It looks as if I will have to have a TURP. I know that the recovery is lengthy so I would welcome peoples experiences of the recovery process: pros and cons, how soon can I put on my running shoes again, when can I get on the bike and lead a normal (for me) active life. I am 70. Thanks!
Hi Lynn,
Curious, in your other thread you seemed leaning toward following the advice of the second urologist which was to hold off on TURP for now and do some more investigation.
This sounded solid for several reasons. First, given the amount of retention you had, it's not clear that TURP would even be successful because of the condition of your bladder. Have you had bladder testing done, such as urodynamics, since your last thread?
The other reason is that there are now newer, less invasive options to TURP without some of the side effects such as retro ejaculation, which is almost a guarantee with TURP.
Are you still on a Foley or did you switch to a suprapubic or start self cathing? Either of the latter two would accomplish the same as a Foley but be more comfortable and buy you time to make a decision.
Jim
First, every man reacts differently, and it can be from just a few days discomfort, average 3 weeks. You should not do strenuous exercise for probably 2 months.
Possibly the best thing you should do is find the very latest and less traumatic method, never the traditional TURP. At least go for bi-polar or button turp, and make sure yur surgeon is very expeienced, and promises to deal specifically with a central lobe if your prostate presents one.
Then again, ejectulation preserving procedure can be followed if it is still important to you. But be clear, TURP is no longer the bloody horror it too often was, go for it if you trust your surgeon.
Hi Lynn, Unfortunately TURP was a bad experience for me with Incotinence, E/D and then diagnosed with Prostatitis following urine infections. Have to now self cath last thing at night as attending hospital dailyfor 28 days IV Antibiotics. Consultant says Prostate is growing back and will require further resection, also circumcision. All this in 18 months. I think I have been unlucky, wishing you well.
I have a personal question. What's so bad about retrograde ejaculation (unless, of course, you're trying to get your woman pregnant.) If it feels the same, and if there's no ejaculation pain, what' the difference?
I had TURP in late January at age 52, I luckily had no major issues and not much pain at all except for slight burning feel when urinating but cant say it was painful, minor discomfort is how I would describe my overall experience. I do have retro ejac and my libido decreased somewhat, however that may have more to do with the medication prior to surgery?
Jerry, you draw your straw and it can be a short one or not. Fact is, many men do or don't notice they are ejaculating or not as before, and they may or may not feel the orgasim is less or equally intense or not there at all.
I think a good urologist can take a survey of what he knows of your status, and will be able to give a good estimate as to how you may react to a TURP. There are many factors.....
Skill of the surgeon, does the prostate push up into the bladder, how big is the prostate, how much spincter control does your bladder still have, how long have your had BHP symptoms, can your bladder still expand and contract fairly normally, how much urine is retained after a natural voiding, if you self-cath, for how long have you done that, do you regularly aquire UTI's, does your prostate have a prominent central lobe. Do you need to strain to start urination......it just goes on and on, but as I say, if you find a good urologist, he will be able to tell you a lot, (as long as he is not trying to pick your pocket at the same time....)
Good luck with the Turp, from my experience: my recovery was really quick because I drank a lot of water, as soon as I felt like it in the hospital they couldn't keep enough water in my room. Then when I got home the same, I never felt when the scabs passed because I drank lots of water, and did what the doctor said. I was 62 when I had my turp. My only problem is the retro, which kinda of bothers me, but not the end of the world. I had mine in Jan. and was back to work Feb. I was riding bike that spring, April, May. Good Luck.
I think most uros use the term TURP as a generic procedure. Ask what device they are going to use to remove the tissue. My first uro would not tell me what he was going to use. Since he wouldn't be honest I found a different uro. I assime my first uro was a one trick pony that used old technology. Not interested in that with all the new ways to remove tissue. An aquaitance's father just had his second TURP at the age of 58, Uro told hime he'll probably need another in 13 years. He said his first TURP done in his 40's ruined his sex life. NO THANKS.
Sice you've resigned yourself to TURP, Have you looked into HOLEP?
