Total incontinence after two Turp surgeries.

Posted , 7 users are following.

I had Green Laser Turp procedure on March 10 to address BPH affecting mostly the medial lobe.  Two months later, I was still totally incontinent, requring 6 to 10 Depends per day.  A cystoscopy exam show a lot attached debris left from the Green laser procedure.  A second procedure (cyrus Turp this time)  was done three weeks ago was done to clean out the debris from the first procedure, and to remove some additional part of the medial lobe.  I'm still totally incontinent, meaning that if I'm up and about, nothing is retained in the bladder.  As I sleep on my back, enough urine can be retained to wake me; by making a bee line to the bathroom, I find that I have had as much at 500 ml of urine, but most typically 200 to 300 ml.

Is this total incontinence after a Turp procedure normal or typical for someone who had no previous incontinence issues?  My health at age 77 is otherwise very good as I hiked and biked and weigh within 5 lbs of my high school weight.   I've did a lot of Kugel and other exercises with a therapist, but am not doing that at this time.   I try to stay positive, but changing multiple times per day, washing up, and cleaning up my dribbles from the bathroom floor is exhausting.   I have also used a couple kinds of urether clamps (e.g. Cunningham)  for short periods so I can get through a meeting or a church service.  I've also been using an external catheter and bag some days.  I find that more tolerable than the constantly wet Depends diaper, especially on hot humid days.  But since I am not circumcised, using the condom device to collect urine has its own problems.

If anyone has been down this road and got through it, I would like your comments.   And if some ultimately had to resort to surgery to install an artifical spincter, I would appreciate learning about that experience.  (And where in the US are the top centers for artificial spincter surgery.)

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    Not a happy story. Essentially, the green light surgeon butchered you it seems.

    I cannot say if it is a fairly typical result, but certainly not very rare.

    May I suggest that the best way forward for the short term might be a Foley catheter, which would drain into a leg bag and a night bag (on a plastic frame). At least you would be dry all the time. Hopefully, within a reasonable time your bladder muscle will regain it's tone. You would need to keep the foley for up to 2 months, changing for a new one every 2-3 weeks.

  • Posted

    I had Green Light 4 years ago and after a lengthy recovery I was doing great. Then about a year ago I was in an auto accident and complete retention reoccured. I had to have a catheter for 8 months and then my urine flow returned to about 75% of normal which it still is after 8 months. I was offered TURP and after I refused I was told that if I wait a little longer my system will return which it did. A peer review by a prominent urologist confirmed that my retention after 3 years of surgery was caused by the accident.
  • Posted

    Sorry to read of your troubles Glenn.

    I had a similar op, HoLEP (supposedly the next step up from green laser).

    I'm afraid I don't have any help to offer - the two others here seem to offer good advice.

    For me, and one of the reasons for my responding, is that I too have found the op didn't live up to the billing. For starters, the haematuria and leukocytes lasted over a year. And tho' the flow is much improved for much of that time, of late I am back to 2 or 3 trips to the bathroom at night.

    I don't have any retention (it was up to 1L; and during my last bladder cancer treatment, which involved pouring a concoction into the bladder, they found I had little retention).

    It seems that urologists are more varied than certianly I thought. 

    I'm now pondering my next step. I'll see if the urologist at my next bladder inspection (due in 2 weeks), and who I have a high respect for and know he's highly rated in the profession, can also check up on my prostate.

  • Posted

    Glenn I am sorry that you are having a problem. What does your doctor say about the artificial spincter, I watched the video on it, It looks like a good thing. I would not have anymore SURGERYS BY THE DOCTORS. The last 2 did not work what a mess Good luck Ken

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.