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The Urolift procedure; patient views and questions

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charles40613
charles40613

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

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  • ernest7162
    ernest7162 charles40613

    Posted

    From my perspective I would say yes. I would do cartwheels if I could get to the point where I only got up only once a night. Once in a great while I'll have a night like that but most times these days I get up at least twice and on a bad night 4 or 5 time. And, I also have a fairly weak stream.
    • bob120
      bob120 ernest7162

      Posted

      Especially with older guys, procedures will generally be successful for retention and reduction of PVR, but often don't eliminate getting up at night, even if they reduce it.

      Bladder capacity is a big reason it may not work as hoped for. After years of bph, the bladder becomes muscularized which reduces bladder capacity due to a thick wall of muscle being built up on the inside of the bladder. My bladder capacity is only 300ml to 400ml until I wake up and have to go. My overnight output is about 1000 ml., so I have to get up 3 or 4 times a night, even though my PVR is only 35ml. When my PVR was over 200ml, I was getting up about twice as much, because I would reach that 300m to 400ml capacity twice as quickly.

      It would be nice if urologists would explain all the mechanics of what is actually happening to cause bph symptoms instead of just saying yu have a blockage and a procedure will fix it all.

       For the majority of urologists the first step is a drug like flomax and/or avodart, and the second step is to do a cystoscope and view the blockage, then tests to measure your bladder capacity and PVR. Then they tell you you will need a procedure. They have enough info to tell you what you can expect in the way of results, but they sugar coat it and let you find out for yourself what does and doesn't work.

    • ernest7162
      ernest7162 bob120

      Posted

      Interesting comment about the bladder. Will mention it to my Urologist on my next visit and see what he says.
    • ChuckP
      ChuckP bob120

      Posted

      Hi bob120; We should keep in touch. After reading your post we may have the same problems.  I had a "PAE" and also a "UROLIFT".  Neither one has helped at all.  I still get up on average 3 times per night.  Happy New Year to You and Your Family. 
    • bob120
      bob120 ChuckP

      Posted

      Thanks Chuck,

      Happy New Year to you and your family as well. Do you know how large your prostate was and if the PAE reduced the size?

      I've gotten used to getting up at night, using a couple of 1 liter urinals next to my bed. I can go in the dark and get right back to sleep.

      My main problems after two GL's and a Turp in 3-1/2 years is that my prostate grows at an enormous rate. Twice during this period my prostate was measured at above 300g. and on my last sonogram it was measured at 203g. I'm currently on avodart to try to shrink it and will have another sonogram in April after 6 months on Avodart. At that point I have to decide if i should try the PAE to permanently shrink the prostate and allow me to get off the Avodart.

      Minor annoyances now are a crazy split stream that has got me sitting down to pee, and a burning sensation at the end of urination during the day (usually after I have been sitting down for a couple of hours).

      Luckily the retro I got after the turp doesn't bother me, but I do get a pinching pain when I have an orgasm.

      All these procedures have so far prevented me from going back into retention, and my PVR is good, but they must have left behind a scarred and damaged urethra. 

    • ChuckP
      ChuckP bob120

      Posted

      Hi Bob; To answer your question my prostate right before the Urolift was between 45 and 50 grams according to the Doctor that did the Urolift in June of 2015.  I had the PAE in Sept. of 2014.  Like you Iam not real happy but just not sure what I want to do at this point.  Iam age 65, can I ask how old you are???   I hope your 2016 is a good one.
    • bob120
      bob120 ChuckP

      Posted

      Hi Chuck,

      I'm 69. I hope our 2016 is better than our 2015. Happy New Year.

  • michael72708
    michael72708 charles40613

    Posted

    I was considering a PAE but my psa jumped from 8 or 9 to about 15 so I went to the urologist who performed thew Urolift on me. I was pleased to find that there have been some improvements in urology. He recommended we draw blood for the 4kscore which is a really new blood test that gives you a percentage that rates your chances of having an aggressive cancer. If that is inconclusive or looks bad then he recommended the 3T MRI with contrast which gives really good high resolution imaging of the prostate. All that before a possible biopsy. Plus the MRI shows areas that deserve to be biopsied. As for the blood tests to stage or determine prostate  there are a slew just about to be released with the 4kscore one of the first.

    My only hesitation with the MRI is the possible side effects of the contrast dye. Same possible issue with the PAE ( plus radiation). Maybe I'm overly concerned about possible side effects. Put in Mercola and contrast dye in google and you'll see why.

    • bob120
      bob120 michael72708

      Posted

      It's always good to examine statistics. Even if Mercolas numbers are correct and CT / MRI scans with contrast will result in a 1% (30,000/3,000,000) cancer rate, the overall lifetime cancer rate for men and women is 39%. For what it's worth I've had about a half dozen MRI's and CT scans, with and without contrast. I've never had a biopsiy. Something has to kill you.
    • nealpros
      nealpros michael72708

      Posted

      I had a PAE in early December, and had a CT scan the day before, with dye. No problems at all. It's like peanuts. Some people are alergic to them, and some are not. But, a good hospital should be able to deal with a problem, if you have one. It turns out that my wife had a reaction to a dye for an MRI she had. They gave her another med to help her overcome the reaction, and she had to stay in the department for an hour or so, until the reaction was compleately gone. No big deal.

      Neal

    • bob120
      bob120 michael72708

      Posted

      Lots of things have been said to cause cancer. Microwaves, electro magnetic frequencies, cell phones, cigarettes, marble counter tops, x-rays, MRI dye, water pollution, air pollution, radioactive waste, brake linings, asbestos, pesticides, genetically modified crops, etc., etc. According to public health statistics 39% of American men and women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Deaths in 2013 were attributed about 1/3 each to heart disease, cancer, and to all other causes. Put in perspective, MRI dye has to be one of the least likely things to give you cancer or kill you.
  • arthur48393
    arthur48393 charles40613

    Posted

    Interested to hear how your Urolift procedure is doing after 1year.

    i am 80 and been keen for the past two years but have been waiting for proven results .

    thanks Arthur

  • federico91251
    federico91251 charles40613

    Posted

    Hi. Since has passed over a year when you posted you question, I have one: do you received the Urolift procedure? And, if yes, How have you been afterwards?

    ​And I have the same concern as many: since the prostate will continue to grow, no matter what, how is that possible that the implants do not block that expand process and so the prostate explode or could be perforate by the implant?

    ​I really appreciate if someone, in this forum, has an answer for me.

    ​Thanks.

    • raymond_82800
      raymond_82800 federico91251

      Posted

      I have had no problem with my implants since feb 15 over a year but i am on rapaflo because my prostate is large 120
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 federico91251

      Posted

      Federico.  Saw your post  I had a uro-lift done april 2015 all fine but in december I had a scope to check my stricture the urologist found one of the implants loose  Had a redone a few weeks ago and all is fine.  When he went in he replace one and tighten the other three.  My prostate got smaller.  We don't know why maybe the month of ciprofloxacin I was on but it's good for me Take care.  Ken 
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