I had this median lobe problem which no amount of natural supplements or drugs would solve so eventually surgery was the only sensible option, now when urologists and others say have TURP that may be fine for some but when it comes to a median lobe TURP in my opinion is something to be avoided as they don't always tell you they will cut away a cone shape from your bladder neck which by the way could render you incontinent as one urologist said "we don't know if the lower prostate valve will hold the urine", other urologists will tell you a different story but regardless they will likely slice up your penis urethra to allow room to fit the tooling in and remove a large portion of prostate tissue including the prostate urethra resulting in your prostate now being full of urine 24/7 because they cut away a cone shaped chunk of your bladder neck sphincter valve where the median lobe was blocking up your urine flow and now your prostate is permanently a urine bag with only the lower prostate valve to hold your urine, as a result your sperm now will no longer come out the normal way but will go into your bladder and pass out when you urinate.There is another option called FLA which I had done in Houston by Dr Karamanian who is very good, it is painless and all done in a few hours it is done under mri so he can see exactly and precisely where he has the small laser in this way he removes unimportant tissue and safe guards the bladder neck valve so as to avoid incontinence along with avoiding the problem of sperm going into the bladder and avoiding urethra damage etc as it is done through the rectum not the penis, so the prostate does not become a urine bag it is left unharmed yes it is AMAZING!
there are risks with all surgical options and its up to you to do your home work but I am so glad I avoided turp with a median lobe growth.
Hi Brian, congratulations ! It sounds like you had FLA and it solved your median lobe problem. What were your symptoms due to the median lobe, before FLA ? Hank
Where were you a little over two years ago when I could have used this information? I got talked into surgery for median lobe BPH, left totally incontinent, and after five more surgeries with anesthesia, I now have an artificial sphincter to control the constant leakage. It has cost me thousands of dollars out of pocket, and also left me impotent, which is only better than being incontinent and impotent.
I've read your posts about your successful FLA outcome. It looks like a great option, and I'm very happy for you and others who may avoid the unhappy outcome I had. My first urologist graduated from top schools, and was fellowship trained in urology at UC Berkeley. Unfortunately, he was not candid about the risks, so I pay the bill, literally and figuratively.Glenn
Glenn Your story just breaks my heart as it could be any of us led down that road. It is hard to get men to realize their options as the Urological Associations do not want these alternative presented because they don't have the training and skills to preform an MRI directed very accurate tissue removal procedure. The URO's fight anything and fight to stop insurance coverage and unfortunately they are somewhat successful in the fight as their lobby is so powerful.
Men must research and apply the logic and theory to this procedure and all procedure and compare them. It then becomes clear how and why we are getting wonderful results. I dd my FLA 15 months ago and could not be more pleased. The doctor men select is the key to the success as it is as much a art of design of the procedure as it is a science. The doctor mention, Dr. Karamanian is in Houston and i feel he is absolutely the best there is in this field. I am so happy for Brian.
My heart goes out to you. I hope we can help other men not have to deal with this.
Hi Brian, Thanks for that info.Where did you have your surgery done? I'm 88 years old one ,Uro said i was to old for surgery,Turp. My last cystoscopy said i have a median lobe.The first one did not.How old are you?I have been doing cic for 15 months,getting tired of this. Where is this Dr Karamanian located?Thanks for the this info. Oh, did he have do a video urodynamics test also/ Did you have to stay in a hospital after surgery?
Thanks for your reply,
Brian,
frank,
Good for you Brian. I hope you heal well. Dr. K has help many men on here. Good luck Ken
Hi Hank, it started with going to the toilet more and more often eventually I had a urologist identify a median lobe pushing upwards against my bladder from an ultra sound, many men,s prostate grow outwards not against the bladder but just restrict the prostate urethra, whereas a median lobe crushes the urethra near the bladder neck , this is a sad situation as a urologist only knows to cut away the bladder neck, whereas FLA does not do that but simply kills of unimportant prostate tissue from crushing the urethra but without harming the bladder neck-sounds like common sense right, and it is but urologists have not been trained to do that also Dr Karamanian in Houston at the prostate laser center is perhaps the best there is and at the end of the day it comes down to who has the skill not just knowledge.
Dear Glenn,
WOW! I am so sorry but perhaps it might be worth having a chat with Dr Karamanian in Houston in the prostate laser center as he is extremely capable and genuinely cares you might try an email to him its worth a try and he is not about money but rather wants to help.
Thank you Kenneth,
yes he has helped me avoid what could easily otherwise have been a terrible outcome!
