Prostate laser surgery - my journey
Discussion
So things have moved on at a pace today. After a night of jet washing and almost no sleep the first job this morning was to remove the catheter. That f
king hurt! To be fair it’s the only bit that has so far. I had a big doctor chap tugging it out, finally it came out with a bit of blood and gore and left me with a rather sad sore willy. The next few hours I needed to wee every 45mins or so and it was a bit uncomfortable, not in the bladder or prostate like it was for me pre op but just where the catheter was. They check how much retained fluid there is in the bladder after most wees, initially there was quite a lot 300Mls or so. However by early afternoon it was down to 85Mls, the good to go home level is below 100mls retained so I’ve got a pass out. 
As far as weeing goes I now have a strong stream and it’s a world apart from yesterday. Still a little bit of blood in the urine but not much and I think it’s from the uthrea not the prostate.
All good so far. I am not going to chance fate but I am feeling quite positive about things at the moment. I will go home and have an early night.
king hurt! To be fair it’s the only bit that has so far. I had a big doctor chap tugging it out, finally it came out with a bit of blood and gore and left me with a rather sad sore willy. The next few hours I needed to wee every 45mins or so and it was a bit uncomfortable, not in the bladder or prostate like it was for me pre op but just where the catheter was. They check how much retained fluid there is in the bladder after most wees, initially there was quite a lot 300Mls or so. However by early afternoon it was down to 85Mls, the good to go home level is below 100mls retained so I’ve got a pass out. As far as weeing goes I now have a strong stream and it’s a world apart from yesterday. Still a little bit of blood in the urine but not much and I think it’s from the uthrea not the prostate.
All good so far. I am not going to chance fate but I am feeling quite positive about things at the moment. I will go home and have an early night.
bigmowley,
Glad that you are doing well.
I purposely didn't mention the catheter removal, although in my experience it wasn't so much pain as an entirely unknown uncomfortable and very alien sensation. Having had it several times, it does depend on the practitioner!
It will be uncomfortable for a while and you are quite correct, it is damage to the urethra that is the issue. There will be an amount of debris ejected which may carry on for a week or two. I always found that bizarre to see the debris that had been ejected.
Be very conscious of post-operative infection and be scrupulously clean in your toilet.
Like I said, this time next year...............................................
As for anyone who has any symptoms or irregularities, do go and see your doctor.
All the best
Glad that you are doing well.
I purposely didn't mention the catheter removal, although in my experience it wasn't so much pain as an entirely unknown uncomfortable and very alien sensation. Having had it several times, it does depend on the practitioner!
It will be uncomfortable for a while and you are quite correct, it is damage to the urethra that is the issue. There will be an amount of debris ejected which may carry on for a week or two. I always found that bizarre to see the debris that had been ejected.
Be very conscious of post-operative infection and be scrupulously clean in your toilet.
Like I said, this time next year...............................................
As for anyone who has any symptoms or irregularities, do go and see your doctor.
All the best
Nice long lie in this morning. Still had to get up a couple of times for a wee in the night but it’s a quick and easy process now rather than a struggle. No real discomfort now just a bit of a tingle in the urethra from the catheter. Not sure that I am emptying the bladder fully yet but apparently I may have to retrain it! I’m not that good training the dogs, not sure how to start on a bladder????
I will give everything a few days to settle down and report back.
So far though it’s been ok not sure what I was worried about. ———— i wonder if it still works 
I will give everything a few days to settle down and report back.
So far though it’s been ok
not sure what I was worried about. ———— i wonder if it still works Hope you are feeling well soon.
You would think it would be easier to get this done on the NHS especially as peeing is pretty essential. Had a bad infection once and could barely pee more than a dribble. Was agony having to pee for like 20 minutes to empty the bladder or face coming back again in an hour to try again.
I wonder what the long term cost of the drugs was versus the Op? Sometimes I think they get it wrong with things like this when the short term higher cost may save a lot of money later on, not ignoring the immeasurable improvement in quality of life.
You would think it would be easier to get this done on the NHS especially as peeing is pretty essential. Had a bad infection once and could barely pee more than a dribble. Was agony having to pee for like 20 minutes to empty the bladder or face coming back again in an hour to try again.
I wonder what the long term cost of the drugs was versus the Op? Sometimes I think they get it wrong with things like this when the short term higher cost may save a lot of money later on, not ignoring the immeasurable improvement in quality of life.
frisbee said:
Did you mark your piss height on a wall before you had the op?
