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The Urolift procedure; patient views and questions

Posted , 264 users are following.

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

1911 Replies

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  • tim32862
    tim32862 charles40613

    Posted

    I had the Urolift procedure 10 days ago in the UK, so far no noticeable improvement but it's early days. I have images taken during the op and the Urethra now seems to be far more open so in theory it should be better. 4 staples used. I do have a median lobe issue but the Urologist did not feel it was big enough to prevent Urolift working. I had it done under a general anaesthetic which was much more preferable to having a local, previous experience of cystoscopy and uro-dynamics things up that part of your anatomy was very uncomfortable - would rather not be aware of it! Keeping fingers crossed that it will work. Have had very sudden urges to pee since,still slow flow. Day after the op played golf - even played well! Back to normal routine straight away. Eight days in sexual functionality was working fine.
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 tim32862

      Posted

      Tim  Some men heal quicker then others  Give it some time I know when i had mine they told me at least 4 weeks.  I was good to go in a week  Take care  Ken
    • tim32862
      tim32862 kenneth1955

      Posted

      Hi Kenneth, 5 weeks in now from the procedure. At around 3 weeks flow did appear to be a little better however since then it has gone downhill and pretty much back to where it was before I had the op if not slightly worse which is really dissapointing. Used to have to get up twice at night before the op - now 3 times a night. Can only think it's the median lobe issue still causing an obstruction - I did know beforehand that it could still present an ongoing problem but the Urologist thought it worth trying as it's not that big. Follow up with Urologist is at 3 months.

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 tim32862

      Posted

      Sorry that your still having a problem  How many implants did he put in.  I know chuck had it done and the doctor only put in 4 in.  Did not work   he had to have it done again.  I think he had 4 more put in.  He's great now.  Talk with the doctor Good luck just relax  Ken

  • bob75564
    bob75564 charles40613

    Posted

    Hello.  I am 59 years old and 6 months with the Urolift.  I had 5 fasteners put in during my proceedure. I am seeing good benefits.  I understand that the prostate continues to grow and can "grow around" the Urolift fasteners.   I guess my biggest fear is that I begin to lose the benefits of the Urolift after a "short" amount of time, like a year.  Can the men who have had the Urolift comment on how they are doing 1 year, 2 years, 3 years post the initial Urolift?  Thank you.  Bob
    • mcgillvn
      mcgillvn bob75564

      Posted

      Hi Bob, thanks for posting.  Urolift procedure was on June 8th 2016, so now just shy of 2 weeks.  Good results so far, with immediate improvement even the day of the procedure.  Do you recall any bleeding appearing in semen or urine in the recovery period?  I noticed a small amount of blood the first day, then it cleared up and appeared to have disappeared.  When I tried an ejaculation a few days ago, I wasn't very pleased to have pink semen suddenly, although the function was otherwise normal, with only a little feeling of irritation, wouldn't even call it burning.  Since the post-op evaluation in this suburban Detroit practice is scheduled one month afterwards, I'm inferring that most of this should resolve sufficiently to make a better evaluation by then.  Any thoughts?  And I'm following this thread to hear more folks' longer term experience, if they're out there.
    • bob75564
      bob75564 mcgillvn

      Posted

      Mcgillvn,

      Thanks for the response and good luck with your Urolift. I did have blood in my urine for the first week or two. But, I don't remember having any blood in my semen. Something that you realize after reading about other's recovery experiences is that it varies greatly. My urologist brought me in for a post-open visit about 4 weeks afterward and I had a list of questions. It would be helpful if you can do that also. It sounds like you are doing well for 2 weeks. Good luck. Bob

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 bob75564

      Posted

      Hello Bob.  I had the Uro-lift when I was 59 also.  It is going on 16 months.  I am very happy with it.  Had 4 implants put in.  I had it done last April 27 of 2015.  I had a catheer put in.  I don't pee on demand so me and my doctor thought it was best.  By the first night my urine was clear.  Had the catheter taking out on the 3rd day. Did burn that first day Had it done on a monday and by sat I was good to go..  It has been good.  I did have a problem in december of last year.  for some reason my prostate got smaller Had to have them tighten  Now all is in working order.  It will get bettr in time Take care  Ken .  I have a great urologist and he take very good car of me..       . 
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 mcgillvn

