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What are some good questions to ask my Uro Doc.?

Posted , 10 users are following.

anthony2858
anthony2858

Hello again everyone.  This last week I have put some concerns out there in regards to Urolift that's not doing anything and it was only 9 months ago with 5 devices, urine retention, lower back pain, etc.

     I have an appt on Friday the 22nd (2 days out) and I am putting my feelers out there for some good questions I should ask him.

Re: X-rays to see my implants, creatine levels, current size of prostate,  other options avail. ??    And I know some of you have been through hell and back.  I learned along time ago that wisdom is only good if you use it!

1 like, 37 replies

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  • mel77
    mel77 anthony2858

    Posted

    Hi anthony:

    I liked what you wrote and wisdom is good support. I'm just guessing that we are around the same age.  But I can be wrong.  I also have an appointment this Thurs with a urologist.  My complaint is that my stream is fairly weak and can't empty my bladder all the way.  Sometime, I just struggle to make a pee.  I am also under the care of a cardiac surgeon who is watching me for edema and retention of water.  I have stage 3 kidney disease and my doctor is concerned but not overly concerned.  2 days ago, I had an appointment to see him.  He checked my  GFR and creatine.  Both were in the abnormal stage.  GFR should be 70 or >  Mine is about 52.  Never do you want it to go to 35 as that would be stage 5 or dialisis time.  I kind of had to go to a uro asap to get a blood test for what is going on.  He was worried about my potassium being out of whack but after checking it, showed a leve 4.  That part is good.  He was pretty thourough doing the exam as he checked for swelling in my abdominal region and carefully checked my weight.  I am not obese but a little weighty.  This was determined whether I had to have IV Lasix or another type of fluid release such as drinking a terrible tasting carbonated medicine which empties your bowels.  The doctor is concerned about my prostrate restricting my uretha where fluid can back up to the kidneys and causes more damage.  I certainly don't want this.  I would be interested in what he finds and what remedy he has.  I already had 2 TURPS over 25 years ago so I know what can be expected.  At that time, there weren't many new procedures like today.  Fortunately, healing was rapid and not too painful.  I didn't have to catherize myself either.  All it took was 3 days in the hospital and be discharged.  If you want I can share the findings of what the urologist says.  Meanwhile stay in good health.

    mel

  • kenneth1955
    kenneth1955 anthony2858

    Posted

    Hello Anthony.  Stay away from anything that they what to core out the inside of the prostate.  The down time is long and the side effect you may not like.  Also if you have the urolift that should have opened you up so maybe it not the prostate.  Have them check the bladder and kidneys.  I had the urolift done a year ago and it opened me up fine.  Been a year and doing great.  Do some research on any procedure you pick don't be talked into anything PLEASE  Ken  
    • derek76
      derek76 kenneth1955

      Posted

      Kenneth, Your posts are inconsistant. Your one above is very different from one posted at the same time in another convesation.:

      Jim I think your doing great.  Why do something that you don't need.  I have a urolift done a yeas ago.  My doctor cold not get the scope in my prostate because it was so big.  He never said anything about a turp or laser coring of the prostate.  I would have said no anyway.  I had a urolift done and all was good untill december 2015 Had to have them all tighted because my prostate got smaller.  Who knows why.  But it good for me.  Keep doing what your doing.  Have fun and all you can..Ken

    • anthony2858
      anthony2858 derek76

      Posted

      Derek, 

      You mention that you had the Urolift procedure done and in December 2015 you had to have the devices "tightened" because your prostate had gotten smaller.    Since the Urolift is so new in the States when and where did you get yours done?    Also, I did not know that they could be "tightened". Perhaps that is what I need to have done?   I had my Urolift done in July 2015 and honestly feel like the results were very short lived.

          Also I noticed that your last post shows that when you signed out you signed out as "Ken" but the post looks like it came from Derek??    Just want to know who I am replying to.

      Thanks,  Anthony!

    • derek76
      derek76 anthony2858

      Posted

      I did not have Urolift Ken did but I copied one of his contrary posts to him for his comment.

      Ken normally posts anti Uro and surgery posts as he has had some poor experiences with Uro's over the years and naturally wants to warn others what to look out for.

       

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 anthony2858

      Posted

      Anthony this is ken I was the one that the prostate got smaller.  Derek did not.  He has had many only the years. I live in orlando fl.  What happen I got a prostate infection.  When my dr did a scope on me he found one that let go.  When I had the surgery again my prostate was smaller so he had to replace one and tinghten the other 3  He does not know why it got smaller but he thinks it has something to do with the antibiotics I was on for a month.  I am glad I had it done and it's been a year. I did not what to have dry orgrasm do not like them and the down time is hell with the turp and the laser surgerys.  You do what is best for you  Ken 
    • anthony2858
      anthony2858 kenneth1955

      Posted

      Thanks Ken,   I'm with you in re: to the TURP.

      i did not know that the devices in the Urolift could be tightened.   I will bring that up to my Uro doc tomorrow.

