Can you recommend a doctor?

 

Thanks

Rick, 52 years old with BPH

 

bfly11@windstream.net

I am 58 and ha trouble urinating for 5 or  so years so I decided to have it done. Also I was retaining urine in my bladder so for me it was a no brainer.Either get it done or ruin my bladder.I had in done last week in Indianapolis and now i can pee again!!! Get a good doctor and enjoy peeing again with good flow .I dont know how long it is good for but for me I am enjoying urinating without have to STRAIN all the time. I am grateful I live in this medical era where we can use modern medicine to improve our life. !! 

Hi there,

 

I was reading your comments and literally jealous you.  I am 58 and 2 years post greenlight procedure still having often frequencies (2-3 times at night).  Flow is much stronger, but only in the morning and then slowing down to the second part of the day.  My Dr. said that I have to live with it...Well; I am not satisfied with such as approach.  Beside ejaculation and little flow improvement I did not get anything and I'd like to sleep at night.  I don't sleep many years.  I am an optimistic, but trust me, you are just got lucky!!!   God bless you.

 

Alec.

Hello, I am considering the green light surgery as I am on full medication and I am still getting problems. I am 62 years old. Can you tell me if you live in the UK and if so did you have this done on the NHS or privately. If you had it done privately can you give me an indictaion of the cost?

 

Kind Regards

 

Paul

 

 

Hi My name is Dave I am 60 years old and have the same problem you had. Are you at liberty to give me the doctors name and place you had it done.

Dave

 

I live in Saint Joseph Michigan . Dr Ben Stockman performed my surgery at Lakeland Medical Center. Hope that helps. Its been two years and still working great only get up once in a while if I have had lots to drink in late evening.

 

Tom

Hi Dave, I had green light surgury eight weeks ago, and every thing went great. Find you a good uroligest, and do what he tells you to do. My urologist is Brian J. Miles, Medical Director of Robotic Surgury, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, 77030. Good luck.

I am 66 & had this surgery 9 days ago (Nov. 2, 2010). I didn't have any of the problems you experienced early on after surgery. Went home with catheter, but I took it out the next morning. Initial severe pain with urination(weak stream & dribbles). Had pain meds., which took care of the pain. I am about where you were at day 12. No sex yet, but erections were taking place during night after surgery with catheter in place. Don't know about retrograde ejaculation yet. Dr. said this could occur in 30 to 40% of cases. I would recomend this procedure for anyone having to frequently urinate day & night as a result of an enlarged prostate gland.

I had my surgery oct 12..  Dr. was veteran who did a great job. Very little pain. I had bleeding for about 3 weeks but not much. Wore the foley for 5 days. Erections began while the foley was still in me. That was scary. Burning sensation for about a month. I am still wearing pampers because of a serious urgency problem. I have not wet on myself like this since I was 4 mos old. That is the most disappointing part of the surgery. I still get up 2 to 3 times per night which is also disappointing but the Dr. says will improve. I was cleared for sex after 4 weeks. It was good with no pain but God only knows where my sperm went because it did not come out. I may have to begin using viagra. By the way, I am 64 years old. The jury is still out on whether I am happy with my decision to have the surgery. I still have not healed completely. I continue to have slight sensation when urinating. Sometimes I will urinate and have to go right back oftentimes not making it mostly at night. My stream is not as strong as I expected but the Dr. says that will improve and that my bladder was emptying. If that is the case, why am I urinating so often. God bless all of you out there. 

Thank you for yoiur post. i had exackly your experience so far. I'm 68 and had astrong stream before surgery. Now one week out it is weak, but your post indicates it will improve.

 

All my other issues (same as yours) I was expecting but not the weak stream.

if you had a strong stream before the surgery why did you have the surgery?

You should proof read your statements befoe posting them.

 

Hi there,

 

I was reading your comments and literally jealous you.  I am 58 and 2 years post greenlight procedure still having often frequencies (2-3 times at night).  Flow is much stronger, but only in the morning and then slowing down to the second part of the day.  My Dr. said that I have to live with it...Well; I am not satisfied with such as approach.  Beside ejaculation and little flow improvement I did not get anything I'd like to sleep at night.  I don't sleep many years.  I am an optimistic, but trust me you are just got lucky!!!   God bless you.

 

Alec.

 

 

alecra@optonline.net

You obviously have not had this TURP procedure. Any PC physician will tell the patient the closest thing to the truth; Retrograde Ejaculation is an almost certainty and it is sexually life-changing, miserable, debilitating, ultra-depressing and "not worth it" doesn't begin to cover the warnings that SHOULD be tattooed on the forehead of any erstwhile urologist that recommends TURP. I hate the bastard son-of-a-bitch and so does my lady. He got his tens-of-thousands-of dollars (also sending a collection agency after us for the few hundred left over) and no longer gave a damn about me, the patient. "Do no harm" is in Hippocrates teachings, but "I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug" is actually a part of the oath traditionally taken by both healers and hacks alike. Medicine has become little more than a career for the entitled and those guilty of butchery for insurance money should fall with the bankers. I am presently on far more drugs than may have been needed without this damnedable operation for depression, hormone replacement (another thing they do not mention) ED (again, same), and therapy to keep from blowing my brains out. My advice to all that some urologist has recommended TURP; DON'T!!! They do not care about you, only the money that insurance will pay them. You WILL have retrograde ejack, you WILL end your sex life and endure the consequences of testosterone deprivation which are quite deadly and include; further depression, massive cholesterol increases, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Singh, stick to medicine that you know something about, or be prepared to tell the whole truth. Lastly, all patients should know that there is no cure for retrograde ejack; the decongestants and all of that is pure falderal. There are rumors that the hospital in Trinidad, CO is experimenting with the bladder sphincter valve, but it is just a rumor. They disregard "old men" as having already lived their lives and are no longer in need of a sex life, a driving force in keeping a man vital.

