, but I bet that will end soon as he figures out how many of those calls convert into patients. Only so much time in a day...

I wouldn't let anyone deter you from doing what you think is best. A lot of armchair quarterbacks that chime in everywhere but don't do anything themselves. I want to be proactive with getting on living life, and not having this BPH control it. You only get so much time here, I am trying to make the most of mine. So I have done two procedures (Itind and FLA) now, hoping this one works better than the first. But if not, I am prepared for the next step.

I know they have both been effective to an extent, as I am peeing better than before the procedure (as I was after the Itind), and with the FLA it is supposed to get better and better. 

I have had some pain and bleeding the past week, but Dr K says that is a normal part of the healing process. 

I don't really see this as being a pioneer, because as you know, Dr K and others have done this procedure on lots of patients. Mainly cancer, but BPH as a byproduct. 

The travel with a Foley turned out to be a non issue for me, but they are now doing more pat downs at TSA. I guess just show them your pee bag, that will probably get them to leave you alone in a hurry. 

Good luck, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Mike - Mike here.  How are you doing?  I just found out from Jim that you are one of the New FLA/BPH patients of Dr K on Feb 14th.  I go for my pre-procedure 3T-MRI on Monday at the University of Michigan.  Right now, if things go well, I will be part of the Trail on April 5th.  I see that you and Motoman have had to do a lot more catheterizing than John did.  I think he did it for 3 or 4 days.  I hope that you are not having any major issues and you are on the mend.

I could not believe that you were retaining 500cc.  That is a 1/2 liter bottle of pop.  I have been around the 180cc area and my prostate is 108gr.

Keep us posted and get well.

Mike  

Mike, 

I think I read that both mike588 and I were using catheters to some extent before the procedure. I don't recall that with John. So everyone has a little different story, heals different, etc. I also recall reading that John was not peeing good for some time after the procedure.

By the way, I found using number 12 catheters much easier passing by the prostate than number 14, which is what I normally used. It was a little sore, and still is.I would use them at night before bed, and upon waking up, to make sure I was fully empty. 

MikeSkier, where do you ski ? i am in Colorado, my season is shot because of Catheters.

The Urologist took out catheter, I passed the void test but later on in the day had to rush back and get it back in. FLA not the reason - because after 3 weeks it doesn't necessarily get better - I really waited too long and PAE in hindsight was the wrong choice for me. So I had a lot of pain in kidney while urinating, only was retaining 235 but because of my bladder that is too much pressure on kidneys - bear in mind, having a catheter one week before procedure and 3 weeks after, peeing not going to be easy anyway - I will probably keep it in another 2 or 3 weeks..sigh

and Mike thanks for good wishes and to Jim for his help if he is reading this post.

Hi Mike,

Sorry for the trouble you're going through. I'm sure it's only temporary. 

So they drained out 235ml when you went back to the uro's? That definitely is retention, but doesn't seem enough to cause kidney pain. Was the "too much pressure" on the kidneys Dr. K's analysis, or your uros?

With the understanding that this is getting beyond my pay grade, could the pain be referred from the prostate? A lot of us here, including myself, have carried around five times that amount of fluid without kidney pain.

As to the Foley, why don't you ask Dr. K. and/or your uro if it makes sense to fit the Foley with a Flip Flo Valve. That would more closely simulate natural urination so hopefully you won't lose too much tone. So, the way i works as I understand it is that you close the valve and either keep the bag attached or take it off. Then, either when you feel your bladder full, or on a certain schedule, you open the valve, let the catheter empty your bladder while pushing out gently at the same time. So, your bladder not only is getting re-used to carrying a volume, but your detrussors are being exercised as well. It's sort of like CIC except the catheter is always in there.

-- Jim

Good ideas Jim - Dr K said he thought it was Ureters getting backed up - can't be sure why with only 235 I had that except maybe previous damage has not entirely healed - hopefully Urologist will have more information- no way was it prostate pain.

Again, beyond my pay grade but I don't get it. What did your uro say about the pain. I realize the last thing you want to do right now is see a doc for more tests, but when you see your uro next time, I believe a simple ultrasound should be able to tell if it's the ureters backing up. 

