Escaping Enlarged Prostate Hell- my treatment
Discussion
There is an important thread here regarding Prostate cancer, but I suggest that we separate BPH, the benign non-cancerous ailment because the treatment and outcomes are different. I am very aware of prostate cancer and have had friends contract it, many of whom have lived completely normal lives, some who have not. However, the treatment is an entirely different matter.
A week ago I had a life changing operation- not for everyone for various reasons, but I will describe it.
BACKGROUND
I am 69, and in generally good health, BP 120/75,work out regularly, no arthritis/hip replacement/cholesterol or the rest of the things that commonly ail us, and normally take no medication of any kind, including herbal or homeopathic stuff.
However, about ten years ago I had a biopsy due to elevated PSA. Nasty business, but turned out to be negative. Left a little visitor though, as I ended with Prostatitis two weeks later. Since then I have had it every few years, and it normally can be cured with antibiotics.
Until December.
I contracted Prostatitis again, and this time it was antibiotic resistant. I was away on business in Vancouver when disaster struck
I could no longer urinate. An excruciating five hour plane ride back to Toronto left me in agony, off to emergency and immediately catheterized. This is not a pleasant experience, and in the following weeks, various drugs were tried to combat the prostatitis. I was on the catheter till January 5 which really ruins personal and business life for the period. A culture identified a drug that might work, and it did.
(Over the prior few years I had developed the usual BPH stuff,urinating many times a night, reduced flow and so on).
By Jan 5 the prostatitis had died down, as had the swelling, so I was off the catheter.
My GP referred me to a very progressive and successful Urologist, who is known for keeping up with significant advances in medicine.
He put me through a series of tests, including blood, urine, internal and external ultrasounds, and finally a cystoscopy whether a small camera is inserted where the catheter once was.This gave him and me a full detailed video view of the prostate that was clearly very enlarged.
There are three major options:
(1) Continue on medication such as FloMax that would make things bearable without curing the problem
(2) Blue laser intervention to reduce the size of the prostate…some possible side effects including incontinence and impotence
(3) A fairly recent patented US technique call Urolift which implants a device stitched to the two halves of the prostate and spreads them, thus removing the pressure on the urethra and allowing all functions to return to normal.
No significant side effects.
Fair warning: the operation is widely approved including UK US and Canada, but generally not insured unless you are carrying personal insurance. I went for option 3.
THE OPERATION
Five days ago I went to the private clinic, having been warned to eat nothing for ten hours and drink nothing at all for last five hours.
Operation was under general anaesthetic. They used an excellent anaesthetic as I woke up an hour later with almost no fuzziness or discomfort, but the catheter was back. Operation complete.
It normally involves 4 to 6 stitches. Mine took 9.
RECOVERY
Catheter was in for 48 hours. During that period I had excruciating bladder spasms and of course a lot of blood passing.
After it was removed I had a very anxious day when almost nothing came out. When it did about 12 hours after removal it came out fast.
One day later, it is simply astonishing.
All pain and discomfort is gone, still some expected blood in urine and antibiotics for next few days, on FloMax for next three weeks, but functions are back to where I was at 30. It is completely over. Mentally this has been a huge drag on me and has been an unwelcome diversion on many aspects of my life. I will ultimately ( two weeks) be able to sleep all night, have 100% normal flows and no side effects.
Evidently, this is one person’s experience and I am sure others would have different results, but its probably the best money I have ever spent. I am used to good health and this had gone away.
THE COST:
This is the big one.
Base cost in Canada is about $10k CAD. Mine , all in, was $19k due to the size of operation and the licence for the device is by the stitch. I realize that this is a serious amount of money, but for me, I have not felt so good about this problem in ten years.
There are other treatments but I thought, since this is a subject of interest to a lot of older men that I would post a description,
A week ago I had a life changing operation- not for everyone for various reasons, but I will describe it.
BACKGROUND
I am 69, and in generally good health, BP 120/75,work out regularly, no arthritis/hip replacement/cholesterol or the rest of the things that commonly ail us, and normally take no medication of any kind, including herbal or homeopathic stuff.
However, about ten years ago I had a biopsy due to elevated PSA. Nasty business, but turned out to be negative. Left a little visitor though, as I ended with Prostatitis two weeks later. Since then I have had it every few years, and it normally can be cured with antibiotics.
Until December.
I contracted Prostatitis again, and this time it was antibiotic resistant. I was away on business in Vancouver when disaster struck
I could no longer urinate. An excruciating five hour plane ride back to Toronto left me in agony, off to emergency and immediately catheterized. This is not a pleasant experience, and in the following weeks, various drugs were tried to combat the prostatitis. I was on the catheter till January 5 which really ruins personal and business life for the period. A culture identified a drug that might work, and it did.
(Over the prior few years I had developed the usual BPH stuff,urinating many times a night, reduced flow and so on).
By Jan 5 the prostatitis had died down, as had the swelling, so I was off the catheter.
My GP referred me to a very progressive and successful Urologist, who is known for keeping up with significant advances in medicine.
He put me through a series of tests, including blood, urine, internal and external ultrasounds, and finally a cystoscopy whether a small camera is inserted where the catheter once was.This gave him and me a full detailed video view of the prostate that was clearly very enlarged.
