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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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  • charles40613
    charles40613

    Posted

    I thought I would report on my progress after 3 weeks and hope others do the same. There are 5 or 6 clinics offering Urolift with a steady throughput I believe. I’m aware that improvements can take between 2/3 weeks and some months. The initial problems I reported above of sudden urination and slight pain when urinating disappeared within a few days of the Urolift and were insignificant really.

    3 weeks on I still get up in the night to urinate, no real change. My urine stream/ flow rate may be a touch improved, it’s difficult to say. I still go to the loo during the day more times than one should I think. So a 3 week report would say no change really, as yet. I’m remaining positive but there is so little information available as to what is reasonable to expect or hope for.

    Not really sure on the logic here either. BPH is an enlarged prostate which basically causes a blockage. That blockage has been freed up so I kind of expect more to be happening. I’ll post again in 3 weeks by which time I will have had a follow up with the urologist.

    • jimjames
      jimjames charles40613

      Posted

      Prior to the Urolift, you mentioned taking meds and getting up at night, etc. How about retention? Did you have a retention problem, and did they measure your postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) via ultrasound or catherization prior to urolift? If you had a retention problem, has it improved since the urolift?
    • charles40613
      charles40613 jimjames

      Posted

      Good Morning

      Yes I understand the point. Whenever I have gone to see my Urologist over the recent years , they always take a flow rate and measure a residual volume after a pee. I’ve never apparently had a problem with the latter. I’ve done the test and the nurse has always said more or less that’s OK. If I was looking at a plus at the moment from my Urolift I do sense that my bladder is cleared a little better with a little less of the straining and tweaking that sometimes you need to do. It’s a slightly more fluent process. The problem is you can only really measure with a gut feeling.

    • JDinNC
      JDinNC charles40613

      Posted

      I am about in the same boat charles - 3 wks post op and very similar outcome so far. Still up 3x a night and every hr or so during the day, slight increase in stream but no signif improvement versus pre-op. I too expected a bit more progress so far - especially since my doc took some endoscopic pics before/after that appear to show it opened up a lot. it hurt to go for about 10 days but stopped a few days ago, s_x is OK but did hurt at first a little. I was under general anesth and was not given option for local. Hope it soon gets better for both of us, mate.

       

    • Albin
      Albin charles40613

      Posted

      Hello All,

      It is a week since I had my Urolift and yesterday the urine color was normal again. I did have some discomfort the first 6 days but that has disapearred. Instead of getting up 6 times a night, it is now down to 3 or 4 and the volume is better. I am pleased with the progress so far and hope that it continues to get better. The only thing that I wasn't happy with is that they used a general anesthesia instead of a Mac. I am going to the gym today for the first time in a week but I will work out lightly. I'm 86 and otherwise in good health. The procedure was done in Miami, Florida and this is only the 3rd time that this doctor has done the Urolift. I will keep you posted with my experience.

    • RonTexan
      RonTexan Albin

      Posted

      Your experience is the way Urolift is supposed to work. Your surgeon having so little experience and still doing a really good job is a testament to the simplicity of the procedure and the minimal training required. Urolift is proven in case studies to be as effective after three years as after three months which indicates that it will be effective far longer. Be sure to continue to relate your experience here as Urolift is still not widely known and there's a lot of guys world-wide suffering from BPH. 
    • michael72708
      michael72708 RonTexan

      Posted

      Hi Ron,

      I posted below about my disastrous results with the Urolift. Bottom line is I have a barely functiong bladder an am forced to cath 2 or 3 times a day. Seems like Holep generally overcomes the bladder issues. Thanks to you I contacted Dr Humphreys office at Mayo and other people highly praised Dr Miller at Vanderbilt U so I contactd her as well. Mayo adds 15% on top  of Medicare reimbursement while Vanderbilt accepts Medicare. Not sure where I'll end up but what I'm trying to find out now is whether I need to have the Urolift staples/sutures removed since they leave metal pieces in the urethra. I'm not sure how they will react with the laser. I'm wondering if it all can be done at one time or as two parts. They tout the fact that the Urolift is reversible but at this point I'm a little gun shy! Happy Healing.  