Did they do a urinalysis today? If not, you may want to ask for one next time (or get a drug store test strip and do it yourself). Also, keep track of your temperature. It's unlikely, but flank/kidney pain could be a sign of an infection and even if it's unlikely, you want to cover your bases.

--Jim

No urinalysis and ultra sound was just checking for bladder not like a radiologist doing it.

Infection I suppose is possible, I have a good Urologist I'm sure they will figure out root cause eventually

Dr K gave me a flip flow valve when I left. I used it sporadically, but did not like the feeling when the Bladder was done emptying. It was like something was slamming shut. I still used it daily for the week, but alternated with the bags as well. I wanted to make sure my Bladder got some use, and wasn't totally empty all the time.

That is a bummer. But I was having trouble emptying as well when I took the catheter out. But the self cathing got me through the rough part. 

Im a skier too. But it messed up my skiing. I did go a week ago, but tried to stick to groomers. Probably a dumb thing to do, but I had committed to a trip with an out of state buddy months ago. So I took it easy for the most part.

Trying to get out of my season pass now.

Hey buddy.  I hope you heal fast and you have no problem.  Take your time and relax  Let us know how it is going  Ken

Hi Mike

The winter is not over and if you don't mind you can just do some easy cruising on the groomers.  You have really had some urology problems!  and you abuse yourself like I do.  Where did you get your PAE?  That is what I was going to do until I found out about FLA.  I just turned 70, so now I can get Big Discounts at some of the resorts. I have skied all over the world.  I use to live in Germany for 5 years and also in Austria for 2 years.  From there I skied all over Europe. Where in Colorada do you live?  I have relatives in Fort Collins and Littleton and Aurora.  We also live on a large lake and we all waterski.  I started waterskiing at 7.  The last couple of years I have skied very limited because I don't like urological acidents in my ski clothes.  I also have a left torn rotator cuff from a big ski accident, that makes me a little hesitant right now until i get it fixed.  In SE Michigan where I live, we have 5 small resorts within 15 miles of my house.  Then we have northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula that have nice skiing.  We get a lot of Lake Effects snow in Northern and Upper Michigan, so the snow is usually pretty good.  My wife works for Delta Airlines, so we fly out west whenever we want to and we have friends and relatives in Oregon, Washington, Utah, California and Colorado.  That makes it easy, because we can fly for free and we can check 2 large bags apiece for free, that really helps nowdays.

Thanks Moto.  I just hope I don't have to go the catheter deal for too long.  I sold my wife on this idea to pay the money and get the FLA and that it was going to cure all my problems, Ha!!!  If I have to cath, I will definetly be contacting you guys.  John cruised through this whole deal pretty smoothly, but for all that he went through to make his decision to go with the FLA/BPH, he deserves it.

Where do you ski the most?  Do you have a Vail Pass?  Sounds like You, Mike588 and me are ALL Mad Men and skiers.  It is Hell getting old!!!  What type of cath do you  use?  There are portable ones?  right?  are they really very convienient?  I guess I need to look into this.  John had me all convinced that this procedure there would be limited cathing because he slid through so smoothly.

Jim, you are amazing.  Between you and John you could get a medical degree, even as much as we all hate our uros, because that is why many of us are on this forum, looking for ansers that our uros would not give us.  I just wrote to Mike about Caths, because there is a chance that I may need to after my procedure.

Moto,

Never used one, or had a Foley for that matter, but conceptually it just seemed the Flip Flo was a good compromise for someone where CIC was either not indicated or not wanted. Is there a way you can pinch the tube a little to modulate the flow. Sounds like it might be emptying too fast. That might be your internal sphincter slamming shut from too quick a pressure differential. If I ever need a Foley, I think I'd probably use the Flip Flo during the day but the bag at night for an uninterrupted sleep. 

Jim

Mike,

When you go to the school of hard knocks, you sometimes pick up things that the uro's don't know. 

There are two reasons you might need a cath after these types of procedures. One is temporary swelling from the procedure itself. Once that resolves things should be fine.

