New Procedure called iTind

Motoman;  May I ask where you live???  You flew all the way to Madrid, Spain from where???   I hope and pray that this procedure works for you. My only concern is that is does nothing to stop the continual growth of the prostate kinda like a Urolift as well.  So over time my guess is you will have to do a "repeat".  But I hope it does last a long time for you.  Please keep in touch with us.

Chuck,

I am from Western USA. Which of the procedures is permanent that you know of? The only one I am aware of is Holep, and I wasn't ready for that. 

This procedure worked, although I may need something done in the future, that sounds like almost all the alternatives I looked at. And I don't have any hardware inside of me. I'm happy about that, as I travel a lot. Who knows if you are going to pass any new airport security screenings, and those in a foreign country?

Motoman;  Thank You for your "speedy reply".  I truly hope you continue to be happy with the results.  I did call their USA office and got on a list when it comes to a Urologist near me.  Iam in Omaha. No urologists here do the "I-Tind" as of yet.  Take Care and "Keep in Touch".

Well it is supposedly approved for Canada which is close. I couldn't find anyone doing it there. But I'm not sure how insurance would work for this procedure. Mine was out of pocket, but would have been anyway with the deductible I have. 

I have a contact in the UK that is doing it, and the manufacturer might be able to give you somewhere in Canada. Or you'll just have to wait for the clinical trials to be over for the US. 

I think I'll  wait  for U.S. approval.

Hi Motoman

Just a few questions about your procedure.

1.How much did the procedure cost in Euro's or US Dollars?

2. what was the size of your prostate?

3. Did you have a median lobe? ( I have a very large median lobe and I think they don't do the itind if you have a median lobe.

Thanks

Patrick

 

Patrick,

It cost 2800 Euros for the procedure. My prostate was on the smaller size, 36 grams. I was told I did not have a large median lobe, but did not know that before the procedure. I didn't know that was one of the criteria. I'm pretty sure that rules out PAE, from my research into that procedure. 

As dumb as this may sound, I was able to pee standing up on the airplane ride home. I don't think I have done that in 10 years. Also been using the urinals again after avoiding them for the past 5 years or so because of the amount of time to get started. I'll take the small victories, but know there is a chance this isn't a long term solution. My Dr thought Holep was the best long term solution, but this is a good first step since I wasn't ready for that step yet.

Hi Motoman

Thank you very much for your reply. I have a few more questions if you don't mind.

1. I understand that the i-tind device is in your for five days. Do you have to be in the hospital and in bed for all the five days? Or could you go out and sight see Madrid? 

2. Is it ok to go for a bowel movement with the device in you?

3. How many years of relief do they give you for this procedure?

Thanks

Patrick

 

I was released the same day of the procedure. Was resting after the procedure for a couple hours. 

I stayed in the hotel for 5 days. Honestly, I didn't feel like doing much sightseeing while the device was implanted. It didn't hurt, but was uncomfortable. Made it difficult to sit for long times, etc. I went for walks, out to eat, but nothing too ambitious. After the device was removed, I felt fine, and went sightseeing. 

I had bowel movements with no issues. Actually a little constipation from the drugs prescribed. I was worried that would be painful, but was not.

As for how long it will last? No one knows. That is the gamble. If I get a couple of years, I will be happy. 10 would be great. I'm reading Healthy Prostate at the moment, and hope to change some things naturally so I don't need to go back for more.

Hi Motoman;  Thank You for the "Update".  I truly "Hope and Pray" that it really works for you.  I could handle 5 days of discomfort if it gives a guy 3 to 5 years of relief.  But like you say no one really knows.  Anyway, what I like about this procedure the most is the fact that they are not cutting tissue out of your body so you should still be in great shape for a nice sex life, etc.  Please "Keep us old codgers posted".  Take Care.   ChuckP

Is your stream much stronger now????

It was much stronger for the first couple days. A little weaker yesterday, but that was a travel day. Don't know if that had anything to do with it. Also blew out some blood clots last night, so there may have been some blockage. They said to give it three weeks, and it hasn't been a week yet. I'm assuming there is some inflamation as well.

Thank You.

Hi Motoman,   Thank you so much for your post on the iTind procedure.  I was planning on having a Holep this summer, but after reading your post I might travel to Spain or join a clinical trial in the United States where I live. 

What was the cost for the procedure with Dr. Gomez Sancha?  He sounds like a great uroligist.  

Thanks,  Terry

The ITind was 2800 Euro, and Holep was 9500 Euro.

Hi Motoman,

May I ask you if you don´t mind ? How is your sex life now ?  ..what about erection and retrograde ejaculation ?  and general update. Thanks a lot.

Well I have been waiting, but first time was today, and no issues. I would say just like before, but there was a couple week wait...

Doc said to wait a week, I was going to wait two weeks, but that didn't work out. No pain, and no RE. 

My urine stream slowed down a bit after the procedure, not as bad as before the procedure, but close. They said it should improve in 3 weeks. It has only been a week and a half, but last two days seems to be getting better. I was having to use a catheter at times before the procedure, but not at all since the device was put in.