    • RonTexan
      RonTexan michael72708

      Posted

      Hi Mike, I'm now five months post- op with Holep and Dr Humphreys at the Phoenix Mayo. Any recovery I needed was done in the first week and it did not amount to much. I have RE as before Holep. The only problem i have with urination is that the stream is really a flood and sometimes hard to point accurately. It's just all normal or better than normal. I had a melanoma removed on my forehead four days ago and it's a lot more painful and more trouble than Holep was. I remain the largest fan of holep, the Mayo and Dr Humphreys and his incredible staff. Just amazing.  
    • RonTexan
      RonTexan

      Posted

      I forgot to say that after all was said and done my total out of pocket cost for the Holep was about $650 with medicare and a supplement policy. And there is the cost of getting there, hotel bills for four days and flight back. I would have paid many times this cost for the complete elimination of prostate concern in a pain-free method. 
    • frank74205
      frank74205 Albin

      Posted

      Hi Albin, I'm also 86 years old.i have urine retention.You said they gave you

      general anesthesia instead of a Mac. What is a Mac?

      Did you have urine retention also?I'm hoping i can quailfy for the Urolift.

    • frank74205
      frank74205 jimjames

      Posted

      HI jim. I have retention,  have been on medicine for 3 months ,they do a {PVR} every 4 to 5 weeks and a ultrsound.,so far i  still have rentention

      Do you know of someone who had a Uro Lift  and had urine rentention?

       

    • frank74205
      frank74205

      Posted

      Hi Jim ,i am  alnost 87 years old,they want to do a Turp? I' must admit I'm afraid of this?

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 frank74205

      Posted

      Frank I just saw your post to Jim....I had a gentleman ask me that a few weeks ago.  He was 85.  My doctor said no  Because of the bleeding issue. He would not recommend it.  ken
    • frank74205
      frank74205 Albin

      Posted

      Hi Albin, Very nice and interesting post. Did you have urine rentention also?

      I am almost 87 and otherwise id say pretty good shape. I have urine rentention. I don't know if uro lift will work with??

  • charles40613
    charles40613

    Posted

    Well here are my thoughts 2 months into Urolift. I have been back to see my Uroligist for a review and explained that improvements were not significant but he remained confident and said be patient, give it 3 or 4 months. I’ve no problem with that.

    It’s fair to say my flow rate has improved a little. I think it also fair to say that something in my urinary system/waterworks has changed and is perhaps and hopefully still trying to change. You just sense that it is different and maybe moving in a better direction.

    During the day there might be a slight improvement in frequency I need to start doing some charts to prove its not wishful thinking.

    As it is I still get up in the night to pee which is really annoying. From a steady 3 times a night I think I can say that has sometimes moved to 2 now but by and large I’m hoping Urolift will remove the problem to certainly better than that.

    The problem I have is this. Urolift has removed the blockage. The muscles/sensors or whatever in my urinary system have been used to forcing urine through a blockage for 7 years. I guess they have to adapt but its slow progress. Another problem is my body clock/sleep clock has for 7 years woken me at 1, 3 and 5.30 am. I sense sometimes I’m waking up as per usual but not necessarily because I need a pee but then I start thinking do I need a pee and the thought process brings one on !

    So 2 months in the jury remains out. I’m still hopeful though. There is a plus side in that I have come off those dreadful drugs/ medication that I sense are standard supply. There is no retrograde. I can also repeat the procedure is really easy and quick.

    Hope this helps but had hoped more would share experiences. Will post in another 4 weeks.

    • arthur48393
      arthur48393 charles40613

      Posted

      Really appreciated your comments. I am plucking up courage only for the Urolift. I am 79 years old.

      My amateur thoughts are that because the narrowing has been there for so long the surrounding tissues etc will take time to react despite being pulled back. So the older you are results may not be as good as a younger man. Hope once the inflammation settles and the flow improves dramatically.

    • RonTexan
      RonTexan arthur48393

      Posted

      I know you are right about age being a factor. There are accounts of the prostate being so hard that urolift would not be possible and also size of the prostate and a third lobe can eliminate urolift also. 

      You can read a lot above in this thread about my choice, Holep, that I had done in October, 2014. it can't be much more invasive than urolift as far as pain and blood are concerned.  I'm 76 and have had no "recovery" at all, simply amazing.   

       

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