The Urolift procedure; patient views and questions

Hi Simon, I jumped in after two weeks which proved to be a mistake. I had a very painful orgasm that compelled me to wait a few weeks more. When I felt that things had begun to normalize with urination, pain, etc., I decided to introduce sexual activity by masturbation (I guess we can speak freely here). I felt that that way I could have a bit more control of the process. When that worked out well I felt confident to have sex with my partner. I hope that helps. Bert

Hi Bert, thanks for response and advice. I have received the same advice from another forum member, so I will be following your recommendation... Another few weeks will take me to xmas, so I will treat myself to a hand job then and fingers crossed all equipment downstairs is found to be functioning normally. cheers Simon

Simon, 4 weeks off sex after Urolift seems to be standard advice. I followed this and did indeed experience a painful ejaculation the first or maybe first couple of times. But it wasn't egregious, especially considering the circumstances (had basically only been waving hello and goodbye to my wife for a month!).

Evdilos, I was on tamsulosin for the better part of a year and found it did nothing for me except make me extremely tired all the time. A few weeks after the Urolift I went off it and it was like night and day. Tamsulosin and Terazosin (and there may be others, I don't know) work to relax the muscles in the bladder and prostate. Finasteride or Dutasteride (that's Proscar and Avodart here in the US) work more slowly to shrink the size of the prostate. They also help with hair loss, at least as long as you keep taking them.

Whether one or the other class of drugs is better for you is for each man to find out. In general my docs say that tamsulosin (Flomax here) is more effective than terasozin (Hytrin here).

As for the Urolift itself... I'm about 7 weeks out and I see only a very small improvement. I'm being patient, as Kenneth here has suggested and my docs have too, but I have a feeling that by now I'm getting pretty much all I will out of it. I'd say I'm improved by 10-15%, that's a wild guess. Maybe thinks will tick up a coupla points over the next weeks.

Evildos, I'm very sorry to read that your two procedures were unsuccessful. I know that statistically the 'lift gives geninue improvement in only about 75-80% of cases, so figure you and I are among the lucky others.

Personally I'm wondering if a TURP is in my future. It's something a surely don't want but might eventually have to accept.

Hope you're both feeling well otherwise.

David

David,

Thanks so much for the note. It does seem that our situations are similar though I am 80 and probably older. We are dealing with an inexact science. My urologist thought that the procedure was perfect. The results were not good. I cannot say that I am incontinent but yesterday I was in McDonald's and peed in my pants.

I too have wondered about Turp but I am going to hold off.

I am back on Tamsolusin, one pill before I go to bead. It helps reduce the times I get up from 5 to 6 to maybe 3. Do not notice any negative effects.

I can't complain about life./ I walk 18 holes once or twice a week and swim nearly a mile 2 to 3 times a week. Last fall I spent a month in Greece and go through the airports without an accident.

I am a retired professor and spend a lot of time writing. I worry that a turp might make things worse.

Hope things get better for you.

Best wishes,

Tony

Hey Tony, really sorry to hear about the incontinence. I hope it's transitory. Like you I'm very reluctant to think about TURP right now. I'm glad tamsulosin helps you. Even when I was taking it I was still getting up probably 6-8 times a night, mostly in the early morning.

Great that you're getting that much exercise. Keep it up!

Going to have procedure on the 28th, should I get some depends or guards for the week after? Will be off of work for 5 days, but have to return on day 6.

In the first couple weeks after the procedure, did any you have leakage or urinary accidents?

There seems to be a wide range of outcomes from the posts I've read. My situation was probably different than most due to an error during the procedure where a "staple" was placed incorrectly. The extraction extended the procedure over an hour. I was then given a catheter that I had to wear for a week. Many procedures don't seem to require a catheter but some docs want patients to have them for a couple of days. Upon removal I bought some depends, just in case and did find that there was urgency at times where I barely made it to the toilet in time. Might be a good precautionary measure for you if you have concerns. Good luck! Let us know how it goes. Bert

I didn't have a problem with that at all. I hope your doctor does a general anesthesia. Mine did not and it was extremely painful. My doctor told me (among other things like there was no pain) that I could go about my regular activities the next day but that was not true. 7 - 10 is more realistic but 6 might be okay.

Uncomfortable but no leakage.

Having it on the 28th, Dr is using gas and a prostate block. Naturally a little nervous. Prostate is less than 80cc and no medial lobe. Mainly wanting to get off the meds. Have to be at work on 3rd hoping by then Ill be able to do that. Do not know if he will put in a catheter.

Of course you are nervous. Anytime anyone if messing around down there it is scary. Hopefully you will breeze through it. Chances are you would only be on a catheter a day or two, if at all. There will be some discomfort either way but typically not intolerable. You should be in good enough shape to get back to work by the 3rd in my opinion. Just go easy with physical tasks for a while. I made the mistake of getting back to sex prematurely (2 weeks) and proved to be a mistake. I would advise at least a month and then go slow with it.

Your parameters suggest that it will be a straightforward procedure with a greater probability of a successful outcome. It will be great for you to get off of the meds!

sorry to hear it didnt work for you. fingers crossed mine works. I decided to have the procedure because I wanted to get off meds (duodart).. good luck and best regards - Simon