Still have to get up once in middle of night, and in the morning, same as before. But I am totally emptying.

Hi Motoman;  Are you experencing any discomfort or pain of any kind??? Any unusal issues or is everything going well as to your expectations???

Not really any pain or discomfort. I had a long drive earlier this week, and thought maybe it was getting uncomfortable down there, but could be in my head. Also, trying to ride my motorcycle seemed a little uncomfortable, but again, could just be in my head and not real. No pain. 

Just the urine stream slowing down a little, but seems to be coming back. 

It takes a while to get the stream started in the middle of the night, not so much when I am up and about.

Hi Motoman,

I wonder how are you doing since your last post,

thanks

It seems to be working. I have decent flow. Not great like a 20 year old, more like a 40 year old. It was great right after the procedure, then the stream slowed a little, now it is better again.

i was having to use catheters at times before the procedure, but not since. Only time I have a problem starting a stream is in the middle of the night. It takes a minute or two to get started. 

Seems to be a good decision for me at this point.

Hi Motorman,

How are you doing? Are things continuing to improve?  After reading about your experience with the iTind, I am enquiring in the UK if the procedure is available here.

I would say it is a mixed bag for me. It has worked at times, and at other times seems the same as before the procedure. However, I have not had to use catheters since the procedure. Some times it seems like I am blocked up a little, and other times my flow is like it was 20 years ago. Today I have been peeing great for example, but last night was slow with a weak stream.

I have been in contact with the manufacturer. At first they said best results would be in approx 3 weeks after procedure. Now they are saying a few patients saw the best results at 3 months. It has been about 8 weeks for me. 

I think I should have done the Holep procedure and been done with it. I had really good results right after the ITind procedure, and now know what that is like. I want the freedom not to worry if I will need a catheter, whether I am going to be able to pee when I walk up to a stall, etc. 

But I knew going into this procedure it might not be optimum for me, but I could always do the more aggressive procedure later. The Dr I had do the procedure thought Holep would be best, but that ITind was a good first step.

Keep in mind I am only one data point for the procedure, and there have been other successful results. I am still waiting for mine to be consistently better, and not hit or miss.

​There is a Dr in the UK doing the procedure. It is Dr. Julian Shah. If you need more info PM me. 

 

Thank you for the info. I signed up for the clinical trial in New York. Going to my first appointment next week to see if I am a suitable subject for the procedure. I am sure I will go through a abttery of tests first.

What anesthisa did they use?  The videos on their website show an OR with pateints under a GA, but I am hearing that I would be under a local, lidocaine.

Do you know how many implants have been performed? Other than the clinical trial in Europe of 32 test subjects I can not find out much more.

Will keep you posted.

Bobbyt,

I was put under a GA, but had the procedure done in Spain. 

I am not sure how many procedures have been done at this point, you might try the manufacturer direct and see if they respond. 

I wouldn't plan on doing a lot when the device is implanted. It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable, and didn't feel great sitting. 

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Good luck

Motoman,  Could you give us an update about your experience with Itind?

Thanks 

Hi Motoman

I just wanted to ask you an opinion. At the moment I cannot urinate on my own. I have complete blockage. So I self catherize three to four times a day. Do you think it would be possible to do the itind with this case. Do you think that I could have the itind device in me for 5 days and a foley catherter inside me? Can you please PM Dr. Gomez Sancha's email so that I can contact him.

Thanks

John

John,

i really couldn't say whether it would help you or not.  That would be for a doctor to tell you. I would for sure check into it if I were you. I am traveling g right now and don't have access to his contact info. You should be able to do a search and find his blog and website of the clinic. I emailed him and he responded within a few days for me.

 

Hi John, I wish i had an answer f about itind. I  also cannot urinate also I have urine rentention} Iwant to self cath  and get rid of this 5 month foley catheter.John,what is the procedure for this,? Do you self cath  before bedtime,drink no more fluids ,then self cath first thing in the morning?How do you know when to self cath?

Thanks muchJohn,

Hello Motoman,

I am having the iTind procedure done in Canada, it appears to be approved here. I am scheduled to have it done this Tuesday coming up.

Reading your post put me at ease, though I have been seeing two specialists that like you have been there for me every step of this Prostate enlargement journey and I can't say enough good about Dr. Elterman and Dr. Fleshner here in Toronto.

Any inside or pointers from you from a patient's stand point will be apreciated and useful.

Wish me luck!

 

Best of luck.  Eager to here about your experience and ressults,

Thanks BobbyT.

I will keep you posted!

Best,

Also, let us know about costs. Must be a lot less than TURP or Laser.

 

Does anyone know if there are publshed studies yet?

Only one I saw was the original 32 patient results from several years ago. Results were quite good overall with no major complications.

Thanks! Where did you see it?

