PAE with Dr. Bagla on 03.27.17

Hi Rick,

    I did consider many of the other options, including Urollift, but it jjust sounded to me far more invasive than PAE. I have spoken with Dr K (the FLA doc in TX) 3 times. He is truly a wonderful man. FLA also sounded more invasive (though more targeted as well) than PAE. I had narrowed my choices down to PAE w/Dr B, FLA w/Dr K, or switching meds. No right or wrong choice, just went with PAE, and would possibly consider FLA in the future if the PAE didn't work.

    Another update: I had my one month phone consult w/Dr B last Friday. My symptoms are improving, and Dr B said that full results take 1 to 3 months, so that was encouraging. I need to stay on tamsulosin for a while, but can slowly start to wean myself off of it.

     One thing that I haven't heard anyone mention so far, but is becoming very clear: Over the years as my prostate grew, I unconciously developed habits to pay close attention to any urge to urinate, and to take appropiate action quickly. If I didn't, then real urgency would occur in short order. Now those urges are occurring, but I can just watch them, and sometimes won't need to urinate for another hour or two. This is not "holding it in" at all. It's really unlearning habits that served me well in the past, but are no longer needed.

    My next phone consult with Dr B is in 2 months.

 

Glad to hear that you continue to improve. Looking forward to seeing how much your symptoms improve in the next few months.

Glad to hear you're seeing progress Rich. I hope it continues.

What was your IPSS pre-PAE?

Hi Rich,

     I so appreciate the updates as I'm having the procedure soon.

?  Did you have any painful burning upon urination, infections, & or prostate inflamation?

?  Also were you able to resume normal activities within 5 days or so?

        Again thanks for your kind updates.

?               Ronnie

?              

 

Thanks unc!

When I sent in my paperwork to Dr Bagla in August 2016, my IPSS was 11. I wasn't able to schedule my PAE until March 2017 (because of my schedule, not theirs). By that time my symptoms had gotten noticeably worse but I didn't do a formal IPSS scoring. I'm guessing that it would have been 13, maybe 14. And now 6 weeks post procedure it is 8.

Are you still scheduled with Dr. B on June 5th? You'll be in really good hands.

>>Did you have any painful burning upon urination, infections, & or prostate inflamation?<<

I'm assuming that you mean post procedure. There was burning when urinating for a week or so. The meds did help keep it under control. It wasn't fun, but not off the charts either. When I finished the prescribed meds, I took ibuprofen as needed until the burning finally subsided.No infections or evidence of prostate inflammation.

After the first two days, I could resume normal activities, just pretty slowed down for a week or so, gradually improving each day. I'm pretty sensitive to anesthesia type experiences, so I think both of that might have had something to do with it. There's no way I could have taken care of myself the first two days, so I'm really glad that I didn't go macho and tell my wife I could do it alone.

Happy to answer any other questions!

 

Did you have the procedure on June 5th. Wonder how your recovery has gone the past 3 weeks.

Rick

Hi Rich,

?     After having a cystoscopy & Urodynamics done & with the median lobe I have & etc my Doctor of Chesapeake Urology really believes that the PVP procedure is the answer.He has done over 1500 PVPs & Urolifts with close to 100% success. Before I commit I alway try & do lots of research.

?Thanks so much for asking & I'll report my progress.

Ronnie

Hi Rich,

New update, please ? Thanks. Hank

Hi Hank,

        Thanks for checking in. The peeing is definitely better, but not dramatically so. I been able to stretch taking tamsulosin from every other day to every 3rd or 4th day, and there are times when I don't even think about urination for 3 or 4 hours, which is totally amazing. So far after the 4th day, symptoms come creeping back. I spoke w/ Dr B on Monday, and he said that there probably won't be any further improvement (it's now 3 months post-PAE).

       I had been hoping to stop the meds entirely, but that may not be in the cards. I'm looking to get some daily cialis samples to see if I might tolerate them better than the tamsulosin. The cialis is very expensive and my Medicare Part D plan doesn't cover it, but there is some noise in the media about generics or OTC possibly happening.

Rich

Thanks for the update, Rich. It is good that you have some improvement though not a huge success. Hank

Re cialis, I remember someone on this forum posted that he got them from a Canadian pharmacy fairly cheap, maybe US$2 a pill. Hank

Ronnie why do you want to have a laser procedure.  There are to many side effect.  Urolift has none   Just asking  Ken

Thanks Hank. I'll see if I can find the post. It's a bit difficult searching on the forum, but sometimes I get lucky,

Here is one:

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/canadian-tadalafil-generic-cialis--551230

Hank

Thanks! I'll check that one out.

Hi Ken,

?    Because of the median lobe & my Doctor had done over 1000 Green light procedures with close to 100% success.I've done many hrs of research as I'm sure you have. I've found too many men with Urolifts who are right back with BPH after time has passed. What side effects have you found with Green Light. These decisions are so tough to make.

Thanks, Ronnie S 

Ron...Side effect on Green Light.  Incontinence, erectile dysfunction, strictures and retro ejaculation.  And a doctor can tell you anything he want to get you to have a surgery.  Have you talked to any of his patients.  If he has done 1000 that must be the only procedure he does.  A urolift has no side effects I'm going on 2 1/2 years and I have talk to men that are on 5 year.  Doing great.  They can pin the median lobe to one side and do the same as the GL make a tunnel.  You can try the urolift and if it dont work then have the GL and if that dont' work they well do a turp on you to clean up the rest of the mess  Good luck  Ken     

Ken... Thanks so much for your comments. I've talked to three men that had Green light success. My doctor also specialzed in the urolift. Because of the size & shape of my darn median lobe he really believes the Green light is the best procedure in my case. Thanks again for your advice as I'm trying to make the right decision. Ronnie

Ron  I still would go for the lesser procedure.  To try it.  That may be all you need.  My doctor has had good results with men with median lobe.  THERE fandha ppy that they did it.  Im sorry to say but have your prostate cut out and did not work it would be a waste And they both do the same.  The doctor can only tell you what he thinks and only suggest a procedure because he does not know if it going to work until it done. Try the urolift first.  It is a shorter healing time and you can get back to normal quicker.  Please think before you do anything.  Remember you are the one that will have to deal with the side effect not the doctor  Ken  

Ron  Good evening.  Before you do anything read Glenn77 post.  He had a GL and then a turp.  He is so bad that he is looking for a lawyer to sue the doctor.  These thhing can go south fast  Ken

Thanks Ken, how to I get to Glenn's post? My neighbor RN told me of three success GL procedures. Again what a tough decision. Maybe I'll cancel GL

?& do nothing for now. Thanks again for your advice. Ronnie

Im sorry I throught everyone see the post.  Yes I feel for Glenn to go for a procedure that a doctor tell him that it is going to work and it does not.  And then have to have a major procedure and that don't work. It a tough decision to have your prostate cut out  And what if it don't work.  You had something done that you may not have needed  Maybe you should hold off for a little while.  Also you may want to read the 5 year study that just came out Just put 5 year study on urolift.  It give alot of information on the 206 men that had it done.  Also 23 had median lobe problems.  Just be safe and try to relax if you can.  I hate to see anyone do something that is not needed.  Ken 

Thanks for the 5 yr urolift study information. Do you have the link to  that study? My wife & I so appreciate the information you have provided to us all.

The only thing I have is what  i pulled up on the internet It's BioSpace.  It  starts out with Pleasanton, Califoria.  It has a lot of the % of things like IPSS and  Qmax scores  It said 36% to 44% improved from baseline Also quality of life 50% over 5 years and they have only a 2 to 3 % of retreatment.  Ken