BPH Options

[Koolau]

Hi guys.

I've been lurking this thread for a while and just got back from the surgeon's office. While not cancerous, my prostate is about 9 times normal size (281 vs 30).

The past few weeks the SHTF and have had me cathetered, a subsequent UTI and another catheter; 4 visits to the ER as it was weekends.

I've been lugging this problem around for over 20 years, brought on by an earlier UTI gained from swimming in dirty ocean water.

So, I'm off for a Robotic Prostatetectomy in 3 weeks. Because of it's size, my options are limited. Can't wait. Since it's not cancerous, this is the one where they carve out the center and leave enough prostate to help me manage my pee etc. without removing the entire thing.

Just thought I'd share and will report afterwards.

Thanks for sharing. Here is hoping for a great outcome.

I suspect many males here will be very interested in how it goes for you. Many of us have at least some sort of procedure in our futures. Aloha

 

[marko]

Will keep all here posted. Being robotic, it looks like 1 or 2 nights in the hospital and a 2 or 3 week recovery
Small incisions.

 

[Time2]

I suspect many males here will be very interested in how it goes for you. Many of us have at least some sort of procedure in our futures. Aloha

Someone should ask the design engineer where the failure of the system originated!

 

[marko]

Someone should ask the design engineer where the failure of the system originated!

Anyone who says nature has perfect design never had prostate problems

 

[Car-Guy]

Someone should ask the design engineer where the failure of the system originated!

Most of us here are well beyond the intended design specification duration and certainly beyond any warranty period. Just like some of the old cars I had... Just keep replacing parts and patching them up as long as possible.

 

[marko]

Most of us here are well beyond the intended design specification duration and certainly beyond any warranty period. Just like some of the old cars I had... Just keep replacing parts and patching them up as long as possible.

Well, they should've ordered a recall on this particular design! 2nd rate engineering IMO!

 

[braumeister]

Will keep all here posted. Being robotic, it looks like 1 or 2 nights in the hospital and a 2 or 3 week recovery
Small incisions.

Best of luck.
My prostate is also huge. I've had two different "Roto-Rooter" type procedures over the years, and they both were effective. I wouldn't be surprised if I eventually needed a third. AFAIK, the failure rate is extremely small on this stuff.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

Hi guys.

I've been lurking this thread for a while and just got back from the surgeon's office. While not cancerous, my prostate is about 9 times normal size (281 vs 30).

The past few weeks the SHTF and have had me cathetered, a subsequent UTI and another catheter; 4 visits to the ER as it was weekends.

I've been lugging this problem around for over 20 years, brought on by an earlier UTI gained from swimming in dirty ocean water.

So, I'm off for a Robotic Prostatetectomy in 3 weeks. Because of it's size, my options are limited. Can't wait. Since it's not cancerous, this is the one where they carve out the center and leave enough prostate to help me manage my pee etc. without removing the entire thing.

Just thought I'd share and will report afterwards.

Best wishes for a positive outcome.
This procedure sounds very similar to HoLEP surgery for BPH, which is 'I think' the best option for large prostates.
Often described as removing the pulp of an orange through a single port, the urethra.
A laser, in this case Holmium, is used to separate the pulp from the underside of the 'peel', then ground up (morcellation), so it can be irrigated out with saline solution.
In many cases the patient can be sent home without an overnight stay.
The caveat being the procedure has a steep learning curve requiring a highly skilled surgeon thus, a less common option concerning problematic BPH.

 

[marko]

Best wishes for a positive outcome.
This procedure sounds very similar to HoLEP surgery for BPH, which is 'I think' the best option for large prostates.
Often described as removing the pulp of an orange through a single port, the urethra.
A laser, in this case Holmium, is used to separate the pulp from the underside of the 'peel', then ground up (morcellation), so it can be irrigated out with saline solution.
In many cases the patient can be sent home without an overnight stay.
The caveat being the procedure has a steep learning curve requiring a highly skilled surgeon thus, a less common option concerning problematic BPH.

Thanks. Sounds similar, but instead of two small incisions they need to do a 4 inch cut due to the size. The orange analogy was used however. I'm due for the table the first week of June so I hope to report back soon after....one or two days in the hospital.

 

[Car-Guy]

Hi guys.

I've been lurking this thread for a while and just got back from the surgeon's office. While not cancerous, my prostate is about 9 times normal size (281 vs 30).

Congratulations. Some of the more recent articles I've read on the topic are now suggesting that a much high percentage of men over ~70 have prostate cancer than was thought just a few years ago. Many are just not detected for a number of reasons. Reduced screenings for older men, early stages and hard to detect, not causing any problems, etc.

 

[Tetto]

Hi guys.

I've been lurking this thread for a while and just got back from the surgeon's office. While not cancerous, my prostate is about 9 times normal size (281 vs 30).

The past few weeks the SHTF and have had me cathetered, a subsequent UTI and another catheter; 4 visits to the ER as it was weekends.

I've been lugging this problem around for over 20 years, brought on by an earlier UTI gained from swimming in dirty ocean water.

So, I'm off for a Robotic Prostatetectomy in 3 weeks. Because of it's size, my options are limited. Can't wait. Since it's not cancerous, this is the one where they carve out the center and leave enough prostate to help me manage my pee etc. without removing the entire thing.

