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
mike1016 charles40613
Posted
I AM ALMOST 1 YEAR POST UROLIFT. I FEEL GREAT. MY UROLIFT WAS FOR A COMPLETE URINARY RETENTION. I HAD A CATHETER ABOUT A MONTH POST OP AND LEARNED TO SELF CATH....WHICH IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK. I LOVE THE UROLIFT AND HAD 4 CLIPS PUT IN. I AM 66 YEARS OLD AND HAD A 100% SUCCESSFUL UROLIFT AND EVERYTHING WORKS GREAT! SEX IS GREAT TOO. BE PATIENT. THINGS GET BETTER EVERY MONTH. IM STILL ON VESICARE AND TAMSULOSIN BUT THATS OK BECAUSE I FEEL GREAT. I DIDNT THINK IT WORKED UNTIL ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER SURGERY. SO HAVE FAITH AND GIVE IT TIME. I HAVE NO REGRETS AND MY LIFE IS BACK TO NORMAL.
2019Guy mike1016
Posted
Mike, thanks a million for your quick answer. That's all wonderful to read (all but the month long cath - wow) and I'm glad to hear that everything's going so well for you!
Guest mike1016
Posted
Hi,
I had 6 put in and Im hoping I start feeling better about this because iys been three weeks and Im not seeing a big difference. I hope you are right about the time and it gets better. Im 56 and this all started about ten years ago with a urinary track infection that ended up in my prostate and game over when that happened.
kenneth1955 Guest
Posted
Deron
Give yourself some time. Most of the time it take 4 weeks to see it but some men take longer we heal at different rates.
I had mine whey I was 58 it is going on 5 years and I'm still open. I was good to go in 2 weeks.
Just relax and take it easy....Ken
2019Guy charles40613
Posted
6 days out from Urolift. I'm still having pain urinating but it's lessening gradually. Emphasis on the adverb there. I'd had clear urine for a few days but in the middle of the night last night ejected a sizable clot, then another a few hours later (smaller) and another in mid-afternoon, smaller still. I'm a bit puzzled by this, as otherwise I have no more reddish tinge. I'm assuming this is normal progress. If anyone has any thoughts I'm all ears. Well, eyes.
Thanks guys.
2019Guy charles40613
Posted
A week out from the procedure I had another blockage that sent me to the ER in distress. They ended up keeping me for 3 days; I just got home last night. A couple of times they were close to sending me to the OR for a camera scope and to possibly cauterize a bleeding site(s), but thankfully that wasn't necessary. Hoping this won't happen again, but right now things seem to be working.
Ess_Kay 2019Guy
Posted
Hi my story is very similar to 2019 guy . I had my urolift on Friday 8 Nov. I was surprised how little discomfort I felt apart from sudden urge to pee and some burning discomfort. I took it easy for first 3 days then got a little more active, day 6 last Thursday did some light gardening. went to bed , had a pee in the middle of the night no problem all clear. then woke up Friday morning to find I'm almost totally blocked and when I managed to get a stream it was blood and clots. so off to ED for a very difficult catheter insertion , took a number of attempts finally surgical doctor called to do it. I had a bladder flush for 18 hours, by this morning running clear and catheter just come out.. need to pass voiding test before I can go home..my doctors thoughts on cause of bleed is I'm on low dose aspirin.. I did stop 7 days before procedure but started again the day after. I won't be starting it again for at least 5 days.. Hope it's all worth it. the level of discomfort iv gone through last days in hospital makes me wonder if I should have bitten the bullet and had TURP done.. good luck all.
2019Guy Ess_Kay
Posted
Thanks for that, Ess_Kay, and sorry you're going through it all this way. When I was in the hosp for those 3 days the catheter insertions were also very painful, and like you I was on CBI (Continuous Bladder Irrigation) for most of the time. Ugh.
As for TURP, well, it's certainly a consideration for anyone with BPH. I find the stats on ED daunting. They're not as high as with some procedures, notably radical prostatectomy, (up to 35% vs. more than 50%), but that 35 is disturbing.
I also have (currently) Gleason 6 prostate cancer and would want to learn more about how a TURP might affect future monitoring and potential treatment.
Hanging in for now!
Evdilos Ess_Kay
Posted
Guy, sorry to hear about the discomfort. My urologist estimated that about 85% of the urolift patients improve. We apparently are in the %50. About three weeks ago I had the laser procedure. I seems to be working but I will know more in about two weeks. My doctor believes that the turp is on the way out.
Evdilos
kenneth1955 Evdilos
Posted
Good Evening All
That is very true.With all the other procedures out there Turp is being done less and less and only by the doctors that do not want to learn other procedures.
Also on another site I have read about 50 post by men that have had a Turp done and about 40 of them all they wanted to do is strap the doctor to the table so he can deal with the same side effect that they are going through.
Incontinence...Leaking....Erection Issue...Retro Ejaculation...Wearing Diapers or Pads
And this is suppose to be a good thing. A better way of life...Lets get real
Best of luck to all...............Ken
Evdilos kenneth1955
Posted
Kenneth,
Thanks for the note. I meant to write that my urologist estimates that about 15% of urolift do not improve. I am not sure if he still does the turp but he said it was a messy operation. Glad I did not do it though at times I was urinating about 12 times a day and getting exhausted.
Best wishes,
Evdilos
kenneth1955 Evdilos
Posted
No problem.
The reason most Urolift fail is because there is something else wrong The Urolift is made to open the prostate. If you have something wrong with your bladder or if you have a median lobe and do not address it then it will fail.
They do have a procedure for the median lobe it is called the MedLift. It has been out a year in a half.
Have a great day...Ken
Ess_Kay kenneth1955
Posted
Hi all, a follow up to my post - firstly thanks for support and I am home now and feeling better. So in all fairness to urolift everything was going fine beyond my expectations until I had the bleed on 7th day post the op. circumstances that contributed to the bleed IMO were me going back onto aspirin 1 day after the op, seemingly recovering well enough to spend a couple of hours gardening on day 6, and that night having a couple of glasses of red wine (which has some blood thinning properties ).. next morning on day 7 , bang.. bleed and off to ED. so lessons learnt, rest and light duties for at least a week after op, stay off aspirin if you can, avoid alcohol (thats the tuffy 🤔) ...
I had the urolift because I wanted to get off duodart and didnt like sound of the TURP, those reasons still stand so hopefully once I'm past the bleed hicup it will be happy days..
kenneth1955 Ess_Kay
Posted
Good Evening
Yes you have to rest your not suppose to do anything for a few week just rest. They also say no sex for 4 weeks. That is because they want the clips to a hear to the prostate.
I was checked a few years ago and they are still in the same place my doctor put them. Almost 5 years for me.
Just relax and talk it slow....Ken
william10248 2019Guy
Posted
i think it is an option but it is definitely not the ideal option fir everyone. i had no other issues and it failed as it has for many others.
Ess_Kay kenneth1955
Posted
Thanks for info Ken. I must say that my doctor did not clearly spell out the do's and dont's post the urolift. His advice on activity, alcohol use and sex was 'dont rush it , but if you think you are up to it then its ok'.. I will be questioning him on this next appointment. cheers Simon.
kenneth1955 william10248
Posted
Hey William
If the prostate is the problem it doe work. But if you have a median lobe and it is not address the procedure will not work or if you have a bladder problem It is not going to work.
It does what it is suppose to do open the prostate and make a tunnel.
Have a great day.....Ken