The other reason is what I was talking about earlier today. And that has to do with the pre-existing condition of your bladder. If your bladder is atonic going into the procedure -- any procedure -- then you cannot expect the same results from the procedure as someone who had a fully functioning, elastic bladder. In that case, depending on your unique condition, you may have to self cath for a period of time, or possibly even forever. Bladder testing, such as urodynamics, prior to the procedure will give you a better idea of which category you will fall into. For this reason, some doctors actually suggest self catherization (or Foley) PRIOR to the procedure to decompress the bladder in those cases where they determine the bladder is not functioning well enough for a good outcome.

BTW we have a couple of self cath threads going here, if it comes to that. Not sure if you know my story, but three years ago I decided to forgo the current surgical offerings and self cathed instead. Had PAE, Urolift, REZUM and FLA been more available back then, I might have made a different decision. That said, it fortunately worked out well the way it did.

Jim

 

So Jim, what is your status today?  Apparently you do not have bladder issues today, but do you have BPH.  They say that diet and execise can shrink the prostate of some people over time.  I think I have helped in my case, my PSA went down a point and a half and maybe my bladder is better, because I took up regular exercise at the school and started juicing 3 to 4 times a week with lots of good fruits and vegtables alone with tumeric, coconut milk, etc...  I feel a lot better and I was amazed that my PSA dropped as much as it did when it was on a steady climb for several years.  I think John is on this very strict diet that several people on the forum are on and that seemed to make him feel better but his BPH issue kept getting worse to the point he could not wait for Dr K C/T.  

Like I told you before, I have been researching alternative (a good word to use in todays culture) methods for almost 6 years to the turps and green light lasers, etc because I did not want the chance of permanetly nuetering myself and possibly become sexually dysfunctional.  So the list that you put up of procedures were not even know in this country when I started.  Dr Bagla was just starting to do PAE's working at Inovia.  Now he has moved on.  So in many ways we are very much alike, just like John, he spent over 3 years on a mission to find the best alternative himself and ended up doing the FLA/BPH at the very last moment.  Between you and John, I am going to confide in the both of you, becasue you have dug deeper into the full medical aspects of our aflicktion.

I just sent an email to Motoman (Tim), because he is wanting to get onto Dr K's C/T and has been in contact with him, but he lives in Albany NY.  So I presented and option to him that if we could get our procedures done within a day of each other that we could split a Extended stay 2 bedroom unit and a rental car, plus my wife is now going with me so that she could be the adult aid that is required by Dr K for this procedure for the 4 night requirement.  He was saying that his wife has a hard time geting vacation time.  So we could cut those expenses in half and save him a plane ticket for his wife as well.  I don't know at this short time that the complexity can all be worked out.  I am calling

Dr K tomorrow to lock in my procedure date, now that my wife can go with me and we have a sitter for our old Lab dog.  She has to start her bidding for April starting tomorrow as well, so all dates are open for the month, but need to know the date for sure.  

Thanks Jim, I will let you go to bed.  Don't want to be the responsible one for your lack of rest.

Thanks Mike    

Hi Mike,

Status today is that my bladder functions surprisingly well (IPSS score: 6-7 borderline "mild" but, yes, I do have BPH (benign prostate Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). What I don't have is significant LUTS (lower urinary tract symptons).  

Unfortunately, too many, including urologists confuse the two terms. BPH is simply an enlarged prostate. And an enlarged prostate, in and of itself, doesn't mean LUTS. In fact, there are men with very large prostates who are practically asymptomatic and men with small prostates who have signficant LUTS. That's why a tunnel vision like focus on the prostate, and prostate reduction, can sometimes be counter productive, lead to misplaced treatment and less than optimal results.

A little over three years ago I walked into my urologist's office carrying close to two liters of fluid in my bladder. (IPSS score in the 30's, "Severe" He wanted to do a TURP. That's all the facility did back then. To make a long story shorter, I decide to self cath (CIC) instead. My urologist said that's OK, but told me in no uncertain terms that I would never be able to urinate normally again without the catheters. 