BobbyT

I am part of a clinical study in Toronto, so this iTind procedure won't cost me a dime. Now, given that this procedure is at an early stage in Canada I don't believe it is covered by our health system. We'll see down the road.

Can you please let me know which Hospital is doing it and which doctor (urologist) is doing the Clinical Trial?

Good luck with your procedure. I wouldn't plan on doing much for the 5 days the device is in. Was uncomfortable for me, not painful. Also, I had to urinate a lot, or felt the urge to, because of where the device was. They gave me something to settle that down after the first day.

Make sure they give you plenty of string for the device, and there is slack in the line. I had plenty of string, but not enough slack. Nighttime erections were painful until this was resolved! Pain on tip of penis, and pulling of the device implanted! LOL

They had me on an anti inflammatory, and something to fight off infection. 

I hope you have better luck than I did. I'm basically where I was before I had the procedure done. I was peeing the best when the device was implanted.

Sorry to hear that it did nto work for you. I read that it was effective for 82% of the men so far.

What do you mean by plenty of slack?

Slack, as in room for your penis to grow without it pulling on the string. Mine was attached to the device in my prostate, and tied on the outside of my penis. There was plenty of line, but not enough let out if that makes sense. 

For me, the procedure was a risk because of an Atonic Bladder. I knew that but wanted to start with a less invasive procedure.  The doc that did it recommended HOLEP at the time.

Tied to the outside of your penis????

So the tether is not left loose to hang like a tampon string?

What do they do, suture it to the foreskin, the glans, the skin of the shaft or the skin of the scrotum? Inquiring minds want to know. LOL

Also, what is the removal like? Do they sedate you for that too or just instill lidocaine gel into the urethra to lubricate it and numb it a bit?

Also, how much bleeding, blood in urine did you experience while it was in and how much after it was removed?

I bet it felt wonderful once it was removed. Like getting a stone out of your shoe after you have been walking on it for a while.

How long after removel did you feel "normal" again?

By "normal" I mean comfortable.

Thanks for your note and good wishes Motoman.

I would definitely keep in mind the slack part, I had not thought about that. I am keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well. I am a bit anxious about the whole thing.

Hello Patrick,

The specialist I am seeing in Toronto

is Dr. Dean Elterman, not sure which hospital he works at, I have been seeing him at an off site clinic on 123 Edward Street office 1404, he has clinic at this location on Thursdays.

Bobby, the string was taped to my penis. Obviously you need slack in the tape also. 

I did not care for the removal. There was some difficulty in getting mine out. A lot of discussion in Spanish I didn't understand.  Finally it came out. I felt better right away. And we were able to enjoy a day walking around like back to normal. Everything felt fine as soon as the device was out.

Thanks Motoman. Now I have an image. All good. I am not anxious about this at all for some reason. I figure others have endured the process, so can I. And it is only for a few days. As it is a clinical trial, the company is sending over a team of experts who work with and trian the local doctors who is a top urologist at a top hospitral. Since they all want this to go well, patients in a clinical trial get a very high standard of care. But who knows, with my luck I will wind up being part of the sham control group and will have to wait until it is approved.

My only concern is being sedated and my reaction to it. Last time I was sedated I became combative and punched the oral surgeon in the nose hard enough to send him across the room and I swung at the dental assistant too, missed her head but hit her chest hard enough to leave one heck of a bruise. I have no memory of this at all. It was all instinct to survive, evade, resist, escape. I was told this when I went for my follow up. The dental assistant had to hit the syringe and juiced me hard to put me back down. For all i know I was nearly overdosed. Instead of waking up 1/2 hour after the procedure I slept for 4 1/2 hours before waking up. What a hangover!  I am telling them to make sure I am well restrained until I am fully awake for this operation.

Thanks for all of your input. I will post my experience and results at the end of the month. Sorry it did not work out well for you, but you take a shot and hope for the best.

Have you served in the milatary? My brother is a Vietnam vet. He can be a little jumpy when awakened

Not everyone who served their country served in the military.

Not everyone who went to southeast asia went to Nam.

There were other countries to visit where military could not go.

Hopoefully I didn't offend. My apologies if I did. That said my wife gets a little combative when under anesthesia

Oh no, no  offense at all. Actually I am a super calm fellow even in emergencies. My daughter says I downshift into extreme normal and remain focused and on task. It is just when I am threatened and need to respond, I react quickly and with extreme prejudice. 

The first two teeth came out no problem. When he started on the third I took off. I think he might have forgotten to inject that side with lidocaine and just started cutting the gum and bone. I guess I felt pain and just repsonded automatically to a perceived threat. I was cut up pretty badly and horribly swollen for two weeks. When i went in for follow up a few days later I was still so swollen I could not open my mouth and he could not look in. My dentist was furious with the results and chewed him a new rear opening. That is when I found out what happened from the dental assistant. She showed me her bruises and said she hit the juice hard on me which is why Iit took so ling to wake up. He never did send me the balance of the bill so I figured that he screwed up and did not want to make an issue of it.

