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UROLIFT COST ???

Posted , 13 users are following.

vic59
vic59

I am 58 and have been on Tamsulosin and Finasteride for a year with all negative side effects, during last month. I declined TURP last week and The good new is I'm now candidate for Urolift.....but..... from my pocket.

Does any body know de procedure COST for 2 or 4 implants ?

WHERE IN USA ?

Thanks a lot for yours answers.

0 likes, 85 replies

85 Replies

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  • kenneth1955
    kenneth1955 vic59

    Posted

    Hello.  I don't know where Mike is getting his information but the urolift has been around for almost 10 years.  It was aproved in 2013 by the FDA.      Many of the newer doctors have been doing this procedure for years.  In 2013 my urologist went for the training and I had it done in 2015 Have had no problems and it great.  He has done over 100 and has had no complaints  Turp and laser ( Helop ) are the first things they offer you because that is all most of them know.  The side effect are alot.  Not only do you get retro you have alot of bleeding and pain and it take sometimes  6 month's to a year to heal.  Also sometime your sex life is lost.  You may never get a erection hard enough for sex. Also leaking and other problem.  Ask the doctors if they would do it.  9 out 10 they would say no  Mike was one of the lucky ones I'm glad he is ok but he is wrong not all men have the same orgasm.  I know I had retro with a pill I was on . It was not the same.  I felt empty. At 60 my orgasm are very intense.  With the pill I bearly felt it.  It was not for me.  Thats why I picked the urolift.  I had 4 implants put in.  I have wellcare and it only cost me $200 for the surgery center. Also doctors will down play the side effects. Take care Ken      
  • john65366
    john65366 vic59

    Posted

    Vic,

    I don’t know the details of you condition but please consider a PAE.

    See PAE section of this forum

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/has-anyone-out-there-had-a-prostate-artery-embolization--301859?p_token=408186a7-f28d-49a8-9ba9-c8c7c0772476&order=latest+&page=0#2036615

    • vic59
      vic59 john65366

      Posted

      Hi John,

      Thanks for your comment. My Urologist told me about the sexual lost after TURP (retrograde eyaculation)...for sure. He was clear on that point and don't give me any chance to keep the "humide eyaculation". Even worst, he prevent me there are a possibility to lost the erection. Otrherwise its a long term surgery and as it is the "gold Standard" is completly proved and ....is "completly" sure.

      PAE procedure keep all your sexual function ? ...or what percentage ?

      How much it cost ?  Dr. name in Virginia ?

      Take Care

      Thank you very mutch for your info

      Vic

  • bill69723
    bill69723 vic59

    Posted

    I am 6 weeks post Uro Lift (UL) procedure and I could not be more happier. Addressing the cost issue I am on Medicare Part F and have not paid a dime. That may yet change but I do not expect so. I had 3 implants, the 3rd to push out of the way a small median (3rd) lobe.  My UL procedure was performed by my local urologist and I was his first UL patient. However, he did not fly solo as a UL rep, also a urologist was there to guide him through the procedure.  I was so sedated during the procedure I can only recall getting dressed and being driven home where I immediately fell back to sleep. I do recall peeing in the toilet and seeing a drop or two of blood and that was it. Peeing immediately post op did occur with no problem. The next two days were a struggle, no pain but very difficult to pee at all. I considered asking for a catheter but because I was dribbling out a few drops every 5-10 minutes I began to pee in a measuring cup to see how much I was voiding an hour and to my surprise about 200 ml per hour which I was told was enough. Three days out and I was peeing about as I was before the procedure with the help of Flomax.  By the end of the first week I stopped Flomax and never used it again. Today, I pee like I did when I was a teenager after my first beer.  So, a couple of things here to consider: Medicare pays for this procedure if you have the right plan, my urologist was inexperienced but had supervision by a UL rep, and I had a small median lobe that was pinned out of the way. I should also add that despite the severity of my bph symptoms before UL (severe) I had a relatively small prostate that according to my urologist was surprisingly not severely swollen and well under 80 cc in volume. My bph symptoms began in my 50s and gradually worsened until my present age of 73. I am very pleased with the UL and encourage you to pursue the UL as a treatment for bph.
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 bill69723

