DC this is Nate. Please see my response to John below. The RN that D/C’d my catheter on day two has been with Dr Miller for many years. She could see I was a little fearful that day. You know, will I be incontinent for life, how long will I be bleeding like this, will I have to return to surgery at some point, am I going to make it and who do I talk to in the meantime? She sat me down and said, everyone in all my years, recovers, no bleeding and no incontinence. She said it such conviction that I believed her. I did find these forums helpful. It was good to have Ben here to gauge my recovery. John’s surgery will be close to yours maybe you guys can help each other too. I will keep checking on you. Ask all the questions you want, I’m retired. Oh and I started playing golf again. With the prostate I had stopped for three years. I went to the driving range and the next day played 18 holes with a granddaughter. You are gonna love HoLEP someday
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Hi Nate, So good to read you are golfing again. Just bought some external catheter samples (they don't have free ones anymore) from Liberator. Think it might work but they don't sell the strap unless I buy a case of 30. Any ideas about where I might be able to buy a strap or do you think I could possibly get by without the strap? The condom seems pretty snug. Thanks so much for this. David
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Hi, I am a 75 year old man with a long history of urine retention. My urologist recommended TURP surgery and I was on the waiting list, but after some research, I was not sure about it and cancelled my surgery. I told her I prefer HoLEP but she says the size of my prostate (37 cc) is too small and therefore, I don't qualify for it. However, in all the studies I have read it says any size of prostate is qualifying. I am wondering what to do at this point because Kaiser is only in-network. In addition, there is only one hospital in the Northern California Kaiser plan that does HoLEP and their wait time is 10 months.
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This is Nate. Sorry just read this. You could buy some Velcro and make your own. That’s basically the same. It would work.
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Jas. Your urologist is wrong. Have you checked other Kaiser hospitals in Cal? Would be worth a plane ride.
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Contributor
149 posts
Have HoLEP!!! Not a turp!!! It is well worth any inconviences involved. And yes they do HoLEP on any size prostate. The need is determined by flow rate, amount of urinary retention, symptoms, etc --- not determined by size.
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Nate/Ben/John this is DC/David - Just finished week 3 after HoLEP with Dr. Miller at Vanderbilt. It was a wonderful experience at Vanderbilt. Dr. Miller is a terrific doctor. Well worth the trip from Washington state to Nashville. Dr. Miiler did the procedure at Vanderbilt Belle Meade as an outpatient. Surgery was at 7:30 and I was back at the airbnb about noon. Prostrate was 120 cc not sure how much she removed. After the surgery, had some issues with bladder spasms that caused pain at the end of the urination so I needed all the medication that they prescribed. No real issues flying home which I was worried about. Thanks for suggesting the log. I kept a log each day with two hour time slots of how much water I drank, activities, kegels, and comments about voiding. Stopped using pads around the house because I can feel when the incontinence is starting to flow. Still some blood but sometimes clear. Flow rate is terrific now but was slow until end of week two. I was up on a ladder in our plum tree couple days ago and had a setback with the incontinence but all in all a smooth healing. My followup is on June 27. Nate/Ben, how was the follow-up for you?
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One short question DC, were the bladder spasms transitory or disabling. I'm scheduled for HoLEP on June 28th. I've been Foley cathed for about six months, and every bowel movement and passing of gas brings on a brief spasm. Glad to hear you're doing well!
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I'm curious David, what medications were you prescribed? Is sitting or standing your preferred method of voiding. Personally I've gotten used to sitting rather than cleaning floors :)
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Hi John, I called the nurse and she thought I was experiencing bladder spasms based on what I was describing. Immediately after the surgery urine was full of blood and went in a lot of different directions so I sat down. I had a hand held container from the hospital to pee in and found it was best to stand and pee into it when I had the spasms. The bladder spasms I was experiencing were brief but intense. The medication toned down the intensity. The medication they prescribed was Phenazopyridine 100mg 3 times a day, Ibuprofen 800mg once every 8 hours and Tylenol extra strength 2 every 8 hours. I don't think I would have needed all of this medication if I didn't have the spasms. I was completely off the medication after a week. I had a cathetor for one night after the surgery and I was ready to get it out. My sympathy goes out to you if you are cathed and experiencing spasms on a regular basis. This surgery really gives us new life.
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Thank you for the info. My Dr feels my spasms are caused by the cath balloon as they are specific to bowl agitation of any kind. Guess I'll have to wait and see. All the best to you and please keep me informed as to your progress.
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I'm not DC but my Doctor has told me with a 120g prostate about 60% will be removed; the remainder is the capsule.
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Hi DC/David. Nate here. Glad things went well for you. Sounds like you are making steady progress. The follow up appointment is a breeze. They will have you urinate (privately) in a funnel to measure urination flow rate and then a post void ultrasound to see if you are retaining. Don’t worry if you are. That too goes away. They will answer any questions you have and set you up for a nine month appointment. I’m at 5 months and feel very good except for retrograde ejaculation - which 75% or so of us will have. But I have zero ED. Actually that aspect is improved. Thanks for posting.
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