Just thought I'd share and will report afterwards.

Good luck! I work in the surgical robotics industry and have seen probably 100 robotic prostatectomies from the OR. Good experienced surgeons can blaze through them surprisingly fast and accurate. Do you know how many procedures your doc has done? I presume a Da Vinci? Not my company but its a wonderful robot.

 

[Koolau]

Anyone who says nature has perfect design never had prostate problems

I've come to the conclusion that "nature" w*rks on the percentages. As long as the species is preserved, nature is satisfied. YMMV

 

[marko]

. Good experienced surgeons can blaze through them surprisingly fast and accurate. Do you know how many procedures your doc has done? I presume a Da Vinci? Not my company but its a wonderful robot.

Don't know how many she's done but this is all she does. She's fairly young (early 30s), which I believe is a good thing but the chief of urology surgery is also going to be there alongside her. They work as a team. Getting him in the OR room is what's taking the time schedule wise.

Mass General is about the best you can do IMO.

 

[eytonxav]

I've had a problem for several years getting up at night. I have been taking Flomax and it helps, but what really helped is changing my BP Rx. I had been taking a combination lisinopril/water pill before bed, but the waking up to go at night improved when I split the pill and took the water pill component in the morning and the BP component at night. I'm not sure when it will be necessary to seek an additional procedure to get relief.

 

[Tetto]

Don't know how many she's done but this is all she does. She's fairly young (early 30s), which I believe is a good thing but the chief of urology surgery is also going to be there alongside her. They work as a team. Getting him in the OR room is what's taking the time schedule wise.

Mass General is about the best you can do IMO.

I’m sure you’re in good hands, an excellent institution. I’ve found the younger the surgeon, the better the robot usage. The older, established doc can help with anatomy, technique and best practices. The robot use for this procedure is a quantum leap in quality and accuracy over laparoscopic. Good luck.

 

[Koolau]

I've had a problem for several years getting up at night. I have been taking Flomax and it helps, but what really helped is changing my BP Rx. I had been taking a combination lisinopril/water pill before bed, but the waking up to go at night improved when I split the pill and took the water pill component in the morning and the BP component at night. I'm not sure when it will be necessary to seek an additional procedure to get relief.

I know that many pharmaceutical products affect (negatively) this issue. Years ago (I mean like 25 years ago) I noticed that using Alka Seltzer Plus cold medicine gave me symptoms similar to BPH. So I never used anything again with that active ingredient.

That's why it's so vital to tell the doctor EVERYTHING you take and even your eating habits when discussing BPH. Hopefully your doc knows the stuff that sometimes affects men's health issues.

My philosophy is: If there is a medication like Flomax that can positively affect flow, there is very likely a medication that negatively affects flow. YMMV

 

[Time2]

I know that many pharmaceutical products affect (negatively) this issue. Years ago (I mean like 25 years ago) I noticed that using Alka Seltzer Plus cold medicine gave me symptoms similar to BPH.

Years ago, even more than you, when I took Contact the allergy medicine, I could feel it in my prostate!
Both have a warning, ask a doc if you have an enlarged prostate or trouble urinating.

 

[swakyaby]

So, I'm off for a Robotic Prostatetectomy in 3 weeks. Because of it's size, my options are limited. Can't wait. Since it's not cancerous, this is the one where they carve out the center and leave enough prostate to help me manage my pee etc. without removing the entire thing.

I've always thought a prostatectomy meant removal of the entire prostate which is a routine use of the DaVinci robot. And coring out a tunnel for the urethra was a procedure known as a TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) which typically does not use a robot, but rather a resectoscope. But I am not a urologist, so my knowledge is likely dated.

 

[lawman]

TURP for me last November..Took a couple of months to heal but now I wish I had not suffered as long as I did before getting it..Retrograde ejaculation sorta sucks for me but the wife loves it. Orgasm is the same or maybe even better..

 

[marko]

Update: I'm due for surgery a week from today which will be 6/8. Because of the size, they will not be able to do it robotically as originally hoped, and will go the old fashioned way. (Ugh!)

I'll just be glad to get all this behind me.

I'll report back here as soon as I feel up to it. Wish me luck!

 

[Car-Guy]

^^^^^
Best of luck...

 

[GravitySucks]

Good Luck!
Hope all goes well

 

[braumeister]

Best of luck with it. I'm still very happy with the results of the TURP I had a few years ago.

 

[Koolau]

Update: I'm due for surgery a week from today which will be 6/8. Because of the size, they will not be able to do it robotically as originally hoped, and will go the old fashioned way. (Ugh!)

I'll just be glad to get all this behind me.

I'll report back here as soon as I feel up to it. Wish me luck!

Wishes for a good outcome!

 

[Qs Laptop]

Update: I'm due for surgery a week from today which will be 6/8. Because of the size, they will not be able to do it robotically as originally hoped, and will go the old fashioned way. (Ugh!)

I'll just be glad to get all this behind me.

I'll report back here as soon as I feel up to it. Wish me luck!

Here's to hoping it's a completely routine procedure with speedy recovery.