Hello,

Well, here I am reporting on day number 4th of having the iTind implanted on me.

Everything you said has happened so far to me; I am not very active, mainly because of the constant urination and pain involved when that happens which is every 10-15 mins.

My best time is when I am in bed on horizontal position, as I can pee with almost no pain and I empty my bladder once through out the night.

I just hope the end result is a positive one and I am part of the 85% that feels their lives improved due to the procedure. Two and half days to go!!

Thank you for the update. hang in there. It still has to be easier than TURP or TUNA. I am going in on the 29th of this moneth.

Thanks!

Do you know what the other procedures entail TURP/TUNA.

Good luck with yours!

It is around 21 months since my iTind - coping as well as can be expected at 86 with one or perhaps 2 toilet visits overnight and not too much urgency during the day. No regrets and seemingly no adverse sex problems so give a few weeks before getting your 143 for the weekend. Good luck  

Both are done with a rigid cyctoscope like iTind, so they sedate you and you do not remember th eprocedure, however they are far more traumatic to the remaining tissue.

TURP uses a sharp wire loop to scrape away or cut away tissue. It leaves you quite raw qnd ther eis a fair amount of swelling and bleeding..

TUNA uses two fine needles that are connected to a device that passes radio waves between them. The needles are stuck into the prostate and turned on. They heat up the tissue like a microwave cooks meat and the tissue dies off. Again, more traumatic. to the remaining tissue.

In either case you are sent home with a Foley indwelling catheter so the tissue can heal and the swelling goes down. It is removed in a few days. There are risks involved with both methods: incontinence and sexual dysfunction. That is why the iTind is supposed to be better. The wires of iTind contact a smaller area of tissue yet results in a larger lumen or opening. If placed precisely they avoid hitting the muscles that control urination and erections. The only reported risks are infection (which can happen with any procedure) or if the device gets dislodged and causes severe pain in which case it is removed early.

How is the pain level?

Sharp cutting pain or dull ache pain?

Does it vary with position like sitting, walking or lying down?

Are you taking any pain medication or just toughing it out?

Do you know how large your prostate is?

where did you have the implant done?

Best wishes joseito for excellent results. Please keep us updated

Hi Ron,So good to hear you had good results at 86. I'm 87 and i started self cath about 3 weeks ago.Did have  urine retention?Can you tell me what tests they did before you had iTind?Also where did you have it done and what is the Dr's Name?

Thank You so very much for this info.

frank74205 ron67309 • 5 minutes agoHi Ron,So good to hear you had good results at 86. I'm 87 and i started self cath about 3 weeks ago.Did have  urine retention?Can you tell me what tests they did before you had iTind?Also where did you have it done and what is the Dr's Name?

Thank You so very much for this info. 0 

 

Thanks for the support .

Will do

Thanks for the detailed response.

With respect to my implant.

My pain level varies, it can be quite painful at times.

The pains are sharp and intense

Lying down is the best position for me, and urination is not as frecuent and not painful.

I am on painkillers that I try to avoid so half and half.

I don't know my Prostate size.

You will be very happy when it is removed! It should be fine with small amounts of blood for a week or so. I do not remember intense pain, only dull achy pain. I did not do much during the 5 days, and laying down as you say is best.

i bet you are peeing better with the device in. I waited about two weeks to try sex, but don't remember the doctor telling me to wait. Just thought it would be a good idea.

Good luck.

I understand it is like walking around with a pebble in your shoe for a week. Then once it is removed there is that sudden "aaaahhhhhh!" feeling and you are back to a instant normal comfort zone.

Thanks for your note.

Your testimony was exactly what I needed to hear. I am glad the iTind peocedure has worked for you for the most part.

I am having my implant removed tomorrow. Can't wait!

Thanks for the good wishes!

I am having my iTind implant removed tomorrow. It has been a bumpy almost five days ride for sure, I just keep thinking about the benefits.

Thanks Motoman!

I look forward to tomorrow and putting all this behind. One and a half days more...not counting ha!

University College London Hospital as part of a trial - beware treatment very good but general administration abysmal 

I am in USA, New York City, Weill-Cornell Medical School - New York Presbyterian Hosp. Excellent top of the line facility and excellent doctor. The staff has been fantastic so far. No complaints at all.

So how did the removal go? Were you put under sedation or just gven a local? How does it feel now that it is out?

I'm curious too. Hope it went well.

They didn't use a sedative or local for me during removal. They had a few issues getting it out, like it was stuck, or they weren't sure of removal. I was screaming at one point, then it just popped out! Worried they were going to pull that expanded device out of me and tear up my insides. 

Not even any lidocaine gel or lubricant? OUCHIES!

Hey BobbyT,

It went really well. It was removed on Monday evening, I was out under sedation and when I woke up it was over.

I felt pain and discomfort Monday night and peeing for the first time after the removal was quite painful despite de pain killers. There was also blood in the urine, but that started to clear by the middle of the night. I have progressively felt fine since and no pain or discomfort for the last couple of days.

