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Urolift Procedure - February 2017

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mark02906
mark02906

To give back to the onlilne community, I want to pass on some information about my Urolift procedure for BPH.

First the patient - I am 68, 6ft 172 lbs.  I have had one BPH operation about 10 years ago (TUNA) from the same doctor who did the Urolift.  Other signifcant conditions - HBP and hypothyroidism treated by medicine,  Fairly active physically.  Working very part time.  Enjoying my children and, especially, grandchildren.

Impetus for the procedure - failure of tamsulosin (less than 1 year) to improve flow and with unsatisfactory side effects.

Confirmation procedure - Physician did a cystoscopy 4 weeks before the procedure to confirm this procedure was correct for the geometry of my prostate.  Topical pain medication used.  Was recovering well.  Soreness while urinating was going away after a couple days.  Was given 1 antibiotic pill.  Either from my anatomy or something I did, it wasn't enough and I developed a urinary tract infection.  Very painful 7-8/10.  Needed additional anti-biotic.  In a follow up visit 1 week before the Urolift procedure, things were better and we decided to go forward.

Urolift - Pre-Op:  Was told to stop medicines (including herbal) that would contribute to bleeding - e.g., low dose aspirin and Lovaza (gen).  I stopped the few other herbals that I took.  Continued with the thyroid (levothyroxine) and BP (valsartan/hctz) - the latter was stopped the day of and taken later when I got home.

Surgery location - like many, this was done in an ambulatory surgery center, not a hospital.  In my case, the center was run by the urology practice.

Procedure:

Cost - I am not going to focus on cost, because everyone's coverage is different.  As I understand it there are 3 bills - urologist, anaesthesiologist, facility.  The latter asked for a same day payment.  The others bill.

Procedure schedule - 1:30 pm s

1)12:30 pm -- Reception review and confirmation of information and stoppage of food/water/medicines 12 hours before procedure

2) 1:00 pm -- prep for surgery, viitals, IV started.  Met with urologist for last minute questions (mostly on activity after the operation).  Met with anaesthesiologist - she doubled checked food/water stoppage and looked in my mouth (I realized post facto looking for dentures).  Administered fetanyl - following was told by others

3) 1:30 procedure - was told it would take 30 minutes.  My wife was shown before and after polaroid of the opening of my prostate.  What she described looked like the photographs in the Urolfit pamphlet.

4) 2:30 pm approx - As I came out of the fetanyl, I was not as groggy as I expected.  Strong urge to go, but nothing coming out. I walked to the bathroom myself holding onto the pole containing the saline feed for the IV.  I had 4 bloody (medium) urine drops come out.  They said that was enough.

5) Given instructions on post-op procedure - primarily minimal activity for a week.  I was given the ok to do walking.  Which I tried 2 days later.

6) Prescribed antibiotic for 5 days.

Ride home - I live 30 min. from the surgery center.  We had plotted places to stop in case I needed to before I got home.  Did not have to stop.

First day - very sore starting and stopping urine flow.  Later that day it seemed flow was stronger, but hope might have colored my perception.  Ate sourdough waffles (my wife is great) late afternoon.  Ate a light dinner later. Forced myself to drink more water than I usually do (thanks to my wife) Sat up.  Couldn't go to sleep until 3:30 am.  Slept for 2 hours.  Went to the bathroom. Slept for 2 hours.  Note on clothing.  Since I expected some bloody urine, I bought and used Depend pads for a couple of days until the blood stopped.

2nd day - soreness about the same as the cystoscopy procedure.  Sign of blood was fading (didn't want to look too closely, though).  Stream seems to be stronger (my wife said she could hear it too).  Once I get the urge to urinate, I have to get in there fast.  Urine flow starts quickly.  Had to change pants once as I was not careful.  Stopped the use of the Depends pads as there was no blood visible and I started having better control of the stream.

I will post follow ups.  I am scheduled for a Uroflow PVR (check of flowrate) and urologist follow up two weeks after the procedure.

I am writing this to help people who are faced with the decision on what to do with their BPH.  I am not an advocate for one procedure or another.  This is a personnel decision.  As you know, this is anecdotal.  We are all different.  Yet, we are also all the same.  I would like to thank the others who have posted on this forum.

