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
steve52719 charles40613
Posted
HI Ed,
My cisto was done seperatly..more painful than the actual proceedure.. Yes, they determine if you are a candidate first. . I am about 3 years out. A little better flow with fewer night visits.
emmet12375 charles40613
Posted
I had this done 2 years ago in New Jersey. Top urologist. I had a horrible recovery time. It lasted for over 6 months with all of the symptoms that have been mentioned except blood in urine. I had so much discomfort that after 6-7 months i had the urologist put a scope in me to check if the bands had moved or were in the wrong place. He said they looked ok. To this day i still had an uncomfortable feeling, much like a urinary tract infection during urination. I have to take URO-MP, a pill to decrease the discomfort. Looks like I will always have to take it. And I still get up more than normal in the night to pee. And i still have urgency to pee from time to time.
Biggest problem i have now is that about 6 months ago my penis has developed a bend in it when erect. I'm wondering if the URO Lift procedure has caused this, or if its just another damn thing my old age has thrown at me. I havent gone to the urologist yet but its getting worse so I will have to soon.
If anybody else has this problem i would like to hear about it. Im very disappointed with the overall results from the URO lift procedure.
ramblin emmet12375
Posted
I had a urolift in October of last year and it left me worse off than before, with constant pain. I have a sharp pain which never quite goes away, and sometimes is quite intense, at the procedure site. I am going in for a PAE on May 28, but afterwards I am seriously considering having the clips removed. I realize that only the urethral side can be removed, but at least that would ease the tension.
Ess_Kay emmet12375
Posted
Hi,
I have only just found this website / forum, and by now you have probably worked out that the bend in your penis is most likely Peyronies disease. You need to see your Urologist. It can be expensive to fix, good luck with it.
ramblin Ess_Kay
Posted
What are you reading? I did not report a "bend in my penis."
ramblin Ess_Kay
Posted
Sorry - I see that you were replying to Emmet12375.
kauaijim charles40613
Posted
Three months out with moderate improvement. Went Cleveland Clinic urology for assessment of proper procedure after brachytherapy and radiation. Cystoscope and urodynamic testing done prior to urolift. All procedures painless but pain with Foley at tip of penis because of blood encrustation. After that except for typical bleeding and some clots all went well and home to South Carolina next day. Got better slowly. Up 2X per night with higher urinary frequency during day but can maintain activity with little problem. From reading this forum it is clear that everyone has a different experience that is not quite as smooth as pep talk prior to procedure indicates.
Did self cath for five months after brachytherapy. Got pretty good at it with hydrophilic caths. Much better after procedure as this is no longer needed.
kauaijim charles40613
Posted
Three months out with moderate improvement. Went Cleveland Clinic urology for assessment of proper procedure after brachytherapy and radiation. Cystoscope and urodynamic testing done prior to urolift. All procedures painless but pain with Foley at tip of penis because of blood encrustation. After that except for typical bleeding and some clots all went well and home to South Carolina next day. Got better slowly. Up 2X per night with higher urinary frequency during day but can maintain activity with little problem. From reading this forum it is clear that everyone has a different experience that is not quite as smooth as pep talk prior to procedure indicates.
Did self cath for five months after brachytherapy. Got pretty good at it with hydrophilic caths. Much better after procedure as this is no longer needed.
william59988 charles40613
Posted
I had the Urolift about 10 days ago. All seems to be going OK, but I am horny! I believe the doctor said to wait about 2 weeks before ejaculation. Does this seem to be the consensus?
kenneth1955 charles40613
Posted
Hey Charles
First of all give yourself time to heal.If you are only at 2 week give it time. Most of the time the doctor tell you you should see improvement in 4 weeks. That is also the time they tell you that you can have sex. The reason they want the clips to a here to the prostate.
I had mine done over 4 years ago. 4 clips still open. It was only out 6 month's and I was my doctors 20th patient that he did it. I had mine done in a surgery center under a general wait home with a catheter. It was only in for 3 days. Being I never had one before I took pads with me just in case. They filled it and when the nurse to the fluid out of the ball I shot it out all over the floor.
