The Urolift procedure; patient views and questions
Posted , 264 users are following.
Would it be possible to keep this thread purely about Urolift and a means of sharing experiences from those who have undergone the process and invite debate from those considering it.
The Urolift process plus pros and cons are accurately described at many a website. Other very long threads discuss in detail BPH and other treatments such as TURPS, laser tend to overshadow people looking for advice on Urolift.
So for me, tired of getting up in the night. Tired of the medication and its side effects, tiredness and ED. Quality of life getting me down. I am 60 and reckon to be pretty fit and active.
I underwent this treatment (as an alternative to TURPS) 2 weeks ago at one of the 5 or 6 clinics/hospitals that appear to offer this treatment in the UK. It really was as simple as described on the web.
I had a 30 minute consultation with the consultant whereby he explained the procedure.
The treatment was booked for 10 am., it took about 15 minutes. I had it done under a local anaesthetic. To be frank if you are used to having your prostate and other bits probed there is no pain. It is just the thought of it you have to come to terms with. After the treatment you have to drink a lot of water to flush your system but I was allowed to drive home by dinner time.
First warning here. I did have to stop probably every 15 minutes with a sudden need to urinate. Fortunately I took a urine bottle from the clinic !
I could write for ages but will see what response I get to this post. I know on the day I was there, 4 other blokes were having the procedure and I sensed there was a regular flow of patients.
I’m now going through the period whereby I’m asking myself is there any improvement? It’s only 2 weeks in. I’m not sure is the answer at the moment. We are all different and recovery and improvement I am told does take time anything from 2/3 weeks to 2/3 months maybe longer. Your system needs time to readjust, I understand that, I don’t know how much time but I’m due for a follow up next week. I'm remaining positive.Would welcome comments from others.
18 likes, 1911 replies
tim84517 charles40613
Posted
I had the Urolift procedure about 4 years ago and I regret it. The recovery was terrible. Very Painful. Half the skin sloughed off the outside of my penis afterwards. It took two weeks before it stop burning when I urinated. The benefit only lasted about 6-9 months and then diminished to pre-procedure levels. They didn't put a catheter in at the time of the procedure for recovery, and because the inside of my penis was so traumatized by the procedure, I couldn't urinate afterwards. Later that same day I had to come back and have a catheter jammed up my already sensitive penis. (picture screaming like a girl).
About two years or so after the procedure, one of the clips that they installed went wonky and caused me to pee blood after I worked out. That also caused me to have urinary tract infections.
I recently had to have a TURP procedure to fix the original problem and remove the Urolift.
paulSkew charles40613
Posted
Hi all. I've been posting here on and off for the past few months. Well, finally, I had my cystoscopy. And the doc says there's a lobe of my prostate that has grown into my bladder and is effectively acting like a flap over the hole where my urine is supposed to drain out. When bladder is full and pressure is high, I get some flow, but then the prostate lobe falls over the exit hole and urine stops, with my bladder still half full. He says this means I am not a candidate for Urolift, so i'll be dropping out of the discussion going forward. Best wishes to all of you and thanks for the helpful conversation.
kenneth1955 paulSkew
Posted
Paul
You need to look at other doctors. He is trying to get you away from the Urolift. You can still have it done. There is another procedure that the Urolift company came up with that would fix that problem. It is called the Midlift. It is for the median lobe. All they will do is pin it to one side to unblock the bladder. It has been around for over 2 years
Get a second opinion. You are a candidate for the Midlift. No cutting and no side effects. I do have about 40 doctors that do the Urolift and the Midleft. Where are you at.
Take care....KenNever give up
B_Ware paulSkew
Posted
I agree with Ken's response. Get another opinion. Plenty of doctors are doing the Medlift that Ken mentioned. My doc explained that it does affect the overall success rate but that the Lift is still successful for 85% of patients with the median lobe issue.
kenneth1955 B_Ware
Posted
Thanks B Ware.
