The Urolift procedure; patient views and questions

I got the card from my urologist before I left the hospital.  Didn't think it would do it but I had to show it to the guards at the gate because it was making a noise.  I did not think it would do it because they were so small  It has all the information on it if they had to call from the Doctor name to neotract com and how many implants I have  Ken

jme9928, I haven't had the urolift procedure, but I did have two greenlight procedures and a turp. If I get up twice a night I consider it a good night. I use a bed side urianl and so can be up anby the side of my bed in the dark and back to sleep in about a minute. One thing you didn't mention is your pve or post void residual. If that is generally over 200ml, you are putting a strain on your bladder. You can get your prostate size and your pvr measured with a simple sonogram, and ought to do that to get a baseline. Otherwise I would say you are doing good as you are right now. Over the past 4 years I learned a lot about the prostate and had three procedures, and read hundreds of online posts and studies. I only went for my first greenlight because flomax stopped working for me after about 6 months, and I'fd get up in retention almost every night.  And my pvr was about 400ml. In the absence of those two conditions I wouldn't have any surgery. Another thing I learned is that for a lot of men the procedure eliminates the retention but doesn't allow them to sleep the night. Finally, if the urolift only works for a few years it seems like you will still have the problem when you are older. On the other hand, for me, my prostate continues to grow fast anyway, so the GL and the Turp are far from a permanent solution as well.

Jim  I do not remember if you say your age and if you still enjoy sex.  With any procedure you have to make the right pick for you.  I would never have anything that would cut or burn away at my prostate.  I what to enjoy all the things in life I can till the end.  I am very happy with the the uro-lift and If I had to do it again I would.  With the other procedure that are many men that would say that they are happy whit what they pick but there are a few that have had the turp or GL and sair that they made the wrong pick.  The down time and the bleeding is very bad and when the doctor tells you all will be the same and something comesup that you can't explane the doctor more of the time will say I never heard that before.  The main thing is to way all your option and they pick what you think is the best for you.  I would start with something less evasive and go from there. Because if you start with a trup or a laser there is no going back..  With the urolift they are in there 9th year and all is looking very well...Thank about anything to do Good Luck Ken 

I would like to know

I would like to know if you had to take a lot of pain medication when you're on the urolift or could you just get by with Advil

I can't possibly comment as have not had all 3 procedures ! I think on what is now a very long thread I've given 3 pretty detailed updates since my procedure over a year ago. Nothing to add really if you look through the posts you'll find them.

Hello  I did not feel any pain from the procedure more from the catheter Which if you have it done is good to have.  I have  a problem peeing on demand so talking with my doctor he said ok.  I was afarid of clogging.  I don't know if you read some of the men that had the procdure done and could not pee after and ending up going to the hospital and having a catheter put in.  If you have the doctor put it in after you will be a sleep and you will not feel it until you wake up.  Because you don't feel it coming out going in it hurts like hell.  Within 24 hours the urine was clear and I peed great after it was out burn some but it was ok.  Also when you have the catheter out. use some make paids because you have to get control again and it better incase you leak.  After 7 month's I am very happy  no meds and I don't get up at night to bed.  Of course every man is diffrent.  Good luck  If you would like to chat e-mail me and we can  talk   Ken

Thank you

Anytime

Here's my two cents after having the Urolift in January of 2104. Small prostate, 40 grams, no median lobe, PVR pre-procedure was approx. 200ccs, up 3-4 times per night, strong sense of urgency and needed to be near a bathroom constantly, weak stream lots of dribbling, inability to restart etc. etc. the classic LUTS. Anyway, did lots of research on alternatives but didn't like the side effects associated with Green light, TUNA etc. Went out of pocket, $2,500 because the procedure was too new to be covered. It was the first time my Urologist performed it but Neotract's inventor was near his side to assist. General Anesthesia, no catheter, went home the same morning. Almost no blood during the first two or three trips, then none. The stinging pain that accompanies these types of procedures such as cystoscpoy and Urolift etc. is emiminated with a drug they use to treat UTIs called phenazopyridine. Why don't ALL Urologists know this and recommend it for their patients?? I wanted a side effect free procedure to eliminate my LUTS and got immediate but not lasting results. My PVR after the two weeks post procedure went from 200cc to about 75cc. Stronger stream and gradually up only 2 times a night. However the positive effects begain to dissapate a year later. Slowly my LUTS began to return. Now almost two year later and more doctors offering the procedure where it's covered by insurance, I am having it done again. Last week's cystoscopy by a different Urologist and a sonigram to measure my PVR, showed 100ccs and a swollen prostate where the 4 Urolift implants were almost completely submerged in tissue, almost invisible. This current Urologist said that of the over 15 procedures he has done, that he hasn't had a re-do. Well, here I am! Speculation is that my first Urologist had limited experience and maybe after 15 procedures this one will be better? Going in the end of January. Oh, he also saw what may be the very eary beginning of a carninoma on my bladder wall. So very small that he said he cut completely cut it out while he was he there doing the Urolift. Here's the kicker... maybe having BPH symptoms and a necessity to get a cystoscopy was a blessing in disguise, having found a possible carcinoma? As it relates to the Urolift vs. other methods, I will continue to get re-dos of the Urolift which are essentially pain free with no side effects rather that risk incontinence, RE etc.

Hope this time it will be better for you.  I had my uro-lift done in April of this year.  4 implants. My urologist has done over 50 and I have had no problem with my prostate or peeing.  The only thing now is that I get kidney infection but that is cause for the stricture I have.  Having it check in January.  May have to have it removed.  Not looking forward to that surgery.  Take care and good health  Ken 

I'd say if you are worried, have your PVR checked with a sonogram. PVR is post void residual which remains after you urinate. Perfect is less than 50ml. Over a hundred ml. indicates you have some blockage either in the urethra or from the prostate or from the bladder neck. Over 200ml., you probbly need some sort of procedure to clear the blockage so you won't cause damage to your bladder. While you are at it have them measure the size of your prostate. The size itself is not necessarily a problem. Some people with small prostate have blockages, some people with large prostates don't. I think the two main reasons to have some sort of procedure is retention, where you can't go, or it takes a few minutes for the stream to start, and a blockage which is demonstrated by how much urine is retained in your bladder after you have urinated normally.

Thank you

Van If your not having any other problems I would leave it along for now.  Was on that pill got off for the same reason.  Tryed many others.  I had a uro-lift in April of this year.  My reason was poor stream but my prostate was cutting off the urethra.  Had 4 implants and have no problems on no pills and I sleep all night when I do go to sleep.  Have a good new year  Ken.