Hi Frank,
you asked my age I am 61, you said they said you are to old for turp so will be pleased to know FLA -focal laser ablation is easy and painless and therefore may be perfect for you but read my first comment to get an answer to one of your questions, I found FLA to be easier than having a dentist do a filling, It was all done in 4 hours and my wife picked me up and took me back to the motel that same day, I was asked to visit the Doctor the next day to discuss it and then after 8 days I had the catheter out and that was it all finished - no hospital at all, sorry I no nothing about urodynamics, my study on turp showed me that turp is a serious involved operation that would be very hard on ones body along with much pain and also requiring a general to put you to sleep which may be too hard for you however FLA does not require that as you are not put to sleep and its easy to cope with and easy to recover from, I have not discovered anything better.
Thanks Brian. Did Dr K confirm that you had a large median lobe, and told you that FLA would fix it good ? Hank
Hi Hank, he required an mpMRI which I had done here in New Zealand and he was able to transfer the details to his computer and saw the median lobe, I had already researched both Dr K and FLA and emailed and phoned other guys Dr K had done FLA for.
No one will guarantee excellence but he will do his best, I have never herd anything negative about Dr K only good things, he is very good and very helpful and very capable and loves the concept of being a caring good old fashioned genuine Doctor that is there for hie patients and he was that for me too.
I am now so much better off than before and without all those nasty side affects that the so called gold standard turp often inflicts upon people especially if you have a median lobe.
Glenn I am so sorry for what you were put through. You are just one of many men that take the word of a doctor. No matter how good they say they are. I don't remember if you research your surgery before you had it but it's to late now. I feel like the some of the other's guy's on here. Talk with Dr. K. Maybe he can help you. Please all men on here do your research and get 2 or 3 opinion before you go under the knife. And remember this. A doctor can only suggest a procedure that may help you but in reality he does not know if it will work for sure until it's done. And if it don't it's to late. Take care Ken
Thanks Brian,
Afraid that my damage is not repairable. The AUS works to keep the leakage under control, and I can empty the bladder quickly by using a small pump in the scrotum to temporarily release pressure from the cuff around the urethra. If the strictures don't come back quickly, and I get 2 or 3 years, hopefully more, of not wearing Depends, then that's a lot better than the previous 2 years. I really like the urologist who did the procedures to clear up the strictures, and then did the AUS implant. He also does penile implants for ED, so if I went that route, I would have a second pump. I would just have to be able to remember which side is for what purpose! Right now, I'm not sure I'm up to another surgery.
Hello Glen,
I am truly sorry for men who through no fault of their own have missed out on FLA, and I know nothing about the issues you now face, I hope others in your situation on this forum can assist you and one another, I sincerely hope things go well for you kind regards Brian.
Hi Brian,
I cannot describe how happy I am on your success as I do not want any human to go through what I am going through.
In short I was diagnosed with prostate cancer with a gleason index of 9 and PSA 24. This was 2013 and I opted to radiation (CT guided radiation). Tomotherapy. It went very well for me thank God.
After 3 years I developed bladder stone and my urologist advice for TURP (2016 March). And it went very well a minor leak can have sex. But no semen because of radiation.
Again March 2017 my urine was blocked completely and I had to do an immediate procedure. After that till today I have this leak low to medium and have to use heavy flow pads. Because of this intercourse is non existence but the drive and want is there to be satisfied by other means.
Again March 2018 is approaching and physiologically I am broken down.
Brain I would like to know from your experience and you have met Dr. K, if there is anything that he can do. Is so please guide me to him and his contact. I am from the Maldives living in Kuala Lumpur.
Once again I am very happy for you.
Kalbe
Hi Kalbe,
thank you but I do feel for you and hope things will get better, Dr Karamaian has saved me from living a nightmare, he is mainly a prostate cancer specialist and also does FLA for bph swollen prostates, I feel confidant he will be the one to help you, you can find him at the prostate laser center in Houston and by typing his name on google, let me know how you get on kind regards Brian.
Hi Kalbe, my first attempt to reply to you is being moderated by this forum so I am trying to reword the same reply; I highly recommend you email Dr Karamanian, you should be able to find his details by typing his name on google, and he is primarily a prostate cancer specialist and very helpful and very capable, even if you just get his thoughts about your situation I believe you will better for doing it, kind regards Brian.
Hello Kalbe. Like the other men on here . Do get a hold of Dr K. It is worth a try to see if he could help you. It would a shot. Good luck Ken