The thing about the Greenlight is the psychological effects after the surgery. The destruction of the prostate and the ejaculatory ducts is something that is difficult to deal with. The PAE which avoids this is a good way to go with it is feasible. I imagine doctors(urologists) who know the Greenlight method due this method because it is their bread and butter. It is business. In my case I was very nervous and very much without support and I thought yeah I will do this. But as an afterthought other methods that leave the ejaculatory ducts are the best way to go.
My urologists said he would do any procedure I wanted. But, because of the way my prostate was squeezing into the bladder neck, he didn't believe I would get the relief I sought with Urolift or other options. He thought Greenlight would be most effective in my case.
By the way, I had ejaculate 1 week after surgery, but now, 3 months later, I have almost none. At times, there is a post orgasmic drip that oozes out; but not during orgasm. I do get a good amount of precum though.
You do have to get used to the idea that there is no semen during orgasm. But, there is no swallowing necessary during oral. And, a more vocal and audible response will alert your partner that you have "arrived" without semenal flow.
Every situation is different and size matters. Personally, I would try Rezum, Urolift or PAE (Possibly all of them) before ever considering a surgery - and if that was my only remaining option, I might go right to Holep. I'm glad your situation worked out well, there are some real greenlight horror stories on this blog
There are good and bad in all procedures. There have been men on here that had the GL but month's later end up with a turp to clean the mess the GL did. I don't think any man want to have 2 or 3 procedures to fix the problem. Most doctor do not look at all the mentel out comes of the patient ( They just tell you all will be the same. That is want they learn in scohool ) 9 out of 10 surgery they will cause retro and more. Don't let a doctor tell you this will fix the problem. In truth they never know until they do a surgery. It may or may not help. Have a less evasive procedure that will help you first. Also make sure it is the prostate that is causeing you the problem not the bladder Take care Ken
It's been one year (today, I think) since my Greenlightprocedure.. With the 24 x 7 incontinence that started with the GL procedure, sex is no longer a possibily I consider. So, I don't have to worry about ejaculation If I ever get to the point I can have the artifical sphincter implanted, i may think about sex again.
Good Luck Ken
I did not have any psychological effects following GL surgery, done this past Thanksgiving Eve. The recovery time was not very long at all. Granted, I have RE, but I was OK with that both before and after the procedure. After all, as a 68 year old man, I am certainly not looking to produce offspring at this point in my life. The fact that I get regular, strong erections and that I reach orgasm just as easily as I ever did are really quite enough for me. Do I miss the ejaculation? A bit yes, but that is compensated for by the fact that I have no problem urinating and essentially do not have leakage. Since I do have overactive bladder, something I've had for at least 3 decades, I do take myrbetriq and oxybutinin chloride and that seems to manage the bladder problem rather well most of the time.
I hope that, should I ever have prostate problems again, better, quickly, and less invasive solutions will have been developed by then. In the meantime, GL was a good solution for me. As for the anesthesia, I definitely do NOT want to be even twilight awake while it's being done. Knock me out!
I'm very happy for you that all worked out but what if it didn't like so many other men on this site. What made you decide on a GL when there are so many less evasive procedure. Like you I'm 61 and not looking to have anymore kids but I still will not give up anything to just pee a little better. Let's hope all stays good for you. There are men on here that have had the GL procedure but ending up 3 months later having to have a TURP to clean up the mess of the GL. Stay well Ken
Well, it's about 6 months out and everything is good. Perhaps others who have had GL did not have a surgeon so experienced with the procedure as my doctor was. He did other types of procedures also, but this was the one he felt best for me considering prostate size, location, etc.
As to the peeing, it is a LOT better than before, often coming out as if I were 25 again. Now I feel free to go out and not need to constantly know the location of the nearest bathroom.
While this site is useful, it is not a random sample of all those who have undergone GL. I suspect that the majority of men who come here have had problems or concerns.
Glad your experience was a good one. THere is no doubt that most people coming to this site do so because they want to investigate a problem, so you're right, nothing like a random sample at all and not really valid for statistical purposes.
I think with Greenlight that surgical skill is important, but also, the more precise a procedure is the less potential for bad, irreversable outcomes. There are more precise treatments out there now, so the times that Greenlight is ideal are less than they were a couple of years ago. THere are plenty of fabulous TURP outcomes, but that doesn't mean that it should be performed much anymore, simpley because there are more precise procedures that carry much less risk with fewer side effects and shorter recovery. Greenlight, to a lesser extent probably falls into that category now.
Did you end up with retro ejaculation? But it sounds as though your outcome was ideal - that's great!
Over 500,000 Greenlight procedures have been performed!
For all you self proclaimed "doctors" on this website and who "contribute" to various threads, I ask you, "where did you earn your medical degree"? The idea that you would prescribe or even suggest one treatment over another is a laughable disservice to men who are simply looking to know other men's experience of one single treatment.
To all of you "contributors" who reply to a request for information on procedure B and reply with, "Oh, well, I had procedure X; but you shouldn't do it, and, I would never do Y or Z, and you should try procedure T", I invite you to cease and desist. That is as polite a way as I can think of to say shut up.