I started CIC 6x/day and kept up a fairly agressive CIC schedule for much of the first year. Today, more than three years later, I don't cath very much. In fact, I haven't had to cath for over three months now. I have no urgency, no incontinence, normal PVRs, and on most nights don't have more than two bathroom trips. (Last two nights zero trips.) Not saying my bladder is normal (urologist told me it looked like the moon under cystoscopy) but functions pretty normally which is what really matters. 

So what changed? It wasn't my prostate. It isn't growing very fast, but it certainly isn't shrinking. What changed is that my bladder has become strong and flexible enough to push through whatever prostatic obstruction I have. And that's because of CIC. Before CIC, my bladder had weakened after years of retention and poor bathroom habits such as "holding it in" and rushing the process.

CIC not only bought me time to wait for something better than TURP, it surprisingly did what my then uro told me it never could do -- it rehabbed my bladder to the point where I don't need CIC anymore to void most of the time. 

That's my story. That's my bladder. Will CIC rehabbed everyone's bladder? Probably not. But are the urologists right when they say an atonic blader cannot be rehabbed by CIC? No, they are wrong. 

It's a very complicated system down there and to blame everything on an enlarged prostate is both counter productive and lazy. And yet, that's how most uros approach the problem partly because their bread is butttered on prostate reduction surgeries like TURP and now buttered even more heavily with the newer (and more profitable for them) procedures like Urolift and REZUM. Old shool diagnosis and treatment have been replaced by "let's operate and get rid of the problem". 

I don't want to give the impression that I am anti surgery or procedure for LUTS. In fact, one day, if I become more symptomatic,  I might have either one of the current offerings, or perhaps something not yet on the radar. But the message I do want to offer is that it's not always just the prostate and prostate reduction surgery and procedures aren't always the answer for everyone. 

As far as prostate reduction procedures go, FLA seems one of the most promising. My main concern with it now, and I don't want to belabor the point, is that there isn't enough available data. So, that aside, my only advice -- and this holds true for any of the surgeries or procedures -- is to get yourself fully evaluated before, which may include imaging, cystoscopy and urodynamics -- so that you will have a better idea going into the procedure how you may come out of it. And, if so motivated, and I realize my path isn't for everyone, try some alternative methods first -- such as CIC -- to see if you get things functionally more normally without a procedure.

Jim

 

Forgive the misplaced "smiley " faces in previous post. Typo.

Jim

Your forgiven!!  I do thank you for the information you have given.  By now in this forum site and the number of people that you start talking to, it is good just to have your profile and history and just copy and paste.  I have had several nights that I have done that, just because now I don't have the time with all the responses, and being on several forums, because people on this site are searching all of the possibilities as well.  

My uro gave me the ultra sounds the volume retention studies, of course the PSA blood tests many times.  I have also had a cystoscopy done, he said my bladder looks very good, but the oversize prostate, 108gr is pinching my urethra and causing my BPH issues.  He never mentioned anything about cathing, I guess because my issues were never severe enough for it.  Cathing can present a lot of problems with damage to the urethra, inflamation and scaring.  So that is a don't do it unless needed it what I have been told.  My uro had suggested a turp at one time and then the urolift and the last was the REZUM.  I have been seeing the 2 partnered uros for probably 10 years now and when surgery came up as an alternative, I started researching.  Then I was also starting ED symtons about 7 years ago.  I have been on this website about 5 years or more, but never participated in the forums, just monitored them for information.  There you have it.  We each have our progressions down the MALES Road of Life.

I hope that I did not keep you up late again last night did I?  Where are you living?  I think maybe you might of told me and it was Florida?

I appreciate your time and like I said before, I will have more questions or just keeping you posted.

Thanks a lot 

Mike

Mike  

Jim,

I am not sure which sphincter you are referring to? I had a catheter in, so that sphincter was open. And the valve that was on the Foley wasn't letting it flow very fast, not as fast as I can pee for example. There just is no "tapering off" of the flow, if that makes sense. I kind of get the same feeling with self cathing, but it was much more noticeable with the Foley. Maybe that is because of the balloon inside the Bladder. 