    • james87669
      james87669 derek76

      Posted

      For me it's all very confusing and to choose a method that has long lasting consequences has been very hard. So far the only one that looks like it will allow me some comfort and still have a good sex life without any question of having to do it again ( I am approaching 72) is a surgical procedure (resection). I would love to settle on a procedure that would be minimally invasive and at the same time be covered by Medicare and also be asured that it would be long lasting. I have tried TUMT that did nothing. I read on this thread of those having the Urolift, PAE, HoLEP etc. and have had to try something else. The Urologist I am now seeing is a highly respected doctor/surgeon recommended by my personal MD whom I have been seeing for forty five years. I have to trust somebody. I could think this to the point of total mental colapse. I wish their was a simple solution but there just isn't.
    • derek76
      derek76 james87669

      Posted

      Would Medicare pay for Robotic surgery that is way over the top for a  problem that cheaper options can deal with. Presumably even in America the DaVinci Robots are in a limited number of specialist centres.
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 anthony2858

      Posted

      No problem.  So I am against any procedure that takes away anything from a mans life.  Derek is for surgery and he has had many.  They don't seam to work on him.  He feel he can live with retro but there are alot of men and I don't care how old you are they don't want or like it.  Life is to short to give up anything. And why should we.  There have been many turps and laser done that did not need to be done.  I read a story on Meds.  This guy told his doctor that he did not want a turp and the doctor told him that was the only thing that would work for him and the man said no.  He wanted a Tuna.  The doctor yes ok so 2 weeks later he had the surgery which was suppose to be a tuna.  He woke up and the doctor told him there was some bleeding and he had to do the turp.  That doctor was wrong to do that to him when he knew he did not what it. And who know if there was bleeding. The man can not do anything because once you sign the paper for surgery the doctor can do anything they want.  I make sure that my docotr does only what he tells me he does not have my permission to to anything else.  I trust my doctor but I make sure it is in written.  Take care  Ken 
    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 james87669

      Posted

      I feel your confusion.  There are many new procedure out there and who know which would work for you.  I had a urolift a year ago and it has been great.  Did not have to take any pills after and in a few days I peed with no problem.  I can tell you that the urologist that your going to see is most likely older and the first thing he is going to say is you need a turp.  Don't have it.  I would thy anything first to see what would help you.  Any of the surgery that core out the prostate will give you retro.  Some men still have a good sex life after but some don't and never get it back.  What ever you do please get all the information that you can and any side effects that it will cause.  Life is to short to give up anything.  Ken 
  • John-T
    John-T anthony2858

    Posted

    Hi Anthony

    Sorry to hear about your problems with Urolift, why don't you consider HOLEP which has great reviews and lot's of good feedback in the forum, I'm on a waiting list to get HOLEP most likely in May sometimes, I have been wearing a catheter for the past 6 weeks. The problem with Urlolift is that it's too new of a technology not practised everywhere, also don't forget that the prostate keeps growing so you will always have problems and terrible pain, I know that with HOLEP you will most likely have a condition called: Retrograted Ejaculation where sperm goes straight to the bladder instead of coming out your penis during sex, small price to pay for a long term solution.

    Good luck

    John

    • anthony2858
      anthony2858 John-T

      Posted

      Hello John,

      I hav considered the HOLEP and put it in the same boat as the TURP in as where there is actual tissue cut out in one form or another.   I am only 57 and RE is a major consideration at this stage in my life.   That is one of the reasons that I went with the Urolift, which is not out of the realm of possibility that I have that whole procedure revisited and perhaps can be adjusted, tightened, or possibly another device or two put in.   I just don't want to throw away all that has already been done.   Also I am considering the PAE as well,   I know that there is a small chance of side effects, however with the proper choice in where and who does it I think will alleviate this done to nil.   So I am still in the thought process of it all.   I do have an appoint with my Uro doc tomorrow and I am going to have some serious discussion with him.

           Thank you for your input!  Much appreciated.

       

    • derek76
      derek76 anthony2858

      Posted

      HOLEP is very different from TURP as it uses a laser to burn away tissue compared to TURP that uses an electrically heated hot wire.

      Laser surgery burns the tissue away in a practically bloodless way and seals it as it goes along and is much more precise than TURP. Some of the after bleeding comes from trauma to the urethra that acts as a sponge and soaks up blood.

      Have you watched any of the procedures on YouTube?

      Are you in the UK? I had my PVP at the Freeman in Newcastle who were one of the first to do trials of it. I was the teams 38th patient and my surgeons 8th.  A few years ago they decided that PVP and HOLEP were about of equal merit and after discussion opted for HOLEP as their standard procedure. HOLEP is a more difficult procedure to do and requies more training.

      I had an appointment when my prostate regrew elsewhere with one of the first two surgeons to do PVP in the UK by then using the second generation equipment. He said that initially they had thought that PVP was a very easy operation but as time went by they realised that it had to performed with more care.

       

    • anthony2858
      anthony2858 derek76

      Posted

      Hello Derek,

           Still,   the HOLEP and TURP do basically the same thing,  cuts away at the prostate.   In one fashion or another,  just  different techniques.   A little bleeding here, a little bleeding there,  and in some cases I'm sure a lot.

          The day may come where I have no choice to do that, but for now I feel too young for such an aggressive procedure.    However I thank you for ringing in with your thoughts.   Also thank you for helping out in the pioneering phase of then, a new procedure.    That can be a little scary!

      Have a great day!  Anthony

    • derek76
      derek76 anthony2858

      Posted

      Boring through it is a cure. Shrinking with PAE is a new alternative and to my mind Urolift just puts the problem to one side for the moment.

      If I were back at square one I would probably favour PAE but my recovery from PVP was quick and blood free.

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