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UROLIFT-HAVE YOU HAD THIS DONE??????

Posted , 21 users are following.

ChuckP
ChuckP

I just looked at a YouTube video of a "Urolift Procedure" and I must say that it actually looks very impressive.  It certainly opens up the channel from the bladder thru the prostate and should help you pee more "freely" without the problem of the urethra  being squeezed to death.  I would love to talk to some guys that have had this done to see first hand of their experience and side effects.  Thank You. 

0 likes, 47 replies

47 Replies

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  • vacationterry
    vacationterry ChuckP

    Posted

    I have had BPH for close to 10 years and have been waiting for a new procedure without side effects like the Urolift.  MY prostate has a small meddium lobe.  It is not recommended for this procedure to be done for men with a medium lobe as the lobe can still block the urethra.  I was wondering if anyone knows of someone who has had the Urolift done with a small medium lobe?  Perhaps the urologist can remove that first? If someone does know of this being done, I would like to get the name of the doctor.   Thanks!
    • KamoKid
      KamoKid vacationterry

      Posted

      Ideally you dont want the middle lobe touched with a knife as that can give you the complications of a turp. I actually think the fact that you have a small medium lobe is good not bad. When I was assessed before the Urolift my specialist, Dr Peter Chin,  who is one of the coinventors of Urolift was concerned that my medium was large and he thought this might be the case as I was young to have prostate issues and he said that coudl be as I had a large medium lobe. If the medium lobe was big he said he had successfully tied it back with one of the other lobes using Urolift previously, but if it was too big he might have to cut it. Fortunately when he got the hubble telescope up there to take a look he found the right and left lobes were very big but middel lobe was small - operation notes say it  was Grade 3 (>75gm) and minimal middle lobe - so it was just a normal Urolift although he needed to use 3 on each side. So you should be good on that basis to just get teh Urolift.
    • vacationterry
      vacationterry KamoKid

      Posted

      Hi KamoKid,   THANK YOU for your response!  Even the manufacture of the Urolift equipment states that prostates with a medium lobe should be excluded. That is because in most case BPH cases where there is a medium lobe, it is the medium lobe that is pressing in on the bladder and causing the problem - thus a Urolift won't work.  Your experience with an urologist tying back the medium lobe during the procedure is exactly what I am looking for.    Where is Dr Peter Chin located?  I would like to consult with him.  I live in the US in Oregon, but could travel.  Thank you again for your encouraging coment.    Terry
    • KamoKid
      KamoKid vacationterry

      Posted

      Just to clarify in the end they did not need to touch my middle lobe as it was not the problem. I think it is hard to work out until they get in there. Peter is based about 75 minutes south of Sydney Australia. Here is a link to him and you will see a video on middle lobe fixation using Urolift.  

      Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link as it was to a site unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398316-adding-links-to-posts

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

    • KamoKid
      KamoKid vacationterry

      Posted

      Just to let you know I have replied but as it included a link to Peter Chin the site has set it to moderation. hopefully they will release it.
    • vacationterry
      vacationterry KamoKid

      Posted

      KamoKid, You are my best friend right now!  I just watched the video on Dr Chin's website. Amazing!  This is such a relief and is the proof I've been looking for about a year -  that the urolift can be done with a medium lobe.  I will ask 2 top Urolift Urologists in the US if they can do this technique.  But chances are they will not be able to do it since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) probably has not approved the implant to be done this way. Plus my prostate is a little over 80 cc which is the size limit in the US.   If that is the case I will likely come to Australia to have it done.  I have medical insurance but it will not cover a procedure done out of the US.  How much does the Urolift cost?   

