The Urolift procedure; patient views and questions

Hi Edward, Sounds about right after this procedure. I had mine (4 bands) 1 year ago. After several days of pain while urinating it gradually improved..slightly better flow, fewer bathroom trips at night. Give it a chance to heal. We all heal differently. I am pleased so far.

Steve,

thanks. i could not find anything by goggle search on this.

EDWARD

Hi fellow urolift people l had 8 clips 4 months ago and some green light laser on bladder neck because urologist said it was necessary. Seems to have improved although my flow is not as strong as mates that have had the full Turps or full laser. It took a long time for bleeding to stop when ever l exercised l would bleed . This has now stopped no need for any medication. Certainly not a quick fix and not as good a procedure as l was promised my mate suffered more with full turps and spent week in hospital but 6 weeks later he is probably better off than myself. I still have some frequency, urgency and not convinced that l completely empty after peeing certainly cannot pee over back fence like others that had Turps.

Andy

Your problem was a little different. You had to heal from 2 procedure. The Urolift and the Laser BNI. The Urolift you should have been good in 4 weeks. The BNI take 12 weeks to heal

I still say that you did not need the BNI but you will never know for sure. What done is done and you had to deal with the healing and the outcome. There was another guy at the same time you had the procedure. His doctor told him that he needed the BNI with the Urolift. He talked with his doctor and the doctor say no problem we can always do the BNI if needed later.

The Urolift worked great he did not need the other procedure. But when you talk with your doctor he would not hear of it. He had I'm the doctor and I know best attitude. Them type of doctor I stay away from. I think that is called a god complex.

Like I said what's done is done. I am happy that you are finely doing better.

That's all I have to say about this......Ken

I had mine a year ago this month. I don't think I would do it again without really checking out the field of one to perform the procedure. The people at Urolift really could care less if the procedure did not work out. Still take one medication ( 4mg Doxazosin) and without it I would be up the creek. About 30 days ago I started taking 10Mg of Vesicare and it has been a winner as to how many trips I make at night.

Good Evening

It is good to have a doctor that has done many of the Urolift procedure. I had mine going on 4 years. 4 clips. I stopped all pills after I had my done. When I had mine it was new and my doctor I was his 20th patient to have it done.

I take Vesicare 10 mg also been on it for a year. I take it for a tight external sphincter Prostate is still wide open. If my prostate causes me any problem I would have it again. Urolift would be the only thing I would have. I'm not a fan of having any prostate tissue cut out. I have no side effects from the Urolift or the Vasicare.

Ask your doctor if you can stop taking the Doxazosin 4 mg because the Vasicare 10 mg does the same thing. It relaxes the prostate and the bladder.

Take care...Ken

ken l read where vasicare can have a lot of side effects?

Yes Andy

There can be a lot of side effects just like any other pill. But I have been on it for over a year and I have had none. You just have to watch for them.

Take care...Ken

maybe not over the fence but can you hit that little bee spot or the picture of a fly in the airport urinal without using your hand to guide your urithera? my flow was quite slow before the procedure and it would literally just drop 180 degrees from the point of exit. when i land at the JFK airport next month, hitting the "bee" would be my ultimate success marker.

I quit taking Doxazosin and the tough times start. The Vesiscape even though is does have some side effects has been the winner and makes me think I had a bladder problem and not so much prostate. The Vesiscape is maybe a one or two nighter rather than a four or five nighter. I think I had the wrong mechanic.

Good evening Releroy

Vesicare has help me It relaxes the whole area. I do know when I did not have it I was going to the bathroom more. I'm awake most night. I sleep more during the day and I'm up till 5 or 6 am. Only sleep a few hours at night. I have been on it for over a year. I have not seen any of the side effects.

Glad it has helped...Ken

Ken. what's the deal with your sleep habits? How did you get turned around like that? Just curious. Bob

Bob

I don't know. When I was working I use to get maybe 4 hours of sleep at night. After I retired the last few years have been my worst I use to go out 6 days a week I was always doing something. Now I really don't go anywhere. Maybe a couple of days a week I go see my grand kids that about it.

I have to watch If I'm home I may take a nap for a few hours during the day. . They I get my son from work at 10 PM then I'm up most of the night. Sometimes 24 to 36 hours.I spent most of my time on the computer doing research.

I got a few hours sleep last night went to bed at 4 am got up at 7 am . Had to go to the doctor today. My yearly thing for my insurance.

I have to get myself turned around again. I have to start going to the gym again. My doctor told me I need to work out every couple of days. I only gained 5 pounds from last year which he is happy about. Being over weight before I don't want to go that way again. But when I was heavy ( 340 ) I felt I had more energy then I have know

My son and I have been watching what we eat. But I love to bake. When my kids were home I always made cakes and cookies for us. My daughter and my younger son never had a problem. My older son when he got out of school is when he gained his weight. He got up to 365 but he is tall. 6'5" He is down to 258 now.

One of these days I will get back to normal I home. Thank you for your concern.

