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
nisvan charles40613
Posted
There's been much talk about not doing anything physical for the first few to several weeks following the Urolift. Just wondering if the preclusion applies to street walking (not hiking on hilly unimproved trails), as well, a few miles a day, say, after a few days have passed after the procedure and one is feeling up to it. It'd just be real tough to stay more or less immobile for several weeks w/o getting some aerobics time in. Thanks
kenneth1955 nisvan
Posted
Good morning. Nisvan
Yes listen to your body. But they tell you no physical stuff. No sex for 4 weeks. They do that because they want the clips to a here to the prostate. It is 3 1/2 years for me and the clips are still in the same place. Start out slow on the walks and work yourself up
God Bless........Ken
george18730 charles40613
Posted
Listen to your body- you'll know when it's time to put it to the test If you're not in too much pain try starting out by walking slowly around the block and see how you feel. If you don't have any negative effects, increase the distance on the next outing...and so on. Good luck.
andrew23481 charles40613
Posted
Is it usual to still have continual pain 5 weeks after urolift?
DrDavidB charles40613
Posted
10 weeks post Urolift that used 4 sets of bands. I’m 70 and have had trouble with BPH for over 20 years. This procedure has helped me as I can consistently urinate where in the past I would have some good days and most bad days. My last test showed 118cc residual.
However nighttime is difficult, still being awakened every 2 hours to pee up to 300ml however it takes 2 flows separated by a minute or so. Even so, this is a huge improvement from before the Urolift when most nighttime voids would take 5 to 10 minutes and never felt like a complete emptying. Plus I am totally off all medications!
My urologist is hopeful that there will be improvement over a year or so due to the Urolift bands reducing blood supply to the gland and causing some atrophy. Fingers crossed.
So my question to the group is this: since this is only a nightly issue do you think this is only a bladder problem? (I’m thinking under-active bladder) or could there be some bladder neck blockage (I have heard of ball valve). I have also heard that sleep apnea or low testosterone can cause nightly bladder problems. I know there are those who suggest bladder training and Kegel exercises to help.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
David
kenneth1955 DrDavidB
Posted
Hello David
Most men have problem at night. It could be anything from what you say. But it could be how much you drink to. Also it could be just habit. We never know. At least there is improvement
I have never heard of the bands reducing blood supply. You did have a Urolift right. They use clips and they pull the prostate apart. It has nothing to do with blood supply.I had mine almost 4 years ago. Still wide open also had 4 clips.
Give yourself some time. It will improve.Ken
nisvan DrDavidB
Posted
Hi David,
Getting up every 2 hours to pee in and of itself might cause you other more serious health problems over the long term.Have you considered or have you ever tried -since you've had BPH for 20 years - self cathing? I only started doing it a week ago. I have BPH and have had no procedures done, yet. If you've never tried self cathing, I can tell you it's a lot simpler than it looks, and takes less than 5 minutes. If you were to do it right before bed, or, at the time you have the first wake-up during the night, it might then give you a good run of 4 or 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It will completely empty your bladder out. I'm no doctor, but I am guessing your problem, at night, is simply the same problem most men with BPH have at night: They go to pee, and because the prostate is constricting the urethra, they only end up peeing out some fraction of what's in their bladder. As the bladder empties, the pressure it puts on the urethra to push apart the tissue of the prostate, so as to let urine through, lessens, until the urethra closes off completely, and you're done peeing, before you've emptied your bladder, not because your bladder's empty (it's not) but because there's no longer enough pressure to get the urine through the urethra, due to the pressure on it from the prostate. And so, 2 hours later you need to pee again. So you spend 10 minutes on the toilet getting out of you once again, an insufficient amount of pee. You go back to bed dreading the fact you're going to have wake up again in 2 hours. Several days of that routine and you're going to be a miserable basket case. One simple self catheter costs about $1.99, and 3 to 5 minutes use of it might give you hours and hours of sleep, every night, until as long as it takes for the effects of your Uro Lift procedure to kick in. Good luck.
john09076 charles40613
Posted
I am currently 5 months post procedure. The day I had it done, 9 hours later I was in the ER having a catheter put in. That lasted 5 days. The pain from urinating didn't subside for another week.
I stopped using Tamulosen in 2 weeks and noticed a decrease in urine flow after about 4 days. By day 10, it was painful again so I went back on tamulosen. there was recently a disruption in my health coverage and I ran out for almost 3 weeks. I have been on my knees in pain trying to go.
Making an appointment with my Dr today to find out where these great results are and why I do not have them!
Tucsonjj john09076
Posted
Hi, John, I tried to go back to see... which procedure did you have? The Urolift??
Sorry you are having so much trouble... can you self cath?
Evdilos john09076
Posted
Sorry you having this problem. I hope it clears-up. Although the majority of people on this blog seem satisfied with the procedure I too am a skeptic. I had it done two years ago.First couple of weeks were horrible. I had urinary retention problems and was hospitalized a couple of times. Right now I am about where I was before the surgery getting up every two and a half hours to pee. Best oif luck.
Evdilos
kenneth1955 Evdilos
Posted
Evdilos & John
The Urolift is still a good procedure if the prostate is the problem. It will open you up just like the ones that core out the prostate.
I had my Urolift done almost 4 years ago. Still wide open. It has been very good for me. But you can come up with other problems as we age. Like I said the 4 clips are still in the same place that my doctor put them in.
