Hello
My husband has a very enlarged prostate and for the past year has been catheterised for approx 4 months, watchful waiting and having urodynamics, PSA and other tests usually associated with the condition. Cancer has been ruled out but he needs an op and his Consultant in Bristol has recommended either TURP or HOLeP. After reading about both operations my husband decided he would rather go down the HOLeP route, but Bristol 'hasn't invested in the technology' (the words of his Consultant) So he applied for funding to have the op in another Trust (London or Cambridge) but he has been turned down.
It would appear that he and his GP had to demonstrate 'exceptionality' and that the TURP will do just fine because it is the commissioned pathway.
Has anyone been through this scenario? We are a bit confused because we thought we had a choice under the NHS, after all we are not asking them to fund something that isn't recommended, also, he is going to have one of the operations somewhere within the NHS so we're not asking for something extra simply asking that we are permitted to make a choice.
Many thanks for reading this.
Lynne
Very strange behaviour indeed, but that is the way it is with the NHS at the moment, probably due to a general shortage of funding.
If I were you I would be tempted to 'rattle the cage' a lot more. Sometimes it is a case of who shouts loudest rather than who is most deserving.
And by the way, yes you should have a choice, and I honestly thought that people did have this basic right.
Has your husband looked at the Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE) procedure. This is non invasive, has none of the side effects of Tuna or HOLep ( sexual or otherwise ). I had the procedure one month ago and my results have been AMAZING. I too had problems with having to be catherized, urgency, frequency and multiple trips at night. All of this has been relieved and I have been off all the prostate medicines for 6 wks now. Fortunately for me, I live in the U.S. And don't have to deal with a NHS yet.
Hi, i am 67 and an ex pro squash player and cyclist. I was in a similar although not so severe situation until 5 weeks ago! my situation started as a UTI on July 31 last year, that was cured my ciprofloxin anti....but the symtoms did not disappear completely, and i was diagnosed with BPH! I live part of the year in Portugal(JOB), private testing (scans flows DRE..etc) showed normal prostate, but prob part blockage of bladder neck...recommended watching and wait. use 2 drugs Tamsulosin and Urispas...........side effects decided me to repeat all procedeures in UK.....with a view to an op!! i could not get any referral to hospital with laser HOLMIUM op, the 2 i knew abot and were closest were Sothmead (Bristol) and Derriford (plymouth)....after lengthy discussions with all and sundry, i opted for my local Hospital ( North Devon Royal) Barnstaple. The reasons for this were ease of communications (consultation x2, check ups, pre-op,more scans etc etc ) and travel !!!!It was revealed that my prostate was coimpletely normal but, there was apartial blockage of the neck of the bladder!! The consultant said to me a TUiP was the answer (conventioal method) and i would get a TURP at the same time......The reason i chose this conventioal method was that the surgeon was doing at least 3/4a week, and had been doing so for many years,so should know wots wot ! And in fact so it turned out, Spinal aneasthetic( no risk of turp syndrome) catheter in place for only 24 hrs !! peeing ok within 30 mins of removal.(but that did hurt for for a day or 2), and now am back on bike (no more than 50k) twice a week and daily dog walking. i still have some discomfort after a pee...for up to 5 mins, but nothing to shout about (and my wife reminds of the UTI and after effects!!!!)Depending on my fluid intake after 9pm , dictates how many times i pee at night..my log tells me my ave is 2/3 at present...daytime, again depends on intake..(no REAL coffee) decaffe tea and instant>>no beer or spirits(never did anyway),only single glass of red wine, white wine out as well, avoiding spicey foode and red meat....all helps. I try to hold off peeing during day for as long as i can, but there is a limit, then i would wet myself. i also do pelvic floor exercises for positive thinking!! I feel this was the best thing i could do and would not recommend watching and waiting.( to much interference with day to day) and drugs !!!!! I think the important factor is the reputation of the surgeon and the Hospital and ease of travel ,not the type of operation, I believe they all meet the same demands..Do not be put off by negative opinion of any of the turp type ops,,,, be positive and get it done i would say, hope this helps. Syd