Just to clarify in the end they did not need to touch my middle lobe as it was not the problem. I think it is hard to work out until they get in there. Peter is based about 75 minutes south of Sydney Australia. Here is a link to him and you will see a video on middle lobe fixation using Urolift.
Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link as it was to a site unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.
http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398316-adding-links-to-posts
http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages
Just to let you know I have replied but as it included a link to Peter Chin the site has set it to moderation. hopefully they will release it.
Hi KamoKid; I live in Omaha, Nebraska .
KamoKid, You are my best friend right now! I just watched the video on Dr Chin's website. Amazing! This is such a relief and is the proof I've been looking for about a year - that the urolift can be done with a medium lobe. I will ask 2 top Urolift Urologists in the US if they can do this technique. But chances are they will not be able to do it since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) probably has not approved the implant to be done this way. Plus my prostate is a little over 80 cc which is the size limit in the US. If that is the case I will likely come to Australia to have it done. I have medical insurance but it will not cover a procedure done out of the US. How much does the Urolift cost?
My brother had a TRUP and had sexual and other side effects. All the other procedures seem to have a higher risk of side effects that I am unwilling to take. Have been able to control much of the anoying symptoms with drugs until recently. So now I have to do something soon as the quality of life is at risk as you know. Thanks so much for your help, Terry
Hi Terry, glad that helped. Costs for the op in Australia was A$1847 for surgeon, A$600 for anaesthetist and A$6600 for hospital ( including 1 night stay at $880, operating theatre and Urolift devices A$4500). So all up about A$9,000. Plus you have the accomodation and flights. You need to stay near the hospital for a few nights, just in case, and not fly for 7 days after operation. Plus you need to arrive at least the day before. Best way to find out more if you want is contact South Coast Urology and say you are interested in having the procedure with Peter Chin. Tell Julie, the nurse you have been talking to Kevin from New Zealand. Good luck
I have been there for a day (1994) to visit Werner Trucking. Taxi driver said it was fanous for inventing two things - the TV dinner (Birdseye) and the 1800 call centre (due to time zone and neutral accent. Nice people there.
Hi KamoKid; I just received a call from the Doctors office that I want to have the procedure done at. It seems that Medicare in the USA is broken up into "10 regions" and only "one region" has approved the Urolift as of today. It looks like I may have to "negioate" and pay this out of my pocket. Or "wait patiently" until Medicare approves it in my region. It does seem crazy that Medicare would approve it in one region in the country and not the others. There are so many things in life that absolutely "Make No Sense".
As a quick add on. You can't beat the system by going to the region where it is "approved" because it goes by "where you live".
That's a buggar! Going to Aus might be cheaper!
Thanks KamoKid! Again this is very encouraging. I will see if my brothers doctor can do this for me with the medium lobe procedure like Dr. Chin did for you. Otherwise I will likely go to Australia. Did you have to be catherized after the procedure and if so for how long? And how are you doing now?
Does anyone who has done UroLift have insights from discussions with doctors on how long it should be to do moderate exercise (and more importantly, how long before having sex)? I didn't get much input from my doctor on this before, and I'm 11 days post-op. I have a follow-up appointment on Monday, so I will certainly ask then.
Hello guys, just letting you know I have had a bit of a set back. Woke up 4am the night before last and coudl hardly pee no matter how hard I tried. Stated taking antibiotics as expected it to be infection related but that di not work. Ended up at Auckland Hospital - urine and blood tests showed nothing. Bladder had 287mls in it but was not coming out. So ithey ended up putting in a catheter and sending me home with it. Going to my NZ specialist (Peter Chin, who did the Urolift, as he is in Aus) later today. Hopefully this is just a one off, but not sure why.
Sorry to hear that Kamokid, after all the positive reports. Hope it is nothing serious. I was considering Dr Chin myself to perform the urolift
Keep as up to date,
all the best
Mal
I think he is still probaly the best, its just that it does nto take for everyone. I had the catheter pulled out at 1pm and unfortunately had no flow at all so needed the catheter back in at 4pm, Talked the specialist into putting the camera up there - he was weary due to the fact it woudl be inflamed by the catheter. Anyway he coudl see that the prostrate was completelty blocking the passage. So now need to decide if I want to try more Urolift's or have the TURP. Makes it more complicated as the Urtolift man is in AUS and and TURP man in NZ. Growing old is not for whimps!
Gee what a bummer....after travelling so far and going through the procedure, and thinking you were on the mend.
I'd avoid TURP if possible. Not sure if they do holep in NZ but there is a highly recommended Urologist in Sydney who does the procedure. Has done them for many years and apparently has a few hundred under his belt. But I'd imagine you wouldn't be keen on another flight to Aus!
Hi
The instructions I was given were leave it a week before sex. My consultant said I could do exercise whenever I felt able.
Actually I found the exercise no problem after a week, but I have yet to pluck up courage to try ejaculation....
How are you going Kamo? Do you have the catheter out?
Hope all is well
Mal
Hi KamoKid, So sorry to hear about your setback with the Urolift. You had the procedure over 4 months ago. When did you first start noticing that the progress was reversing? Your success with the procedure encouraged me to schedule the exact same procedure you had done with Dr. Chin. My brother's urologist was part of the FDA study here in the US for the procedure and I showed him the video you showed me about tieing the medium lobe down to the lateral lobe and he said he could do this. So I have an appointment with him for the same procedure you had with Dr. Chin in November. After your experience I am planning on canceling my surgery until I find out what went wrong with yours. Maybe it has something to do with tieing back the medium lobe which the procedure was not originally designed to do. Priior to your Urolift had you ever been completely blocked before? I have always been able to pee ok, just usually burning and slow stream and often. Please keep us up to date as to how you are doing. I am greatly concerned for you. Wishing you the best, Terry
Hi Kamokid, I'm based in Australia. I've just been reading this blog with your positive experience of Urolift which lasted for 4 months but I'm a bit concerned that you have seemingly had complications thereafter. Anymore news?
Is there anyone else here who can tell about their long term experience with Urolift?
Hi Marc. I had a 2nd surgery with Dr Chin on September 12th 2015 and this has been much more successful sonce, Evidently the problme was that after they did the original Urolift the prostate balloned out and up to the bladder neck - like squezzing a balloon with air in it and the air going to the top or wherever you are not squeezing. So They put in another 5 together with the 6 they already had in and it all went much better. Now 7 months and really happy with the results.