In terms of noticing any changes, I've noticed that I can last longer without gong to the washroom during the day and most important, I have been sleeping great over the last couple of nights without having to get up three or four times to pee..

I know is early in the game, but I hope that what I am feeling is permanent. Cheers!

Excellent news. I am still scheduled for Nov 29. Have a 2 in 3 chance of getting the implant and 1 in 3 of getting the sham. Fingers crossed.

All the best BobbyT.

Let's compare notes in due course.

Any update for you? How are you feeling?

Is it working better for you now?

Hello Motoman,

Thanks for following up.

I am a bit disappointed with the results to date; it has been three weeks since my iTind procedure took place. No complications of any kind so far. However, I am still getting up an average of three times a night to go to the washroom.

I have a follow up appointment with my especialist on Januray 5th. We'll see if anything changes between now and then.

Well I'm sure they would tell you not to give up hope yet. I take it you are not voiding completely? I am always up once a night. But it was that way before the procedure also.

Hope it improves for you, could still be swelling involved. You are sure you didn't get the placebo, correct?

I'd like to think, the placebo does not inlvolve everything I went through, bad pain, bleeding, feeling like I had a watermelon between my legs and discomfort sitting down and a wack of painkillers and antibiotics...

Not to mention when the device was removed, a whole recovery period not being able to do much...

Hello BobbyT.

How did the procedure go?

What did you have done?

Yeah, I think you got the real thing based on what you said. I would think you would know right away. Are you still taking anti inflamatories?

No I am not taking any meds at all

Like I said I recovered just fine and without complications.

Had the procedure done an Weill Cornell New York Presbyterian. Great facility with great staff. Everyone was excellent. Could not have had a better experience.

They had five patients in the study. I was 3rd up and my appointment was for 12 noon but they we getting through them so fast they moved me in quite early.

I was on the table for maybe 20 minutes total most of that getting in position and set up. I was out for 8 minutes 3 of which was for waking up at the end They used propofol, versed and fentynal so there was no pain at all. Came out of it fast. Only felt the cold wet antiseptic as they swabbed it on me followed by some pressure on my urethra and then lights out. When I was waking up I could feel an oxygen tube being removed from my nose. No real discomfort of any sort.

Moved onto a gurney and was wheels to first stage recovery hooked up to a monitor for pulse, oxygen, respiration and blood pressure. I was so bored I held my breath to see if I could get the warnng buzzer to sound!!! Stayed there about an hour until I could urinate. Mostly dark blood and a little stinging. I had to keep drinking water until it looked like cranberry juice. Best I could figure was that the volume was about double my usual.

Then was moved to second stage recovery. No monitor and sitting in a recliner until the IV ran dry. Then hung out until my ride came into New York a few hours later.

The tether is coiled up and taped to my upper shaft but I should have trimmed or shaved to keep the hair out of the adhesive tape. That causes some pain when I move about. Will have to address that in tomorrow's shower.

After 12 hours the discharge is almost clear now with just tinges of blood. Burns a bit when i urinate and urgency is almost immediate and spontaneous, especially when I try to rise from a seated position. Yet if I sit in a recliner (or the car ride home) I am quite comfortable.

I have gone through a dozen bloody soggy pads and have gained a newfound respect for what the ladies have to go through each month trying ot keep clean and dry.

So far I can not say it has been very painful at all, just very tender and uncomfortable. More annoying than anytihng else. Moving csarefully and slowly. Won't know the real outcome for a few days of course because it is difficult to measure outflow doue to lack of contro, but I am quite hopeful given what I measured in the hospital. If I was told i had to do this again in a year or two I would not hesitate at all.

So if anyone in the USA who can get to the east coast, New York being the largest concentration, contact the iTind web site, Maureen will set you up for an appointment to get screened.

Fisrt post procedure day I stayed home. Hot shower felt really, really great. They used two waterproof band aids to tape the excess tether in a coil but they taped it to the base of my shaft and caught a lot of hair.

The tether was digging into my opening when I moved and made it sore and every time I moved it pulled my hair and skin. It got worse when i began getting an erection. So I undid the bandage and disentangled the tether and hair which relieved much of the discomfort. Decided to shave hair off to make keeping clean with the incontenance pads much easier. Recoiled the tether and applied a fresh bandage just behind the glans leaving a bit more slack. MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE!

So now I am like a 3 year old: can't control my bladder, have to wear a diaper, and I am hairless. Have to laugh as it seems a bit pathetic but it is not bad at all..Much easier to keep clean.

While it is not exactly painless and bloodless it is not unbearable. Urination is frequent and in small volumes, less than 50ml each time.

Burning sensation occurs toward the tip of my urethra but is usually not that sharp. It seems to increase when urine is bloodier. In any case the burning lasts inly 20-30 seconds and is quite bearable. Just have to relax and breathe.