 

I had my TURP two months ago. I had a very good surgeon with 30 years experience. Sex is still good. The retro-ejack issue... is not a big deal to me.

Some "stress incontinence" has developed but is supposed to away with time and muscle exercise.

It definitely relieved all severe symptoms (could not pee at all). Now I can join the fire department. If you know what I mean.

I asked my surgeon about GreenLight Laser and said he does not do them because they fail to cure BPH and surgery has to be re-done.

He said every few years a new cure comes out but proves not to work well.

I think I made the right decision.

You are absolutely right! I had the same surgery with the same results and the same after treatment by the doctor! When I asked him why he did not tell me about the retrograde ejaculation and loss of erection, he said " Well you didn't ask me about that. Besides, you dont want to have any more children anyway do you?"

I was so angry that I wanted to murder that sonofabitch right on the spot.

everytime I tried to see him after the surgery I got all kinds of run arounds by the same receptionist who constantly called and urged me to have the surgery even though I was very reluctant to have it. She and He told me the surgery would solve all my problems and said there were no downsides to having it. I was doing fine on flomax, and since the surgery I have lost my erections as well as my ejaculation. The wife has always been a ball of fire and a juice freak and is now screwing around on the side because I can no longer give her what she wants and is use to getting. Now I dont' want to see him any more because I'm afraid that if i do, I will jump him and rip his balls off; cut out his heart and lying tongue, and blow his brains out! I want to rip his ass like a crazed chimpanzee!

You are right that some surgeons are there for the money - but not all of them. I live in a small town in Australia where there used to be only one urologist. I was referred to this man who made me wait with symptons for six months before seeing me. He could have advised my GP what to do while waiting but I think he wanted my money. When I finally saw the specialist he turned out to be an abusive, unethical man whose incorrect trearments cost me a lot of money. I had a bad feeling about this guy from the start and would have saved myself a lot of stress and money if I had walked away earlier. I put up with symptons and used red clover, saw palmetto extract, zinc and selenium for 10 years. In that time another urologist set up practise - I was referred to this guy and he turned out to be experienced and competent - He has done a TURP on my enlarged prostate and 7 weeks later I am urinating on demand with a good stream as well as having good sex, despite retrogard ejaculation.

My husbands" expereince so far is much like yours. He is still up many times during the night to urinate post green light laser surgery. sometimes as much as every half hour. The flow is a little bit better not a whole lot better. He had the green laser two weeks ago. Penis burns very uncomfortably after every urination.

I had the "green light" surgery about 4 yrs ago. My experience is pretty much the same as yours. However, The last year or so I've had much more of a sense of urgency. Once it starts, it is very hard to hold back the uriine flow. I've not had any serious accidents, but it could happen. Also, I do have the side effect of retrograde ejaculation. I don't have problems with an erection, but I do miss ejaculating. It added to the pleasure. My doctor said it might come back. I don't regret my decision, the alternative was more drugs, and possiby a catheter(which I greatly fear). I do wish there was a way to bring back the ejaculation, maybe one of thoses erection pills?

 

Dennis

I am 63 too. Had the Green Light Surgery 3 weeks ago. The first four days were hard, as there was pain on urination. But the pyridum helped relieve it a bit, though it makes your urine orange. This is probably good, because it hides the blood a bit. Recommend that you pee sitting down while this is going on, as it is not pretty and the orange/red splashing on the toilet would not be very nice. I was told to drink lot of fluids. So, I was drinking like a fish; but I was also peeing like a HORSE! The first time I peed like that I actually scared myself! So far, the stream is terrific. There are a few drops of blood, which they say may go on for a over a month. Not pleasant to see, but whatever. Saw the Dr last week and gave him a big hug. I think I was in denial over this for many years and wish I had taken his advice sooner.

whose your doc? where are you located?

NOT SAFE AT ALL IF YOPU ARE AGE 75 AND HAVE OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS

I am 75 and took flomax and Toviaz. VERY expensive drugs. I worked with my urologist and we decided to try to reduce the size of my prostate with Avodart. Then I heard about the green laser operation. I live in Memphis and haven't found any place which offers this surgery. Searching the internet, I have found only major population centers have it. Places like johns Hopkins in Baltimore, NYC, CA etc. Too bad, I see this procedure has been called the "Gold standard of treatment." Over time I expect to find that this treatment will become more widely used. One must be patient! It takes time for medical advances to be widely excepted.

