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

UROLIFT-HAD IT THIS MORNING...............

Posted , 17 users are following.

ChuckP
ChuckP

Not quite as "simple" as I was hoping for.  Iam drinking a ton of water as its been 7+ hours now.  Had to go back to the Doctors office about 3 hours after procedure and the nurse showed me how to catheter myself- a new experience for me.  Right now at 7+ hours my wife and I just cathered me again a "second time".   Just took my first pain pill as it hurts like hell.  When I attempt to pee out comes about 10 drops of red blood.  Very little pee coming out.  The Uro thought I have clots up there.  Iam thinking it will be pretty much a sleepless night tonight but we'll see.  Much more difficulty than I was anticapating to be real honest with you.  Just for the record the Uro said my prostate was between 45 and 50 grams and he said I was the perfect candidate for this procedure.  The Uro put me on "Ciprofloxacin 500mg", "Phenazopyridine 200mg," "Hydrocodone 325mg", and "Rapaflo 8mg".  All 4 of these drugs are "temporary" until I heal up.  God Bless YOU Guys!!!!!!!!  I will keep you updated for those that are interested. 

1 like, 63 replies

63 Replies

Prev Next
  • brooke40780
    brooke40780 ChuckP

    Posted

    Would appreciate any additional feedback on the post UroLift recovery.  I had it done 36 hours ago, and couldn't pee after the two hour recovery period.  I begged for them to leave a Foley Catheter in for a few days, but my doctor is very against this (I'm not really sure why).  Sounds like he believes it could cause infection and undermine the procedure in some way.  Thus, they taught me to self-cath (not fun for me at all) and sent me home with a few catheters.  

    I have barely been able to pee on my own for the past day since getting home -- only a small dribble (probably 25 ccs) every 20 - 30 minutes.  I did manage to self-cath before bed last night, but was only moderately successful (probably about 250 ccs came out).  I got up about 12 times during the night for the tiny urination sessions, and it's no better on Day 2.  Have others had similar experiences?  My big question, is when will I be able to pee with reasonably good flow again?  This is one of the main reasons I had the UroLift done.  From what I have read, it sounds ilke it should get better soon, but it's making me very anxious.  I assume I'm carrying a ton of urine in my bladder, and really can't stand the self-cathing.

    Any feedback is much appreciated!  

    • anthony2858
      anthony2858 brooke40780

      Posted

      Brooke, when I had mine done 3 weeks ago I too was having a tough time even trying to pee, dribbles at best and then I started stressing about retaining.So called first thing in the am and went in and ended up with a cath. And a leg bag that I could empty every 3-4 hours. It was not uncomfortable and my doc had no problem with me having it so I had it for a week and also drove a moving van from California to Texas over a 3 day period to move a daughter. I had the cath and bag the whole time and no one even knew about it but me.So when I got back my doc removed it and put me on Motrin for inflammation that was hindering my progress. He said take 1 before bed and 1 in the morning, I went to rite aid and immediately took 2. Drove home about an hour and half, Had a couple of beers with another daughter when I got home I p*ssed like a horse and measured it in a cup and in about 45 seconds got 450 cc. I had a huge smile on my face! You just hang in there. 1 suggestion for you, if you are at panic stage go to the ER and have them do a bladder scan then you can assess from there if you are 700-1000 or more definitely have them catheter you!! It only takes a small amount of time and it will give you peace of mind and relief if you need it!! Trust me I know I did it myself! My deductible for the hospital was 250.00. Well worth it!! Good luck brother. Praying helps too!
    • nealpros
      nealpros brooke40780

      Posted

      I would think you should contact your doctor again, or another one . Storing too much urine can be dangerous and can cause an infection by itself, to say nothing of kidney problems. As you're probably soon to unfortunately find out, it can also be VERY painful.

      Neal

    • nealpros
      nealpros brooke40780

      Posted

      Just another thought - some medications for pain can anesthisize the sensory AND MOTOR nerves of your bladder, making it difficult to urinate. You should discuss that with a doctor too.