Bloodiness of urine varies from time to time. I assume that as the device digs deeper each day it expresses more blood from the tissue or as I move around the prostate bleeds more. Urine is sometimes the thickness of thin motor oil. Perhaps that is also prostatic fluid mixed in. After all the device is digging into the prostate so some semen must be releasing but that is only a guess.

Urgency is rapid on. I have maybe 10 seconds to get to a toilet and unzip so to prevent soiling my clothess I am using incontenance pads for men. Sort of like ladies sanitary napkin with sticky tape to hold it in my briefs. They are not uncomfortable and actually work very well when I can't move fast enough to get to a toilet. At least they keep your clothes clean and dry. You just have to learn to trust them and not panic.

They gave me a painkiller called pyridium which is specific for the urethra and an antibiotic called keflex.

Not doing much moving about. Mostly achy and tender pressure when I do move. Feel it mostly in my lower abdomen just above my penis. Worst is bending forward to pick up thing off the floor.  Bowel movents feel normal. Would have thought anything pressing against the prostate through the rectum wall or any straining to move my bowels would have put pressure on the prostate and caused some pain but in fact nothing.

This has been a lot easier than say having my wisdom teeth out or getting a root canal. Plus I get time to binge watch shows on Netflix.

 

Bobby,

Thank you for the detailed updates.  Please keep them coming.

Halfway through my 6 days and feeling better. No soreness or tenderness in the  lower abdomen. Can bend over to tie my shoes or pick up things from the floor without any discomfort. Not tired but still taking it very easy.  Might as well take advantage.

Urine is getting lighter with no more blood clots, just the color of iodine mixed in water. Urine flow is more fluid, still a bit cloudy but no longer thick like oil.  Volume is up, about 50ml - 75 ml per void. Urgency is less too. I have maybe 30 - 45 seconds from sensation until I lose control, but no pain when tensing muscles to try to hold the flow. I guess internal swelling has gone down but I never had much sensation deep inside me. I thought I would have felt more sensation in my rectum or perineum.

Almost finished with the antibiotic. Might have had a slight fever the first night as I was cold and shivered a lot. Never bothered to take my temp. did not feel a need to. Maybe that is why that first hot shower felt so good the next morning.

Still taking the pyridium pain killer and will do so untl the device is removed. It is specific for easing pain in the urethra. Any pain I feel now is mild buring during urination and then mostly just near the opening, about the last inch. It subsides quickly when I finish. Instead of feeling like razor blades it is now more like sand being passed.

Mentally I have never been so aware of my genitals for such a long period of time. The sensations are very hard to ignore and can be very distracting. The tether is constantly rubbing the inside as my penis, especially at the opening, as it naturally expands and contracts during normal activities and the glans is super sensitive to touch so my clothing is a constant reminder. It causes a conflicting sense of unusual constant sexual stimulation but no way to satisfy it. Along with the partial loss of bladder control it produces confusing feelings of being teased. Sort of lilke being very, very thirsty but unable to swallow any water you place in your mouth.

At this point I truly have no idea if I received the implant or the sham procedure. They could have left something in my bladder to tie the tether to and nicked me up inside to produce some bleeding and cause some soreness to make it seem like I received the implant or it could really be the implant. There is no way of knowing since it is a blind clinical study. But I knew this when I signed up for it and either way is fine. I figure it will make more sense once the implant is removed and i get to see the results of frequency and flow after I am healed up. At least I am doing something to advance medical science.

Funny note, the post op aftercare instructions state:

"Please leave string in penis in place. Do not remove."

AS IF ANYONE WOULD YANK ON THAT STRING!!!! OUCHIES!!!!

The device comes out Monday. They will give me some diazepam (Valium) which will take the edge off and may even cause some amnesia of that procedure. Then I will see what the results look like.

Will post again on Monday night after removal.

 

Good luck Bobby, and hope you got the real thing.

Can't really tell by what you are describing. Sounds similar to my experience, but I don't remember bloody urine after the first day, until I had the device removed.

I had a lot of urgency to urinate when the device was in. I actually had to get a medication to calm it down. I was going every 15 minutes or so.

And it is a good thing you are getting the Valium. The removal is fine if they have the right tools and use them. Hopefully they get the practice on a couple people before you, LOL!

Best wishes Bobby. 

Good luck Monday.

REMOVAL DAY!

The last two days were the easiest and the worst.

Easy because I knew the routine of keeping clean, recoiling the tether, replacing the band-aids, knew what the most comfortable positions were, how to deal with the pads in my underwear, which way to move when getting dressed, all the blood clots had stopped, and the burning sensation had diminished to almost nothing. I no longer panicked when I felt the urge because I knew I had time to get to the bathroom before soiling myself.

The worst because the urgency has become stronger, volume per void smaller, as little as 10ml,  and frequency was like every 20-30 minutes. Also the sensitivity of my glans was driving me nuts. It felt like it does just before I ejaculate which sounds like it should be pleasurable but then no relief from it.