7 likes, 170 replies

170 Replies

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  • richard11472
    richard11472 mark02906

    Posted

    Hi Mark, Don't know if you still follow this discussion after your final update or not. If you are still around I wonder if things continue to go well two months later?

    Rick

    • mark02906
      mark02906 richard11472

      Posted

      There are days when I can sleep 6 hours without waking to go to the bathroom.

      There are other days when I wake up at least 1 or twice in six hours.

      I haven't charted my fluid intake every day after dinner.  Absolute volume (liquids, fruit) may be an issue.  Type of fluid - occasional beer or wine - might be an influence.

      Overall, I am satisfied with the reduction in night time visits to the bathroom.

      During the day, I sense that I am voiding more strongly than before the procedure.  Also, I have a sense that I am going less frequently, but I haven't charted it.

      Stoppage of tamsulosin - I am very happy that I stopped it.  Note: it may work for others.  For me, the alpha blocker reduced my endurance for exercizing, especially running, tennis, and light weights. With the medicine, I couldn't run (note: I am a slow runner 10 min/mile in 10K) or do light weights (had to stop and rest after a couple of sets).  Also, the retrograde ejaculation effect.

      OK, that's the good news.

      What are the things that I am concerned about?

      Well, of course, as with any prostate procedure - how long will the benefits last.

      The last thing that I am watching, hoping that gets better is bladder control.  I am not smart enough to know what part of my body controls this.  Do I stop mid-stream to strengthen the start-stop function?  There haven't been too many accidents.  I took a spinning class a month after the procedure.  I wisely stopped after 30 min into a scheduled 60 min class.  By the time I got back to the locker room, I had to hold a towel in front of me until I got to the urinal.  That was the worst problem so far.   We did a road trip 8 hours per day of driving.  I wore a depends guard pad, but did not need it.

      In general, I sense that I need to get to a bathroom quickly after I feel the urge.  But, it seems to be lessening.  It also varies from day to day.

      In summary, glad that the procedure is working.  Positives outweigh the negatives and the latter seem to be slowly diminishing.

      Whatever procedure you choose, I hope it goes well for you.

    • richard11472
      richard11472 mark02906

      Posted

      Thanks for the update, Mark.My big issue is peeing during the night, I usually get up once or twice which is okay. Sometimes I have a difficult time starting the flow even though the need is there. I am concerned that one night I might not be able to let go and have to go to the ER. During the daytimr I have no real issues other than a slow stream.

      I have been following the discussions here and was convinced that the PAE was the way to go. Then I read of the good results with FLA, and now Urolift. Urolift seems the least drastic, although I am concerned that the implants might make it difficult to do a gollow on FLA, if that proves necessary. I need to discuss this with my urologist who recommends a green light laser thing, although one of his partners just began offering Urolift so he might agree that is a possibility.

      Thanks, Rick

    • mark02906
      mark02906 richard11472

      Posted

      the information on this site is good, but it is only a small slice of the people who have procedures for BPH.  While more information is good, eventually you have to rely on a professional.  I trust the urologist I am seeing.  He told me that the TUNA (needle ablation that I had at age 58) might be temporary.  He was right.  He also told me that he was skeptical about the Urolift procedure at first.

      At this point, for me, it has worked out.  If I have to do another procedure in 10 years, will there be something else?  who knows.  In a way, we are guinea pits (pioneers) for our sons and grandsons.  I can live with that.

    • richard11472
      richard11472 mark02906

      Posted

      If any procedure will get me off Tamsulosin I wilk jùmp for joy. I have the same side effects you mentioned along with it totally killing my sex drive. Cannot wait to stop taking this necessary but so bad medication.

    • richard11472
      richard11472 uncklefester

      Posted

      I am meeting with another doctor in my urology office who is now doing Urolift at the end of June. Will discuss Cialis at the same time we consider Urolift.
    • richard11472
      richard11472

      Posted

      I get the Cialis at the drugstore tomorrow.  I will stop the flomax and just take Cialis, hopefully it will have a better reuslt with my urinary issues.