      Neal

    • anthony2858
      anthony2858 nealpros

      Posted

      Good points Neal! I would say get that cath until you get things figured out,if your doc says no, go to the ER. They will do it.Careful with "self cath". I can see where the constant in and out could affect the integrity of the Urlift devices installed. Keep your cool. Everything will be fine (Brooke)
  • brooke40780
    brooke40780 ChuckP

    Posted

    Neal / Anthony -- Thanks for the feedback / insights.  On the pain med side, they didn't give me any prescription (for anything at all) -- I've just been taking Advil or Tylenol for pain (I will need to check to see if those could slow down bladder function).

    I did talk to the surgeon's nurse today, and she said it would likely take 4 - 5 days to sort things out and begin to flow at decent rate.  I'll probably go in to see my local Uro office tomorrow to check my retention level and to see if they recommend putting in a Foley catheter for a few days.  I self-cathed tonight, and must not be doing it right (nothing came out, and I didn't want to force it any further for fear of doing damage).  Still going often in very small amounts (color is usually normal, but a few small blood clots come out occasionally).  Expecting another night of 12 times to the bathroom!

    • mikemh
      mikemh brooke40780

      Posted

      Hi

      I had mine done 6 days ago.  First night 1 was peeing about 10cc mostly blood every 15 minutes (no catheter).  However, a phone call to urology nurse convinced me to hang in there as something was coming out ie not complete retention.

      Things have got better now.  A couple of days ago I was peeing every half an hour or less - 36 times one day/night.  Now I go every hour approximately with about 120cc.  Actually before the op I was probably only doing about 150cc a go.

      My stream hasnt improved yet sadly but I hope it will.

      I am taking paracetamol 4 times a day.  I haven't yet taken an ant-inflammatory but am considering it.

      Mike

    • brooke40780
      brooke40780 mikemh

      Posted

      Hi Mike - I just replied on your other discussion, and realized you had responded here.  Many thanks for sharing your experience -- it's very helpful, and I'm very glad to hear that you have improved and going much less frequently with better volume.  I certainly hope that your stream will continue to improve over the next couple of weeks.

      It sounds like I'm where you were a few days ago (peeing every 1/2 hour in small amounts -- probably 25ccs).  I was also probably around 150cc each time before the operation, and it sounds like it's mainly a matter of patience and time!  

      I agree with other comments I've seen that the doctors really need to do a better job of preparing the patient for what to really expect during recovery.  They tend to tell you that you'll be back up & running after a day, which doesn't seem to be realistic for most patients.

      I'm keeping the faith, and please post more updates as you progress.  Best of luck with the ongoing improvements.

       

    • anthony2858
      anthony2858 mikemh

      Posted

      Hello Mike,

      I had mine exactly 4 weeks ago today and was still having some issues after 2 weeks,   my Doc attributed it to inflammation and  advised me to get on Motrin,  left his office and got a bottle at rite aid,   took 2, drove home and 2 hours later I peed the best I have in over 15 years.   It doesnt take much swelling to stop you from peeing.    Give it a try,  hope it helps!  Anthony

    • mikemh
      mikemh anthony2858

      Posted

      Hi Anthony

      This is interesting!  Just a little story to express my frustration at the medical profession .....

      The anaesthatist before the procedure in hospital asked me whether I could take anti-inflammatories.  Actually I have a hiatus hernia and it was decided not to give me any.

      A couple days after the operation when I posted the status above, I had been to my local doctor (GP).  I asked him whether I should be taking an anti-inflammatory - he said No.  He said "We don't proscribe that for healing".  Actually later a specialist nurse rang me from the hospital saying that I should take an anti-inflammatory if I could tolerate it!!

      Arghhh!  I have so far been taking the doctor's advice over the nurse's but perhaps I will try Ibuprofin as you have (According to the internet that is the active ingredient in Motrin) - Thanks

      Mike

    • anthony2858
      anthony2858 mikemh

      Posted

      Good Luck Mike,  I dont see how a small dose of Advil or Motrin could do you any harm.    i am now in my 4th week and peeing very strong with a solid stream,   starting quickly with a smile on my face every time.   However I was not too optimistic for the first 3 weeks.    PS,  as you may know already, if you are on any kind of steroid or testesterone yoou should stop until you get out of the woods with the urolift!   Causes the prostate to swell which at this time is not a good thing.  👍
    • brooke40780
      brooke40780 mikemh

      Posted

      I agree -- I don't see how it could hurt (assuming there's no reason you can't tolerate them).  