Dr. Dave Greenberger in Memphis does the Greenlight. I just had it done last week. I am 60 and I never felt better. I feel like a new man! See info below:

 

Memphis Office
6029 Walnut Grove Road
Suite 300
Memphis, TN 38120
Tel: 901.767.8158
Fax: 901.767.1555

Contact Dr. John Kirkland at Urology Specialtists in Charlotte

North Carolina

 

I am age 66.  I had to green light laser surgery six months ago.  I can now urinate normally... but I have no ejaculate with orgasm.  Nothing comes out when I have an orgasm.  ALSO... My penis shrank in size when flaccid. I now look like I have just gotten out of an ice bath. I don't know if I will ever experience a normal ejaculation again?  I don't know if there is a fix for my problem? 

I am 69 yrs. old and had Green Light Laser surgery 12-26-11. After spending a night in the Hospital, the next day the cath was removed and could not void. the cath was reinserted and the Dr. gave me a bladder med. The next day my flow improved and I was allowed to go home. At home my flow improved dramatically, but many little scabs and a little red in my urine. This cleared up after two weeks, and now after three weeks only get burning and a little red at the start of urination in the morning. Flow is great and drinking a lot of water as per Dr. advise. Hope the early morning burning clears up, but was told at least 3 mo. for full recovery. Have not tried sex yet, hope that still works. Am much better off now than before.

I am 69 yrs. old and had Green Light Laser surgery 12-26-11. After spending a night in the Hospital, the next day the cath was removed and could not void. the cath was reinserted and the Dr. gave me a bladder med. The next day my flow improved and I was allowed to go home. At home my flow improved dramatically, but many little scabs and a little red in my urine. This cleared up after two weeks, and now after three weeks only get burning and a little red at the start of urination in the morning. Flow is great and drinking a lot of water as per Dr. advise. Hope the early morning burning clears up, but was told at least 3 mo. for full recovery. Have not tried sex yet, hope that still works. Am much better off now than before.

Hi, my father, age 78, had this surgery 6 months ago.  He has been wearing depends ever since.  After surgery, the doctor told him the surgery went "fine", and there were "no problems".  In reality, he found out from a second urologist that my father's sphincter (the valve that turns the flow on or off) was lasered off.  We have gone to several attorneys because my parents are on a fixed income, and the depends are not covered by their insurance and are very expensive- about $150/month, not to mention how his social life has been curtailed because of leakage through the double layer of depends, and the fact that my mom is now washing up to 4 pairs of soiled blue jeans per day.  It's very sad when an active, vital man has something like this happen to him.  So far, the attorneys we've contacted won't take the case because it would require another doctor testifying against the first doctor, so the costs involved to prove the case, outweigh the likely amount of the award. The second urologist installed a device that's basically an artificial sphincter.  It's a mechanicaldevice with a balloon near the bladder, and a button is activated inside the scrotum.  So far, it's been several weeks, and it's not working either.  I don't know if this forum allows the mention of specific doctor's names or the clinic involved, so I will suffice it to say, do your research before having the procedure done if you live in Upper Wisconsin. 

Hi

My Advice is don't give up there are attys that will take your case Google for a malpractice atty. You will find one!

Good luck

Andrew

Hi, still no luck with regards to finding an attorney who will take the case.  The artificial sphincter corrected the incontinence, however, my father is not able to urinate on his own.  Now he has to catheterize himself 4 to 6 times per day.  This is more difficult than it sounds.  The technique is very important.  The whole process must be done in as sterile a manner as possible.  He is meticulous, but has had two infections.  The first infection he wasn't prepared for (he didn't recognize the symptoms) and he passed out, so an ambulance was required to get him to the ER.  When he got the chills the second time, my mother drove him to the ER immediately, and he was treated for the second infection.  The second doctor has assured us that this is state of the art treatment for my father's current condition.  He said that the reason my father can't urinate on his own is because my father's bladder (muscles around bladder?) are not functioning, and can't push the urine out.  He also said this can be caused by waiting too long to have the prostate treated in the first place (take heed men- it's not normal to pee several times a  night) OR the bladder can wear out with age.  He said the bladder was not damaged by the first surgery.  I'm a bit skeptical because my dad's bladder was working fine prior to the first surgery.

Hi Jill,

Sorry about the difficulty in getting an attorney. Try calling your local Bar Ass''n. for a recommendaton. If you haven't already go in the Internet and type in medical malpractice and see whar comes up.

Self caterterization is no walk in the park! I know your father's pain. I don't know where you live but are you near a teaching hospital? Perhaps you might try contacting the Cleveland Clinic.

Andrew

> if this forum allows the mention of specific doctor's names or the clinic involved

 

People with positive experience mention the doctors names, and it is even more important to mention the name if you think the doctor did not perform well.    He will hurt more people.   You just describe your own experiance.  If more people have bad experiance with the same doctor for no special reason, it should be known!

   Why people think it's OK to share bad grades/opinions of restaurants, cooks, car mechanics, but not about doctors?!! 

It's sick...