All the best...Ken Maybe i just think to much

Wow. I don't think I could function on those hours. I get to sleep around 9pm and sleep till about 4:30am. I guess it is what you get used to. Interesting to hear that you bake. That's great. Take care of yourself. Bob

Here is my followup from my Urolift. I had the Urolift on December 13 in Iowa City, Iowa. Had urgency pretty bad after procedure and had catheter in for 4 weeks after procedure. When catheter came out, I still couldn't urinate over 20 ccs. I learned to self cath which I did for 3 weeks. It really wasn't bad at all. Saw doctor today, doing very well. Found out the Urolift worked well and i needed it. But I also have an overactive bladder because the urodynamic testing showed that my bladder can only hold 200 ccs of urine before I need to urinate thus I have urgency sooner than most people. The normal amount a bladder holds before you have to urinate is 400-500 ccs. The doctor stopped the Tamulosin and Flomax and started me on Vesicare 5 mg. daily and Cialis 5 mg daily. I dont have any problems anymore. btw.....the medications don't shrink the prostate so much that the bands loosen up and as you age, the prostate gets larger so the Urolift is a very successful for a longer period of time. Please remember to be patient and read the comments and suggest things to your physician. That is what we did and things have gone perfect. Even sex is back to normal. Don't lose hope.

Bob

Thank you. This week I made banana nut bread. The 2 loaf will last all week. Year ago I could ate the whole loaf with a gallon of cold milk. I will not do that again. I may bake a apple pie this week. I have to see if they have the apples on sale.

Going to try to get to bed early and get up early. I know when we get older we need sleep.

I was married for 22 years My X wife was not a home body. I took care of the house the kids worked 40 to 50 hours a week and took care of my father-in-law for 7 years. He was in bed from a stroke. But we do what we have to do. That is why we moved to Florida from Michigan. Been here for 26 years.

That's life....Ken

Mike

Glad it is working out for you. I am going on 4 years for my Urolift. I only had a catheter for 3 days. My bladder was fine at that time. 3 years later is when my doctor learned that I have a tight external. That is why I am taking Vasicare 10 mg. It works great and have no side effects.

How many clips did you have I had 4 put in.

You will get better in time. Just relax Try not to sit for long periods. If you have a recliner that will be better for you.

Take care and enjoy life...Ken

Ken you missed your calling you should have been a urologist!!

Although l am much better and don't need medication still not convinces that fully empty which means l need to go often which is not great .

Ken that sounds like a very similar story to me quit teacher to help my mother after stroke for 5 years until she passed. My wife is not a home body either and l now look after all home duties while she continues to teach. My wife wants to visit Vietnam but l am not keen like to know where the toilets are maybe a resort but no tour for me. Your life sounds similar mate or is that De Ke

Thank you Andy

Yes she was not a home body. She was 6 years younger then I. I had to do it all. I took care of my father-in-law for 7 years had a bad stroke after heart surgery. I took care of my mother-in-law she had breast cancer. Did the same for my parents to. My mother had a stroke also. And my father had liver cancer. We do what we have to do. Somebody had to do it.

But that the way it is sometimes. I have been divorced 16 years. We were divorced one Tuesday and she remarried the next Tuesday. My kids stood by me. But life goes

on.

Take care my friend. Ken

ken my wife is 6 years younger also you sound like a top bloke if you ever get to Melbourne Australia you would be more than welcome to stay . My wife and l went to a music concert with a couple we know and the poor guy suffers depression tried to end it all the sadness would break your heart. He was a lovely man one year younger than me both school teachers and tennis players and now his life is screwed up. You have to count your blessings in this crazy world and hope there is a better place for all of us. Take care my friend

Hey Andy. We sure have a lot in common. My kids use to think it was weird when then say When I got out of high school Mom was in sixth grade.

What is going on with him. You need to talk with him. Just be there so he can vent. There are times when I just take day by day.

I have a friend that was like that he was talked into having his prostate removed because of cancer. His doctor bugged him for month's. He was only 48 at the time. His wife and the doctor would not let up.

It did not work out for him. He does not have cancer but the only way he can get a erection is to give himself a shot. He tried it for a few month but the orgasms were not worth it. He gave up on sex and he is living for his 2 kids. His 52 now. Doctor feel that there doing you a favor for getting rid of the cancer but they don't look at the side effect of the surgery.

What was the worst was he found out it was slow growing. He had a t least 10 years before it would have caused a problem. That is why you have to do your research on everything. The doctor did not feel that it was important to tell him that.

Thank you for the invite. Never been out that far. What is the time change there now. It is 7:30 am here now. Weather is chilly here today. It's 50

Take it easy my friend......Ken

Hi Ken 11 .47 pm just came home from Russell Morris and Brian cadd concert really great show perhaps send me your email getting topic may upset people.

Had Urolift almost 1 year ago 6 clips. Started feeling better initially and felt I was voiding my bladder, but within the last 4 months I have felt the non-voiding feeling again and frequent urination. My physician has scheduled me for another Cysto next week to look at the clips, but believes it could be a bladder spasm issue and not the prostate. I suppose after so many years of prostate issues the bladder can't retrain itself completely?

I know a few have mentioned taking Vesicare to help relax the bladder. My physician prescribed me Myrbetriq which appears to be for the same purpose, but has less chance of potentially causing urine retention. Has anyone ever tried this for the purpose of relaxing the bladder and does it perform similar to Vesicare? I have not started taking it yet as I had to go back on prescription.

Douglas

Vasicare is much better. Been on it for a year.

Ask your doctor to try it He should have some samples...Ken

An update to above. One week after posting the message, all bood and clots stopped! Praise the Lord!!! What changed, I stopped drinking tea with Senna in it, not sure if that made a difference but I did read that Senna can cause blood thinning so it may have contributed. My wife also put me on herbal tea at night for healing, not sure what was in it but it probably helped as well. Also just took it easy for a few days and did not get on airplanes for work, etc. I have since ran two 5 miles sessions and all is fine.Flow is improved from before procedure. Start Stop is much better and still have some urgency when I need to go but not too bad. Message to all is rest afterwards and give it time. Best wishes to all for healing and success with this procedure. I am not on any meds and very thankful.