There are three major options:
(1) Continue on medication such as FloMax that would make things bearable without curing the problem
(2) Blue laser intervention to reduce the size of the prostate…some possible side effects including incontinence and impotence
(3) A fairly recent patented US technique call Urolift which implants a device stitched to the two halves of the prostate and spreads them, thus removing the pressure on the urethra and allowing all functions to return to normal.
No significant side effects.
Fair warning: the operation is widely approved including UK US and Canada, but generally not insured unless you are carrying personal insurance. I went for option 3.
THE OPERATION
Five days ago I went to the private clinic, having been warned to eat nothing for ten hours and drink nothing at all for last five hours.
Operation was under general anaesthetic. They used an excellent anaesthetic as I woke up an hour later with almost no fuzziness or discomfort, but the catheter was back. Operation complete.
It normally involves 4 to 6 stitches. Mine took 9.
RECOVERY
Catheter was in for 48 hours. During that period I had excruciating bladder spasms and of course a lot of blood passing.
After it was removed I had a very anxious day when almost nothing came out. When it did about 12 hours after removal it came out fast.
One day later, it is simply astonishing.
All pain and discomfort is gone, still some expected blood in urine and antibiotics for next few days, on FloMax for next three weeks, but functions are back to where I was at 30. It is completely over. Mentally this has been a huge drag on me and has been an unwelcome diversion on many aspects of my life. I will ultimately ( two weeks) be able to sleep all night, have 100% normal flows and no side effects.
Evidently, this is one person’s experience and I am sure others would have different results, but its probably the best money I have ever spent. I am used to good health and this had gone away.
THE COST:
This is the big one.
Base cost in Canada is about $10k CAD. Mine , all in, was $19k due to the size of operation and the licence for the device is by the stitch. I realize that this is a serious amount of money, but for me, I have not felt so good about this problem in ten years.
There are other treatments but I thought, since this is a subject of interest to a lot of older men that I would post a description,
That is a very honest and informative post RDMcG, well done and thank you.
You and I have swapped posts on the Prostate cancer thread. I`m very interested in UroLift but as I`m now retired,£6000 would make a very big hole in my savings,here in the UK. I have an appointment to see my Urologist very soon and I will certainly mention UroLift with him. Apparently the reports in the UK are so good that it is now being made available at some NHS hospitals for FREE !!
You and I have swapped posts on the Prostate cancer thread. I`m very interested in UroLift but as I`m now retired,£6000 would make a very big hole in my savings,here in the UK. I have an appointment to see my Urologist very soon and I will certainly mention UroLift with him. Apparently the reports in the UK are so good that it is now being made available at some NHS hospitals for FREE !!
For the first time in about ten years, I got a full eight hours' sleep last night.
I do very much understand the financial burden and wanted to make that clear when I posted.
It is only five nights since the operation, ( or procedure as they call it now), and I still have some blood spotting, but overall the thing is remarkable. I would be delighted if it became generally available on NHS ( or in Canada where I live), but will if that happens I will not regret having moved earlier. Knocked ten years off my age in terms of how I feel.
I do very much understand the financial burden and wanted to make that clear when I posted.
It is only five nights since the operation, ( or procedure as they call it now), and I still have some blood spotting, but overall the thing is remarkable. I would be delighted if it became generally available on NHS ( or in Canada where I live), but will if that happens I will not regret having moved earlier. Knocked ten years off my age in terms of how I feel.
Thanks again, as it happens I'm seeing my doctor this Friday about the same thing
My prostate was diagnosed as enlarged some time ago but wasn't considered bad enough to operate on but as time has passed it's getting worse, I'm up almost hourly these nights
I think it's the thought of the after effects that has put me off until now.
I dare say an operation is the only way forward now, i can only hope I'll get the choice, unlikely but you never know
My prostate was diagnosed as enlarged some time ago but wasn't considered bad enough to operate on but as time has passed it's getting worse, I'm up almost hourly these nights
I think it's the thought of the after effects that has put me off until now.
I dare say an operation is the only way forward now, i can only hope I'll get the choice, unlikely but you never know
This is their website.
https://urolift.com/
(For the record ai have no connection and never heard of them till February 5.
My urologist told I I could continue on medication if I did not want an operation, or get laser surgery, though the latter had a number of downsides...possible incontinence or impotence in a minority of cases.
I was fairly completely checked advance to ensure that the procedure was the right one for me. Obviously the cost is a killer, and you might need to have it tightened up or redone in ten years, but I have no regrets. Will be back to the gym in two weeks with absolutely no restrictions or medications of any kind.
https://urolift.com/
(For the record ai have no connection and never heard of them till February 5.
My urologist told I I could continue on medication if I did not want an operation, or get laser surgery, though the latter had a number of downsides...possible incontinence or impotence in a minority of cases.
I was fairly completely checked advance to ensure that the procedure was the right one for me. Obviously the cost is a killer, and you might need to have it tightened up or redone in ten years, but I have no regrets. Will be back to the gym in two weeks with absolutely no restrictions or medications of any kind.