That is why the company came up with the Midlift. There were a lot of men that did not want to lose there ejaculation. And it does work well
All the best
B_Ware kenneth1955
Posted
Ken,
It's what I had. Doc used 6 clips total because of the need to pull the median lobe aside, but he said he got a nice open channel. I'm still in the recovery, 28 days, so I can't say what the end result will be but I'm hopeful.
kenneth1955 B_Ware
Posted
If he did it right it will work grate. I had my Urolift done 8 years ago still open. I only had 4 done I did not have a median lobe. But even when I had mine done my doctor said that a median lobe can be clipped out of the way to open the bladder neck.
At that time they were doing trail on the Medlift. You will do fine just take it easy and listen to the doctor. If you need anything I'm here for you and anyone that has questions......Ken
lee68229 charles40613
Posted
can you, or anyone here answer these questions? I am a bit concerned. I had the procedure done 4 days ago. :I would like to know if there is any possibility that Urolift can cause erectile dysfunction. And, after surgery, how long before one can have an erection and ejaculate. thanks
or others, It seemed to go well, but the catheter was left in for 4 days in order to expand the urinary canal. It was the most painful 4 days of my life. when it came out, the pain was gone.
Txdog2019 charles40613
Posted
does anyone know if you can still have a child with the urolift? I'm 43 and wife is 33.. we would like one more child. hoping it won't stop that from happening.
dean97628 charles40613
Edited
I had a Urolift approximately five weeks ago. I was able to urinate although not well prior to the Urolift. After the procedure I was not able to urinate at all. I went home with a Foley catheter and asked to come back the next day. I failed the voiding trial so back on The Foley catheter. I went in a week later failed again as I could not Pee at all. Finally after failing yet another voiding trial the doctor ordered a urodynamics test in which my bladder seem to be OK. He then did an in office cystoscopy and promptly proclaimed that I needed to have my prostate removed. I was able to make a appointment with another urologist in a different clinic who also performed a cystoscopy and told me that the Urolift had failed and had actually caused an obstruction far worse than what I had before the procedure I am now scheduled for a TURP next week and the new doctor is hopeful he can fix the failed urolift. they new urologist told me he is not a big fan of the urolift and told me that I will be the fifth patient that he is going to have to fix after failing the Urolift procedure. I sincerely regret ever having had the Urolift and wished I had just gone for the TURP to start with. The last five weeks living with a catheter in much pain have been very miserable. I am hopeful that in a couple of weeks I can be free of the catheter.
stephen44792 dean97628
Posted
I hope you feel better.
jeffrey14249 charles40613
Posted
had the procedure done 10 days ago and unfortunetely been in pain ever since
Mike321 charles40613
Posted
it has over 50% failure rate mine failed
Razz66 charles40613
Edited
I had my euro lift here in Florida five days ago at a hospital surgical center. I had a catheter for about 12 hours Peed and then was discharged. First three or four urination‘s were painful though I continue to have some burning on day five my streams a bit better but quantity is no better yet all of this seems normal. I’ll see the doctor again after two weeks I expect to get some thing to relax my bladder. Keep you posted. Razz 66
stephen44792 charles40613
Posted
I got my urolift 36 hours ago and I'm so worried. The first day was pure hell. The pain was extreme. Ended up in the emergency room after mid,mnight and they had to put a catheter in me.
Today they took the catheter out, sent me home with DIY catheters if I need them. In my opinion they should give DIY catheters to everyone who doesn't have a foley catheter when they leave, in case you get an obstruction, like I did, from the blood clots.
OK, so I'm feeling quite a bit better on the 2nd day, after the catheter comes out. But then suddenly I have to go to the bathroom and pee my pants. Happened twice. I've gone to the bathroom at least 12 times since, and each time it comes on as an emergency, and then I pee, but not very much. I bought protective undergarments, like a cross between a diaper and a tampon that you wear inside your underwear.
My doctor says it's ok to have sex/masturbate, after two weeks. I was under the impression that I would be better after two days. I fell for the marketing. My doctor also says that the urgent uncontrollable urination can last for 1 to 3 months, I think now though he's trying to scare me whereas when I went in he was trying to convince me everything would be fine.
I disliked getting up multiple times a night to pee, and peeing very slowly and frequently, but it was better than this. It was continually getting worse so I was going to have to do something eventually, but I could have waited a year. I wish I had read some of the horror stories on this board prior to getting the procedure.
That said! It's still early. Literally only the 2nd day. Maybe it will clear up quickly and I'll be able to get back to life.