To most of us your procedure was like using a sledge hammer to crack a nut.
Forums like this are used by men who had problems with any procedure they had. Ones with good results seldom have a reason to join they have better things to do with their time.
Hey Dave
That good because I came up with 3 procedure and there all different. It is good that your doctor will take with Look That would be a good Idea for him. I wish him Luck. ..Ken
Hey Looking
When it comes down to it. It is up to you what procedure you have. Talk with Dave doctor and get more information. Maybe he can see you and do the surgery on you.
But before you have it you have to make sure that your prostate is the problem. Have all the test you can to make sure. Also I feel you are going into this with rose color glasses.
You have to be aware of the side effects because we are all different and we all react to surgery different. You may have the same out come but you never know.
I wish you luck in whatever you do and it is all you are looking for. Ken
Rose colour glasses was what the ‘We only do TURP’ Scottish Uro wrote to me in 2004 when I asked him to refer me to the Freeman in Newcastle to get me on their GL PVP trial programme.
Strange four years later they were doing GL PVP.
Hey Buddy
Good morning. Just check to see if anyone was on. Going to lay down in a few. It’s going on 5 am here.
I just feel he thinks it’s a fix all and he is not looking at all the side effect he could have We never now until after a procedure is done if it worked or not.
But it’s his life and his body and he is going to have to deal with what happens good or bad.That is the way it goes.
Good night or good morning where ever your at…Ken
Hello:
For educational purposes, here are some responses to your questions. Again, I am 5-months post having the Simple Robotic Prostatectomy performed.
- I have not experienced any ED. As a matter of fact, after the surgery I was with an indwelling catheter for 10-days while the bladder healed. I would get erections even with the catheter in. After the catheter was removed, I had sex and all was good except for a dry orgasm. There was a little fluid there when cleaning up and milking the penis. I still produce a little fluid to this day, but dry for the most part. My wife says it is less messy. Erections are strong and just like they were before. As a note, my nerve bundles, which are on the outside of the prostate lobes, were never touched. Preservation is key.
- No incontinence issues. When the catheter was first removed, I had to be careful when farting and sneezing because my garden hose was wide open (so to speak). This went away after a month or two. I think it was more me adjusting to this new garden hose the Dr. gave me by removing the massive prostate. My sphincters were working great (never touched - Preservation). The farting or sneezing was me pushing down hard and my urethra opening up like never before. Keep in mind I lived with a enormous prostate for years. Peeing was never a push for me, but rather relaxing and letting my pee ease out. Voiding took a while as I stood there waiting for my bladder to empty, not realizing it probably never completely emptied. Now, after the surgery, voiding for me is pushing it out with great force and voiding in a matter of seconds. Frigging amazing. I could not tell you when I ever urinated like I do now. I do not have to worry about fluid intake at all. I drink water or tea all the way up to bedtime. Over an 8-9 hour sleep night, I get up once, pee quickly, then on my way back to bed, I drink more water that I have next to my bed. Hydration is not a problem.
- No bowel issues at all. What is worth noting is that before surgery, when I sat down for a bowel movement, I always pooped first then peed. Now I pee first then poop. Pushing down to poop just opens up my urethra and out the pee comes. Absolutely no restriction and fantastic flow.
I hope that answers your questions. I also do not take any medications for anything. I am 61 years old and very fortunate with overall health. Saw my Dr. this past Friday and my blood pressure was 124/77. I have always been active in the gym and was once a competitive powerlifter. I am 5’8" and weigh 270lbs. I apparently carry my weight well, but could drop some weight. I’ll work harder in the gym. I like having my ice cream each night and eating whatever I want.
Dave
Hi Derek:
Good point, but I am here because I want to share a positive experience with others, and for those seeking information, be a first-hand source for what I went through. I can’t tell you exactly why I am compelled to engage, but as I told my wife, I just wanted to help other men (plus I am an educator, which compels me to teach). Keep in mind, I never came to this forum before my surgery, and only found it afterwards when wanting to help others. Beforehand, I went through multiple uros and researched all the options that were out there to understand what procedures were being done. I did not take any medications, so no experience there. About 14-months ago, I went from peeing to multiple episodes of retention, and at the time, not understanding what the hell was happening (my enormous prostate was finally getting my attention). I had not seen a uro in years, so I was not having annual finger waves. I already knew from years back that I had an enlarged prostate. Until retention brought me to my knees, I never worried about it. In a matter of a few very long months on an indwelling catheter, I went from whatever my normal was, to having a simple robotic prostatectomy. I was fortunate to find the right Dr. (by my own aggression) to fix my problem, and I was never for treating the symptoms. I wanted to be one and done.
Dave
But a nut worth cracking.
Hi Ken:
I hear you. At the end of the day, we make the best choice we can make at the time we need to make it using whatever motivation and information we have. The rest is gut feeling and trust because of our reliance on someone to help us. Our imagination gets carried away and we envision how each procedure works. For me with a 265g prostate, and looking at my own MRI, it was clear the tip of the iceberg was not my problem. My problem was the rest of the iceberg pushing up into my bladder as an enormous mass. I wanted to remove the iceberg, and did.
Dave
Dave
I think that is all of us we want to go through a procedure 1 time and no more.
Glad you had a good outcome. But you do know that every man is different and not all men have the same out come. Most of the time.
Enjoy your life…Ken
Amazing report! So happy for you. Too bad about the dry orgasms but that is the cost of many of the procedures (with only a few that do not impact that). I know the urologist downplay dry orgasms (many wont even tell you unless you bring it up) but it is important to a lot of men, no way around that. All that matters in your situation is that you are happy with the results. Look forward to an update in 6mos. (if you are willing).
Dave
You did what was best for you. And with a prostate that big you had limited thing to work with. A large prostate is hard to deal with
Being we are all different and our prostate are different sizes. I’m glad that there are other procedure to pick from.
My procedure that I pick because I did not want any side effects erections or my ejaculation. At 63 I’m not ready to give them up even if the doctors consider it not a function. They feel we do not need it because we are not having kids anymore. But for me it goes with my orgasm.
I’m going on 4 years and I am still wide open and if I have to have a couple more clip put in so be it.
I hope you continue to heal well and enjoy your life…Ken
What is the cost compared to the more common options. I would imagine it is expensive. Did your insurance cover it. Certainly here in the UK the NHS would not countenance it.
Just as long as it did not crack your nuts:-)
Derek
What I know about the UK insurance they would not even consider it. You would have to go private.
Ken
what is SRP
Hi Derek:
I have no idea the comparison costs to other options. I have two insurances. All was covered. Nothing out of my pocket.
Dave
Is the reason for that that they consider it is not appropriate treatment for BPH ?
Most of the time you get someone who is moonlighting from his NHS hospital.