I would not reccomend green light laser to anyone unless it was a mild problem.  My doctor in Connecticut did green light on me because I could not urinate at all.  I was 100% blocked and my bladder had retained 5 times the normal amount.  I was cathetar for 41/2 months.  After the green light I still was only urinating 20% on my own and 80% through the super pubic cathetar.  He told me that it probably would not get any better because the bladder was so distented.  After returning to Florida for the winter, I found a urologist in Daytona that told me the green light had only done 1/2 the job.  He did the rotor rooter surgery and after 5 days I was going 100% on my own and off the cathetar.  From what I have learned over the past months is that the green light laser is a high promotion in New England. 

 

Hello,

 

I did green laser a month ago and getting worst, however you mentioned about something rotor rooter, so what is the rotor rooter that you mentioned?

 

 

Alec.

Hello Bill H,

I would be very grateful to you if you take the time to help me out.

I also have an enlarged prostate and I am trying to make a decision on what procedure to use to fix my prostate. Can you tell me the name of your urologist in Daytona Beach and the exact name of the procedure he did on you to correct your prostate problem?

My e mail is: enailios@aol.com

 

Thank you very much for your assistants.

 

Best regards,

Antony

Hello,

 

I believe the procedure "Roto Router" procedure may be the TURP. I was not aware of the Green Light Procedure that seems to be a new wave. Not all are very promising. My 1st Dr. talked me into the TURP and it was the one this medical center uses. They install a drill bit device that for lack of a medical name, cuts away anything blocking the tube as it goes through the prostate. If you know anything about a desease VD, called CLAPP, this same device was used to clean out the infected penis , and it was so painfull, you wouold pass out.

OK, Let me just say this...we can put a man on the Moon, drop a Bomb down the smoke stack of a house 1/2 way around the world in pitch dark with a sand storm raging, and our medical people can't open up or by-pass  the tube through the prostate.... come on. I bet before I go through another botched TURP operation, I'll try something my self, if not just run a cath half way through the prostate. Think about it.  All you need to do is force the opening, and for a few days you go normal, so why can't a perm tube be installed or even bypass the walnut size organ?

If you've never had a procedure to treat BPH, inquire about TUNA, trans-urethral needle ablation. Just google the heck out of it. I had it 4 yrs ago and it was totally great, but now the prostate's growing again, I fear. I am very wary about green light. Hoping I can use meds to keep things going.

Dr. Stan (psych)

 

I'm about 65, and could not pee during day or night. Used catheter for 9 months. It did empty my bladder completely.

I had my TURP two months ago. I had a very good surgeon with 30 years experience. He told me TURP is still the Gold Standard for BPH.

Yes. Recovery is longer. But the results will last a lot longer.

Sex is still good. The retro-ejack issue... is not a big deal to me... depends on the type of sex as to how much of an issue.
My stomach bulge has gone down. I now have a flat stomach. Bladder regaining normal size?
Some "stress incontinence" has developed but I told it will go away with time and muscle exercise.
It definitely relieved all severe symptoms (could not pee at all). Now I can join the fire department. If you know what I mean.
I asked my surgeon about GreenLight Laser and said he does not do them because they fail to cure BPH and surgery has to be re-done.
He said every few years a new treatment comes out, but proves not to as work well.

I think I made the right decision.
I would get a second opinion.
Just remember. No doctor will guarantee the outcome!

 

I had greenlight ten months ago. I had made the mistake of waiting too long and went into retention and was totaly blocked. My bladder was so full that My stomach looked like I was six months pregnant.

My bladder muscles were so streached that the surgeon only gave me a 20 percent for bladder muscle recovery.

This surgeon had done over 100 of the greenlight. That is important that you find an expereienced one with at least that many.

After surgery it took about three weeks to recover and I was getting up only once a night and good stream and no more drugs that didn't work anyway. I attrbute the sucess to the doctor.

Bill

Where are you located? Who is the doctor?

I am contemplating having this procedure done, but after reading all these negative comments it makes one wonder. But I think the problems are more related to the choice of Drs. I would not go to just any urologist to have this done, but to one who is associated with a teaching medical school. In the Boston area there are several. I am considering Brigham and Women Hospital, which is a Harvard Medical School hospital. I had a major heart op done a year ago at this hospital and can't stop raving about the place and its doctors. They have a first class urological deptment also and I am thinking of having Dr. O'Leary, whose field is BPH and stones. He is an Assoc. Harvard Professor there at Brigham. There are several superb urologists there. Google the hospital and its urologists. Goog luck.

Great article.  Thanks

KP, did the pain completely go away and after how long?

Thanks

Cam

will guys it's been about 9 months since i had my green light laser surgery. no more pain and I have great urine flow and no more uninary infection. yes!!!!!!

 

the down side is I now have dry ejucatulation in which the sperm goes back into the bladder instead exiting out of the penis. I'm 50 years old and I want to have sex but i don't enjoy it because i don't have that lovely feeling any more

KP,

For how many months were you in pain?   It will be 4 months for me mid April.