You rarely hear comments from men whose outcomes are successful. That is because they have moved on with their lives. The persistent noise heard here is largely from those who have had terrible outcomes. Sincerely, I am sorry that this horror has happen to you; but it is not for you to tell other men what they should and should not do. Simply state your procedure and experience and allow information seekers to make up their own minds. The most exacerbating aspect of these threads is all the comments that have nothing to do with the "subject" offered by the man who posted the topic.
Half a million greenlight procedures performed, and yet, a mere handful of naysayers who post here with their tales doom and gloom as if to speak for the other 499,994 procedures. Three and half months after surgery, my own situation continues to evolve. When I feel there is an update worth of posting, I put it on my thread; but it is always specific to my own experience. I do the same when posting on another man's topic. I invite all of you to consider doing the same.
Yes they have done the number you say but over how many years. And out of the men that had the GL how many have had to have a Turp to clean up the mess. We all on here gonly give our opinion we do not force another man to have one or the other. He can do what ever he want. But first get the information on any procedure you havebefore you pick one. Have a good day Ken
First - you're right, almost all of the comments in this site are from people who have had problems. But there are many examples o this forum of doctors who performed surgery when they didn't even have a diagnosis - plenty of guys who went to see a doc because he had trouble peeing, so without as much as a scope and the doc scheduled them for a TURP. So they were going to do an obsolete procedure that carries a lot of risk of lifetime problems without so much as a diagnosis. From and MD.
Everyone has to make their own decisions based on whatever criteria they want to use. But I invite anyone considering a procedure to NOT consider an MD as a reason to either trust a doctor, choose them to perform a procedure or even recommend one. This forum is littered with people who did that and will spend their lives in diapers and/or unable to ever have sex again.
If someone wants to recommend something on this forum, they should do it and I invite you and everyone else to react as you want, but not tell other people what to post or how to react to those posts. There are some people on this forum that I ignore and others, who like me have done a lot of research into different procedures, when they'e indicated, what the success rate is and the side effect profile. I spent three years watching the clinical trials of several before I decided on one, did quite a bit of studying and while I don't preform procedures and can't predict outcomes, I can certainly advise people on what the minimum skill level to demand is and the questions that need to be asked and tests that need to be run before making a decision to opt for or against any procedure.
I know also know quite a bit about the business of medicine and know that many (not all, probably not even most, but many) doctors steer patients to the procedures they make the most money on and away from the ones they don't know how to perform. Further, I know that while Greenlight used to be the least invasive treatment for BPH, it isn't anymore and there are several that are far less risky, with shorter recoveries, no anesthesia and less risk of permanent side effects. All will allow for the greelight to still be performed if they fail.
There are people who had to quit work and most social activities because they were given an indefinite foley catheter regimen who were directed (strongly - in full opposition to what you're advocating here) to self cathing when their doctors didn't even consider it who got their lives back - work, excercise, social activities - everything. And some recovered faster as a result.
We're all adults here - I suggest that everyone take a deep breath, say anything you think might be helpful and let everyone make their own decisions about their lives based on whatever input and data they want to use.
So I'm going to continue to say what I think and help people however I can. FWIW, I just saw a post from someone describing a botched greenlight, that probably wasn't indicated and from his description may be incotinent for life. If he had posted prior to his procedure I sure would have advised that he not do it.
AMEN>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Could you please give me a reference to the "over 500,000 Greenlight procedures performed?" Being a technical person, I like to read source data. Thanks, Glenn
Yes, I do have retro, but I knew going into GL that this was a distinct possibility (or probability). That is not a deal breaker for me, especially in light of the quick recovery time, minimal and short discomfort, and, most of all, the ease with which I pee. Having needed to be catheterized in the ER, that is not something I looked forward to experiencing again.
Ok I know what you are saying and many feel like you. So I had the greenlight and now my doc took blood metabolic panel on me and I have high liver enzymes ALT, AST , when it was always normal before. Do not know what to do , what it is from, I do not know and never does my physician.
Happy for you. But there are also alot of men that do not want to have retro ejaculation just to pee a little better that is why they look at the newer procedures. You had a a good outcome with your GL and many men have had good results with TURP but there are also alot of men that have had bad out comes and retro is the lease of there worry when your leaking and have to wear a diaper for the rest of your life. You can have any procedure you like because you are the one that HAS TO DEAL WITH THE OUT COME Not the doctor. He just moves on to the next patient. .A doctor can only suggest a procedure and tell you it may work. But in true they don't know if it will until it done. Have a good day Ken
I'm happy for you also, Kenneth, that you get to ejaculate since that seems to be the most important thing to you. In my case, at least, I do not merely pee "a little better" --- I pee as if I were 25 again. It made a major improvement in how I function and live my daily life.
You obviously have an axe to grind and that's your prerogative. Every procedure has its drawbacks and possible problems, as does every single medication. One decides what's best for himself and gambles. Life is a gamble. Most doctors are not so callous as you imply.
I doubt the GL procedure had any impact on your metabolic panel numbers, but it is always a good idea to get a second opinion in such cases. It's not an insult to your original doctor (unless you yell at him - LOL ).
I wish you good luck in getting to the root of this new problem.