What Next after Green Light Laser Surgery (3 times!)?

Written by

Wed, September 12, 2007

Hi,

I'm 54 years old and have gone through 3 green light laser surgeries to reduce my prostate in the last three years. The third procedure was moderately sucessful. Before the surgeries I was taking the generic form of Cardura (8 mg./night as I recall). The Cardura was not particularly effective. I should point out that I started getting up at night to urinate once or twice in my early thirties. It then started to get progressively worst. I saw the urologist for my condition for the first time at about age 40.

Depending on my diet I usually get up maybe once or twice at night to urinate.

At my age I realize that I will not slept through the night without getting up to urinate. But I would like to like to limit my late night trips to the bathroom to once a night.

Are there any new drugs on the market that might be beneficial to me.

My diet appears to dictate how many times I will get up at night.

I'm tired of going to the urologist!

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Paul

10/25/07 10:48pm

I cath myself at night for a full nights sleep. It sounds bad, but it doesn't hurt since you control the insertion and withdrawal. I use the 14 Fr straight cath and lube it with surgilube, available at most drug stores. I've been doing this the past 2 yrs. Before this I'd be getting up 3-4 times a night. feel free to contact me about techniques to prevent infection.

GaryM

10/26/07 1:32pm

Thanks for the response.

I had been taking Cardura (8 mg/night-max dose), which was largely ineffective in controlling the symptons of an enlarged prostrate. I also have high pressure, which cardura treated. My doctor took me off cardura after my last "green light" laser surgery. Because of the numerous trips to the urologist I had my fill of trips to the doctor's office and was neglecting my other health issue-hypertension.

Recently I had an appointment for a routine exam and my blood pressure was 157 over something so I was prescribed a drug to lower it. It appears that the drug is also effective in reducing my trips to the bathroom at night as typically I get up only once at night now! It's nice to able to sleep for 4 hours.

Now I just have to lose 20 pounds.

I did use a catheter twice for 2-3 nights after the prostrate reduction surgeries and it was no big deal but hopefully I'll be able to avoid using one.

Good luck to you.

Hoppy Heidelberg

8/27/08 6:22pm

I am very interested in how you avoided infection.

GaryM

8/27/08 6:30pm

Infection? There were no infection problems. I was prescribed an antibiotic after the surgery (along with a pain medication).

I still get up 1-2 times a night. If I'm good with my diet, no spicy foods, alcohol, dairy, late snacks and liquids, then I get up only once every four hours.

Good luck with your procedure and related health issues.

Anonymous

8/28/08 8:16pm

I am 57 and used Cardura for a number of years and then was swithched to Flomax. Flomax worked much better but now after several more years on Flomax, I've started having the 'can't wait followed by the dribbles" situation and am considering the Green Light surgery. I am hoping your results aren't typical.

michael howarth

9/ 2/08 12:01am

I to am 57 stuggled with bph for 5-7years flomax worked ok for 2years increased dosage to 2 pills but stopped due to passing out and collapsing twice.taking avodart now actually it has worked fairly well but the sex has ended even cialis doesnt help thinking of turp or greenlight but are really undecided having your plumbing worked on is a pretty concerning thing for me. Johns Hopkins told me turp was the way to go but i still dont know

Anonymous

5/30/09 11:03am

I had my first TURP in the mid-80's and just had my second one, this time the Green Light laser. The first one was the old style "knife" type that required several days of Foley catheter irrigation in the hospital. Once it was over there was no ill effects, including sexual activity. I was warned of the possibility of retrograde ejaculation but did not experience that. This time, with the green light, it was done as an outpatient and was pretty simple. That was only 4 days ago and so far, so good. Initial urination was a bit uncomfortable, but I also had a bit of bladder injury because of retaining a LOT of urine, well over 2 liters. My recommendation is to talk to your urologist, get an explanation of the procedure to get comfortable with the idea, then go for it. BTW, I am now 74 and except for the long wait for a meal, the procedure was pretty painless.

celina12

8/ 6/09 6:11am

The society is facing problems with such laws. This has to go legal and it's needed to be sorted at the earliest.
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What Next after Green Light Laser Surgery (3 times!)?

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