The valve was also quite bulky under my pants, so when I was going out, I would just remove it and put the leg bag on instead.

Mike,

It would not hurt you to have a few Speedicath compacts on hand just in case. If you are lucky, you never need them, and throw them out. Might save you a trip to ER, or a doctor. I hope you don't need them.

I ski Schweitzer in Idaho, and Stevens Pass. Have passes at both places, but not using them much this year. Went to Red Mountain in BC with my friend from Wisconsin. Learned to ski at Telemark in Northern WI, and resorts in Upper Penninsula as a kid.

Hi Mike,

No, I posted that this morning. Had a good night's sleep, thank you!

If you've had your bladder checked out, and it's functioning well, then your odds of a good outcome from FLA are increased. 

You mentioned other forums several times. They might not let you post the links here, but maybe you could mention the names or PM the links. 

As to your uro's comments about self cathing "Cathing can present a lot of problems with damage to the urethra, inflamation and scaring" -- I would take those remarks in the same vein as when you ask a uro about PAE or a PAE doc about Urolift. In other words, docs tend to put down what they don't do. It's a bit of an overstatement to say that CIC damages the urethra, etc. In general, any urethral irritation or "damage" from CIC is minor and temporary. Probably less so than from any numbers of procedures urologits use. 

-- Jim

Would it be useful to open a "How to Telemark with a Foley" thread

-- Jim

Moto

Are the Speedicaths a pain to deal with?  You can carry them in your pocket?  What do you like best, just in case I end up cathing longer than needed?  Where did you stay in Houston?  I am trying to maybe do my procedure the same time as Tim (Unclefester) to save some money on a car and lodging.  Extended Stay America has pretty good rates.

Are you from Wisconsin?  I have skied Schweitzer, small but a nice resort and usually not crowded and would stay in Sand Point.  Have you been to Whitefish and stay in Kalispell?  Both places being on big lakes.  Bogus Basin for a half day only.  Also, I have skied in the Valley of Death, Silver Mountain, which is not bad.  I love Sun Valley, but have not been there in about 6 years.  My wife use to get layovers there working for at the time Northwest Airlines.  It gave us free lodging at the main lodge and we got almost free lift tickets.  Now that the company is Delta, no such luck.  Went to Stevens Pass, but did not ski because it was raining hard.  My wife is from Egan Minnesota (Alpine Valley and Buck Hill) and Wisconsin area, born in Trempealeau spent a lot of time in La Crosse, so we have skied there and the Upper is nice at Indianhead and SearchMount in Ontario above the Sault and we would do that either on a drive to or from Minnesota.

Thanks  Mike

Jim

Are you a skier too?  Moto and Mike588 are both skiers.  There needs to be a source for:  Skiing in Your Catheter or Hang on Baby, but don't Grab my Colostomey Bag.

Mike, originally from WI, but moved to Washington 22 years ago, and about to move to Sandpoint, ID. 

The Speedicath compacts only comes in one size, and are more money than the non compact. But since you may not need them long term, maybe just buy 10-20 of them, and hope you get to throw them out? If you want a better insurance policy, buy some regular Speedicath in either 12 or 14 in a larger volume. But you could always do that after if you are having longer term problems. Jim will probably have more to say on this than me...

We stayed in the Galleria area of Houston at Hilton I think. A lot going on in the Galleria, and nicer than the medical district. (I used to go to Houston often on business) We spent a few days in Galveston as well. So we were still in the area if we needed the Doc, but my wife was able to get out and explore a little. I gotta say I was not as excited about going out with a bag of pee strapped to my leg, and stayed closer to the hotel!

Hi Mike

No way will I ski with a catheter in! PAE in Australia because I'm Australian - turned out to be a big mistake because in the meantime my bladder got much worse. I thought an 80% chance of success was worth the gamble.

Live near the Denver Tech Center.

Moto

Thanks for the information.  Are the regular Speedicaths with a strap on bag?  Jim and John are definetly experts on these forums.  Jim has cath for a lot of years.  I think I will go to the Speedicath website to find out from the company as well.  There should be and instructional video for skiing with a cath like:   Skiing in Your Catheter, Don't Hit Me - Or I will P*ss all Over You or Hang on Baby, but don't Grab my Colostomey Bag. 