Thanks

Cam

I am in the same boat. Had GLLS 7 weeks ago and still leak like a faucet. My follow-up doc's app't is in 2 weeks. I am very afraid that is is going to continue indefinitely. I am a health care professional and a semi-professional  musician so this is really putting a srew into my life. Anyone else out there like this in that the incontenence stops after a couple of months??? I hope the hell so that will be the case for me!!!!!!!!!

I am looking for an experienced surgeon to do the procedure.  Can you share your doctor's name and location?

 

Thanks,

Bob

Sorry, sure-- Dr. Fred Stier, Alexandria Virginia.  Good luck!

Update: 11 days now; I seem to be going through cycles of peeing with no blood, and then some blood returns along with occasional "debris".  Not positive, but I understand that the prostate sloughs off blood that begins to clot to form a scab for a while before it heals.  

 

I was on Uroxatral before the surgery and am still on it; I have a follow-up in a couple of days and will find out if I can stop-- and maybe when to expect the blood to stop.        

Update: 19 days.  Blood and debris mostly gone, barely a tinge of red.  Stream very good.  On day 16 I found out that I do have the retrograde issue though; it's a little strange but not a big deal (to me anyway) and my wife actually sees it as a benefit.  Expect that it will happen; if it doesn't that's icing on the cake.  So to speak. 

 

This will be my last update unless something noteworthy happens.  I see the retrograde issue as a bit-- not much-- of a problem, and given my alternatives I would opt for the same surgery again.  My advice-- get a good surgeon with the latest laser technology and go for it!  Good luck.     

hello scot, my father had a 90+ grams prostate and did the green laser surgery 10 days ago...there is minimal burning now but he is urinating every 40-60 minutes and his stream is the same as before. does this seem normal ?

thanks

I am not a doctor; all I have to go on is my experience, and that didn't happen to me. 

 

Has he tried anti-inflammatories like Motrin/Ibuprophen?  There is typically a lot of swelling.  He may also have some scabbing/clotting getting in the way; the doctor may have to go in again to touch things up.  Just guessing.

 

All the best to you both.

I thought of one other thing-- was he on medication before, and did he stop it?  I was on Uroxatral, and was told to stay on it for a while longer.  If he was on meds and went off, that could be a factor.  

Scott,

 

How are you feeling about the Green Light prodedure now that it's been a while? Any problems of note or still satisfied with the results and Dr Stier?

 

Jerry W

Olney, Md

Still happy with it, although I still have (and will likely always have) the retrograde problem which I definitely would prefer not to have.  Still a tiny bit of blood the first pee after sex; I expect that will disappear in another few weeks.  Prostates are NOT quick to heal!  Some urgency on occasion when my bladder is only 3/4 full.  Still nice strong stream.  No other significant issues at this point, about 6 1/2 weeks after surgery.  Although the literature claims only about 1/3 of patients end up with the retrograde issue, I think Dr. Stier's results are more than that.  It could be that the literature is much more optimistic as opposed to Dr. Stier's results being worse that average.  If I had it to do over, I might look for a Dr. who gets better results in that department, although there is likely some trade-off with the strength of the stream.  Just a guess.  Hope this helps.     

Thanks for all the followup Fred. My research indicates that Green Light's literature is too optimistic and retrograde ejac is more common than they suggest after Green Light. It also seems that urgency even when the bladder isn't full is not that uncommom after Green Light either.

 

Jerry W

Over 4 months now, and I have no lingering issues with anything pee-related.  No urges, blood, debris, nothing-- and a very good stream.  The RE problem has improved from zero to 5 or 10%-- I'm wondering now if things will continue toward complete improvement.  Still satisfied, and I would absolutely do it again and with the same Dr. 

 

G'day from Australia. Your latest feedback on PVC is encouraging. I have been mistakenly booked for TURP on Nov 14, 2011. I cancelled that as soon as I found out it was TURP, not PVC. Now I am searching for an experienced surgeon with PVC. It is very new in Australia.

 

But after the initial rave and glowing reviews of PVC Greenlight laser surgery for BPH, I am comiong across "horror stories" that make PVC sound as bad as TURP.

 

My biopsy a week ago was negative, and I had absolutely minimal bleeding in urine and stool - happened only once while waiting to be discharged. Semen is reddish brown as expected.

 

If green light is fairly new in Australia, try coming to the U.S. But even here you have to be careful who you select. You can contact such reliable institutions as the Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins University.

 

Doctors will only tell you what they want you to know, not what they don't want you to know. They don't want to lose a job that they bill insurance companies for about $5,000. Never heard of a doctor that personally underwent this operation. They get most of their info from pharmaceutical reps and other research.

It took me about 4 months to return to completely normal functioning-- no pain, urges, debris, etc. 

Thanks for continuing to check in about your progress Scott. You're a bit of an old timer since it's been a good 4 months after for you now compared to most other posters.  -I am particularly glad to hear that the urgency problem is pretty much gone for you now. I have not gone forward with PVP specifically because that's an important symptom to me that I want to get rid of. I hate always having to find a bathroom when I'm stuck in traffic or trying to get to an appointment on time and time is of the is of the esssence and I've got to make a detour and find a bathroom. I don't want to go through the procedure and expose myself to the risks if it isn't likely to get rid of that problem. I guess it's looking like it might be worth it after hearing your experiences.  Thanks for your contribution to the general good.

