Hello guys, this forum has been useful to me as I think through my options. Nothing's guaranteed, but urolift appears most least risky, for the time being anyway. I'm joining the forum because the urology practice I've been seeing (here in Santa Cruz California) has just started doing the procedure. As with any even minimally invasive procedure, experience counts and a track record is essential... and this is still a new treatment. So I'm trying to figure out how to find the most experienced providers and how to assess their track record. Not knowing my way around this world, I am tempted to just try to get into the Mayo clinic in Arizona, based on their general reputation... but it would be good to have some sense of the lay of the land... So I would be grateful if anyone could point me to a resource that offers that sort of data (eg, number of procedures done over time, complaints, outcome data...?) or at least shared personal knowledge along those lines... thanks!
paul avoid these butchers as much as possible. i have heard plenty of horror stories with urolift.when im ready to go for a procedure im going to mayo clinic they are #1.my all means dont go to doctor who just starting doing urolift good luck.remember they cant make any money unless they do a procedure.
It's not a perfect indicator, but if you go to the urolift website (you can't put links here), you can click on "find a physician"; choose one that is part of a "Center of Excellence", meaning that they have very high volumes and meet certain quality parameters.
We have some threads here dedicated to Urolift. You might find some useful information as to providers and outcomes there.
Jim
Paul
If you don't mind, what factors are leading you to consider Urolift?
Would you be willing to share more, such as your prostate size, IPSS, symptoms, etc.?
This forum has a lot of information. In fact, I never heard of PAE, FLA or Urolift until coming here.
Wish you all the best. Glean wisdom from the men here who've been through the battle.
Michael
I participated in the iTind study in the USA with great results. It is made by Medi-tate and is available in Europe and hopefully soon oin the USA. It is gentle and presents the fewest side effects or bad outcomes. The results were immediate with almost no healing time because there was little damage to the surrounding tissue. Best of all the implant stayed inside of me for 6 days and was removed. All pretty painlessly. Google their website.
Do your research well and choose an established and good uro. My Urolift was a complete failure with some lasting negative side effects. Some guys have had good success. Good luck.
Best to find one that have had some patients you can talk to them. Also make sure you find a doctor that will put you out and it is not performed in a office. He what the best exsperience not one of the horror storys. Look up Urolift in your area and see who has been doing them for a while. Had mine 2 1/2 years ago Ken
Could you please tell me I had to go for cystoscope the nurse and doctor made it extremely uncomfortable I mean brutal pain I need another one can you be put under for this procedure? I'm willing to pay if insurance don't cover
Where are you located? Yes, just like a colonoscopy they can give you a fast acting anesthetic like propofol or versed. At least some valium. You will be semi conscious, not remember any pain and will wake up pretty quickly. Somebody would have to drive you home.
Absolutely you can have anesthesia for a cystoscopy; there's no reason why the insurance wouldn't cover that. No reason to have it done awake unless you want it that way.
Did they use any numbing gel in the penis. That what they use when they check my stricture. ken
Hi Ken:
Many urologists are taking urolift out of the hospital and into the office surgical suite using just a local. 
We do the Urolift in our office under anesthesia; hospitals have issues including infection rates as well as significant time delays. Performing the procedure in the office if anesthesia is offered allows patients to be comfortable with spending a minimal amount of their day dedicated to having the procedure done.
Hi Ray,
Curious if you know if they used a flexible or rigid cystoscope? A rigid is barbaric without being put to sleep, and I know that first hand! Most people tolerate the flexible very well, but many doctors offer the option to be put under, although it may require doing it in the hospital. I forgot if I had medicare or not when I was offered that option, but I assume it's covered if the doctor wants to do it that way.
Jim
Hi JerseyUro,
Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but your answer sounded like you normally do flexible cystoscopies under anethsia, or are you just saying that it's a patient option? My understanding is that they are normally only done with a numbing agent, and most people tolerate them very well.
Jim
Flexible cystoscopy usually isn't too bad, and we will often do awake.
For men who do not wish to be awake, we use anesthesia.
JerseyUro,
Curious about how long a flex cystoscopy usually takes. Not the prep, numbing, etc, but about how long it takes from the time you enter the urethra until you pull the scope out?
I was awake for my flexible investigating bladder cancer, and the doctor seemed in and out in just a couple of minutes. And he not only had to check out my bladder but a large diverticulum as well, and hopefully look for strictures and prostate architecture such as medican lobe as I had requested.
Also, if I remember correctly, there was a large video screen he looked at. Are these procedures generally recorded and saved, so they can be reviewed at a future time, as for example in getting a second opinion?
Jim
The procedure generally takes around 1 minute for someone who is experienced. They are not generally recorded.
@JerseyUro "The procedure generally takes around 1 minute for someone who is experienced."
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Well, I guess he was "experienced" 
He was in and out and out of the room so fast that by the time I got my list of questions out of my pocket he was out of the room and with another patient!
Jim