Well it's finally happening, after much research and great help from the men on this forum, I'm heading to VA for PAE with Dr. Bagla. I will try to keep a journal here for everyone.
I am almost 70, and have been dealing with LUTS almost certainly caused by BPH. My prostate when measured by 3T MRI about a year and a half ago was 98 cc. No telling what it is now. I have been on tamsulosin for a little over 2 years, at first daily, and in the past several months every other day because the side effects are quite difficult to for me to deal with. During the 24 hrs after I take a pill, my LUTS are greatly diminished. The next 24 hrs the LUTS return in full force: great frequency and urgency for long stretches, dribbling, and great difficulty in passing urine the first time I wake at night. Up 2 to 4 times a night depending to some extent whether or not I have taken the pill that afternoon. Don't really have other tests or info about the "before" condition, but feel free to ask away. The IPSS score is rather erratic due to the every other day regime with the meds.
Not super common, but it does happen: sinus congestion so bad that at times I cannot sleep, just completely clogged up. And a persistent cough caused by post nasal drip. Switching to every other day reduced the severity, but on the day I take the pill it still happens to some extent.
Hi rich, did you ever try to take half of the dosage every day ? It is what I am doing with doxazosin (tamsulosin's cousin). My side effects when taking full dose (8mg) is dizziness, especially after standing up, and low blood pressue. So I am now taking 1/2 dose which is 4mg. Hank
Hi rich, PAE is also my first choice right now if I decide to go for it. FLA seems to give better result but the post-op suffering is much more than PAE. Hank
I was told by more than one medical professional that the tamsulosin pills cannot be safely split in two, and they don't make a smaller dose pill. That had been my first thought also, but since I heard this from several sources, I trust that that is accurate.
I also considered FLA, but the track record is pretty slim at this point, and the post op does seem more difficult. With that said, if the PAE doesn't work for me, I would still consider FLA. I had wonderful conversations with Dr. Karmainian, the doc in TX who is doing the FLA for BPH study.
Rich Good luck. I know it's alot to ask but try to relax and the let the doctor do the best for you. He has had good results. I hope you have read up on it and the side effects in the first month. I hope you heal fast. Do worry about letting us know until you are rested and relax God bless. I hope you had a nice few days..Ken
Thanks all for your good wishes. Settled in at the Residence Inn in Woodbridge. Just back from a very good Indian meal at The Taste of Tandoor. It sure is different here from where I live in the mountains north of NYC. So much traffic and development.
Rich I was thinking and saying a prayer for you at 11AM I hope your not in to much pain. Just relax. I hope it works for you. Don't e-mail back until you feel better Ken
Had the PAE yesterday morning. The office, the staff, the procedure, and Dr Bagla were exactly as so many previous posts have described. The office is immaculate, well organized. Everyone there was extremely professional, welcoming and available. I definitely felt I was in very good hands. I was taken to a pre-procedure room almost immediately. Changed into the blue tissue gown, non-slip socks, and a hair net. Nurse took vitals, started IV, and put some prelim meds in (don't remember which ones). The nurse explained everything that she was doing, answered all my questions, and more than once said to ask away if any other concerns occurred to me. Dr Bagla came in and reviewed everything that would be happening during the procedure. A very present, warm, and obviously extremely bright guy.
A short wait, then wheeled into the procedure room. Wow, like out of Star Trek. Three surgical assistants were there. They explained everything that they would be doing, what to expect, and to let them know at anytime if I was uncomfortable or had questions. They started the twilight med, I was extremely relaxed, and a second dose was administered just before Dr B came in, so I was in la-la land from that point on, and have no memory of it at all, though i have been informed thatI was conscious during it. Amnesia is common with this type of sedation.
Next thing I knew I was in the recovery room (same as the pre-procedure room).
In the recovery room, I needed to be lying down for at least two hours to let the incision close up before moving about. My wife just told me that I don't remember much of what happened during that period. Apparently the nurse came in and checked the incision site and my vitals very frequently. I do remember that Dr B came in to see how I was doing at one point. When it was safe for me to sit up, I had some food and drink (I had been fasting since the evening before). Then got dressed .. I was definitely still a little shaken. Except for a slight pinch when the IV was initially started, I experienced absolutely no pain. Zilch.
Then a short ride to the hotel, and stayed mostly lying around chatting, reading, and dosing the rest of the day. My wife told me that the staff were very gracious while I was undergoing the procedure, offering her blankets, coffee, etc.
Towards bedtime started to feel a slight burning in the lower pelvis area. That has persisted all night and into the morning. Slight burning when initiating urination this morning. So just very mild discomfort. I didn't sleep well the first half of the night, probably because I slept so much on and off during the day yesterday. Started some new meds today according to the med schedule plan which hopefully will take care of the mild discomfort.
Dr B's office said that I will get a call from a nurse today. My follow-up with Dr B will be by phone in one month, and is already scheduled.
There is no comparison between the quality of care I've been receiving when compared to the care I have received in the past at my local urologists.