1. Community
  2. Men's health
  3. Prostate Problems

Turp operation or laser ?or leave alone?

Posted , 93 users are following.

graham30431
graham30431

Hello there I am 59 years old, I have been diagnosed with bph for several. Years now , psa ok around 2.5 checked every year, symptoms getting worse, peeing several times during the night , also severe retention if leave it too long when need to go .do not leak! (Yet) and would appreciate feedback from others who have had the procedure ( good and bad) The alfuziin 10 mg tablets seem to make little difference, and wondering whether to go ahead or carry on.

6 likes, 975 replies

975 Replies

Prev Next
  • Chip_Bunker
    Chip_Bunker graham30431

    Posted

    Hi Graham:

    I have been to SIX urologists here in Southern California.  All have given me different suggestions!

    One wanted to TURP right away.  Another taught me how to "Self Cath."   Another gave me Flomax.  Another said wait and see.  One said HOLEP. Another - in Germany - said EP (ejaculate preserving) TURP.  One said a "Mini-TURP."  Another said Urolift.  

    WOW!!!  I guess that is why they call it "Practicing the ART of medicine." And these were all fancy med-school graduates.  Amazing.

    But - just like having an attorney - the ultimate decision is the client's to make.  

    The majority of docs - along with Urolift corporate office - said Urolift will not help a person with a median lobe - like I have.  So maybe I will be the test rabbit.  I have a median lobe.  Maybe it will work on me?

    But this does suck.  Haha.  But I am grateful to have options.  

    Can you imagine being a villager in the Amazon with this problem?  What on earth do these poor chaps do?  Self-Cath with a stick everyday?

    • Jezzaman
      Jezzaman Chip_Bunker

      Posted

      So what are you going to do?

      Too many options!"

      IS the EP in Germany the very expensive option I think I have read about?

      Jeremy

  • robert78408
    robert78408 graham30431

    Posted

    Hi Graham, I had the TURP procedure on Thursday 3/9/2015 just on 12 Days ago at the Norwest Private Hospital in BellaVista Sydney.  All went according to the recovery procedures described in the various articles on recovery. Bleeding stopped on Friday 11 after 8 days.

    It started again on Sunday 12 after 10 days, again as described in the recovery documentation. I saw that I did pass some large lumps.

    But today Monday 14 Sept, I began to feel uncomfortable in the mid morning, had lots of burping and gas. I walked around a bit then went into bed.  I started to shake quite uncontrollably and feel a bit nauseous and my feet felt cold. I took a Panamax and had some water.  It thought about going to the Emergency unit but then the pain started to subside and also the shaking. 

    I have drunk more water and then passed urine three times. Now the bleeding seems to have cleared again and Urine was clear.

    Hope I start to feel better this afternoon.

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 robert78408

      Posted

      Thats a hell of a procedure I hope it helps you and you feel much better.  I will put you in my prayers...Get well  Ken 
  • jim31207
    jim31207 graham30431

    Posted

    I turned 59 (today) and will be having a TURP tomorrow in the DC area of the US. I am in good health, work out when I can, don't smoke, seldom drink and eat a good diet. MY PSA started rising about 5-6 years ago and I eventually had a prostate biopsy. It came back negative.  At the time I was not having many issues at all.  As my PSA continued to rise I was put on Flomax which I quit taking as it made me feel like I had the flu all the time.  PSA continued to rise (to 7.5) and then I started having accute retention of urine.  Over the past 15 months I have been in the emergency room 4 times to get a catheter.  Had a second biopsy this past February which was also negative.  That Urologist also measured the size of my prostate which he said was over 100 cc (or is it grams?). Anyway he said it was 5 times larger than the average man's.  Ejaculation and erections have been fine.  He put me on Alfuzosin and Finesteride in Feb.  I did not start taking the Finesteride until June after my 3rd emergency room visit.  Orgasms and erections remain fine but the amount of ejaculate and force has diminished.  The Urologist I am using now (in the same practice) had me in her office during August for a scope with a  camera that was inserted in my penis so she could determine the shape of the prostate and look at its size. She told me that the medicine was only going to be a band aid and recommended that I have the TURP.  She told me that I could be taught how to self catherterize (which I knew I just would not be able to do) but that only treats the sypmtoms and eventually I faced doing damage to my kidneys. Currently, I get up at night at least twice to urinate.  I always try to double void but I deal with dribbling and sometimes the sense of urgency. I have noticed in the last week or so that my stream is stronger and have been wondering if perhaps the Finesteride has started to shrink my prostate, though towards the end of last week I had a morning where it was difficult to get my stream started. As you guys can imagine I have read and talked to people and heard anecdotal tales...I am very apprehensive about the procedure tomorrow.  The Doctor told me I could go to a movie if I wanted within a couple of days of being released.  She seems very confident in the procedure and she has high ratings in the area. I am at peace with the retro ejaculation issue as is my partner, so I am less worried about that than I am going through this procedure and finding out it may take months to heal from it and not get the relief I am hoping for.  I suppose if it cures the retention issue (that is frightening and potentially harmful in and of itself) then maybe it will be worth it.  I will come back and post my experiences in case it is helpful to anyone...reading the postings here helped me feel less alone in this than any other site I have visited.
    • bob120
      bob120 jim31207