Interesting. I hit the 'pan' hard, not the wall. I note there has been recent research suggesting this too. When I was suffering (f awful!) with prostate problems years ago, it came on real bad while in Cuba. Just prior to the end of our fortnight stay there we were at the Hotel Nationale. I just wanted to get back home, I was fed up with the agony of pissing barbed wire (that's when there was a flow!). My wife made me see a doc (if only I'd gone earlier, but you know what it's like, get back home to the NHS (and wait even f. longer to be seen).I'll get to the point. I was asked 'how often did I pee?' (I couldn't at that point!). I simply said when I needed to. 'No good. You pee regularly, not every hour, but don't leave till bladder full.' Bladder sits on top of prostate. Years of full to bursting bladder and bingo, the older you get the more prostate problems arise. That sort of made sense. Anyway, the doc (lady, who looked more at home on a banana island, and nails more coloured than I have seen in the best nail bars in the UK!) and nurse put me on antibiotics immediately and said I would have an ultrasound scan on Monday (it was Sat). We were leaving for UK on Monday. So, they told me 'You must see a doctor as soon as you land.' 'Ok, I'll make an appointment.'
Open jaws by both - a few words between each of them (doc didn't speak English) and I get 'You have to make an appointment?' They thought that was unbelievable. (I (or rather my wife) had not made an appointment - we simply queued with others and waited to see the doc. Some left the queue. Clever idea, if you're ill, you'll wait until seen.
Long story. I get back home. Make appointment. Yeah, you've guessed - weeks! Eventually have water tests, finger up bum (enlarged prostate) and wait for hosp. appointment. In between I find lump in one of my balls. Back again. Eventually I get an ultrasound scan. Even that was a f farce! Nurse (after scan) says 'that's it, all done.' You must be f joking, what about the result? 'Oh your health professional will let you know in a couple weeks.' You mean I'm going to worry myself f stupid for a fortnight, when you know the result? She said it wasn't her job to tell me. Long story. She did. I had 2 lumps, not one.
I pushed her. I know, I know. She caved in and said 'Both are benign.' Jeezus! My health professional (GP) never bothered to contact me (why would she, but what if I had not known, how long would I have waited, and 'worried'?
The other thing I've omitted. In Cuba it was suggested where possible I should SIT peeing, and not stand. So I did, and have done all the years ever since. Goes down really well in other people's home with the wives when I see little things in their loos telling the 'men' to aim neatly and lift the seats etc. The numbers who then say 'if Dan can do it sitting, so can you Geoff!'
Apparently research read recently backs this up. The bladder gets emptied more easily. For those suffering conditions including lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), sitting down lets you urinate faster, with greater force, while leaving less urine behind in their bladder. I agree fully!
And interestingly, when did you ever see a primate standing to have a pee?
Best news is I'm in my 70s now and still have no trouble whatsoever peeing. Whereas I have lots of friends who suffer but laugh when I tell them about sitting. You won't find me standing unless it's through no choice, say at a urinal. I'd rather go in a cubicle (IF the seat hasn't been pissed on by some dick standing! LOL)
I`ve been following this thread with interest as I too have been suffering with BPH for years, I`m 73. Learned to live with the effects of Tamsulosin and Finasteride, having a pee two or three times a night, wanting to pee always at the wrong time during the day, as for sex, that`s just pleasant memories.
Then I passed out twice while standing and peeing, in the middle of the night !! On one occasion I head butted the wall on the way down, split my head and was taken to hospital. They put this down to low blood pressure caused by the Tamsulosin.
My new GP then took interest and referred me to a private clinic that specialises in EuroLift and Rezum procedures. ( this was all on the NHS) As it happens I had researched the guy at this clinic and was even considering going private there. Now our dear old NHS is paying for everything. After a consultation at this clinic an appointment was made at the Royal Berkshire Hospital Reading, where I had 2 scans, cystoscopy, and other tests. I then met the man himself, the owner of this private clinic. He said that EuroLift would not work for me and is making arrangements for me to have the Rezum procedure. I`ve already received an appointment to have a pre op CT scan next week, so things are moving fast. He reckons I will be all done and dusted in a month or so.
I hope i`m not high-jacking this thread, has any of you guys had Rezum ? if so please let me know how you got on.
Also I would just like to say how pleased and impressed I was at the treatment and service I received at The Royal Berks Hospital. At a time when the NHS is so busy with Covid 19 cases, I am so grateful.
Then I passed out twice while standing and peeing, in the middle of the night !! On one occasion I head butted the wall on the way down, split my head and was taken to hospital. They put this down to low blood pressure caused by the Tamsulosin.
My new GP then took interest and referred me to a private clinic that specialises in EuroLift and Rezum procedures. ( this was all on the NHS) As it happens I had researched the guy at this clinic and was even considering going private there. Now our dear old NHS is paying for everything. After a consultation at this clinic an appointment was made at the Royal Berkshire Hospital Reading, where I had 2 scans, cystoscopy, and other tests. I then met the man himself, the owner of this private clinic. He said that EuroLift would not work for me and is making arrangements for me to have the Rezum procedure. I`ve already received an appointment to have a pre op CT scan next week, so things are moving fast. He reckons I will be all done and dusted in a month or so.