      Posted

      Hey MC  Give yourself some time.  It does get better.  Remember all men heal diffrent.  Some do take longer then others. I had a Uro-lift done 16 months ago and it is good.  About the seman.  I had mine done on a monday and the catheter came out on wednesday.  On thursday I had to make sure I was ok.  So I did the deed.  It was intense and the seman was a pink color which was blood.  My doctor told me to wait for at least 10 days to give the prostate time to heal.  Just relax and have fun.  Ken 
    • mcgillvn
      mcgillvn kenneth1955

      Posted

      Thanks all, it's reassuring to hear similar reports.  Makes it easier to try to be patient about it.  Even with some concern about the blood, the improvement in starting a stream, and the ability to finish peeing in a more normal amount of time, is great.  Finding a new symptom 10 days after was just a bit surprising, but it seems common enough from what we've shared here.  Thanks!
    • thomas1947
      thomas1947 mcgillvn

      Posted

      You just had severales poked in your prostate, and since about 30% of seminal fluid is poduced by that gland, I'd be surprisf there wasn't some color in it.

      It would be helpful if any Urolift "pioneers" who decide to share as Bob requested also shared what symptoms - frequency, urgency, weak stream, stress and urge incontinence, etc. -  were improved and which were not.  I went to a seminar a few days ago and am seriously considering, but won't do it if I don't reasonably expect an improvement in my symptoms.  Thanks.

    • mcgillvn
      mcgillvn thomas1947

      Posted

      Symptoms that drove me to seek medical action:

      Frequency--minor issue for me, but improved 2 weeks post-op

      urgency--small improvement in an annoying symptom, so far

      weak stream--huge improvement, starting immediately after the procedure surprisingly, and still going fine, taking 1/2 the time to pee.  I never dealt with incontinence, thankfully, so can't advise on efficacy for that one.  Best wishes!

    • mcgillvn
      mcgillvn thomas1947

      Posted

      AND....by the way....the weak stream improvement can catch you off guard and you might have overspray aiming for a toilet bowl.  Elements of slapstick comedy, could live without the clean-up, but actually a real sign of improvement.
    • nealpros
      nealpros mcgillvn

      Posted

      You might need to install a sight on that thing so you can better figure the windage and hit the target.

      Neal

  • gary61875
    gary61875 charles40613

    Posted

    I had this procedure two weeks ago. Since then urinating has become very painful. Moreover, I have had some urinary incontinence since then (the involuntary leakage of urine; in simple terms, to wee when you don't intend to. It is the inability to hold urine in the bladder because voluntary control over the urinary sphincter is either lost or weakened.)

    I am hoping that this problem will dissipate in time. My urine flow is strong and I have been taken off all medication. 

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 gary61875

      Posted

      Hello Gary   Sorry your having a problem.  It will get better in time.  I had mine over a year ago.  I wore a pad  the day they took out the catheter because my doctor told me sometime you don't have control right away.  I only had it the first.  No control but I got better in a week.  Sometime it takes a little longer for some men.  Just relax Ken 

    • mcgillvn
      mcgillvn gary61875

      Posted

      Hi gary,

      Initially urinating felt tight and a  bit painful, but it's improving gradually.  I'm at 2 1/2 weeks now, and all signs of blood now gone, much improved stream, and the pain just about gone.  I've noticed more tension if there's pressure from the colon, less after defecating, so that might be a factor.  Everybody's different, as you'll see with symptom reports from others.  The incontinence and pain combination would concern me too, I'd check with you urologist.

    • kim14169
      kim14169 gary61875

      Posted

      Can you please update me on the progress with urinary incontinence. My father had the procedure Monday and is having problems with incontinence. Wearing depends is not what he had in mind post procedure but it isn't a choice 6 days out. They put him on medication for bladder spasms which seems to help some. I am eager to know if this problem resolves since I didn't see this as a post op complication in any of the preop studies I looked at. I'm feeling anxious about this unexpeded problem since I encouraged him to have the procedure because of dizziness side effects from his medication. 

    • jimjames
      jimjames kim14169

      Posted

      Hi Kim,

      Sorry about your father and hope things get better soon. But until it does, he might try a condom catheter (sometimes called stadium catheters) as an alternative to Depends.

      Jim

    • frank74205
      frank74205 kim14169

      Posted

      Hi Kim How old is your dad? Did he have urine retention also
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