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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

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  • dave72557
    dave72557 graham30431

    Posted

    Hi Guys, fairly confident i can say that without addressing women...dont think there would be to many women with Prostate problems. Anyway, I have been following everyone's condition in here and thought I'd just give an update on mine.

    Quick rundown, I have had BPH for about 30 years then about 8 months ago everything just stopped..nil void,  a catheter was inserted at local Hospital...TURP followed 2 months later and had a TURP about 4 months ago. Going by what's written here,  I believe I am one of the lucky ones and except for huge blood clots after 1-2 weeks (frightened the hell out of me) I have recovered from the operation quite fast. There is still some incontinence but my big problem  is retrograde ejeculation...I hate it,  but if that's what it takes then so be it! 

    • dave72557
      dave72557

      Posted

      Dont know how to edit so I need to correct something in my last post.(keept getting interupted).....my TURP was 4 months after the catheter was removed then had a void and flow test 4 weeks ago...everything is fine so far ! smile
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 dave72557

      Posted

      Hello  I just saw your post.  I think alot of the problems men are having is that they do not look up any information on the procedures that they are going to have.  The doctor tell them what they know and that everything will be the same.  With any procedure that they cut away at the prostate retrograde ejeculation is a given (  I hated them 2  Had them with a pill I was on.  To me it did not feel the same and the pain in the bladder I hated )  I had a uro-lift done 6 week ago and all is fine.  Please guys get has much information on anything you plan on having and be ready for the sife effect  Good Health to all  Ken
  • peter06554
    peter06554 graham30431

    Posted

    I have been following this discussion with interest. I was diagnosed with Prostrate cancer purley by accident. Following a considerable period of time and problems with urination. I had Turps with some sucess. My PSA registere 1.3 and i struggled on.The urologist as i was about to leave said. Let me check your prostrate.It was enlarged,. followed by the Biopsey which showed glesson 9 and stage 4.At the very first meeting with the cancer nurse she said "im Sorry you have around 12 months.that was 2010.

    I was offered a trial which i rejected and this definitly did nott meet the approval of the consultant and futher appoinments were very cold and clinical. I had 4 weeks of radiation.Made a formal conmplaint and transfered to another consultant.Who advised me that an error had occurred in reading the scan. marks on my lungs were not cancer but the effects of smoking 100 a day.I stopped in 1994.

    It became clear that I do not produce PSA and I have scans every three months. had a lot of problems with bleeding and the scan shows i had had a stone in my bladder.This is caused by a build up of by products of the bladder becuase of problems emtying the bladder. had it removed and another turps. took nearly a month to stop with problems with clots etc. Now fine.

    Following my scan in october last year. i was given 12 months again.I was put on Abiraterione and steriods. 12 months later im told the cancer has shrunk back and no new cancer seen.

    As a result of the treatment I have lymthodma in my legs. diabetes 2 and hypertension. I stuggle to walk any distance but i have no pain and im still alive.

    my advise is very simple. do what ever you have to do to stay alive.Dont complain about it or ponder over it just do it and keep fighting.I know that sooner or later ill have no choices but for now take every day as it comes.

    • RonTexan
      RonTexan peter06554

      Posted

      You have an excellent attitude, Peter, just keep on keepin on. Best wishes to you. Ron
  • james53226
    james53226 graham30431

    Posted

    Hi , I been dealing with a enlarged Prostate gland for six months after seeing the first male urologist  . He tested me and told me what I had after telling him all of my issues with getting up four times at night to pee and not getting my sleep . He put me on medicine to shrink my prostate but the side effects were bad so he put me on another drug and that was just as bad . I finally stop taking them and endeup seeing a new women urologists who I like . She did a precedure on me where they go in your urethra and take pictures . After that test she put me on Proscar and had me self cathing twice daily to empty my bladder completly . I stop taking Proscar because it too had bad side effects . Forget getting any type of erection on that drug , that drug will ruin your sex life bug time ! So a friend of mine told me about the drug called Cialis , it was for ED problems and later it was approved for shrinking the prostate . I told her about that drug and ask that she put me on it and she did . dhe gave me a 30 day sample pack to try out first , no side effects and I'm now getting up once after five hours of sleeping so maybe its working plus I get great erections now ! She is doing a bladder pressure test on me in two weeks before considering TURP . On my last visit with her I ask her about surgery and she said the surgery would be TURP surgery . After looking into that and reading some of the comments here now I'm not sure if I want to do it . Maybe stick with the Cialis medicine . I really not sure that drug is working to shrink my prostate . She might have to do another precedure where they go in my urethra and check my prostate gland using her scope . Anyway the after effects of the TURP surgery is making me a bit nerves . 
    • bob120
      bob120 james53226

      Posted

      Hi James,

      Welcome to the conversation. Cialis doesn't shrink the prostate, it relaxes it similar to the way flomax or tamsulosin does. The erections are just an added benefit.

      I recently used up my 30 day free trial of Cialis. I was going to fill my prescription for another 30 day supply of the 5mg. daily cialis pills, only to find out that my insurance and medicare do not cover cialis, and each pill costs over $11. That was $340 for a 30 day supply. I decided I'd rather have the money than the erections.