      Posted

      Very happy for you.  I am going on 1 yearand It great..  I had a catheter put in by my urologist because he knew it was best for me.  I have a problem peeing on demand.  My urine was clear by the end of the day.  Had it out the 3rd day and have be peeing reat.  Anyone that is thinking apout the urolift procedure I think it is best to have a catheter put in .  Coming out does not hurt as much.  Ken  
    • mike04186
      mike04186 kenneth1955

      Posted

      Hi Ken

      Super to hear that its going well for you. I think everyone has to keep in mind that we are all differnet and will need or use different procedures. There is "No ONE" solution being offered to men. What ever "you" deem or "your" Doctor suggests would seem to be the best. Opinions on here are just that opinions. What works for some, does not work for others.

      I'm saying "What ever works, then do it".

      You have to ask yourself why the "Turp" is still considered the "Gold Standard" when it comes to Prostate Enlargement?  For what its worth have a look a this site...

      http://www.healthafter50.com/alerts/enlarged_prostate/TURP_6307-1.html

      I'm not hear to argue with anyone, about a topic as serious as an enlarged prostate, what procedure is best for anyone either. I'm not qualified to speak on the issue, "ONLY" from my point of view and if you have have the experience of a catheter in for 90 days, as I have had,  you know your looking for a solution.

      My personal experience is the I have had no side effects, other than retro ejaculation, and at 70, that's fine with me. Actually, its more intensified. biggrin  There is definitely no ED problems here, quite the opposite.

      So good luck with 'whatever' you do. I wish you and all the rest of here "may the flow be with you". Enjoy your lives, with the time we  have left.

      M

    • vic59
      vic59 bill69723

      Posted

      Hi Bill,

      Thanks for your comment. It is very encouraging for Urolift. My Urologist told me about the sexual lost after TURP (retrograde eyaculation)...for sure. He was clear on that point and don't give me any chance to keep the "humide eyaculation". Even worst, he prevent me there are a possibility to lost the erection. Otrherwise its a long term surgery and as it is the "gold Standard" is completly proved and ....is "completly" sure. I take tamsulosine for a year and almost, loose my normal eyaculation. I stoped tamsulosine two weeks ago: my eyaculation comes back slowly.

      How many years you take the Flomax ?  Did you get the dry eyaculation with the meds ?  In case you loosed the humide eyaculation, did you recover it, after the urolif procedure ?

      Take Care

      Thank you very mutch for your comments

      Vic

    • cartoonman
      cartoonman vic59

      Posted

      TURP has been the "Gold Standard," but it has gained a tarnished reputation, mostly around the sexual issues.

      And yes, I too had dry ejaculations with Flomax.  And yes, it has returned to what is was ealier, now that I've been off it since New Year's....

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 cartoonman

      Posted

      I am very happy for you.  What gets me is that the doctors down play it like it's nothing.  I like it left the same. At 60 I stll enjoy it and there not going to take it away from me. There still very intense   Have a great day ken 
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 mike04186

      Posted

      Hello Mike.  I'm glad that your doing so well.  Yes I have allways said that all men are diffrent.  But having a choice I think we should do something with less side effects and leave the Turp for the last resort.  Why have something done if you don't did it you can't go back. Having had  the retro with a pill I was on .  I did not like them.  The orgasm was not right.  I barely felt it and with nothing coming out so  I felt like there was something wrong.  Thats why I picked the urolift pocedure.  It's going on a year and I have be good.  My orgasm are very intense which I enjoy.  I also know the feeling of bladder retension.  I'm on Eliquis and it cause some bleeding   Had to be catheter and after 15 minutes of being flushed out I was still bleeding.  I had surgery for it.  They did not know where the blood was coming from.  I talked with the doctor and had him sign a paper before I would do the surgery.  My prostate was not to be removed or cored out in any way.  When he went in he found 2 more blood clogs around my prostate he burned them and I was in the hospital for 3 days had to have a 3 way catheter in for a 24 hour flush.  Had 6000cc of saline going through my bladder ever 2 hours.  Doing good now and they lowered by blood thinner. Your one of the lucky one. The turp was good for you.  No ED problems and your orgasm are good.  Many men have the opposite.  There is very little feeling and they have a problem getting it up.  At 60 I want it all life is to short to take anything anyway.  And it will stay that way till the day I die.  Take care  Ken      
    • altoman
      altoman bill69723