So are you living in Spokane?  I use to fly into their for my Idahoe ski trips.  Lost a $450 Spyder jacket about 8 years ago on a plane there that was on a snow and fog hold, so we all deplaned and the pilot said at least an hour and said they would make an anouncement, so I went and got breakfast and the plane took off a half hour later without me and had my jacket and luggage.  Got the luggage back when I got to MSP, but the jacket was gone for good, That Loss Baggage Claim in the Sky.  

So you had your FLA/BPH without being part of Dr K's C/T?   There are a lot of people on this website looking for the Best Alternative to Surgery.  The problem is as I have noticed, there are a lot of people that have been on here for many years like me that I think are just chating and will probably not take one of these procedures, unless it is covered by insurance.  I think that PAE, which has been under very successful C/T's for over 6 or 7 years now, will continue to take a while for approval although IR Dr Bagla is getting the insurance companies to pay for some of his patients by using other approved codes with the insurance companies, because PAE is still not approved yet.  I have been following this procedure for over 6 years now, with it starting in Protugal and then to Sao Paulo Brazil, where I have lots of friends and business aquaintences for the Auto Industry, then England and Australia and last the US,because of our Terrible Insurance System.  Right now as far as FLA goes, I think that Dr K is going to find that a non-urological procedure will not peak enough interest and therefore money to get the approvals needed even though it is one of the best ways to have prostate cancer tumors removed.  The Uros have the Male Prostate business sowed up and get approvals and money for trails quite easily.  They have had 4 procedures approved in the last 3 years alone and with minimal number of patients in their trails.  They are the natural marketplace for a male.  He will visit his urologist, recommended by his Primary Care for ED and or BPH (70% to 85% chance if you are over 60).  The Uro's will never recommend and IR procedure.  I wish Dr K lots of luck, he is a great guy and he was an Engineer like me before he went into medicine.  He said med school was a waste of time.  He learned more in Engineering school, because of the problem solving techniques and the dynamics and fluid systems, that he could apply to medicine than he learned in 5 years of med school, 1 year would have been enough.  He is the 4th surgeon that I have run into that went through engineering school before med school.  The hip surgeon at Rush Memorial in Chicago, my dad at 88 had it done, went that route and he is now the Top Hip surgeon in the US and maybe the world.  He actually reconstructs the complete hip through about 3 holes inside you.  His hobby is ships in a bottle.  His brother is a surgeon and talked him into becoming and orthopedic surgeon and use his mechanical and structural dynamics applied to the human body.  The last I saw, he has over a 100 pantents on the special tools he invented to do the job, but also the hip and knee components themselves.  I told Dr K that he needs to contract a very good web designer, get his site that it comes up near the top of the list on the major search engines and have it interconnected with IR websites and regular medical websites like webmd.  Other wise they will have a hard time getting their procedure promoted enough.

So where did the name motoman come from.  Are you a car buff, a racer or what?

I see you are from Australia.  Nice place, but it has been a long time since I was there in Melbourne to Sydney for less than a week.  I almost took a job with Holden about 10 years ago after working at Chrysler/Daimler and Jeep. 

Got to go, Later and thanks Mike       

LOL. I was an avid skiier but not lately. Getting too old for the East Coast ski experience. You West Coast guys are so spoiled! I remember sharing a chair at Vail with a local guy. Let me tell you it was the most perfect day I had remembered for years. Sunny, not too cold, not windy, no ice, good cover. And the local guy bitches the whole chair ride telling me he probably won't ski for awhile until the conditions improve!!!

-- Jim

Same goes for Australians - we have a couple of resorts but Vail on a bad day is far better than anything we have - at least according to my friends i never skiid in Australia

 

Motorman: Jim will probably have more to say on this than me...

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You think? Ok. You're right. Sure, get some Compacts to try but the bulk of the order should be regular Speedicaths. Compacts are more convenient for travel, but I think for most folks the regular Speedicaths would be easier to learn with. Plus they are longer. 