      If you are still cathing with the cialis, then they aren't doing much for your urine retention issues. I found they were less effective in increasing my stream than the tamsulosin was. I'm taking the tamsulosin 2x a week. A bottle of 90 pills is less than $15 out of pocket for me. 

      It may be your choices are limited to a prostate procedure or cathing.

    • Tomsenior
      Tomsenior bob120

      Posted

      I found Tamsulosin pretty useless tho no bad side effects. Went for TURP op, 2 in fact as prostate regrew 6 years later, and never regretted it for one moment as had severe retention probs before that. Only minus point is retrograde ejaculation but don't mind that as I get good firm erections and no loss of sensation during orgasm. Would go for TURP every time rather than mess about with useless drugs, especially the ones that muck up your sex life.
    • surfman012
      surfman012 Tomsenior

      Posted

      I have to agree here....i am 5 weeks into recovery after turp, feel much better, and am even back on the bike (limited to 2 x 50k per week) don`t mind retro ejaculation(less mess to cuddle)  and the discomfort ater a pee is lessening each week,as is the demand factor !! and the night time peeing corresponds to fluid intake after 9pm < less="" in="" less="" out="">>  watching and waiting  and drug use not recommended......
    • Tomsenior
      Tomsenior surfman012

      Posted

      Glad to hear you are recovering fine. As for the drugs, Tamsulosin might work for some people but it didn't for me but it's worth trying as a first step as it doesn't seem to have any bad side effects tho some people report dizzy spells and headaches tho I didn't have that - just didn't work. Definitely avoid the ones that claim to reduce the size of the prostate, finasteride? is one of them I think, as they are basically female hormones similar to the ones used to chemically castrate poor old Alan Turing back in the fifties. If Tamsulosin doesn't work go for TURP every time.
    • surfman012
      surfman012 Tomsenior

      Posted

      I agree with you Tom, I think the Tamsulosin had an effect on me pee wise, i was also taking Urispas as well, and they did get to grips with my bladder! Asw e found out my prostate was near mormal !! so the TUIP procedeure aws ubdertaken, and as an aside  my prostate was cleared !!and of course they were able to   check the "shavings" for any cancer etc problems (all clear). On after care question time the surgeon confirmed that i had had a turp with a bladder neck incision(tuip) and all appeared to go very well! The dissappointing thing for me was the total lack of after care info and i quote the Surgeon the ward senior sister and the discharge paper that arrived 3 days later!! " takke it easy for 2/3 weeks and no heavy lifting ??".........So that was it, and i may have gone along for 2/3 weeks as told, but have started cycling as described before, the worst thing i poss could have done ..i did.. strimming our land for 6hours at a go ( NOT RECOMMENED) 4 weeks after op, i did feel unwell and the discomfort..stinging and full bladder sensation returned for 4/5 days, (paracetemol) helped here!! and now 10 days after that event, i have cycled again ..max 50 kms, and so far all ok, so , i deduce that defineately no exercise for 3weeks except GENTLE walking, no sex for a month at least!!, then gentle return to normal activity and in my case i mean gentle!!. I endorse your comments about drugs>>> i did feel light headed  at times ..dizzy when getting up quickly, blocked nose , when eventually sleeping i snored!! and occasional loose bowel movement. I would recommend a procedeure every time. But really quetion your consultant and surgeon on what happens AFTERWARDS.. do not get fobbed off as i did.. When i saw my GP 10 days after the op he was more informative than any other source!!! Even so the advice was sketchy..............good luck every one out  there anticipating an op, be positive, the odds are always in yuor favour.
  • peter09839
    peter09839 graham30431

    Posted

    Hi Graham

    Just read yesterday in the Daily Mail 18/11/14 of a new TURP technique called TURis which is the same as TURP but uses electric current instead of thermal heat. The stay in hospital is 1 day instead of 2-3 days or longer (5 days) if like me you bleed a lot due to thin blood. It uses saline to wash the urethra instead of Glycine which can cause TUR syndrome in some patients. The risk of of bleeding is also reduced according to the report. I wish I had known this before as I would have opted for this method. Hopefully there will be more reports on TURis to help other patients make a better decision. Regards Peter

  • peter06554
    peter06554 graham30431

    Posted

    I have been watching the comments on this thread.prostrate cancer isnt some kind of game. its about life and death. The choice is to over come your fear of treatment or die.There are no othe options.waiting till you have enough courageis disasterous the cancer doesnt wait it keeps on spreading.by the time your ready it may be to late.

    there is a great deal about treatment about which is the best.

    I have been on abriterone for 18 months.stage 4 terminal cancer which has all strunk back and dormant.Im still alive when in reality i should be dead.It all depends on how much you want to go on living.if you need it have it.

  • CS123
    CS123 graham30431

    Posted

    Thanks to the Moderator for removing the offensive post by RonTexan which I reported as inappropriate. There is no reason to hurl insults or call people names because I offer a different opinion. 
  • ChuckP
    ChuckP graham30431

    Posted

    I wish these posts would be in order from newest to oldest.  They seem to be out of order and illogical. 
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