Why the hurry with the TURP?
Posted , 9 users are following.
On Tuesday I had a bladder stone removed and this morning finally had the catheter taken out and eager to go home.
I have BPH and evidently it's quite large and the doctors wanted to do the turp at the same time as the stone removal. I declined as I was concerned about the possible side effects. I'm 66 now and should I last another 15 years these will probably become less of an issue.
I've been put on Tamsulosin and Finasteride, the latter of the two taking 6 months to have an effect. The reason the docs are keen to do the turp is because of the bladder stone and the likelihood of urine retention which they feel will return cause it to return. I'm scheduled for a clinical review in 3 months. I asked the surgeon if the only op they did was a turp and he confirmed it was. I'm reminded of the old saying about if your only tool is a hammer everything looks like a nail.
Has anyone had a bladder stone and been in a similar situation? If so what did you do?
0 likes, 54 replies
emil54651 Epictetus
Edited
diet can help, I believe. Drugs can help as well. But, to have a good bathroom habit again, surgery seems to be the best option. The risks of certain problems are existent, although risks are everywhere every day.
Epictetus emil54651
Posted
One of the things I keep thinking about is that friend of mine is on Tamsulosin and seems to be fine and my father-in-law has been dealing with BHP for the last 20 years. He's currently on Tamsulosin and Finasteride and never had an op. The only difference, according to the doctors, is that I have had a bladder stone and they haven't.
derek76 Epictetus
Edited
Tamsulosin will eventually cause E.D. and can affect your eyes with 'floppy iris syndrome' making any future cataract surgery difficult as in my case.
Alfuzosin (Uroxatral) is a better option as it does not affect the eyes. One a day Cialis is also good.
Epictetus derek76
Edited
This is the problem . No one ever sits down with you for a thorough discussion about what would work best for you as an individual.
I already get ED but don't particularly want to add to my problems with dry orgasms. Although a different topic discussions about ED with a GP took a similar course.
By way of explanation...
Every now and again a doctor appears on TV talking about ED. Says things like, "Don't be embarrassed, talk to your GP, it might be an indication of heart disease" etc. Apart from the embarrassment of having to tell the receptionist why you want an appointment when you (or at least me) finally speak to your doctor he just offers you a blue pill. No discussion about underlying issues. I mentioned about heart disease and he asked if I had chest pains. I haven't so end of discussion.
Similarly with BHP I have had no professional advice regarding what options are available other than Tamsulosin, Finasteride or turp.
I find it frustrating to say the least.
derek76 Epictetus
Posted
Many doctors don't know that much about prostate procedures or what is best to prescribe and price is now a big factor in prescribing and treatment in the UK.
Hospitals want you on medication as it does not come off their budget and GP's prescribe generics.
The prostate is tops for ageism in the NHS as it won't kill you. When I had urology appointments I used to ask others waiting how they were and the normal answer was miserable That was always the answer from our caretaker who was on medication till the day he died.
Epictetus derek76
Posted
And how are you? Are you miserable too?
derek76 Epictetus
Edited
No way. I had a GL procedure in 2004 and Thulium/Holmium laser in 2013 when it regrew to 135 grms.
dizio1991 derek76
Posted
Doctors are frustrated also. Doctors know that they have not much to offer but risky pharmaceuticals and dubious procedure. They just block it out, push out of the conscience, they do not want to know so it does not drive them crazy Doctors look back on their ideals when they enter medical field and compare to where they ended up - to push risky pharmaceuticals, questionable diagnostics and dubious procedures as mandated by their Medical Associations/FDA. That dissonance may bother some of them. Most of them are dedicated, dissent, highly educated people.
So they will not discuss much with you, they want to distance themselves, they would not want to participate in this charade.
With prostate the solution is in prevention or a lifetime-long way of life. It is easier said than done with all that untethered hormone stimulus around.
patrick45945 Epictetus
Edited
OK, was just lurking but would like to add my two cents on Flomax. When I was diagnosed with AFib in January 2018, I started taking one of the modern blood thinners, alternating between Eliquis and Pradaxa, neither of which I have suffered side effects from. I'm 70 so expect some muscle aches, etc. so am reluctant to blame things on medications.
