Posted on 11/10/2023 8:01:10 AM PST by far sider
I am a 250-lb, 6-foot, 65 year-old Freeper from southern Ohio. I have been on 80 mg FloMax since summer and I don't like it. And it doesn't seem to work that well.
I have seen that there are several different surgical options. I would appreciate anyone who could share their experience and/or advice. Thanks.
Oh man....
Sorry to hear about your problem and I have it too. I’m 73.
About 15 years ago I had a procedure done to help the problem which supposedly used a “cold laser”. I consider it a “Roto-Rooter” job.
It improved things somewhat but certainly didn’t get me back to being 20 again, but the biggest problem was that the recovery, for me at least, was absolutely miserable. It was extremely painful to urinate and at first, and I had to go a lot, not to expel urine but to expel blood. Painful! Miserable! It took about 3 weeks before I felt like even getting out of the house. The urologists at the VA want to do it again. Nope! Not going through that again, meaning I’m not yet unhappy enough with my current situation to go through the miserable recovery again.
However, my cousin had it done about a year or so ago and he swears by it. Says his experience was nothing like mine and he can now “go like a racehorse”.
I take FloMax as well, plus something that reduces the size of the prostate slowly over time. It’s considerably smaller than it was (gigantic-the size of a large orange).
I’m not perfect and my wife claims I know where every men’s room in town is located, and she’s not far off.
It may be that you’ll heal up better and faster than I did. I can’t recommend it, but it may be that I was just an exception. All I can do is to tell you about my experience with a reminder that the urologists tend to sugar coat it.
Was on FloMax. It did work well for increasing flow but had other side effects I didn’t like.
My older brother (5 years) had a procedure called “Urolift” done and raved about how much it helped him.
I had it done two years ago. Recovery is hell. Urinating is described as “peeing razor blades” and that’s pretty accurate. You also have to drink lots of water to keep the blood clotting down so they don’t have to go back up there again. So not only does it hurt like hell, you do it a lot! It slowly gets better so after 5-7 days its not so unbearable.
My results were not as effective as my brother. I did stop taking the FloMax. I still empty well but the stop and go and stop and go is still pretty prevalent. And the feeling (sense of whether you’re passing liquid) is almost lost. Urgency is much improved and the frequency is down too so those are plusses. I get up 1-2 times a night to go. Down from 4-5 times before.
Bottom line, if the FloMax is not working the Urolift might be your best option. The 7-10 days of hell notwithstanding.
HIFU. high intensity focused laser surgery
My hub had it in Mexico when it was NOT FDA approved in US. It is now approved here. No after effects. (His cancer was small)
So wha do you tell a 30 year-old? Same stuff? Can it be avoided?
Forgot a few details.
Urolift is outpatient surgery. Mine was done at the Urologist. And was covered by my insurance.
And I was age mid-sixties with body stats similar to the OP’s.
I’ve only seen the hoakie ads. So you think it works. Can you tell us more, please?
Had issues. Turned out mine was as cancer. Biopsy then surgery then radiation. My PSA has been undetectable for 5+ years now. I hope you have a better result.
Semi new procedure.
Do not expect to hear about it from a Urologist, and no, this is not some wacko new age thing.
It’s called Prostate Artery Embolization. Performed by interventional Radiologists, which is why Urologists rage about it. Treatment for BPH is a big revenue generator for Urologists and this procedure getting popular is a threat.
Read about it. The VA has embraced a Urologist performed procedure called Urolift. It is different from the past procedure of a transurethral cutting out of tissue and 6 month recovery.
Do the reading . . . . It will fill the time you used to spend eating as you lose 50+ pounds.
Saw palmetto should be on every guys list.
Not sure what it will do if already having problems, but should be used as a preventative .
But I’m not a doctor
I had a TURP done at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. Also had a minor “meteorite”-looking gadget removed from my bladder at the same time. Had it done 7 years ago. I would have it done again in a heartbeat. For some reason, I didn’t find it painful at all. The doctor there was excellent.
I would be interested in any info on that.
Thanks.
Someone I know had a successful Aquablation surgery for an enlarged prostate. Urine was backing up in the bladder causing infection so he had to use a catheter while waiting for the procedure.
Absolutely NO alcohol.
Oh man....
>><<
I’m almost 73 and was going to take some Jack Daniels to a neighborhood Happy Hour this afternoon. Lol.
Ditto for weight loss. Cut out carbs and weight just goes away without doing much of anything. I lost near 40 lbs when I gave up carbs. I am guilty with alcohol though.
Just from my experience. About 6 years ago at the the of 55 my PSA was steadily rising. When it got to about 12 and the Gleason score showed the presence of cancer. We decided to take action’
My first oncologist recommended removal. I dropped him.
I had two close friends who had recovered from prostate cancer and their knowledge was helpful.
I ended up going with external radiation since I don’t like people cutting and poking me.. 26 Days, you are actually only in the radiation machine two minute a day.
The side effects from the radiation were mostly just annoying but manageable.
I was very happy I did not have to go thru any chemo which really jacks you up.
The treatment was successful and now I have a PSA of 0.2. and still have a prostate even though it probably looks like a piece of burnt toast.
Overall it does take some getty up out of you step. I have put on 5 pounds and can’t seem to find the energy to loose it.
That may not be related to the cancer treatment, it could just be age or the fact that I am lazy and drink to much wine.
Bottom line the pecker still works with a little wifely encouragement. It important to have her understanding and support. My neighbor had his prostate removed and he’s got nothing below the belt but memories. The nerves are just dead or removed and all the Viagra in the world won’t help.
Jump on this, don’t ignore it and hope it goes away. The longer you wait the more unpleasant the treatment options become.
God bless and I hope you have a full recovery.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
http://www.freethinkinghealth.com/features/the-high-dose-iodine-protocol/
https://whyiodine.com/iodine-protocol/
Here’s a couple of links that should provide good information. The tissue in our bodies actually EXPANDS to find iodine in our systems, which we get very little of. Hence enlarged protates, enlarged thyroid, fibroids in the breasts and uterus and a number of other “growths” that the medical systems wants to freak you out about and then do damaging procedures on.
As a comparison to US health, the Japanese have very little incidents of cancer, particularly in the thyroid and reproductive organs, because they get high doses of iodine in their diets.
I prefer Iodoral form over the liquid and I would get the 12.5mg tablets and start with a half or whole one every day. Take one 200mcg selenium every day, take 2-4 1000 mg capsules of vitamin C every day and take 4-6 tablets/caps of magnesium, split throughout the day.
The mag is critical for ALL health (makes 350 other systems and nutrients fall into place) and the Vit C opens up detox pathways. Salt removes the toxins. Iodine is a very effective detox so when you first start taking it you can feel puny as you begin to detox but it will pass
“Absolutely NO alcohol.”
“Oh man....”
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The most current studies show that there is ZERO health benefits to alcohol.
That said, if you can limit yourself to like one drink a month on a special occasion, that’s OK if it helps your sanity.
But if you’re downing a 6- or 12-pack a night (or the equivalent), and you’re bitching about your health, then you’ll get get no sympathy from me, or anyone else worth talking to.
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