Had TURP many years ago but old problems have returned.
Urologist has said I need TURP doing again and has placed me on waiting list. I have great difficulty peeing, doesn't completely void and dribbles when I put it away. Surgeon has offered to put a Foley Catheter in while I am awaiting surgery but as far as I can remember the Foley was only used following surgery. Should I agree to having this catheter inserted to relieve symptoms while I'm waiting?
My vote would be for intermittent cathing, which I've done for 20 months now. We have numerous threads here about that. SpeediCaths (hydrophyllic, i.e. pre-lubed) have my vote, as say others as well. Easy to learn to use, and we here seem to know more than most nurses who teach how to use!
I can only speak to my BPH "drama" waiting for my 1st Turp procedure at 64 years old. I tried everything to avoid this procedure. It got to the point the prostate meds no longer helped me completely empty. It caused a bladder infection and I currently have a catheter in as I can no longer void without one. If your voiding works anything like mine, chances are you will no longer be able to void I went to urgent care and after the catheter was inserted I had 1,600cc of urine, talk about pain, that was an understatement. Another time I went to urgent care I had 450cc of urine I could not void. On May 2nd my Urologist will schedule my 1st Turp. Hope this helps? Denis
Forget TURP. It is a barbaric, antiquated procedure. See if you qualify for UroLift or prostate arteriol embolization. Minimal downtime with these new procedures and they are effective for bph.
How long does he want the Foley in for? Do you have confidence in your doctor? Have you had a second opinion on the best way to proceed? Have you had a Foley in before and how did you tolerate it?
If the Foley has to be in for more than a few weeks, consider self catherization (CIC). No tubes in 24/7, no bag. There is a learning curve however, and while some tolerate the first couple of weeks well, some don't. After the first couple of weeks most adjust to it very well and it becomes a fast, vitually painless process that lets you empty your bladder completely, any time you want. It would also buy you more time to see other doctors as the best way to proceed.
Jim
To more directly answer your question, "yes", Foley's are often used pre-surgery as well as post surgery. You don't want your bladder over expanded. Not good for you now, and not good for your post operative results if you go ahead with the TURP. Self cathing, does the same thing. But sounds like you need one or the other now. Otherwise the bladder will stretch out more, lose tone, and potentially the urine will back up into the kidneys (hydronephrosis) if it hasn't already. At least this is the way it sounds from your description, but none of us here have your medical records, nor are we doctors.
Jim
Yes I do agree. Putting your body through that is hell. Alot of the newer doctor don't do them anymore and they offer the new procedures. My urologist is a god sent. We talk alot and He answeres my question. Has told me that he does not do has many of the older procedure because men are more in tune with there bodys. What gets me is if you had a turp done and it did not work why have another one. There is nothing left to cut or burn out. Maybe it was not your prostate and it was something else. Just my opinion Ken
Hello Ken:
I had a visit with my new potential Uro Doc. This was a meet and greet, since I'm dumping my Doc I have seen now for 8 years. This new Doc explained that ANY procedure done will not keep the Prostrate from growing back over the years. That was news to me. My further research on that comment shows he is correct. One could have a couple or serveral procedures throughout your lifetime.
Just to play devil's advocate here, I agree that TURP would probably be the last procedure I would have, starting from scratch. That said, Bill has already had a TURP, and I assume has therefore ended up with the usual side effects such as retro ejaculation. That cannot be reversed. So, in this case, another TURP to clean up things could be a reasonable option. Still, getting a second (or third) opinion to explore other options is quite reasonable.
Jim
Denkee, I'll see your 1,600 cc and raise you 900! They drained 2.5 LITERS outta me when I started on this journey. Because of permanent damage (stretch out) to the bladder, I self-cath 2 x each day, at noon and before bed. Otherwise pee normally, but to avoid complications in bladder or God forbid, the kidneys, I cath to clear out the residual liquid. My stretched out bladder can hold as much as 800cc without complaining to me about it!!!!!! Am currently trying to re-train it to speak up earlier/more frequently....
My Dad's urologist recently told me that he "guaranteed" the prostate would not grow back IF he did the open prostatectomy. It sounds like this is not the case? (sorry, still getting up to speed on things)
Fold. They were only able to drain 1.5 liters out of me after I naturally voided (with the aide of palm pressure) 400cc!
I have been relatively successful in bladder rehabilitation, and now only have to cath after periods of inactivity such as sitting for long periods of time, napping, sleeping, itself. Other than that I can now empty my bladder down to under 50cc (and always under 150cc) almost all of the time.
Never know, but I think my success in part was at one point increasing my cath schedule to more than is generally recommended. The general recommedation is that if you cath more than 400cc, increase the schedule. I increased my cath schedule so that my total bladder volume never exceeded 400cc. By that I meant the total volume of my natural void plus whatever then came out with the catheter. So, while I probably only needed to self cath a couple of times a day by the conventional standard, I upped it to six times a day.
Of course, I can't be sure, but I think that doing that over many months speeded up my bladder rehabilitation by giving the bladder even more rest and less stretch.
At times, even now, I have gone back to this more agressive schedule when I feel my bladder has lost some tone.
Something you might want to try.
Jim
I believe an "open prostatectomy" removes the entire prostate. Therefore nothing to grow back. The procedures talked about here -- Green Light, TURP, etc -- only remove part of the prostate, so it apparently can grow back. Two different things.
Jim
It would not grow back after an prostatectomy as he would probably remove all of the gland. That is drastic for BPH and as it says 'open' surgery with a longer recovery time and inherent dangers.
The urologist who did my PVP many years ago said that he did a PVP on a 92 year old with a massive prostate as it is a gentle procedure.
Hello Thank you. I do know your prostate stiil grows but my point is that with the older procedure ( turp laser and helop ) They core out the prostate and leave the shall what grows back. There is no tissue left Do you grow a new prostate???? You see what I'm saying. How does it grow back I see my urologist next month going to have to ask him that one. Talk later Good health Ken
The OP my Dad's urologist wants to perform is partial. "Suprapubic open prostatectomy". We did ask if he could just remove the whole thing, but he said that is only done in cases where cancer is present.
He said he guaranteed that the the partial OP would not grow back and that my Dad would "p*ss like a horse". Perhaps he is banking on my Dad's advanced age being more detrimental than the prostate's growth rate?
Kenneth,
While TURP for example has been compared to a Roto Rooter, it is not the same as removing the prostate. Some tissue is left and this tissue can grow. So, after "x" years, it's not uncommon that a repeat operation is needed.
Jim
I don't think that many just leave a shell or take away more than needed. Mine was 135grms before and about 50grms after.
Simple open prostatectomy does not remove the entire prostate. This procedure used when prostate is too large for TURP.
Thanks for the information Ken