It will be 3 months on August 1st, 2020 since my last Oval Button surgery on my Prostate. I had 2 prior surgeries of the same procedure, Oval Button earlier this year. Both of those didn't work after about 3 months. At the end of April, my doctor did a scope and said my prostate was clear, wide open, but obstructed right at the opening of the bladder into the urethra. So he said he needed to do another Oval Button Turp. This being the 3rd one in 9 months. Now, it's been 3 months, and I am really getting frustrated as I am noticing that the symptoms are returning. After the 3rd procedure, my doctor had told me to do self catheterization twice a day everyday for 3 months. He said the reason was to help discourage the growth of scar tissue. I followed those instructions exactly. I had an office visit after 30 days, when I brought up the self catheterization, he seemed a little confused, and said are you doing that because you aren't emptying. I said I am not completely emptying, still holding about 150 cc's or more. but I am doing it because you told me to do it for 3 months. He said it's good that you are measuring it, and to cut it down to twice a day 3 days a week. I have been following his instructions exactly for the last 2 months. About three or four days ago, I noticed some blood when I cathed. The blood went away that same day when I urinated. I thought good I'm okay, but now my flow has slowed down a lot, and I am holding anywhere from 150 to 250 cc's after catheterization. I am hoping this is short lived, but I am afraid it's not. I like my doctor, but I am thinking it's time to see a different doctor. A friend of mine told me to look into the Holep procedure. He had it done a few years ago and hasn't had any problems. Has anyone of you had that procedure? I had green light laser procedure about 12 years ago, and it worked great until last year. I called my old doctor from 12 years ago who I had great faith in as he also saved my life from bladder cancer, but he is up North, and I live in Florida. He said he can't help me, I guess because of the distance. Any suggestions or feedback is much appreciated. I am really getting frustrated with this whole situation. Just hoping it goes away, but if not I've got to do something. My wife and friends don't want me to go back to the same doctor for a 4th time here in Florida. Thank you.
Hi Frank, Holep has the best success rate. Many people on this forum had it but have moved on , probably due to its success. However, since you had was 3 button TURPs without success, Holep might not you enough. Your problem might lie else where. Hank
I had this procedure two years ago and experienced a big problem after the procedure: I couldn’t urinate at all. My urethra was totally blocked and my urologist claimed that it was because parts of my prostate collapsed. I had to self-cath until I could have a second surgery to fix the problem.
Here is some info that I found about post-surgery complications from plasma button turp:
"It could possibly lead to more blockages in the prostatic urethra, an area of muscle in the urethra just below the urinary bladder, but some studies show otherwise. This type of blockage can make it harder to urinate normally and empty the bladder fully. "
Source: Button TURP and Your Prostate: What You Should Know
I believe that is what happened to me. I had to get a second surgery three weeks later in order to clear up the blockage. The second surgery wasn’t a total success. I was able to urinate but my flow was 40% slower/thinner than what I had before the surgery.
My doctor said that the area around the prostatic urethra has to be handled with care because any slip up would make matters worse. My opinion is that he removed enough collapsed prostate tissue in order to allow me to urinate.
It’s been twenty-three months since the second surgery and things have gotten better. I’ve had small pieces of prostate tissue exit in my urine during this time and I believe that my urine stream has been acting like a pressure washer pushing against the remnants of the collapsed prostate tissue around the prostatic urethra. I’d say I’m at about 90 % of where I started before surgery. I can sleep all night without having to get up to go pee. Of course, I watch my liquid intake every evening.
FYI: I was able to urinate normally before my surgery but my urologist stated that I had a very large median lobe that was protruding into my bladder and that it was only a matter of time until it grew to the point where it would affect my ability to urinate normally. That’s the reason that I had the button turp.
The button turp was the second surgery that I had on my prostate. The first surgery was completed seven years ago (five before latest surgery) by the same urologist. I had the first surgery because I had retention and was having trouble urinating. The first surgery went well and I was urinating fine afterwards. My doctor used a type of laser similar to Holep.
If I had to do it all over again, I would have chosen Holep.