Impending HoLEP

I shall just tell it how it is and you can make your mind up on how you deal with the info I provide.

I suffered from BPH for a decade and went through the full range of medications and supplements to slow the growth of my prostate but to no avail.  Retention, nocturia, hesitation, UTIs and bladder stone formation were all the results of an ever enlarging prostate and an ever changing lifestyle to contend with all those symptoms.

Life was becoming unbearable until I discovered the magic world of the Holmium Enucleation of the Prostate procedure.

I had my HoLEP carried out at Addenbrookes in November 2015 and have regained a life.

OK, enough of the dramatics and on with what you need to know.

First thing get going with the pelvic floor muscle exercises NOW.  The more you strengthen these muscles the better chance you have of recovering control of your bladder control and even after the procedure still continue with the exercises but gently.  All this is worth it, as I found that I had regained full continence within a week with no dribbles and a bladder I could turn on and off like a kitchen tap.

I went for a spinal block anaesthetic instead of a GA.  My procedure took an hour and the anaesthetic lasted long enough for the surgeon to complete the procedure without any breakthrough discomfort occurring.  In fact apart from this spinal anaesthesia I took no other pain killers whatsoever following the procedure which surprised both I and the medical team.

The catheter remained in place for a few hours and after its removal I was peeing well and only a little discoloration of my urine.  Had I been the first on the list of HoLEP procedures I would have been sent home that evening however, as I was last onto the table at 4.30pm I had to be kept in overnight and discharged in the morning.  So depending on when you go to theatre, you could be out the same day.

Back home I took things easy for the next couple of weeks, ensuring I drank plenty of fluids and avoided lifting anything heavy, bending to much or straining my abdominal muscles to much.  This is done to avoid risking any chance of the wound scab being dislodged which if this does happen you can expect bleeding to occur which if severe will have to be dealt with quickly and a catheter inserted to allow the healing process to get under way again.  There is abut a 2% - 3% risk of this occurring with any HoLEP but when compared with TURP or GL procedures this percentage rate is very low.

Two and a half years later I am still peeing like a 19 year old with no sign of it diminishing and best of all life is back to normal with no discomfort from all those symptoms I experienced before the procedure.  I think the best bit is I can now travel for hours and hours in a car and public transport without worrying about if my bladder is going to go into spasm and the need to find a hospital that would catheterise me quickly before it got so full my kidneys were at risk of damage.

All the best.  

Roger

This as you can see was the wrong place to ask "As although it is Patient UK it is inhabited by Americans so it is unlikely you will get any local replies.

I've had GL and Thulium/Holmium laser procedures in the UK and both worked for me with life back to normal in two or three days.