I was originally prescribed 2 mg of diazepam (Valium) to take 1 hour before the procedure but it was later upped to 10mg. This made me worry about how "drunk" or sleepy I would get. Should not have worried. For me it barely hit me. Maybe 10 minutes of very slight lightheadedness equivalent to less than a swig of good wine on an empty stomach. No buzz at all. 

Into the procedure room, off with my pants and underwear, on with a gown and into a chair that reclines with stirrups. Up went my feet into the stirrups, spread my legs wide, scoot my butt to the end of the table, lift my butt so they could get a waterproof drape under me, and then the nurse swabbed me with antiseptic and instilled the lidocaine gel into my urethra. They waited about 10 minutes before the doctor came in.

Now a word about male modesty. There is none. So get used to it. Women are afforded the option of having a female doctor and to be attended to by only females, mostly because there are few men who work in medical offices. Just about all of the support personnel are women. On the other hand all of the staff at Weill Cornell are super professional and made what is an awkward situation seem absolutely normal. I am to the point where a I could stroll down a nude beach without a care whereas 4 months ago I would have been terrified to consider it. So much for what is "normal".

Since this is a clinical trial they could not let me watch what they were doing to protect the secrecy of the sham vs. real implant and were going to go find a privacy screen. For fun I told them not to bother and flipped my gown over my face and said "Git yer done." They laughed but it worked.

I could hear one or two extra people come into the room, likely a tech rep from the manufacturer and maybe somebody with a video. Yes I gave permission to video. They quietly whispered instructions to each other as what to do but I could not hear details. After all this is new to the doctor too.

He slipped a rather stiff catheter into me but I only felt pressure. When it got to the prostate it hurt just a tiny bit, I winced and he backed off. He adjusted some part of the catheter and then I was asked to take long deep breathes to relax. He gripped my penis firmly and then a quick shove, I assume to get it through the prostate and over the device. This hurt enough to cause me to reflexively tense my muscles. Not good. So I had to concentrate on relaxing and breathing but it was over pretty quick, maybe 10-15 seconds and then he was into the bladder and the pain was over. He let me rest for about 30 seconds and said he was draining my bladder and that felt like such a relief.

Then more deep breathes and he pulled the catheter out but it was smooth and caused only a funny sensation of pressure in a place where you are not used to it. I could feel a bit of a lump at what I perceived was the end of the catheter as it passed through my urethra. And then it was over. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! No more tether string rubbing the inside of my urethra. Like the relief when you finally remove a popcorn hull that was stuck between your teeth and your gums.

The evidence was removed from theroom as were the extra personnel and I could uncover my face and breathe. The nurse held gauze on me as I was discharging a bit of blood. She cleaned me up and cleaned the floor which got spattered, raised the back of the chair and got my legs out of the stirrups.

I held the gauze to stop bleeding and dripping and was allowed to go in to a bathroom and urinate. Bloody urine with some small clots but very little burning. I drank more water to get flushed out which happens fast when you haven't eaten since midnight and left a specimen. Got dressed and felt like a million dollars. Complete relief of irritation. No urgency. Got dressed and was asked about pain scores.

Throughout the whole ordeal from screeneing to removal pain was not bad at all. Pain is relative and subjective. For me there were some moments of pain but they were so brief and rarely went above a 3 on a scale of 10. I have had far worse dental pain, broken bone pain and even a bad case of the flu pain where the first 12 hours you pray to live and the second 12 hours you pray to die. I lived through those so I knew I would get through this. All sharp pain was brief like the stick of a needle or burning when I urinated. Never more than 30 seconds. Just breathe and relax knowing it will be over shortly. The discomfort and tenderness that lasted throughout was far more psychological than physical where you are wondering if it will end and if the results would be worth it. And for me the sense of loss of control is always a mental torment. I had to give control of my body to others not always knowing in detail what was going to happen or how I would respond to it. Sedation while very, very safe has always bothered me

BTW, a little blood goes a long way so it always looks a lot worse than it is. Mixed with water or urine it can look like you are bleeding to death but in reality you are not so if the sight of blood bothers you keep your eyes closed.

I am home, so very relaxed, no more irritation, no more urgency, almost no burning. Some small clots are still coming out, but very small. It takes a week for all swelling to go down I was told and I am now urinating better already, about 150ml - 175ml per void with no hesitancy or start stop. The real test is how I sleep. I will give it a week and check back.

Is iTind the be all end all solution? Of course it will not be. But it will be a great low cost first option for men suffering from BPH with a very low risk of side effects.

Thank you for allowing me to "overshare" in such detail but I figure if anyone is considering joining the trial the more they can prepare themselves the better they will handle it. Would I do this again if I had to? Yes. In a heartbeat. i think the benefits will outweigh the discomfort. And understand I am not the macho type so if I can do this so can you. Reach out and sign up.

And thank all of you for sharing your stories. I took a lot of your courage from them. May God grant you all a cure or remedy to each ouf your issues. In the end if you have your health you have everything.