 

Jerry W

SCott,

I am on my 3rd month and a week, and I still have pains every time I urinate or I have go #2.   The pain from urination also causes me feeling that I need to go #2.

Were you still in pain in your 3rd and close to 4th month?

I was advised to have a second surgery,  but if you're giving me hope that your pains and issues lasted 4 months, can you confirm and elaborate?

Thanks

Cam 

Cam--  The only problem I ever had #2-wise was accidently peeing a bit when passing gas.  The pain and problems I had at your point were minor and mostly just bothersome.  Everyone is physiologically different though, and surgeries, pain thresholds, etc. all differ.  

 

It might take you 6 months or even longer to heal, although hopefully not.  Hopefully you are improving a little bit every week at this point, or you will notice weekly improvements soon.  If your symptoms (pain) are serious, and you aren't getting better, you might want to get a professional opinion from a different Urologist.  I'd give it another couple of weeks, though.

 

I hope this helps-- just my opinion.

Having same problems with pain and urgency that you are.  And - DO NOT HAVE GREENLIGHT if you want to have a normal sex lifer afterwards!

 

Five weeks post-op I'm still bleeding during urination, dribbling blood after bowel movements, random jabbing pains, burning urethra after urination, pain in bladder valve muscle during last part of urination.

AND having the joys (not!!) of retrograde ejaculation. Odds of getting this "complication" depends on how your surgeon does the procedure. The Greenlight promo brochure states 30% of patients will experience retro ejaculation for up to three months post-op but that usually goes away. Various other web sites about the procedure have that same info. I'm five weeks post op, am experiencing the retro thing accompanied by significant pain in the final parts of the retro ejaculation, and today the surgeon told me that the way he does the procedure the retro thing is 100% guaranteed and worse yet it will be permanent. Direct quote: permanent retro ejaculation is the price you paid to have a better stream.Don't know why he does it this way but he didn't make it clear before the procedure. Had he done so I would have found a different surgeon. I'm only 57 and my sex life is now over thanks to this procedure. Extremely distressed by the outcome of the procedure - easily the worst decision I've ever made in my life.  I would have been better off if the surgeon had just used a 12-gauge to gut-shoot me.

Hi there,

 

I am 58 and I had greenlight 18 months ago, so little improvement of flaw, but still 2-3 times wake up at night and of course ejaculation.  It is hard to charge, but I think everyone has different experience and I am guessing that this is normal....

 

 

Alec.

Well. I did the same surgery about 18 months ago.

 

Results: my flow is much better and stronger in the first part of the day and weaker in the second. I still, however, have to wake up from 1 to 3 trips.  I am trying to find out myself what could influence on my night trips...I do have complete 100% ejaculation, but we all forgot our condition before the surgery.  I did not have  any stabilities of my urination prior to surgery, beside so very weak flow, so it could be one trip and I did experience 7 trips in one night as well.  I remembered that after each trip I had remain 1/2 full of my bladder...The other frequencies symptoms are active bladder itself and body evaporation. 

Look, try not to drink anything at all for one day and count down how many trips you'll make for one day.  Trust me, it will help. Remember, what's done is done and we all have to train brain sensors stop thinking about and live normal life as much as we can.

 

I am personally created module to make extra money no matter what and make my life more luxury which gave me mo attractions, opportunities or even to pick Genius doctor in the future.

 

Hope this help...

 

 

Alec.

As a laser tech in the o.r. I travel around different medical facilities with a variety of medical lasers including the greenlight as well as other BPH lasers. You have to understand that all lasers are absorbed by a something. In the greenlight's case it goes after red/brown colors (or blood in this case). With that being said, not all BPH patients are good candidates for green light. For example, some prostate drugs will take the vascularity (or blood flow) out of your prostate. Long periods of catheterization will make a prostate less vascular too. You'll get good vaporization on tissue you see right away. However, the less vascular gland will mostly heat up below the vaporized tissue creating a hot swollen gland. Technique is very important as well. The green light is most difficult to use at the bladder neck being that you dont want to hit bladder tissue. sounds like a bad place to be then. But you have prostate tissue that needs to be treated blending in at the bladder neck. A lot of times the patients problem lies in that area. I personally would want a thulium laser or holmium laser if I had BPH. Absorbed mostly by water and its safe around the bladder neck. Not nearly as many irratible symptoms because of the safer wavelength. Hope this helps. 

Please tell me how to find a facility and/or doctor (in northern California) who uses theholium or thulium lasers for PBH. Thanks..J. Harris

I would like to know of a urologist in the San Francisco bay area who uses a holium laser. Kaiser (my HMO) does not do it because greenlight is cheaper, operation takes less time. Alternative is TURP which I am now beginning to think is better than greenlight, judging from horror stories.

 

Mike

Do you know where in the Denver, CO area we would find a Urologist that uses the " thulium laser or holmium laser".

Did you find any surgeon who performs holmium or thulium laser surgery for bph

located in the Denver area ?