      The only big issue is getting up once or twice per night, but sometimes I have a very difficult time starting the flow, am worried that I will have to make a tripo to the ER one day.  Hopefully Cialis will help with this issue better than the flomax.  I will post with my results.

      I am doing this while I try and decide between FLA, PAE orUrolift.

      Rick

  • leftie
    leftie mark02906

    Posted

    Hello,

    Had the Urolft in  August 2016 - now find I'm beginning to have night problems peeing again.

    Can the Urolift pins (or whatever) be re-adjusted ?

     

    • mark02906
      mark02906 leftie

      Posted

      I don't know if they can be readjusted.  Looking at some of the other Urolift forums, some people have reported that up to 4 additional clips (8 in total) can be added.  In some cases they were told that their prostate had grown.    Another person who has posted a lot of information on Urolift is a patient  "kenneth1955".  Perhaps you can find his posts.  

      When you say you are having trouble peeing again.  What was your average night time visits before the procedure (say June 2016).  What was it on your best month after August 2016?  What is it now?  I find that it is variable for me.  It's better than before the surgery..  Some nights I go without waking up  Sometimes once.  Sometimes twice.  It depends on what I drink at night.  But, overall, better than before the surgery.  For me, getting off the tamsulosin was worth the surgery.  Thanks for replying.

  • ddewey3
    ddewey3 mark02906

    Posted

    thanks for sharing. just had recommendation for my dad(age 95), so checking for info.
  • steve_89741
    steve_89741 mark02906

    Posted

    I had the urolift procedure done 4 days ago and I’m in tremendous pain and frequent urnination urges and the frequent urination are very painful I’ve read this may take up to 4 weeks to recover from is this normal any information would be greatly appreciated 
  • john568
    john568 mark02906

    Posted

    Hi Mark,Iam74inMay and am exploring the prospect of having Eurolift as against Greenlight Laser or HoLep I have done some research on the different types of treatment ,here in the UK it is being recommened to have Eurolift as it appears much safer than the other alternatives,you had this procedure 3 yrs ago ,its only been available here since 2015  the question I would like to know is what happens when your prostate starts to grow again and you have the implants over your prostate ,what will happen to those implants? what has been your experience so far ,is it possible you could reply to me ,many thanks.
    • mark02906
      mark02906 john568

      Posted

      John,

      I had the Urolift procedure 1 year ago.  In general, it met my expectations.  My recovery has been pretty easy.  I did not have to have a catheter.  I was able to stop the flomax (tamsulosin) that I reacted pretty badly to (endurance).

      About 10 years ago I had a TUNA (needle ablation).  It helped the night time visits frequency at first.  But gradually, I was visiting the bathroom 3-4 times nightly. I guess that prostate growth was a factor

      Over the past year since the Urolift, I have been averaging about 1 time a night.  Some nights not at all.

      That part is good.  How it will last, I have no idea.  I have some bladder retraining issues.  I took a spinning (indoor bicycling) class about 1 month after the surgery.  I played it cautious and only did 30 min of a one hour class.  By the time I got back to the locker room, I was peeing into a towel, because I didn't make it to a bathroom in time.

      I have had some other minor control issues and have worn a pad on long trips by car or plane (part time employment).

      But, it has gradually gotten better.  My urologist said that the bladder control issue was common, but would get better.  

      Your question on the continuing growth of the prostate is also a concern of mine, but I don't worry too much about it.  Right now, my stream is stronger than it was in a long time (most of the time).  I do notice it was better after the Urolift (at 6 months post op) than at the same time after the TUNA.  But, long term, it's a guess.

      If you look on the other Urolift forums, you might find a poster "kenneth1955".  I would suggest you ask him your questions.  He is pretty knowledgeable.

  • john568
    john568 mark02906

    Posted

    thank you Mark for getting back to me I am having a dilemma as to which operation to go for on my prostate.

    Tamsalosin destroyed my love life I have been taking this drug to help me pee and it worked but not the nasty side effect,here in the UK I live in South Wales and there is only one public hospital that has started doing the Eurolift procedure,so when I see my Consultant I will ask him about it,the other options open to me are Greenlaser or HoleP I am trying to garner as much information about the different procedures as I can before I meet with my consultant,going forward I hope that  you continue to improve .

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