I had GL surgery about 1 1/2 years ago. While no surgery in that area would qualify as fun, by the end of the following week, things were pretty much getting back to normal again. One result, though, was that I now have RE. It was sort of a surprising feeling not to ejaculate, but I'm mostly used to it. Since my erections and orgasms are still strong, I guess I still expect to ejaculate. For me, it is no biggie ... and being able to pee easily far out-trumps any disappointment in not ejaculating.
I'm going to assume that you have experienced retrograde ejaculation? If not, easy enough to do. Just ask your doc for some Tamsulosin (Flomax) and you will temporarily have retro.
But assuming that you did, I think it's a personal thing. I realize that there are some men who think retro is a non-issue or at the most a very reasonable trade off. There are others, including myself, who feel something is missing and the experience is more lacking. So much so that I would not have a surgery or procedure with a chance of retro unless there was no other option, but fortunately there are.
It's an individual thing but the important thing is how YOU feel about it.
Jim
The second urologist wanted to wait awhile then remove the catheter to see if I could pee normally. The result of that was that I was back in A&E next morning due to complete inability to pee partly caused I think to a catheter related infection. He now suggests the TURP.
I am aware of the alternatives but they are not available on the Polish NFZ (UK - NHS). At least I now have catheter plugs so I can detatch the catheter bag and lead in tubes during most of the day, and this also helps to reactivate the bladder after having not worked for some time. I hope the Urologist will have the good sense to have a look round first and if there is no obstruction of the uretha by the prostate or no pressure on the bladder from the prostate then abandon the project and try something else.
I guess you have no change in yours. Most men do and will feel a different orgasm. I had retro from a pill that I was on. There was the built up and then went flet no feeling at al. The doctor will tell you that there is no change but that is what they learn. In principal all men have a orgasm and ejaculation But why give it up. Ken
You should ask the second urlogist to check your bladder elasticity and detrussor muscle strength with urodynamic testing. The fact that you cannot pee normally with the catheter removed, suggests the possiblity that your bladder is atonic. If your bladder is atonic, the TURP operation may not work and you will be back on the Foley again. I would not rush into a TURP unless I felt my chances of success were very good. Meanwhile, you might talk to him about either self cathing or a suprapubic catheter. Both are preferable to a Foley, even with the catheter plugs.
Jim
Its a great pity we do not have a flag shown against our names on this forum, because clearly each country has their own priorities as for us in Scotland, very little choice with National Health Service whereas I expect in countries with private medical insurance I suppose treatment depends on the premium paid. Many of the procedures on this forum I have never heard about or knew of choice available.
Socialized medicine.
Hi. I can't comment on traditional TURP, but have you thought of HoLep or GL and there are other prostate techniques with less or no cutting? I recoved from my HoLep 2 years ago within about 4-6 weeks max as it doesn't really involve any surgery. It does result in RE but at age 69 I wasn't bothered and it hasn't affected other aspects of sex. The only side effect after the op was a very occasional small leak which stopped after a month or two and wasn't a problem anyway. I had a hernia op last year which has been far more problematic due to the open surgery.
Thanks. I had a hernia op 2 -3 years ago (local anaesthetic) and it didn't bother me and I was up and about from day one and running slowly within 2 weeks. TURP, on the other hand, scares the life out of me, but it seems to be the only option availabe on the NFZ (=NHS) and is probaly the only way forward now.
Good morning. I'm happy that the procedure that you picked worked for you and you can deal with retro. But there are some men that can't deal with it and it changes there orgasm. Sometimes men just give up sex all together because it does not feel the same. That can effect there whole life. Doctors do not consider that a problem because they say we don't need it because we are not having kid. But why should we give up something that we have had from the biggining of our life..Doctors will down play it... Men are all different that is way doctors do not know if any thing is going to help. They can only suggest. They do not know if it will work until it done. Some urologist are very honest and will tell you upfront. So what ever you pick make sure you get the information on it. 9 out of 10 surgery cause retro and there are many new one that will help look into everthing before you pick Take care Ken PS. Before you have a surgery make sure you know what the problem is. Because if the doctor caan't tell they assume it's the prostate and want to start cutting away. Most of the time it's the bladder not the prostate