Same with me - nightmare experience with the Greenlight laser TURP procedure that I had in 2005. The urologist and his laser took a chunk of my bladder sphincter with the prostate tissue. I've had numerous collogen treatments, a bladder sling, biofeedback (pelvic floor electrical stimulation) and do Kegel exercises daily and still have retrograde ejaculation (never told about that possibility) and use 3 Depends pads a day. The procedure has dramatically altered my quality of life. I'd like to sue the heck out of the company and the doctor. 

there is a newer type of TURP available called button TURP.  It uses bipolar saline irregatiion therefore eliminating TUR syndrome

Kevin K.

Where are you locted? Who was your doctor?

Could you Please help the rest of us. By posting at least the Location. Town City ect of the Dr. If not his name. So we can try an avoid the problems you have encounted. The sources for, good vs bad, outcomes on Dr's. are extremely hard if not near impossiable to obtain. Getting experience Numbers on surgeries is almost as bad. 2 of three Dr,s I have spoken to. Have  had less than 20% of what the staff claimed over the phone before making an appointment.

well over min..50. Actually apox 10. manufacture and pub med 50 Min exp.Required. for that size glan.

Have done hundreds of Greenlight, about 60 plasma button .

Actual about 50-60 combined Greenlight/plasma.

Be carefull out their

 

last statement somehow got messed up. The 50/60 is for 2nd Dr. who's staff claimed 100's of greenlight and apox 50-60 plasma button. Dr's statement was apox 50/60 total for both Procedures

The surgery was done in Columbus OH.

Since this posting I had a visit with a surgeon in Clearwater FL who told me that he no longer does green light since it causes a high percentage(15-20%) of scarring.

He examined me and said I did have significant scarring and I'm now sceduled to undergo a 2nd surgery to remove the scar tissue next week.

The surgery was done in Columbus OH.

Since this posting I had a visit with a surgeon in Clearwater FL who told me that he no longer does green light since it causes a high percentage(15-20%) of scarring.

He examined me and said I did have significant scarring and I'm now sceduled to undergo a 2nd surgery to remove the scar tissue next week.

Thanks for this post. I am contemplating the green light and have wondered what the actual percentage of satisfied patients was, but haven't found any statistics. I'm currently on flomax and find the side effects to be almost as bad as the bph. If it wasn't for the urinary retention, I would be looking for other options than the green light or the flomax. I know the flomax is a major annoyance. I only hope I'm one of the lucky ones who gets a good outcome if I go ahead with the green light.

I had a UTI recently after a cystoscope exam and was put on cipro and then levaquin. I went on Amazon and purchased a 100 strip container of 10 parameter urine reagent strips for $20.

This let me know exactly when my urine showed signs of infection. It's easy to test your own urine. Just dip the strip in your urine collected in a paper cup and have the results in less than a minute. It's the same strip used by the urologist. That said, the burning urine was an accurate indicator of infection, but the strip confirmed it.

 

 

Hello, everyone,

I am 68 from Bulgaria, I had a surgery with greenlight one year ago and I feel good!

I decided to go under the procedure because I had urinary difficulties and I was with catheter. In 2009 I had an operation of the heart, 3 heart valves were replaced and a pacemaker implantation was done so the classic operation was not appropriate for me.

I heard about "my" clinic - Hill clinic (unfortunately, in Bulgaria there is only one place, performing this tehcnology) and decided to be treated with Green laser.

 

Before that I was with catheter for 14 months! Can you imagine the pain and the discomfort? It is very irritating and painful, the catheter was replaced every month, sometimes there was blood, it was difficult to urinate.

 

I have done the greenlight procedure more than 1 year ago, and luckily I feel great! I am very grateful to the doctors who have done the procedure in Bulgaria.

Wanted to add that I still have light bleeding with every urination. In the bowl it might look pink or clear, but in a cup it's always pink.

It's been 3-1/2 months since my 180 Watt XPX Greenlight in June, 2012. The recovery period (burning & urgency) lasted almost 9 weeks, but returned to normal after that. I returned to my urologist a month after the procedure and he declared it a success. I went through 2 rounds of cipro ... a preventive dose for 12 days after the procedure and second round for 14 days starting the third week after the procedure for a UTI. About 6 weeks after the procedure I visited my urologist again. Although visible bleeding had stopped, I still showed moderate amounts of white and red blood cells on my urine test strips. My doctor said this was because when he did the procedure, my prostate had been full of pus, indicating undiagnosed chronic prostatitis in addition to the bph. He also said my prostate had been 120 grams (the biggest he had worked on) and he had removed 70 grams in 70 minutes, and had brought and used a second laser tip for the procedure. I did not get retro ejaculation, and asked him why. He said he had learned to do the procedure leaving a bit of prostate tissue just above where the ejaculate enters the prostrate. He said this directs the ejaculate down to the urethra instead of allowing it to go up to the bladder. He said his patients didn't get retro because of this technique. I don't know if this always works, just that it worked for me and I was happy it did. I was pretty resigned to getting the retro as most posters did. At this point I'm glad the procedure worked for me. I'm back to normal in every way and have a good stream and volume of about 6 to 8 oz. per void. I still get up 2-3 times a night, but at 66 that is almost normal, even for women. I know that many other people posting here and on other forums get a return of symptoms in anywhere from 18 months to 5 years, and need to get another procedure. In my case I was getting retention twice a night and the Flomax (even a double dose) no longer worked. My only alternative would have been self catherization many times a day. I had no choice and if the symptoms return I probably would have no choice again.At least I will know the ropes. Maybe other alternatives will be available in several years, or better lasers. On another forum a few people said they had good results so far (but it's been less than a year since their procedures) with the Gat Goren method done in Israel and Spain. That method seals an artery supplying blood to the prostate and causes that part of the prostate to wither and die without a blood supply. It supposedly is better than other procedures because it will reduce the prostate size and prevent the prostate from growing, supposedly permanently and without other side effects. I guess time will tell if that is a better option and/or if it will be available in the US. There have also been periodic reports of trials of injecting botox or Nymox1207 into the prostate to kill prostate tissue. These have been investigated for almost a decade with no FDA approval, so they seem like a dead end to me as far as them becoming alternate treatments. The biggest improvement in procedures for me was that my urologist did the Greenlight in his own office surgical suite with the anesthetist just using twilight anesthesia, and the urologist injecting the prostate with lidocaine. This allowed me to avoid a hospital setting altogether, and avoid general or spinal anesthesia which carry their own risks.