      My brother had a TRUP and had sexual and other side effects.  All the other procedures seem to have a higher risk of side effects that I am unwilling to take.  Have been able to control much of  the anoying  symptoms with drugs until recently.  So now I have to do something soon as the quality of life is at risk as you know.    Thanks so much for your help,   Terry

    • KamoKid
      KamoKid vacationterry

      Posted

      Hi Terry, glad that helped. Costs for the op in Australia was A$1847 for surgeon, A$600 for anaesthetist and A$6600 for hospital ( including 1 night stay at $880, operating theatre and Urolift devices A$4500). So all up about A$9,000. Plus you have the accomodation and flights. You need to stay near the hospital for a few nights, just in case, and not fly for 7 days after operation. Plus you need to arrive at least the day before. Best way to find out more if you want is contact South Coast Urology and say you are interested in having the procedure with Peter Chin. Tell Julie, the nurse you have been talking to Kevin from New Zealand. Good luck
    • vacationterry
      vacationterry KamoKid

      Posted

      Thanks KamoKid!  Again this is very encouraging. I will see if my brothers doctor can do this for me with the medium lobe procedure like Dr. Chin did for you. Otherwise I will likely go to Australia.    Did you have to be catherized after the procedure and if so for how long?  And how are you doing now?
  • brooke40780
    brooke40780 ChuckP

    Posted

    Does anyone who has done UroLift have insights from discussions with doctors on how long it should be to do moderate exercise (and more importantly, how long before having sex)?  I didn't get much input from my doctor on this before, and I'm 11 days post-op.  I have a follow-up appointment on Monday, so I will certainly ask then.
    • mikemh
      mikemh brooke40780

      Posted

      Hi

      The instructions I was given were leave it a week before sex.  My consultant said I could do exercise whenever I felt able.

      Actually I found the exercise no problem after a week, but I have yet to pluck up courage to try ejaculation....

  • KamoKid
    KamoKid ChuckP

    Posted

    Hello guys, just letting you know I have had a bit of a set back. Woke up 4am the night before last and coudl hardly pee no matter how hard I tried. Stated taking antibiotics as expected it to be infection related but that di not work. Ended up at Auckland Hospital - urine and blood tests showed nothing. Bladder had 287mls in it but was not coming out. So ithey ended up putting in a catheter and sending me home with it. Going to my NZ specialist (Peter Chin, who did the Urolift, as he is in Aus) later today. Hopefully this is just a one off, but not sure why.
    • mal7896
      mal7896 KamoKid

      Posted

      Sorry to hear that Kamokid, after all the positive reports. Hope it is nothing serious.  I was considering Dr Chin myself to perform the urolift

      Keep as up to date,

      all the best

      Mal

    • KamoKid
      KamoKid mal7896

      Posted

      I think he is still probaly the best, its just that it does nto take for everyone. I had the catheter pulled out at 1pm and unfortunately had no flow at all so needed the catheter back in at 4pm, Talked the specialist into putting the camera up there - he was weary due to the fact it woudl be inflamed by the catheter. Anyway he coudl see that the prostrate was completelty blocking the passage. So now need to decide if I want to try more Urolift's or have the TURP. Makes it more complicated as the Urtolift man is in AUS and and TURP man in NZ. Growing old is not for whimps!
    • mal7896
      mal7896 KamoKid

      Posted

      Gee what a bummer....after travelling so far and going through the procedure, and thinking you were on the mend.

      I'd avoid TURP if possible. Not sure if they do holep in NZ but there is a highly recommended Urologist in Sydney who does the procedure. Has done them for many years and apparently has a few hundred under his belt. But I'd imagine you wouldn't be keen on another flight to Aus!

    • mal7896
      mal7896 KamoKid

      Posted

      How are you going Kamo? Do you have the catheter out?

      Hope all is well

      Mal

    • vacationterry
      vacationterry KamoKid

      Posted

      Hi KamoKid,  So sorry to hear about your setback with the Urolift.  You had the procedure over 4 months ago.  When did you first start noticing that the progress was reversing?  Your success with the procedure encouraged me to schedule the exact same procedure you had done with Dr. Chin.    My brother's urologist was part of the FDA study here in the US for the procedure and I showed him the video you showed me about tieing the medium lobe down to the lateral lobe and he said he could do this.  So I have an appointment with  him for the same procedure you had with Dr. Chin in November.  After your experience I am planning on canceling my surgery until I find out what went wrong with yours. Maybe it has something to do with tieing back the medium lobe which the procedure was not originally designed to do.    Priior to your Urolift had you ever been completely blocked before?  I have always been able to pee ok, just usually burning and slow stream and often.   Please keep us up to date as to how you are doing.  I am greatly concerned for you.  Wishing you the best,  Terry
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