      Posted

      Jim,

      If you keep going into retention you really have no choice. I have had two GL laser procedures in the past three years, and finally a classic wire turp about 6 months ago. I can say the aftermath of the t GL lasers was about 8-9 weeks of bleeding and painful urinations, however the aftermath of the turp was less painful, though I did have bleeding and pain at the end of urination for about 6 weeks. People all heal differently, and some seem to be good in a few days. I was not. I had a very large prostate (probably well over 140 g.) so my uro said he removed 70g. on the first GL, trimmed the bladder mouth and removed stones with the second GL, and removed another 70g. with the turp. He told me I now have a 40g prostate including a non-protruding 15 g. median lobe. My theory is the bigger the prostate, the longer the recovery, but I have no real data on that. 

      Regarding retro, I was pleasantly surprised that it had no effect on my enjoyment of sex, The ejculate just goes into the bladder instead of out the penis. For me the orgasms are just the same. 

      Good luck tomorrow. 

      Bob

    • carl11484
      carl11484 bob120

      Posted

      I'm dealing with making a decision to have the TURP or another choice that don't have retrograde ejaculation as a side effect...

      The reason I have a hard decision to make is I've had ED issues since 09 from a stroke, I had penial implant surgery this past Jan. so I'd to keep my ejaculation around as long as I can after not having it since 09...

      Does anyone else see this the way I do.

      Let me know what you all think

    • lester90053
      lester90053 jim31207

      Posted

      Your entire story is almost the same as mine only I am 85 and I have decided that I will wear a catheter for the rest of my life. I had GL laser 3 years ago with almost a year of recovery. Now they want me to do TURP. I don't think I will be able to make it through again. Better get another male urologist's opinion and ask what he would do if he had that problem personally.
    • carl11484
      carl11484

      Posted

      I'm 48 years young.

      I ended up in the hospital this past Sat. due to retention, they cathed me an had 800 in me. The cath was to painful when seen doc today took cath out now I'm self cathing until I figure out what route is best for me.

    • lester90053
      lester90053 carl11484

      Posted

      Too painful because they used the wrong size tube. Probably an inexperienced clinician.
    • carl11484
      carl11484 lester90053

      Posted

      It was size 16 leaked all around it made a mess. Im using 18 to self cath now.
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 jim31207

      Posted

      Jim I have read your post and I think you have throught about the procedure and the side effect.  I hope they go as planned But I did read that you are apprehensive about having it.  With that I would not go through with it because you can't change your mind after it's done. and I think your just being talked into it.  Please think about it again  Ken 
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 carl11484

      Posted

      Carl if you can't say for sure you what the turp don't.  Try something else first.  Once you have the turp you can't go back  Good look  Ken
    • carl11484
      carl11484 kenneth1955

      Posted

      Today I went an talked to surgeon again, explained all my thoughts to him an my feelings about the side effects.

      I go the 13th an to speak to another surgeon about my options for my case...

      I'd appreciate your thoughts and others if they was in my shoes.

      I'm just trying to educate mys lf as much as I can, so I know what are the possible side effects an issues on down the line..

      Thanks so .much

      Carl

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 carl11484

      Posted

      Carl I am happy that your still looking into the best procedure for you.  I had a uro-lift in april.  My prostate was the size of a lemon.  I had 4 implants put in.  Pee great now.  At your age I would look at other procedures. Not saying it would but things happen.  Doctors don't know everthing..Read up on anything and write down the pros and cons  Ken 
    • carl11484
      carl11484 kenneth1955

      Posted

      Ken,

      I've read so of the urolift surgery, some said this causes retrograde ejaculation.

