TURP verses Everything Else

I have read for several years the Patient blog looking for the correct way to handle my enlarged prostate issues. I have learned a lot and am grateful to those that went before me and posted their experiences. The idea of a TURP scared the hell out of me, especially after reading some experiences, all negative. Instead, after an examination by my Urologist, I decided on a PAE. He told me that I was not a good candidate for a Urolift due to an enlarged median lobe. He offered a procedure called a Greenlight Laser. I went for the PAE. The procedure for the PAE was effortless and for about 6 months after the procedure it seemed like I had made the right choice. It was not to be. I switched Urologist for a number of reasons and found one that I could talk to and discuss my feelings and how I may have made a mistake with the PAE. He was very accommodating and a good listener. He started off with a cystoscopy, my third one and uncomfortable. His opinion was a TURP was the only way to go. Not what I wanted to hear, yet, I decided just to get it done because of all the problems, UTI on a continuous basis. After the procedure, I could urinate like I was 20. A feeling I had not had in some 30 years. He also told me my median lobe was the primary culprit of my problems as the prostate was not as enlarged as he thought it would be and was rated at 43 grams, which is rather small compared to most people that have posted on here. The median lobe was really enlarged and elongated (something unusual). I was drawing close to having a catheter as my only relief. The TURP turned out to be entirely painless and not one instance of the discomfort I had read so many times about. The catheter was left in me over the weekend (3 days) and removed first thing Monday morning. I was put on a new drug called Uribel for pain and as a antibiotic. It turns your urine a beautiful color of blue. My TURP healed with no issues. Urinated blood one time after four weeks and it never repeated itself. I am off all prostate medications. My urination has slowed a little and not the firehose effect I initially had after the TURP, but so much better. My only issue is a flair up of inflamation of the prostate every once in awhile. Working on that issue. After all the aggravation and making decisions, do the TURP and get it done correctly. There is retrograde ejaculation and for those that want to father children that may be a show stopper. For me it was not. Also, I was put on Finasteride 5mg (generic for Proscar) to prevent my prostate from regrowing and eliminating another TURP years from now. Warning: Proscar can cause an aggressive form of prostate cancer in some people so make sure you discuss that with your doctor. The trade off at my age is worth it since my PSA have been consistently 0.9 prior to using Proscar. It also causes your hair to grow back, a side benefit for some. Best of luck to everyone.

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