      Posted

      Hello BIll69723: I'm new to this forum and like others I'm seeking information on my options. Yesterday I had my check up my Uro Doc, who immediately did a Cystoscopy on me (first one for me! - wow), I have seen him now for about seven years. Last year, I brought up the Urolift. We agreed to wait and see if I even "qualified" for it. Fast forward to yesterday. Walking into the exam room where I was preped for the Cystosocopy, his first and only  comment was my insurance would not cover the Urolift, but lets see what we have here. Begin the Cystoscopy- once through to the Bladder he shows me (on the monitor) a "third lobe". Which he explains is the reason I would NOT qualify for the Urolift. Needless to say, I was very depressed at that moment, having done all my research on TURP and TUNA, et al. The procedure ended, I voided blood (painfully), which he used as my flow test? We sat down to talk and continued with TURP and "maybe" the new Rezum process as my only option. I agreed to see him in a year, since my PSA is only 2.0 and I can control the life style on my meds. Enter your story - wow, what relief I felt for a moment, that i MAY still have a chance for Urolift. I'm on the hunt now for another Doc who I could start of with with the Urolift as my goal. Thank you for your story - you gave me hope. Kind Regards -Manuel
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 altoman

      Posted

      Al  I am glad you did not let him talk you into a turp.  Urolift is new but they have been working on the center lobe to see if they can bring it to one side.  Waiting is good.  What type of insurance do you have.  I would even try the Rezum procedure.  They have been having good things to say on that.  Both are less down time and less bleeding.  My rolift workd great going on a year  Take care  Ken   
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 altoman

      Posted

      Also there are always more options.  He is just going to push the turp.  Your the one that will have to deal with the side effets not him.  Ask him how would he like his prostate cored out.  Any of them procedure that cut or burn out the prostate leave behind.  This is new times not the 50"s  Ken
    • cartoonman
      cartoonman altoman

      Posted

      My thought:  HANG IN THERE!  :-)  Your PSA is low, you're still peeing on your own, and there are new developments in the Urolift procedure.  Byt the time you need it, they may have a way of dealing with that mischievous middle lobe.  Yes, get a second opinion.  I was told after an ultrsound, that I had a middle lobe.  My Urolift doctor had doubts.  I had my Urolift in December...
    • nealpros
      nealpros altoman

      Posted

      There are several posts on here by men with a central lobe who have successfully had a Urolift with the central lobe pinned out of the way. Find and read these posts and have one of those docs do your Urolift. Life is too short to deal with doctors who Don't continue to keep up on their training. You only live once.
    • altoman
      altoman kenneth1955

      Posted

      Hello Ken: I was left with the impression that the "extra lobe" was something unique and therefore would put me out of the Urolift technique. That said, I 'm still pushing ahead looking are another Uro Doc. I found one in my area who is doing Urolift (he is new to the process), however, by the time I feel the need for it, he should have a few more under his belt. I meet with him this month for a first meet and greet. To your question on my insurance; I have Blue Cross, PPO, it's great coverage. They should take this, provided the Doc does his part in letting them know the proper codes and submitted that letter explaining why Urolift is the prefered method at this point. I now, undersatnd why my current Uro Doc, made his comment, about my insurance not covering it - he does not care for the Urolift prcess - out of his comfort zone, I'm sure. Thanks for the response, it's good to not feel alone on this...and clearly I'm not!
    • altoman
      altoman cartoonman