      They told me at the hospital to take either Tylenol or Advil (I wasn't prescribed any pain meds).  My surgeon's nurse later said she believes Advil (Ibuprophen) works best after surgery, but I'm alternating between Advil and Tylenol. 

    • rob78162
      rob78162 brooke40780

      Posted

      Brooke and Mike, 

      The Physicians Assistant told me today that I could take Aleve as well to help with reducing the inflammation. She said if there is no longer any active bleeding that it should be helpful.

      Hang in there everybody.

      Rob (age 55, California)

  • rob78162
    rob78162 ChuckP

    Posted

    Hello all, thought I would post my Urolift experience as I am right in the middle of it. Today is Friday 8/21 and I had mine done on Monday 8/17. I feel, like several others here, that the procedure was a lot more than I was expecting. I was attracted to the Urolift procedure because of the simplicity of it, the low risk of sexual side effects, and the quick recovery. I guess you could say that I was sucked in by the brochure which says that it can be done in a doctor’s office under a local anesthetic with rarely a need for a catheter. To make a long story short, I had it done in a hospital, under a general anesthetic, and came out with a Foley catheter which I wore for 48 hours. Initially I was upset at having the catheter but I was kind of glad to have had it when I saw all the blood and clots running thru the tube. Prior to taking the catheter out I noticed some pretty big clots going thru the tube and I called the urology nurse to ask if I should leave it in another day but she said if the clots were small enough to get thru the tube then I should be able to pass them myself. So, I took the catheter out as directed (very easy). That was Wednesday and after removing the catheter I have been having the dribbling that has been described here by others. Doesn’t seem to be that much blood anymore though it is hard to tell as I am on Pyridium (to help with pain and stinging) and that turns everything orange. Yesterday (Thursday) I thought that I might be in retention so I went and saw the nurse but I was not in retention (only 18 cc's in me) so she said that it was just healing and that this was part of the process. She neglected to do a urine culture though for an infection. I don’t feel like I’m making progress though and I feel like I am either clotted up or have a urinary tract infection so I am going back today in a couple of hours to see the Physicians Assistant (my doc is out of the office until Monday afternoon). I have had UTIs before and it kind of feels like I do now. BTW, after the procedure I was started on Cipro and the Pyridium and given Tylenol with codeine for the pain (didn’t need/take it). 

    I saw that Anthony2858 had good results with Motrin/Advil so I’m going to ask about using that to reduce the inflammation. Seems like a good idea if not bleeding anymore and previous doctors have recommended that for previous UTIs.

    Hang in there everybody!

    Rob (age 55, California) 

    • anthony2858
      anthony2858 rob78162

      Posted

      Rob,  you will be fine and after another week you will be a very happy man that you had it done!!!   I had very similar issues as you.    If you stay on the Cipro make sure you take a stool softner and prune juice, as the antibiotic "will" cause constipation, and that will also put pressure on your prostate.   Also if you are on any kind of steroid or testrone right now I would say hold off until you are out of the woods with the procedure.   These can cause swelling of the prostate.   Alot of guys going through this also have a low "T" number and suppliment with testestrone shots and tend to not put that into the equation.   Like me.    I got a shot from my local doc,  and it caused me to retain for nearly 4 days.   Also if you are a Type A personality, ya know kinda high strung, and operate usually under pressure or stress that too can keep un needed pressure on  you prostate as well,   in my case I just had to chill out a little, and take it easy.   I took my self to the ER 3 different times, justs because i was anxiety and panic, sort of.   Come to find out 1 time I only had 375 cc in me and another I had 475 and had them cath me.  next day doc said,  before my procedure I was carrying aroud 800-1000 for years.    So mine was no easy road either.  But now I am peeng like a race horse!!!   Thank You Jesus!!
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.