I had the Urolift March 25 and my flow is a little worse and I have an unpleasant sensation in the Prostate area after almost 4 months now.
FYI, I have had a frequent urination problem most of my life and at 42 I had Urologist tell me to be thankful I had good kidneys. Now in my late 70's I went back to a Urologist thinking maybe my enlarged prostate might be making the problem worse. I explained that my flow was fine for me but the urgency and frequency seemed to be getting worse. I tried just about every medicine including Flomax and Alfusion with various side effects. The only thing that has helped is Mybetriq for an Over-Active-Bladder but it stopped working after six months. My doctor doubled the dosage but it caused serious side effects.
My last visit to my Urologist suggested that he could remove the clips and do a partial TURP. My first thought is that if the Urolift failed then will the partial TURP work, and can he do it to prevent the retro ejaculation problem.
I go back for another visit in August to discuss options, but in the meantime I am researching and reading everything I can about medicines and procedures---including this forum. I did not like Flomax for the retro ejaculation side effect but recently I read about taking the medicine every other day would eliminate the retro problem and still work, so I am trying that now.
Cystoscopy's and Bladder Pressure Test I have had have revealed my Bladder has been and is working hard; so my Urologist said there is some blockage and releaving that would allow my bladder to relax and heal and I would get better. Now that the Urolift has failed I now do not trust my doctor that a TURP will work. I feel my flow is OK for me and so I think I will only have the TURP or other procedure done only after I AM HAVING TO URINATE THROUGH A CATHETER.
Any feedback might be helpful but I wish Urologist's would read these and provide some feedback.
Hi Jim,
My Urolift did not work either. My urologist & I "briefly" discussed removing the clips, but I said no thanks. They stay in until something dislodges them and they have to get removed.
Have you tried Doxozosin? I'm on the standard 2mg and it's working satisfactorily. Not perfect, but given all the alternatives, I'm sticking with this med - and there are NO retro issues. My brother, 7 years younger, is on the same and also does fine. Interesting that my uro. had not "thought about" Doxososin until I told him that my provider gave me a starter dosage and that I was pleased at getting improvement. Yet the uro. STILL brings up the TURP.
I'm 72 and going to put up with any minor problems rather than face more prodding, surgery and the risk of other sides effects which cannot be predicted. If I got to pee a little more frequently or not totally empty, so what. For now I'm pleased with my so-called equilibrium.
Jim,
The Urolift moves the tissues but a TURP removes tissue and it will work. If I may borrow a popular phrase and change it a bit, a lot of men here have TDS - Turp Derangement Syndrome. They seem to have a huge fear of this operation. I had one a few months ago. Very easy, pain free, out of hospital in 4.5 hours, Foley catheter in for 3 days only, no pain meds needed, recovery quick and easy. There are ways of doing the TURP that avoid the ejaculatory ducts. Tissue samples sent to lab to check for cancer. A modern bipolar TURP or plasma button TURP are NOT the same as the older monopolar style TURP. After reading about what has happened to guys who have gone through the Urolift or Rezum or other similar treatments, I decided that the bipolar TURP was the easiest and most effective way to be able to pee again.
You have got to get your life back and stop worrying about whether you can pee or not.
Tom
I'm not sure you have BPH. If your flow is OK and urgency is your problem you probably have overactive bladder. The fact that Myrbetriq helped seems to point to that.
There are other overactive bladder meds and you should try them. If one works, even temporarily that would confirm my suspicion. In fact, Botox is the most effective overactive bladder treatment. If meds work then stop, I'd check into that.
I'd also get a new urologist. He wants to put you through a second, more invasive BPH procedure when your flow is fine. It sounds like he just wants to sell you more procedures. It's not likely that any BPH solution will help, so there isn't any reason to review the pros and cons.