      Posted

      THank you Caroonman! Yes,  I'm gaining my confidence from this forum on my steps to wait. To your point, I probe my Uro Doc for my PSA. When he presented the 2.0, I'm the one that made the comment "that was low", he smiled and agreed. It bothered me that we were even talking about TURP at this early stage. Yes - my void stream is slow, howver I do void to empty. So if I void every hour (or more), so what. I void empty. I NEVER hold and I have learned to stay away from Decongestants, and stay on my Med. My hope is my NEW Uro Doc will have some encouraging thoughts on this middle lobe, and now shy away from it - sounds like like Doc had those doubts. I take it, he was the one that went ahead at did it anyway. Your procedure was in December, did it go as planned with the extra lobe, and are you doing well do date? Thanks again for your response. Take care. - Manuel
    • altoman
      altoman nealpros

      Posted

      Hello Nealpros: Thank you for that thought. I agree with your comment. I am searching for those who have the lobe pinned, and yes absolutely, I would be looking for a Uro Doc who HAS experience with that procedure specfically - no matter where that Doc is. It'a a flight, if need be - YES!, you only live once, and it's too short to settle. THANK YOU!
    • cartoonman
      cartoonman altoman

      Posted

      Voiding is GOOD!  :-)  You can get your approximate flow by timing and measuring the amount.  Peeing into a marked bottle or measuring cup (I use a bottle that I calibrated), while tracking how long the exercise takes is all you need to do.  As I wrote recently, amount of liquid (in cc/) divided by time = flow, which should at a minimum be 100 cc/ml / 10 seconds.  And if you are draining and not holding, and are a patient soul, it really doesn't matter if it takes a little longer, as far as I know!  And yeah, no surgery at this point!
    • cartoonman
      cartoonman altoman

      Posted

      Also:  you might look for Dr. Steve Ganges in Salt Lake City UT and call him.  He's bright and friendly, and familiar with the middle lobe issues.  See what he thinks about your situation...
    • altoman
      altoman cartoonman

      Posted

      Thanks for the info on the measuring. I'm going to give that a try. I obsess on every step of voiding, so bring it.  Also, thank you very much for the encouragement on calling Dr Gange. I read his name here on this forum and thought the same - that he may be the one for me. Thanks for that!
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 altoman

      Posted

      Yes they are starting to pin the iddle lode down.  They just move it to the side.  Don't let any doc do anything to you your not ready for.  Some of the older doc will go with the turp because it's the olnly thing they know.  And with a smile on there face.  They will down play the side effects.  Ken
    • altoman
      altoman kenneth1955

      Posted

      Thank you Ken. It's good to read that working with that extra middle lobe is not uncommon. Do you have a reference to a thread or forum for those who have this condition. I have tried on this forum, by using key word search. Can't find like types, yet. You are correct. My current doc flat out said he was more comfortable with TURP...with a smile, then tells me "see you in a year"...as if? I have an appointment at the end of this month with a new doc. I found him on the UROLIFT site. My hope is we has "experience" under his belt and can deal with my lobe issue. If not - I will keep searching. I may be reaching out to Dr Steve Gange in Salt Lake. I have time and can manage the condition at this point. Thanks for your words and I must admit this forum has settled me down. In perspective, my issue is mild compared to others who I completely feel for. I wish them all some hope for some relief. Regards, Manuel
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 altoman

      Posted

      Manuel thank you for the reply and I am happy you did not let that doctor talk you anything.  Sometimes they will not take no for a answer.  I will look into it for you.  I have read it on a couple of site.  Also try to get another doctor.  Don't let what happen to this guy Ray I read  He told his doctor that he did not want a turp and the docotr was upset that he did not take his advise.  He told the doctor he wanted a Tuna.  less down time and no retro.  He had the surgery 2 weeks later and when he woke  up the doctor told him there was some bleeding and he had to do the turp anyway.  I think the doctor had it in his mind all the time he was going to do the turp on him anyway.  Now Ray is very depressed .  You have to trust your doctor and make sure when you sign for surgery they only do what your signing for.  Once you sign the paper for surgery the doctor can do anything he wants.  Life is to short to deal with other proples.  Ken    
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