I hope i`m not high-jacking this thread, has any of you guys had Rezum ? if so please let me know how you got on.
Also I would just like to say how pleased and impressed I was at the treatment and service I received at The Royal Berks Hospital. At a time when the NHS is so busy with Covid 19 cases, I am so grateful.
So time for another quick update. It’s been a slightly bumpy week but overall things are improving all the time. I can wee great now, really strong stream. I did have a bit of a mid week panic when I noticed that I was leaking a small amount of wee between toilet visits. However the consultant was very reassuring that this is normal and it will sort itself out in time. I think he is right as it’s definitely getting better, hopefully won’t be needed the “Tenna for Men” just yet, if there is such a thing?
The bladder training is going fine as well, it’s just a case of regulating fluid intake and output and sometimes ignoring the sensation of needing a wee for a while. Weeing into a measuring jug is a whole new ballgame as well. Target is a 400ML wee every 4 hours or so, which after 10 years of doing about 20, 150ML wees a day is quite different.
My general comfort level has improved a lot as well. With my enlarged prostate there was a feeling of discomfort in my groin and testicles, a bit like a headache in the groin. I did occasionally take painkillers when it was bad. Hopefully I am not tempting fate but that appears to have gone now. The only sore bit that remains is the urethra. That is improving all the time but it’s a slow old process.
Exercise and alcohol are back on the agenda now
. Might be a little while longer before I test for full function 
. Only a matter of time.
So far so good, not there yet but feeling a lot more positive about the outcome than this time last week.
Thanks for the discussion and feedback, I am not sure that I would have had this treatment without reading about it on here so this is my little way of trying to put something back.
The bladder training is going fine as well, it’s just a case of regulating fluid intake and output and sometimes ignoring the sensation of needing a wee for a while. Weeing into a measuring jug is a whole new ballgame as well. Target is a 400ML wee every 4 hours or so, which after 10 years of doing about 20, 150ML wees a day is quite different.
My general comfort level has improved a lot as well. With my enlarged prostate there was a feeling of discomfort in my groin and testicles, a bit like a headache in the groin. I did occasionally take painkillers when it was bad. Hopefully I am not tempting fate but that appears to have gone now. The only sore bit that remains is the urethra. That is improving all the time but it’s a slow old process.
Exercise and alcohol are back on the agenda now
. Might be a little while longer before I test for full function . Only a matter of time.So far so good, not there yet but feeling a lot more positive about the outcome than this time last week.
Thanks for the discussion and feedback, I am not sure that I would have had this treatment without reading about it on here so this is my little way of trying to put something back.
Edited by bigmowley on Saturday 7th November 17:50
Hi Had some experience of this. Firstly don’t suffer with the symptoms too long. In my case I suffered too long and lost some of the elasticity in my bladder, so I had to self cathertize for quite a while. Eventually the Specialist said let’s give it a go but warned me it may not be successful. Everything worked out fine except the catheter removal. The type used after my operation had a little inflatable ring within the base of my Willie to hold it in place. The young nurse came along and tried to deflate it without success. She tried to pull it out with me in agony,without success, she gave up and along came the Doctor, tried again with tears running down my cheeks. Along came along the much older ward sister and announced that this was not a problem, she distracted me when she looked up in the air and gave the catheter a big yank and out it came at that point I almost passed out with the pain.
All worked out and have no problems having a pee
All worked out and have no problems having a pee
Sorry but I have been a bit slack on updating my thread post op.
The simple answer is bloody brilliant, everything is working as it should. Rarely get up at night for a wee but if I do it’s because I need one.
The retraining the bladder process is quite a long slow one and for me really is a thing. After so many years of having flow obstruction from the prostate the bladder does behave rather oddly sometimes. The feeling of the need to pee is not that strong for me and I need to remember to go regularly during the day. As long as I do that then everything is fine. I am getting better at it as time goes on. What is bliss is going for a 2 or 3 hour drive and not needing to wee, loving it
I still get a bit of prostate discomfort, prostatitis I think, but it’s far less than before and it is reducing, this is quite normal according to my surgeon.
All in all I am delighted and I would recommend it to anyone else suffering like I was.
The simple answer is bloody brilliant, everything is working as it should. Rarely get up at night for a wee but if I do it’s because I need one.
The retraining the bladder process is quite a long slow one and for me really is a thing. After so many years of having flow obstruction from the prostate the bladder does behave rather oddly sometimes. The feeling of the need to pee is not that strong for me and I need to remember to go regularly during the day. As long as I do that then everything is fine. I am getting better at it as time goes on. What is bliss is going for a 2 or 3 hour drive and not needing to wee, loving it
I still get a bit of prostate discomfort, prostatitis I think, but it’s far less than before and it is reducing, this is quite normal according to my surgeon.
All in all I am delighted and I would recommend it to anyone else suffering like I was.
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