To make it simple, go with Speedicath FR14, Coude tip. Then ask for a few samples in FR12 and non coude versions of both.

The FR14 Coude tips are stiff enough so that they make a good beginner's cath. Coude's are for obstructive prostates, but my understanding is that the first month or after FLA, you prostate still might be obstructed somewhat due to both dead tissue remaining and inflammation from the procedure. 

That said, if you're only going to be catherized for a couple of weeks, you could make a case for just doing a Foley.

-- Jim

Jim,

I recommended the compacts because he should only need a few, they are smaller at the end, and my prostate was tender so smaller is better. They are 12, but wider at the other end, so they don't bend as easily. The 14's hurt going in quite a bit more after the procedure.

He will have a Foley coming home. But if it comes out and he can't pee well, he may need to do CIC for a little bit. Maybe not, but Dr K wants the Foley coming out early in the day, so if you are having difficulty urinating, there is time to get another Foley put in locally.

Well, you know my feeling about non coudes Still think the regular's are easier to use for a beginner. If he only needs a few, then maybe get both. Ideally, he will time things so there will be enough time to get another Foley back in if he can't void  when it comes out. The reason I don't recommend CIC for very short term use I guess is based on my personal experience which was pretty bad to say the least, for the first three weeks. That said, others here seem to take to CIC right away.

Mike,

I am from central Washington, the middle of no where, just the way I like it.

I am a PE, Pretend Engineer. Worked with a lot of them over the years, and like that approach. I guess that is why I liked Dr K. 

I was not part part of the clinical trial. I had the Itind procedure a year ago, so previous work would rule me out of the trial. If it continues to work, I will be happy and not care about that. I'm almost 4 weeks in, and things continue to improve.

Motoman because I love motorcycles. Race dirt bikes, and travel all over the world on bikes. It's my passion, and now that I am retired, I didn't want the peeing to keep me from exploring even more. It may be the reason I have prostate issues, sitting on a saddle all day long probably is not great for it, but better than a bicycle seat!

The skiing is just something I do in the winter until the snow is gone. 

Motoman

You are moving to Sandpointe, or was that Mike588?  I have been through part of the interior, I took the back way from Boise to Seatle on a ski trip.  It was kind of hairy, because we had snow and freezing rain to deal with.  I had one of those 1980 Olds Deisel Toranados, that really goes quite well in the winter with front wheel drive and good snow radials.  I also went that same way when I was younger in the summer.  As far as biking goes, I rode in the states a long time ago on a 305 Honda, but I spent a lot of time in Europe where they appreciate bikers.  I was half owner in an old BMW 250 with a side hack.  We drove all over Bavaria with it and had a ball.  I also owned a 700cc Norton that I bought in England.  A very fast and well built bike.  I had a place for about 8 years up north in Michigan in Grayling and did a lot of dirt bike riding there.  They had lot of huge gravel pits that we use to ride in, until I came up a steep hill climb flying and hit a tree stump head on top that was not there the week before and sent me flying. That was it for motorcycles.  I have raced lots of cars, snowmobiles and Drag Boats.  The unlimited hydros race in the inner part of Washington on the Columbia River?  The time I went to Washington in the summer. I had just missed the race.  That kind of racing started in Michigan with Gar Wood on the Detroit River.  I have worked for several companies that the Woods started, Masco and many others.  I go to the Seatle area quite a bit for business and pleasure and all up and down the coastal areas along with relatives that live there.     

How did you find out about Dr K?  Through this website? The iTind procedure, what happened with that?  I looked at that as a temporary fix.  That and urolift.  You are doing good now and that is important.  I just got my date, April 5th.  Trying to talk unclefester (Tim) into getting his done at the same time.  His wife would have trouble making the trip from Albany NY, so I proposed that we get outs done a day apart, share a 2 room suite and split the car rental.  Plus it was going to cost $550 for an aid and he would not need that with my wife along.  I will keep you guys up to date on my procedure.  

Good Luck and Keep healing.

Mike