I have a very tight external sphincter now. I take a muscle relaxer called Vesicare 10 mg. Works great. If I had to have the Urolift again I would I have had no side effects at all. I had it done at 58 and sex is great and my orgasm and ejaculation are intense even at 63
Take care.....Ken
den-52442 kenneth1955
Posted
I wish I had thought it through much more than I did, but at the time I was in so much agony and the clock was ticking down to the end of the year when my $10000.00 deductible would have rolled back over, so I trusted my urologist to perform the UroLift. Unfortunate for me, but I'm glad it has helped so many of you on this forum.
NeoTract was absolutely no help and acted as if I was just a small hiccup in their tauted success stories. I am currently considering a lawsuit, as my urologist has pretty much brushed me off.
Mayo Clinic doesn't accept my insurance, but I am looking into other places with specialists to see if anything can be done to fix me or if I am just doomed to live out the rest of life with urinary retention and impotency. Having surgery on my prostate is without a doubt the worst decision I have ever made.
Den
Tucsonjj den-52442
Posted
Hi, Den,
Have you looked into the HoLep procedure? For guys with previous failed procedures... it sounds like a good option... yes, you will probably have retro-ejaculation... but that might not be so bad considering your current situation.
GL to you! JJ
den-52442 Tucsonjj
Posted
JJ,
Hi, I haven't looked into any other procedures as of this time because my urologist has been trying to figure out what is going on with my bladder still not voiding properly and the ED. The ED was non-existent prior to surgery, I was fully functional in that area.
I am honestly terrified at the thought of having anything else done, period. I'm only 54, had UroLift at age 52.
After the holidays are over and done, I hope to find a specialist to go to and at least have a consultation to discuss the issues I am having, My urologist and his fellow doctors are all just scratching their heads and seem completely perplexed. "Supposedly" I am the only patient that has been left with urinary retention and ED after having Urolift procedure. I have thought for a while now that I was mis-diagnosed, especially because I still have major urinary retention.
Several friends and acquaintances are advising me to seek legal counsel. I am a depressed and angry man as of late, just trying to get through life a day at a time.
I appreciate your advance and kind words.
All the best,
Den
Tucsonjj den-52442
Posted
Very sorry to hear about your troubles, Den... they do seem to be BIG.
I'd be sure and try to find the best UroDoc around for a 2nd and 3rd opinion... hard to believe that a younger guy like you would not be able to have your issues all fixed... I really like MY UroDoc, but he is of course, here in Tucson.
Did you spend much time with a Foley Catheter? My brother spent 9 months on one and ended up with ED and a deformed "slit" in his Johnson, causing him to now spray when he goes... he too is hoping it is temporary... not my beeswax, but have you tried Viagra or Cialis? Just seeing if that worked would give your Docs some valuable info about what is causing the ED... are you self cathing (CIC)? I sure recommend it if you are retaining much urine...
Sure hope your problems are all solved and yes, you should probably at least do a prelim consult with an attorney... ONLY one that is willing to do a free consult and do a contingent fee arrangement, IMHO!
Best to you,
JJ
andyacko kenneth1955
Posted
Hey Kenny you didnt tell me you were taking drugs still. I think l also get that tightness in the backside slight discomfort Had no bleeding 4 two weeks since l stopped my tennis and very physical activity. Still concerned about urgency and frequency hope it gets back to normal. At least taking no drugs which has to be good Have you put the tree up yet Ken All the best for Christmas
den-52442 Tucsonjj
Posted
JJ,
No, I'm not self cathing, I was prior to surgery.
I've never had a Foley Catheter to my knowledge.
I have tried all 3 ED meds (Viagara, Levitra, Cialis) and none of them worked. I had all the side effects associated with those drugs, but no erection. I have also spent more than I care to mention on Tri-Mix injectables and that also failed to produce a erection strong enough for penetration. So at this point, I am thinking that nothing will fix this problem. The anxiety and depression that has occurred because of this is rather severe. I'm seeing a therapist and I am now on several meds to help control the depression and anxiety.
Thanks for the advice,
Den
william10248 Tucsonjj
Posted
i had urinary retention after having the Urolift, but no ED . I had the Greenlight after with great results.
john09076 Tucsonjj
Posted
Yes it was the urolift that I had done. No, I have not tried self cath....but it's looking
like that's on the menu.....
kenneth1955 andyacko
Posted
Hey Buddy
Glad the bleeding has stopped. Your going to have to watch your self for a while.
I do take a muscle relaxer for my external sphincter. Been taking it for a year. Really has nothing to do with my prostate. After 4 years it is still wide open.
I don't take many pills I also take a blood thinner for my heart. At one time I took 12
I still think the Urgency and the frequency is from what he did to your bladder neck. You will never know. I hope things work out for you
No have not put the tree up yet.
Ken
john09076 kenneth1955
Posted
What is the muscle relaxer you use?? I may hit my doc up for that.
kenneth1955 john09076
Posted
Hey John
I have been on it for a year.I stopped peeing last November just did not have any feeling at all. Was in the hospital at the time. My doctor did a scope and the prostate was fine still open.
I have a very tight external sphincter. The muscle relaxer will relax the sphincter and the bladder. I have had no problem going to the bathroom and no side effect from it.
It is called VESICARE 10 mg There is no harm in trying it.
Take care Ken
john09076 kenneth1955
Posted
Thank you for the information..
I see my Dr. on Wednesday and I'll run that by him....