I am scheduled for bipolar TURP on 9/2/16. I would like feedback from men experience with TURP, recovery, side effects, etc, especially for those with a large prostate. My prostate is 100g, and I am concerned that the recovery, complications and side effects might be worse with larger prostates?
I believe that recovery might be slightly better with bipolar TURP compared to standard monopolar TURP?
I believe that my prostate is too large for urolift?
I would prefer PAE or another less invasive procedure than TURP. But the problem is that I have about 25 bladder stones and at least 1 ureter stone that need to be surgically removed, somewhat urgently. I am close to acute retention. If I have the stones removed, without TURP, then the trauma to my prostate/urethra will put me into acute retention until substantial improvement is realized via PAE, requiring probably months of catheterization, and even then it might not work. I am not a fan of catheterization, especially long-term, but the idea of TURP is scary. My surgeon said that there is a "chance" that 2 TURPs might be necessary, due to the fact that my prostate volume is large and the stone removal.
I would especially appreciate TURP feedback from men with larger prostates. With feedback, please include the pre-surgery size of your prostate, if possible.
Thanks. Mark
Hi Mark, you didn't say anything about your doctor but if he/she is not at a major medical center, I would get a second opinion from a doc who is. Also, I've been hearing good things about HOLEP laser procedure. There's quite a bit you can read about it in this forum. Right now, I'm in the same boat as you and trying to decide what's next. I'm buying time with Rapaflo and self-catheterization. I'm sure others here will have more valuable info for you. Good luck!
I had 3 bladder stones prior to my turp
Mark Like I told you before A turp will be the worst thing they will do. I feel sorry for you if that is what you decide May god help you do the right thing Ken
I'm sorry 6 bladder stones, 250 cc of retained infected urine and my prostrate was blocking urethra urine flow. 40 gram prostate but still causing urethral blockage. Very slow urine stream 3.2 cc/sec that was not helped at all by flomax. I would insist on one operation and that would be it. I would not let anyone touch you down there a second time.
Steve
Hi Mark...
I'm 64, my Turp was on May 24th, of this year. I'm very pleased with the results. I was very concerned with all of the negative comments I read here. Because of my finances and insurance a Turp was really my only option.
One Nurlogist called my prostate State Fair size. It migrated into my bladder. The procedure took three hours, typically my Urologist said it usually takes her 1.5 hours to perform. However, it was not a cake walk for me. I had a bad reaction to the anaesthetic. Prior to the operation I had a Foley in place since February, this caused my bladder to become lazy. My bladder lost the ability to void after the "operation catheter" was removed. I had to have a catheter replaced after the operation. With that catheter I used it to re-train my bladder. For a month during waking hours I was given a plug and inserted it into the tube so I voided into the toilet instead of into the Foley. Also I self cathetered for those 30 days.
Now I'm free of using prostate meds. I was not left incontinent -- a major concern. As a bonus I don't have retrograde ejaculations... (in all honesty I don't have much ejaculate though.) I would be curious to hear if this is typical of other post Turp men. My stream is strong, not like that when I was a teen however.
I wish you well Mark... Take Care, Denis
Hi Mark, Last time I checked, 80 gm was the largest prostate , PAEsize for Urolift. (I had Urolift in Dec.) I would do some serious reading about HoLEP and other procedures men on this site will suggest. THere have been so many horror stories shared here about TURP, that I consider those who did well with the procedure the "lucky ones." And I don't want to have to rely on luck in that area!!! :-P
Also, you mention "months of catheritization." I would recommend you consider intermittent SELF-catheterizing; I have been doing it for two years now, as I couldn't stand the BAG for more than a week. Intermittent catheterizing would buy you time, even with totally restricted (i.e., cut off) flow, which happened to me two years ago.
Denknee.......I am very happy for you that the problem is behind you. You had no choise That is the only thing they can do when the medien lobe goes into the bladder. I allway aks my urologist question on some of the problems on here. He told me that is the only reason he does a turp. He does not do many but in that case that is the only way to open you up. I am glad that you do not have retro. Your doctor must have be very good and did not distroy your bladder neck which controls the ejaculation to come out not in. As we get older we don't produce alot but I still enjoy the feeling. Take care and good health Ken
Steve - What was recovery like from your TURP? Are you happy with the outcome? Thanks. Mark
No Mark, I'm not happy with the outcome. I do not like the retro, but what are you going to do.
I'm still a human being, though and I'm sure thay one day I will find the Love of a woman who this really won't matter much to. After all, I'm 65. What am I going to do with kids at my age !!
Hi cartoonman - You had urolift in Dec, but still self-catheterizing?
I feel that I would not be able to self-cath, just too squeemish.
I could go to England for HoLEP surgery with Tevita Aho, but I am so weak from depression/lack of sleep (getting up 12 times per night) that I can not muster the strength for a trip like that for scary surgery and recovery in a foreign land.
HoLEP with Dr Lingeman would take at least 2 months.
If only I could get something better than TURP quickly and here locally. Mark
I'm sorry !! I just turned 66
Thanks Denkee - Glad that everthing worked out well for you in the end. Mark
Sorry for the problem. I'm 61 and not having any kids but I could not take retro. Had it with some pills I was on. The orgasm were not good and it just went flat. I know that I have read some post that some men that have the turp procedure do not enjoy sex anymore and just stopped That is a shame. Mark you see Steven is not happy Don't let the doctors force you into a turp. Life is to short to take away anything from us....Ken
But I can't take it back, Ken!
Hi Steve - Thanks for the reply. Sorry that you are not happy with the outcome. I assume that at least you can urinate OK, which is important for a decent life. Hopefully, the TURP recovery was not diffficult. Hope that the day that you find the Love that you are looking for will be soon and you will be very happy together. Thank you for your advice. Mark
I know I phase it wrong. It was to Mark You can't do it over and alot of men are not happy. He still has a choise. September 2nd is just around the conner He better call it off Have a good day Ken
Peeing is important but sex means a lot for a full life. I would never give up one for the other. I want it all. No doctor is going to distroy my life. Mark you have a hard choise. But right now you still do. There is no turning back after it done. There are alot of men that wish they could. You may be the one of the ones that nothing works at all and end up having to have a catheter. Some time it take over a year to heal. I read a post on this site from a man that said that he wish that he could go back and cancel his turp. After 3 years he still has blood in his urine. We are to enjoy life not get rid of one problem for many others...Think please before it to late Ken
Hi. Do consider HoLep as an option as it is best suited to very large prostates; mine was around 130gm. It may not be an option with your stones but worth checking out. I had mine done 2 years ago by Tevita Aho in Cambridge UK and was 100% successful. It must be carried out by an expert such as Tevita. It does lead to retrograde ejaculation but for me at age 69 it wasn't a problem. In the USA, I believe the Mayo clinic does this procedure with good online reviews.