You should write a book.   Maybe its my interest in the subject, but you tell a great story.  Like a good novel, I cant wait til the end of your post.  Thanks for the update and please keep us posted.  BTW,  I know you have probably mentioned it in previous posts but do you a median lobe?  How large is/was your prostate?

That post was about the size of a book  I'm Kidding Bobby it was a great & informative post. I appreciate you taking the time to write about your eperience. 

Oh forgat to say I'm glad it sounds like you're on the path to better peeing

Bobby and Jose,

How are you doing now? Seeing any improvement? Hope it is doing better.

Hey Motoman,

Yes, much better but sometimes inconsistant. i would describe it as good days and better days. The best part is no more urgency. I feel like I am empty when I finish. Very little hesitency. Volume per trip was between 50-100ml. Now it is 150-250ml. Frequency is down too. Was going about 18 times a day before, often as little as 45 minutes between trips with lots of stop starts. Now down to 8-10 times a day or about 2-5 hours between trips.  Sometimes I still start stop, but not too often. Nightime had been the worst. Rarely less than 1 hour between trips and had as many as 6 trips a night.. Now up to 3 hours minimujm so I am getting better sleep; up twice a night at most so much better rested.

It is supposed to get better by the thrid month post op but if this is as good a it gets I would be fine with that. If I had to repeat the implant in 4-5 years knowing what I know now, I would not hesitate a second. The procedure was painless and immediate recovery at the hospital was nothing. Just messy due to leakage and bloddy discharge. The 6 days it was in was uncomfortable, mostly from the retrieval string rubbing my urethra, and inconvenient, but nothing really, just a little burning for 30 seconds when you urinate. The removal was the most painful part but it was only for a few seconds. More of a surprise feeling somethiing deep inside of me and fear of not knowing how bad it would be or how long it would last, but it was really no more than a 2 -3 on a scale .of 1 - 10.

If I was part of the sham control group then this is one heck of a placebo effect!

 

Sounds similar to mine. I doubt you had the placebo.

But mine went downhill a bit after the beginning. Still better overall than before the procedure, and I am learning that some of my problems are food related. 

Keep us posted on your progress.

Food related? Really! I guess we are what we eat, huh?

In what way?  I drink coffee and tea which i am told are diuretics.

I'm just starting to notice, not sure i have pinpointed or not. I notice more difficulty after eating peanuts, or drinking Canadian Whiskey. Don't know about other whiskey, but beer, wine, vodka, coffee, etc all seem to be fine. 

I am sure there are other foods/beverages, but these seem noticeable. 

Maybe my prostate is telling me to take it easier! LOL

Hi Motorman,

Can you elaborate on the peanuts issue. What problems do they cause you ? Also, do you have any explanations for it ? Thanks.

Hank

Well you can always switch to Kentucky Bourbon!

Four days after I had the implant removed I went to a political beef steak fudraiser for some local pols. Drank wine, beer, soda and coffee. I had left my house at 5:45 and did not return until 10:30 and did not need to use the men's room for all that time. It was heaven. Even when I do go there is not that immediate urgency as if I am about to wet myself feeling.

I seem to be having problems starting a urine stream, and having decent flow for the next day after eating peanuts, or drinking Canadian whiskey. 

My problem has never really been urgency, more like locking up, not being able to go, but needing to. 

I am thinking it may be inflammation causing the slowing of the stream. I have also noticed when I am less active I have this problem.

i have a book called Healthy Prostate by Bazar, and in there lists foods that may be causing a problem. It also mentions everyone is different, so pay attention to what might be triggering the problem for you.

So I have been doing just that. 

Interesting regarding peanuts. I have typical problems with spicey food. Decafinated tea bothers me also which is weird. The one thing I have noticed is sleep position. If I sleep on my left side peeing is difficult when I wake up to pee. On my back or left side a little difficult but not bad. If I fall asleep in a sitting position, I pee fine just like day time. Its crazy I know.

Thanks Motoman,

I'll try cutting down on peanuts to see if it helps. Thanks.

Hank

Hi there, Motoman,

PaulR writing.

I am scheduled to have the ITIND procedure this Friday, but am still very concerned about the possibility of a reduction in sexual function. This earlier post said, "Just like before...no pain and no RE>" but would you be kind enough to share an update if it affected your function in any way--either erectile or ejaculatory? Even if you retained function, would you say you noticed any reduction in force or volume of ejaculating?

Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated, as I am still on the fence whether to keep or cancel my appointment this week. It would be great to hear first-hand how, if at all, it affected your sexual performance longer-term.

Much gratitude for as speedy a reply as you can send!

Best,

Paul

Hello Paul,

No it did not change that function at all. Everything is all good there. But it wasn't a robust procedure for me, only giving me relief for 3-6 months. I can't really remember how long, but not worth it for me. It was uncomfortable for the 4 days the device was inserted. Didn't feel like doing much until the device came out.

Good luck

Hi Paul, did the itind procedure solve your BPH problems. What was the experience like and post procedure? I was scheduled to get one but I am looking for more information on people that have had it done.