Steve H said:
Whilst I realise this is a large sum for many, it's also just the cost of 2-3 holidays for others, doesn't sound like such terrible value for the results you've had.
Brave move OP but well worth it by the sounds of things.
After five days I feel perfect. It is as if I never had the slightest problem,. Brave move OP but well worth it by the sounds of things.
I did want to make sure I was not misleading people on the cost as I know its not cheap. Believe me.I would have given-up a large number of other expenditures if necessary to do this. I was aware some other patients had had to borrow to have the procedure which is just very hard.
Hopefully one day this will just be a standard little procedure that is covered. It would put a huge number of men out of discomfort and the sort of thing people don't wish to talk about.
I`m so glad that everything has worked out well for you.
As for us guys in the UK, There are more NHS hospitals providing the EuroLift procedure now,wont be long before its nationwide. With a bit of luck I will persuade my urologist to get me on the list.
http://www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/trust/pr/2017/revolu...
As for us guys in the UK, There are more NHS hospitals providing the EuroLift procedure now,wont be long before its nationwide. With a bit of luck I will persuade my urologist to get me on the list.
http://www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/trust/pr/2017/revolu...
Sounds most interesting and very quick compared with either the green laser or TURP. I had a TURP about seven years ago. It greatly improved my symptoms and has endured with little deterioration but I suspect a re-op will eventually be needed. Urolift looks as if it will be available widely as surgeons get trained to carry out the procedure. I hope that it is applicable to previous TURP patients and will be available in my area by the time I need it. It must cost less than TURP because that procedure involves a stay in hospital for about three days and takes longer in theatre. Thanks for the post.
Wow!
Firstly, I had no idea you were so old
...
Secondly, thank you for your insightful and honest post. Really.
I fear many are worried about talking to their Dr about the symptoms, let alone the treatment options, and, whilst your treatment wasn't cheap, I think I would have done the same thing and paid up!
Long may your restful sleep and good conditions continue!
Firstly, I had no idea you were so old
...
Secondly, thank you for your insightful and honest post. Really.
I fear many are worried about talking to their Dr about the symptoms, let alone the treatment options, and, whilst your treatment wasn't cheap, I think I would have done the same thing and paid up!
Long may your restful sleep and good conditions continue!
RC1807 said:
Wow!
Firstly, I had no idea you were so old
...
Secondly, thank you for your insightful and honest post. Really.
I fear many are worried about talking to their Dr about the symptoms, let alone the treatment options, and, whilst your treatment wasn't cheap, I think I would have done the same thing and paid up!
Long may your restful sleep and good conditions continue!
Old is a state of mind..I am a ( real ) company director, fly 80k miles a year and track cars when I can...can do everything I could do at 40. At least, now I can
Firstly, I had no idea you were so old
...
Secondly, thank you for your insightful and honest post. Really.
I fear many are worried about talking to their Dr about the symptoms, let alone the treatment options, and, whilst your treatment wasn't cheap, I think I would have done the same thing and paid up!
Long may your restful sleep and good conditions continue!
Old is a state of mind..I am a ( real ) company director, fly 80k miles a year and track cars when I can...can do everything I could do at 40. At least, now I can
In my previous post I said I had an appointment with my doctor on the Friday
He sorted a fast track appointment at the urology clinic at the hospital, in the early hours of Saturday I was in agony, struggling to urinate and in pain most of the morning, it eased of a bit through the day so I thought I'd mention it when I went back to Doc for a blood test on Tuesday
I didn't last that long, early hours Tuesday and again in agony, nothing coming out.
Off to hospital, my prostate was pressing on my bladder so much that it took six attempts to get the catheter in far enough, this was with local anaesthetic, but not much
To say that it hurts is the understatement of the year !!
I'm now home and recovering.
The catheter has to stay in place for two or three weeks
So, DO NOT DELAY !!!!!! If you think you have a problem
Get to your doctor,
I hope my story hasn't put anyone off making that move, just do it !!
He sorted a fast track appointment at the urology clinic at the hospital, in the early hours of Saturday I was in agony, struggling to urinate and in pain most of the morning, it eased of a bit through the day so I thought I'd mention it when I went back to Doc for a blood test on Tuesday
I didn't last that long, early hours Tuesday and again in agony, nothing coming out.
Off to hospital, my prostate was pressing on my bladder so much that it took six attempts to get the catheter in far enough, this was with local anaesthetic, but not much
To say that it hurts is the understatement of the year !!
I'm now home and recovering.
The catheter has to stay in place for two or three weeks
So, DO NOT DELAY !!!!!! If you think you have a problem
Get to your doctor,
I hope my story hasn't put anyone off making that move, just do it !!
Had the same experience and lots more.
The good news is that one month after the operation I am as normal as I was at 30. No drugs, not side effects, no problems at all. Maybe the best money I ever spent in my life. First week was not great but not painful, but fair amount of blood. Catheter out in 48 hours..
The good news is that one month after the operation I am as normal as I was at 30. No drugs, not side effects, no problems at all. Maybe the best money I ever spent in my life. First week was not great but not painful, but fair amount of blood. Catheter out in 48 hours..
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