Intravenous therapy for UTI

Hi Derek,

I was in Daniel's boat a couple of years back. I passed on surgery because of the side effects, some sexual and some irreversible such as retrograde ejaculation. Two years later I think my results from self catherization (CIC) compare favorably, or even better, than many here who have had surgery.

For example, on the International Prostate Sympton Score (PSS) I was at the wrong end of "severe" prior to starting CIC. Up all night going to the bathroom, going on the hour during the day, retention over 300cc, etc, etc.   Now, my PSS is borderline "mild". Maybe get up once during the night, sometimes sleep all the way through. Post void residual now often under 50. And this is WITHOUT catherization, as CiC has rehabilitated my flaccid *stretched" bladder to the point where sometimes I don't need to catherize for weeks at a time. No regrets not having surgery, at least not what is currently being offered.

Jim

Before PVP my retention could be 500 mls.but my symptoms were never as bad as yours.

I really would like to know the true percentage who get bad results. Forums attract the ones with problems.In the early days of PVP on the sci med prostate bph News Group very few had complaints.

When you say "I would really like to know the true percentage who get bad results" I was talking mostly about unwanted sexual side effects such as retrograde ejaculation. With Turp or its vairations (green light, etc,) that percentage is close to 100% regardless of which news group you're on, it's the nature of the operation. I do understand that PVP and Urolift are diferent.

I had no problem wit retro after my procedure with the early 2005 version of PVP. The technique/equipment has been much improved since then. The hospital where mine was done did a bladder neck sparing version to avoid causing retro. Perhaps to a degree what is vapourised depends on the shape of the prostate lobes or whether the Uro really thinks that retro is that much of a problem.

When my prostate regrew about five years after PVP I had a consultation with one of the two top UK Uros who introduced the procedure here. He was by then using the second generation machine and admitted that early procedures were done too quickly and they now realised that the procedure needed to be done with greater care.

I wonder how much care is being taken now when I read here of how many thousands of  operations that some have carried out and one doing five a day. It all sounds like an American production line.

In no way can you compare even the improved versions of TURP with GL.  

  

My understanding is that there is still around a 25% incidence of retro with PVP, which for me was too high. I have been also following PAE an Urololift for the past two years. My thought had always been that CIC would be a temporary fix, but because of recent improvements in my bladder from CIC, I have gone from  self-catherizing 6 times a day to maybe once every few weeks, and as I have mentioned my current International Prostate Sympton Score (PSS) is borderline "mild" which is better than it's been since my early 20's. So, if this keeps up -- and I realize things could change -- I see no reason for any procedure on my prostate in the future unless they come up with a magic little pill that cures everything Glad things went well with your PVP and duly noted that the person doing the operation is an important consideration.

Jim

PVP was OK. It was later Tamsulosin that caused my problems and too long a wait for Holmium laser after it regrew.

The hospital where I had the PVP was one of the first in the UK doing it and they only picked the most suitible patients for it. I was the sixth for my surgeon and the thirty eighth for the team. Most of their early ones were done with the Laserscope (original makers later taken over) representative in attendance.   

A lot of early American patients were so impressed that they bought shares in the company.

Anthony.  When did you go on the trip.  I had a catheter put in for 2 days after I had my urolift.  Was taking out after the 2 days.  The doctor told me not to drive long distance for about 4 weeks.  At 4 weeks I drove to GA had no problem stop a couple of times in the 8 hours trip. The first few day's after the cath I ware a male pad.  The only time I could not control it was 15 minutes after I had it out.  Went shopping after and when I was getting out of the car I had no control peed in my pants but was wearing a pad  Still went and got I needed and went home. change and went and layed down..    Still don't  know why you had a catheter in after 2 weeks.  It has been 3 months and doing great. no meds  Have a great day...Ken