Desert guy, look at my update posted today, Oct.3 (three posts up) 3-1/2 months after surgery. Flomax also stopped working for me and the only alternatives were daily self catherization or a procedure. My above post lists most of what I learned. Good Luck

BEWARE - some surgeons do this procedure in a way that guarantees that you WILL have retrograde ejaculation, and it WILL continue for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!  Speaking from sad experience here.  Get your urologist to go on record, in writing, how many of his or her patients are still experiencing retrograde ejaculation more than three months after the procedure, and how many of them will do so forever.

JScortt,

If you look at my posts you can judge for yourself how my GL went. I can recommend the urologist I went to, Dr. Vance Moss, on Route 9 in Howell, NJ. That's probably about 45 miles south of Staten Island.It's been 6 months since my 180 watt xps GL. I didn't get retro, and I am not incontinent. Sex life is fine. But I do dribble for about 30 seconds after I stop peeing.  Bear in mind I had a painful 8-9 week recovery. I wouldn't recommend a GL for any reason other than chronic retention. If I get to the point I was at, in terrible pain, peeing an ounce at a time, feeling like I was passing razor blades, I'll go and get it redone. Despite what the ads say, I think the GL is good for 18 months to 5 or 6 years at best.  A weak stream and getting up a few times a night is an inconvenience, and may or may not improve with a GL. Retention of urine is a medical problem and can ruin the bladder and/or kidneys and can't go untreated or uncatherized. My urolgist is very down to earth and talks on my level and listens. That's why I like him. A big plus is that he is certified to do the procedure in his office with just a local IV anesthesia instead of general anesthesia or a spinal in the hospital.

JScortt,

If you look at my posts you can judge for yourself how my GL went. I can recommend the urologist I went to, Dr. Vance Moss, on Route 9 in Howell, NJ. That's probably about 45 miles south of Staten Island.It's been 6 months since my 180 watt xps GL. I didn't get retro, and I am not incontinent. Sex life is fine. But I do dribble for about 30 seconds after I stop peeing.  Bear in mind I had a painful 8-9 week recovery. I wouldn't recommend a GL for any reason other than chronic retention. If I get to the point I was at, in terrible pain, peeing an ounce at a time, feeling like I was passing razor blades, I'll go and get it redone. Despite what the ads say, I think the GL is good for 18 months to 5 or 6 years at best.  A weak stream and getting up a few times a night is an inconvenience, and may or may not improve with a GL. Retention of urine is a medical problem and can ruin the bladder and/or kidneys and can't go untreated or uncatherized. My urolgist is very down to earth and talks on my level and listens. That's why I like him. A big plus is that he is certified to do the procedure in his office with just a local IV anesthesia instead of general anesthesia or a spinal in the hospital.

It's been just three weeks since my last post, and seven months since my GL. I should add here that last week I got a membrane (scar tissue?) that nearly closed off the channel in my prostate. My flow slowed to a dribble and I was unable to get a catheter in at all. My urologist found the membrane in the prostate channel with the cystoscope and said it had nearly fused the channel closed. He used the cystoscope to cut it out. I had a foley for two days but started peeing outside the cath and so removed it.

This can happen over and over again, so I will catherize every two weeks to keep the channel open. I read one medical study that said that scar tissue after a GL or full surgical turp could occur in 6% to 8% of cases within 6 months or so.

After this incident I got a post on another forum of someone who had a Turp, 2 TUIPS, a GL and a second turp that finally worked worked for the last 7 years.

This just fortifies my previous opinion that (for me and those who may have similar issues at least) the GL or any other bph procedure may only work partially and for a limited time, so I wouldn't have it done unless in a bad way with symptoms (pissing razor blades a few teaspoons at a time, etc., and/or full retention, very high pvr etc., where the kidneys are at risk if nothing is done).