Posted , 13 users are following.
Hello, I have been reading comments here for awhile. Have had BPH for 20 years. Been on Flomax, Cialis, Finasteride and they seem to no longer reduce my nightly bathroom visits.
My urologist is going to do a Uro dynamics study, then a cystoscopy with an anal probe to check prostate size. He wants to do an Aquablation on me. I had previously refused a Turp from him because of the sexual side effects, especially retrograde ejaculation.
I mentioned to him that I was interested in a Prostate Embolization. He said they had done a dozen and the results were not very good. Of course the subject of retrograde ejaculation came up. I told him i did not want a procedure that caused that or ED. His comment was your on Flomax so you must already be experiencing some of that. This gave me the impression that he really did not understand why this is important to a man.
Can you share some if your thoughts on the procedures mentioned and your experience with the PEA and Aquablation?
Thanks!
0 likes, 29 replies
richp21 bill87078
Posted
I had a PAE almost 3 years ago, and while it didn't reduce my symptoms as much as I would have hoped, it help enough so that I no longer need to take any meds (tamsulosin, which caused horrible nasal congestion).
Rich
Epictetus richp21
Posted
That's not so good as I already get nasal congestion .
ramblin bill87078
Posted
I had a PAE last year (July). It had to be done in two procedures, right side through the wrist, left side femoral. Recovery is very slow. I am only now seeing some positive results. I was getting up 10 times a night prior to the procedure, now I am down to 3 or 4. It is expensive, but covered by insurance. My copays added up to over $7000. The insurance paid $60,000.
You are fortunate to be in an area that offers aquablation. It is not widely available but has received a lot of praise.
richp21 ramblin
Posted
Where did you have it done? I had mine with Dr Bagla almost 3 years ago... covered completely by Medicare and Medigap, and total billed was only around $ 20,000. And recovery was relatively quick.
ramblin richp21
Posted
St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, MO. My Doctor was Samir Gadani.
bill87078 ramblin
Posted
Do you feel it has helped? Do you get up less at night? Do you ejaculate normally and with the same quanity? Thank you.
ramblin bill87078
Posted
There is some benefit, but not as much as I had hoped. Sexual function is normal for me. It turns out that I may have a bladder problem, as well - still being evaluated.
arlington bill87078
Posted
If you don't have an enlarged median lobe, the risks/rewards of a PAE seem to be worth a try. It didn;t help me - partly because of enlarged median lobe. I am following the FLA procedure now.
Best of luck!
derek76 arlington
Posted
Were you not aware of that prior to the procedure ?
bill87078 arlington
Posted
Thanks for your reply. I don't know all the terminolgy. What is an FLA? Thanks
richp21 bill87078
Posted
focal laser ablation
arlington derek76
Posted
The Dr. told me that the chances of success w/ an enlarged median lobe were significantly less. I decided to try it any way.
derek76 arlington
Posted
I was fortunate that my lateral lobes were the problem and not the median lobe.
The Uro's at both of my laser procedures were able to do bladder neck sparing procedures possibly not giving me maximum flow.
russ_777 bill87078
Posted
Bill, maybe I misunderstood, but your Urologist does TURPs, Aquablations AND PAEs? If so I need to get an appointment with him. 😉
Are you sure he meant he or his urology practice does PAEs? I'm under the impression that PAE is a procedure that can only be done by a specially trained interventional radiologist. That's why most urologists don't recommend it to their patients. They don't want IRs to BPH treatment market share.
I'm also a bit surprised he would have already recommended a TURP without doing at least a cysto and also a TRUS and urodynamics. He would have no idea what your prostate looked like prior to having you put under for a TURP if that is true.
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