stopping Tamsulosin

The lessen is that everything the docs tell us is based on averages, which may not apply in our individual case.

I stopped it after about five months as it was not helping much and was causing eye problems as well a reducing ejaculation.

I do not understand why so many keep on taking the two usual drugs for years on end when there are now a choice of procedures to deal with BPH. 

Could you tell me how your experience with urolift ?

In Aug of 2014 my urethra was closed off by my swollen prostate.  The doc drained off 2.5 liters of pee.  Yes, 2.5 LITERS!  After a week with a bag strapped to my leg, I learned to self-cath.  Big improvement!  My urologist wanted me to submit to TURP, which is what he did.  I declined, saying I would look for alternatives.    After 12 months of cathing, I found articles about the Urolift.  I checked out the doctors doing it in the NY/Phila/Baltimore area, called a couple of them, and no one was very experienced.    In Aug of 2015, I had an appointment with my urologist, who was then studying to do the Urolift.  He told me to keep cathing, and he would “do me” in November, when he was certified (!).  

Wanting to be treated by someone with experience, I found Dr. Steve Ganges in Salt Lake City, Utah (US), who had done the clinical trials for the FDA, which then approved the procedure for the US. I figured he had more experience than anyone else!  I called, sent out my records, he looked at them, and invited me out.  I was willing to spend the money to fly there (3,000 Km), to be treated by someone with a lot of experience!  We stayed with friends there, which gave me a place to recuperate.

I had a visit with him on a Monday in December, and the procedure the next day.  Local anesthesia, feet in stirrups, on an operating table,  The procedure took 15 minutes.  It was uncomfortable, I will say.  The procedure was accomplished through a 1/4" ( .6cm) stainless steel tube, inserted into you-know-where!  No pain during the operation, but it felt and sounded like a staple gun was going off inside me!  He installed 6, the maximum number of implants.  When he was finished, I climbed off the table while calling for a bowl.  I peed freely for the first time in 15 months!  It was that immediate.  

I took pain meds right away (Percocet) and I’m glad I did.  I was woozy and rather beat for 1 1/2 days, rather miserable from what I remember, and glad to have no place to be.  My insides felt beaten up.  I was so-so for the next day (Wednesday).  The next day we flew back to Pennsylvania.  The following day, Friday, I stacked a half-cord of firewood (almost 2 cubic meters), with no pain, no problems.  I mention this in comparison to the TURP, which requires weeks for recovery, I am told.  For the first week or two I experienced burning sensations when peeing, but that’s long gone.

I have a permanently stretched bladder, so I cath each night and it’s just been suggested I do so mid-day, just to protect the kidneys.  But that would be the case regardless of the solution I’d found, as there’s no cure I’ve found for permanently stretched-out bladders.  Otherwise, life has returned to a normalcy.  Oh, and because I'm cathing before bed, I sleep through the night, every night.  For that reason, I'm REALLY okay cathing!!!  :-)

That's about it... Does this help?

Of course all your clear and precise answer helps a lot, ...to me. 

Each word. Thanks a lot. Otherwise, what was the cost

without airplanes, etc., just the procedure ?  For me it will

be in my oun. 

Last week I declined the TURP. After a year with

tamsulosine and finasteride I think I'm candidate

for Urolift.

Thanks again

Hi Richard,  I am a 65 year old male. I just had urodydamics testing, cytoscopy, and ultrasound of prostate. Urologist says my prostate is enlarged at 40g.  My prostate has grown into my bladder to a small degree, which would minimize the effectiveness of Urolift (which I was considering, but will not have). The urologists says I also have overactive bladder. If my prostate is treated than I would not any special treatment for my bladder as 90% of the problems of the bladder will be cured if my prostate is reduced.

The urologist recommends a button Turp. An alternative would be Rezum (but he doesn't perform that procedure).

He works with another urologist/ international radiologist who does PAE. How are you doing 10 months post PAE.  What is your estimate of how long the  benefits of PAE will last?

Tamulosin got me so nauseous I had to stop after only 4 doses. Urologist said to consider Rapaflo  as he said it has the least side effects of the alpha blockers.  Even if it worked I imagine it would  have negative sexual side effects.  While I have also considered finisteride it has so many negative side effects I rather not try it. My response to the Tamulosin was so bad I have not tried the Rapaflo.

In terms of least side effects, it seems that PAE might be the wisest choice. I live in NYC and have a doctor in mind do does PAE, What is the name of your interventional radiolgoist and where did you have your PAE performed.

While I know a little of the procedure I don't know a  lot and know of no one who has had the procedure. Would you mind telling me about your experience:.:Inpatient or outpatient. Type of sedation.  If you have Medicare as primary did they pay the bulk of the bill and did your secondary pay the rest? did you have any negative reactions to the procedure? You stopped your Tamuolsin in 6moonths post PAE. How long did it take before you noticed a reductions in symptoms and how long did it take to get best results? Are your results the same at 10 months and what is the prognosis on how long your benefits will last? If needed again how may PAE procedures can you undergo?

Thank you!