I made sure I put the pad in my under ware because I was not going home. Glad I did because within 15 minutes I had to go. I stopped at the place and only got the one leg out of the car. The pad held it all and boy did it feel great.
For any procedure you should have a catheter not all men can pee after the procedure because the prostate is swelling. We are all different. I was good to go in a week. The first day after the catheter came out It burned when I peed but only that first day
It is a good idea to talk with your doctor. It is real up to him.
Take care and relax. Try not to sit on the prostate to much........All the best.....Ken
hwstock charles40613
Posted
Hi, I know this is an old thread, but I'm curious how you did with the trek to Everest Base Camp.
I had a urolift 8 days ago, and feel decent-- easier to pee, but not a really great improvement. No catheter, and frankly, the ravages of the antibiotics (cefuroxime and metronidazole) were far worse than anything else. I had a TURP 5.5 years ago, and it seemed to work right away, but the effect faded away in about 6 months. (My bladder is partly paralyzed from a botched operation 43 years ago. )
I also "hike" a lot. I had great plans for this summer, but pushed it a bit too far early on. Two times I ran down from Charleston Peak near Las Vegas, dropping about 4500', and irritated my bladder and prostate. Six other times I dropped significant elevations quickly, though at a fast walk, and even that was irritating. By mid July it was difficult to urinate., and I was getting up a lot at night.
I am itching to get back out, I'm just a bit worried more descents will bring me back to the same place, or pop a polyester fiber. etc.
jamie54 hwstock
Posted
Not sure if this is addressed to me, but I did indeed go to Everest this past November and I did post about getting the Urolift procedure last August, so I'll answer in any event.
My direct personal experience with Urolift is that there was no dramatic change. I still pee a lot and while there may be a small improvement in overall flow, it's nothing to write home about. What has changed is that I hardly ever have any difficulty starting - and with respect to a month-long trek in Nepal, that made all the difference in the world. Before the operation, I'd had a few times at altitude (skiing at Mammoth, > 8K ft) where I had to pee but couldn't. Painful and scary. The thought of that happening days away from medical help in a foreign country was enough to give me second thoughts. However, within a week or two of the Urolift, that problem disappeared and ceased to be a concern.
My buddy and were on the trail for 23 days, from an low of 4,000ft to the top of Kala Phattar at 18,500ft, and never once during that trip (or since) was urinating an issue. I hardly thought about it. For that reason, I have absolutely no regrets about getting it done. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
But, again, I can't say it's made much of a difference in my frequency or flow rate. As long as I know I can start, I've just learned to be patient.
Hope this helps.
hwstock jamie54
Posted
Thanks Jamie! I am encouraged by your comments. My OMG moment happened when I was sleeping in my backpacking tent in a cold rain. I could no longer kneel and pee in a jar. 10x I had to get out of the tent, strip down naked, and go outside to pee, then towel off before I got back in the bag. I thought, "this is no fun anymore."
My response was just nullified by some random key combo, I hope this doesn't get posted twice.
blake26564 charles40613
Posted
I had the Urolift procedure done the first week of June 2019 I have had issues with no improvement yet My stream is still the same as prior to the surgery i am currently having some discomfort on the left side of my bladder, left testicle and kidney No infection My doctor has said that they have had one incident where a stable has pierced through the prostate and into the bladder. I am beginning to wonder if this is what has happened in my case. I am meeting with the doctor as soon as I can get an appointment to discuss. I will keep all updated.
geoffrey61005 blake26564
Posted
Hi my urologist said my very minor improvement is due to the bladder having lost elasticity due to pushing urine through a constricted urethra for 4 years . so still up 4/5 times a night. if that is the case with you it is unlikely to improve. look up trabeculation.
hwstock geoffrey61005
Posted
Very likely what has occurred, but 4x a night is an improvement for me.