      Is that true or not.

      At my age 48 I think loosing ejaculation would be tough for a guy my age.

      I just had penial implant surgery this past Jan. An would like to enjoy my ability to cum for a while more.

      I've had ED issues from the age of 32 do to a stroke.

      Thanks Carl

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 carl11484

      Posted

      Let me tell you It does not.  I have had ED problem for the last 5 years and last year when I was in the hospital  A male RN damaged some of the upper vains in my penis from forcing a catheter in me. Don't get as hard but still can have a good time.  Have cum 4 time in one day.  I don't think a men likes to think about loosing that part of his life. Now if I was told that I had cancer of the prostate then my life is first.  But till then I will keep doing it.  When I was on a pill I had them.  To me it a waste of time and it hurt my bladder.  They tell you all is the same but it's not  Take care  Ken   
    • lester90053
      lester90053 kenneth1955

      Posted

      Forcing an oversize catheter tube can do permanent damage. Hospitals and nurses do carry professional liability insurance. Consult an attorney.
    • joe12590
      joe12590 kenneth1955

      Posted

      Hi can you tell me the name and phone number of the dr that did your URO lift my prostate is 97g and my dr won't do the URO lift , plz get back thanks joe
    • bob120
      bob120 carl11484

      Posted

      Hi Carl,

      I think you are confusing retrograde ejaculation (the liquid goes into the bladder instead of out the penis) with orgasm. Orgasm is the pleasure part. Ejaculation is just the liquid part. Some people say it's not the same but to me it was and is no different. I never actually felt liquid coming out of me, just the spasms of orgasm which hasn't changed at all. I also have ED and a man doesn't have to have a strong erection to have an orgasm. In fact taking a Cialis or Viagara reduces my pleasure because it makes me somewhat numb.  

      The only important thing here is that you get out of retention with some sort of procedure, be it self cathing or turp or holep or urolift. The urolift has as many people who it hasn't worked out for as the other procedures. There's no way to know in advance, although the urolift is not supposed to be for prostates over 80 g. or prostates with large median lobes. They won't perform urolift in those cases. The one procedure I would not recommend is the Green Light laser. At least with the turp or holep they analyze the tissue for cancer.

      Bob

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 lester90053

      Posted

      With the male RN not saying a word to me I was not ready to have anything put in anywere.  It would have been nice to have him tell me something or ask me some questions.  But it over and it will never happen again.  The only good thing that happen was I found a good urologist.  He found a stricture just before the prostate. It was from kidney stones.  Unless you know about it there is nothing going in the bladder.  Thank and good hearth  Ken  
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 joe12590

      Posted

      Sure I hope he can help you.....Dr. Zamip Patel..258 S Chickasaw Trail. Suite 200  Orlando Fl 32822  407-303-6865.  Take care  Ken
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 carl11484

      Posted

      Carl..  I had dry orgasms with a pill I was on.  Did not care for them.  You stiil have the orgasms but nothing comes out.  When I had mine my bladder hurt for a while.  I did not feel complete and you do feel it coming out.  Which feel great.  Ay your age I still fell you will enjoy it when ever you can.....Ken     
    • jimjames
      jimjames lester90053

      Posted

      Hi Lester, Don't know your entire history but have you considered self catherization (CIC) instead wearing a Foley long term? Certainly gives you more freedom to move around. I did CIC for 2 1/2 years and it worked out very good. Another option is a sub pubic catheter with or without a valve. Again, more freedom of movement than a Foley plus your urethra won't have anything in it. 
    • jimjames
      jimjames carl11484

      Posted

      Retro ejaculation was the primary reason I decided not to have a TURP. My choice was self-catherization (CIC) while waiting for some of the other procedures like PAE to develop. It's not as bad as it sounds and after a couple of months it's about as big a deal as brushing your teeth.

      Jim

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 jimjames

      Posted

      Every man is different.  They tell you all will be the same but not for everyone.  Retro or dry orgasm to me is a waste of time.  I felt not done and was looking for the finish.  You pick the procedure you are good with.  I may consider a trup if it was the only thing to pick from put it's not.  Take care and good health...Ken 
Back to top
Prev Next

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.