My urolift also did not work. It left me worse off and in terrible pain for over 4 months. The pain did not go away until I had a PAE about a month ago. The IR was unable to embolize the left side, so I go back in tomorrow to get that done. I think I'm one of those referred to as "TURP derangement syndrom." I won't do it unless everything else fails. It is a one way street - more men have had serious complications than have been satisfied. It is nearly certain to produce sexual impairment. Like every other procedure, it is dependent on the skill of the surgeon.
Thanks I think Doxozosin will give me side effects like Alfusion did wtih my Blood Pressure, however, I will ask my doctor about this drug. I will be asking my doctor about removing clips in the urethra but I am afraid the Anchor left in the prostate might still leave me with the uncomfortable feeling I now have. I am now trying Flomax again but only every other day to hopefully prevent retro but still help.
Thanks for the reply and info on TURP. When I get desperate I might find someone that can preform one of the TURP procedures that has a good chance of not causing retro.
Thanks for your reply and info. I have always thought my bladder is the main problem even though I have some blockage, and as you said, Mybetriq did help for a while. My doctor did mention trying Botox and I wonder if it would help. However, I wonder how often I would have to get Botox. I have made my mind up to get a second opinion and maybe find out what happened to the Urolift and about what can be done about the uncomfortable sensation I now have.
Thanks for your reply and info. Yes I have TDS for the retro issue. However, I am 77 and still have intercourse but if I live long enough and stop having sex then TURP would easily be an option. Of course with the worse option, then I would not be worrying about anything.
You have not said if you ever had a cystoscopy to see what is happening inside.
ramblin,
Everyone on this forum who has had a TURP has been happy with the results. Don't know where you got the info that "more men had had serious complictions than have been satisfied." This may have been true of the older monopolar TURP but the newest methods are very effective and I have had absolutely no issues.
Tom
Botox lasts about 3 months.
Not close to everyone on this forum is happy with their TURP. There are many horror stories and many good results.
Bottom line is its a surgery with all the attendant risks and usually results in RE. In skilled hands it typically relieves BPH. But there are non surgical options with low risk for RE that for most men will also do the job. And none of them preclude doing a TURP if they don't work. Seems to make sense for most to try one of those first.
I guess TURP is the answer for better flow; however, the chance for retro is high with TURP so I would be one of those unhappy TURP patients. If sex was not an issue for me then TURP might be the best thing.
I have had two of them awake and there was a little discomfort, otherwise I found it interesting that you can ask questions about what you and the doctor are seeing. The first one I had several years ago I was put to sleep and now wonder why since it is so easy. No discomfort for me after the procedure.
I have read some bad reviews about using Botox in the bladder;. however, i am sure some have good results.
Before having my TURP I read all of the prior posts on this forum going back several years and all seemed happy with the results. I did NOT find any "horror stories". If you know of any please let me know. My experience was good - actually easier than my PAE with better results. I do read every day the "horror stories" of men who have had alternative treatments that didn't work and have gone through pain and retention for weeks or months. There are many here who have said that RE is no big deal. I understand that everyone wants to preserve their sex life but being able to just go to the bathroom and pee and get some sleep is a very, very big deal. RE was not an issue for me, but the retention and constant trips to the bathroom was psychologically draining and constantly upsetting.
Well I have experienced RE with Flomax and Rapidflo and did not like the incomplete feeling. As long as I can enjoy sex and do not have to pee through a catheterI am going to avoid TURP.
You did not look hard enough. Reports of poor results were many. Less now as most people are having other treatments. At one time some older posters thought that TURP no longer existed in civilised countries.
There are easier, less invasive ways of addressing BPH with little to no chance of RE. They don't require anesthesia and for most, work as well as TURP. They make much more sense to try first, as you can always do a TURP if they are not effective.
All of the surgeries have horror stories attached to them. The less invasive stuff is pretty much confined to "it didn't work". There are men who were left incontinent, impotent or both by TURP/Holep/Greenlight. In good hands, these procedures will work ,but with longer recovery and/or more risk than necessary. And for many, RE IS a big deal.
I'm glad your TURP worked well - for most, the additional risks that surgery brings are not warranted as a first line BPH treatment IMO.