Before my AFib diagnosis, I had been taking Saw Palmetto for many years with success in reducing the number of nightime p**s calls.
After my AFib diagnosis and starting Pradaxa, research advised me that modern blood thinners interacted with the Saw Palmetto I had taken for years.
At my next appt with my PCP, she prescribed Flomax to replace the Saw Palmetto. Two days later I was back in AFib. After researching, I found that arrhythmia is a rare side effect of Flomax. OOPS. Apparently my PCP didn't get the memo, and she was the one who diagnosed my AFib.
Lesson learned, be your own #1 health advocate!
Patrick
Epictetus patrick45945
Edited
Thank you Patrick . Good advice for sure.
derek76 patrick45945
Edited
I took Saw Palmetto in tincture form from a herbalist. It didn't stop my prostate from growing over the years but it did lessen urgency and I went from four times a night to twice.
Epictetus derek76
Posted
I had been using Beta-Sitosterol which seemed to reduce my nightly trips. There is some evidence that supports it's effectiveness done by the Cochrane Collaboration.
derek76 Epictetus
Posted
I didn't try that one but it is a strange plant and is used for a wide range of problems
patrick45945 derek76
Edited
After the Flomax put me back in AFib, I spent 3 days in the hospital to start the anti-arrhythmic drug Dofetillide (generic Tikosyn) which has kept me in rhythm. With the blessing of my EP (electrophysiologist) I resumed taking Saw Palmetto and now get up once a night when my app tells me its time to pee. There's an app for everything! 8)
derek76 patrick45945
Edited
I'd not heard of an app for that !
When I was first prescribed Flomax around 2000 it brought my BP and heart rate down dramatically and I stopped it after three days.
I was prescribed it again in 2012 eight years after my GL when my prostate had regrown and right after my heart valve replacement without any initial side effects.
patrick45945 derek76
Posted
***I'd not heard of an app for that !
So I use the Coloplast Speedicath FR14 hydrophilic catheter for CIC and Coloplast provides the "CathNow" app which reminds me when it's time to void as well as logging my voids. I find it very helpful to keep me on track with my CIC routine and also has links for helpful tips as well as contacts for customer support.
Patrick
alan86734 patrick45945
Edited
Hi, Patrick,
You seem to be getting a lot of reliable information from derek76, which is good. I don't know much about Derek but I have followed his posts on a number of occasions and he always responds in a professional manner. I find this reassuring.
To avoid drowning you in data, can I ask you instead, do you have any concerns or loose ends you would like answered at this time? Or issues with your catheterization? Or anything else that I might be able to answer?.
Warm regards,
Alan.
patrick45945 alan86734
Posted
Hey Alan,
You know we all come here for mutual support while sharing our personal experiences and for that I am very grateful. The information I have garnered here has helped immensely in dealing with this condition, any associated health professionals, and making decisions for your own care based on careful research.
Having shared my own personal experience in previous posts, I look forward to responses from those in similar situations. Educating ourselves to the many options available is the best way to arrive at an informed decision for our future care, rather than being duped into a procedure that may help the professional performing his specialty procedure more than it does you.
One issue I would like to learn about is traveling while doing CIC. I find myself deferring airline travel due to my CIC schedule. I realize this can be done in-flight, but traveling with 20" catheter packages can be challenging. I have tried the Coloplast compact unit which is much more discreet as it fits in a pocket, but feel like it does not completely empty my bladder as the standard SpeediCath that I use at home.
Appreciate any responses and improved health to all!
Patrick
HowieF patrick45945
Edited
By the way, anecdotal to this discussion, you mentioned arrhythmia. I was researching those medications that our president has been pushing for use on CoronaVirus patients and one of the "mild" side effects is "arrhythmia". So, if you have issues with that, you may want to just keep it in the back of your mind. I'm not politicizing,; just passing on info that I researched.
patrick45945 HowieF
Posted
Thanks for the heads-up. I had heard that it can cause fatal arrhythmia in some patients, so I won't be going there. Hopefully won't need to!
Stay safe and healthy!