Has anyone had laser prostate surgery?

[elektrified]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

When I first started having problems (last month) I self medicated Amoxicillin for two weeks, effective at first then stopped working.

The doctor in hospital didn't give any of the bacterial tests, just a urine test.

So today I've just purchased 20 days worth of Vocin 500 to try ..............

If it kills me I'm blaming YOU!

(Not that death would be any worse then my current plight)

Hahaha please don't blame me.... The prostate is so deep in the body that only a handful of antibiotics can penetrate the blood/prostate barrier.  There is bacterial and non-bacterial prostatitis. Doctors don't know exactly why the Levofloxacin is so effective in treating  non-bacterial prostatitis as well. And I also had numerous urine tests that were all negative for bacteria. One doctor was very stubborn and told me that I don't have prostatitis because all urine tests were negative. Then, after telling the other doctor that I have every symptom of prostatitis he conceded that I could have bacterial prostatitis and it was "inactive" each time I took a urine test, or I could have chronic non-bacterial prostatitis and that the Levofloxacin could be helpful but that it may take a couple of rounds to work. I felt better than I had in years after the first round, but then only 6 weeks later was having difficulty urinating, etc. so I took the 2nd round. 3 months later I have absolutely no symptoms of BPH.

 

Here are some helpful links: (may need to register to read them - it's free)

 

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/456165-overview?src=refgatesrc1#showall

 

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/458391-overview#showall

[KiChakayan]

1 hour ago, gunderhill said:

Having watched the intense pain of my Father dying from Prostate  cancer I would advise you to have to it  done, I couldn't care less about the sex  side of it if I was older.

It runs in our family  and I  will probably have it done at some point  in my life if becomes necessary. 

My Father started having problems at around 70 years old and finally  died at 85 after years of  injections every 4-5 months.

The last 6  months of his  life he was in intense pain ( every 4-5 minutes) and catheterised for the last 18  months.

I found it very distressing and would not wish it on anyone.

He finally  died in hospital after an operation to have a colostomy bag fitted  but when he was opened up by the surgeon they said he was  riddled with cancer. 

He  died the next day.???? and I was in Thailand.

I understand modern techniques have dramatically improved the chances of  incontinence and i know 2  people who have had their prostate  removed  with no  ill effects in the last 3  years in the UK.

I don't   know how theirs  were done.

If you have it  done or  something  else please report back.

We have apples and oranges here. The OP was referring to a laser TURP alternative, which is a treatment for BPH, a common condition which so far has no proven direct association with Prostate Cancer.

Having BPH and/or Prostatitis makes the use of PSA for cancer screening and/or risk assessment quite problematic, as doctors have to "guess" how each condition affects the PSA level.

Also, some doctors when they suspect that a BPH patient may have cancer favor a "traditional" TURN over laser since they can use the chips for pathology.

 

[gunderhill]

51 minutes ago, xylophone said:

I was a little confused with your posts because you initially talked about the laser "removal" of the prostate and then a little later on said that you didn't want a "radical prostatectomy..........

It seems  somehow you  have quoted something I havent said?

[xylophone]

10 minutes ago, gunderhill said:

It seems  somehow you  have quoted something I havent said?

My bad...........I used the post by Tracyb which you had again used, therefore it showed up as your quote!!

 

My apologies as it was meant to be directed at Tracyb!

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, elektrified said:

Hahaha please don't blame me.... The prostate is so deep in the body that only a handful of antibiotics can penetrate the blood/prostate barrier.  There is bacterial and non-bacterial prostatitis. Doctors don't know exactly why the Levofloxacin is so effective in treating  non-bacterial prostatitis as well. And I also had numerous urine tests that were all negative for bacteria. One doctor was very stubborn and told me that I don't have prostatitis because all urine tests were negative. Then, after telling the other doctor that I have every symptom of prostatitis he conceded that I could have bacterial prostatitis and it was "inactive" each time I took a urine test, or I could have chronic non-bacterial prostatitis and that the Levofloxacin could be helpful but that it may take a couple of rounds to work. I felt better than I had in years after the first round, but then only 6 weeks later was having difficulty urinating, etc. so I took the 2nd round. 3 months later I have absolutely no symptoms of BPH.

 

Here are some helpful links: (may need to register to read them - it's free)

 

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/456165-overview?src=refgatesrc1#showall

 

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/458391-overview#showall

Personally I stay away from levofloxacin, simply because the range of fluoroquinolones can do serious tendon damage when taken over time, even though it seems to have worked for you, it didn't for me. 

 

I recommend doxycycline, which is one of the few antibiotics which does penetrate the prostate fairly well, and has very few side effects and can be taken for many years, as I have done and this was overseen by a couple of urologists.

 

The reason it is used, even when nonbacterial prostatitis is diagnosed is because it also has a slight anti-inflammatory effect and that is thought to help the condition so there is the possibility of it fighting the bacteria if there is any present, and also calming any inflammation.

 

Indeed this whole area has been described by a leading US urologist as, "a medical wasteland" because still after all this time, no one is quite sure what causes nonbacterial prostatitis or indeed how they can effectively penetrate the prostate to cure what could be bacterial prostatitis (many antibiotics work for a short period of time then the infection comes back).

 

I have suffered with this for decades, and the only time that it has subsided and just about gone away is since I had my TURP back in 2009, prior to that there were many years of suffering, interspersed with long periods of relief when taking doxycycline for 90 days at a time, and I still have it on standby.

[BritManToo]

35 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Personally I stay away from levofloxacin, simply because the range of fluoroquinolones can do serious tendon damage when taken over time, even though it seems to have worked for you, it didn't for me. 

It's generally an 'instant' side effect for those liable, if you haven't had it in the first few days, you're unlikely to get it 'over time'. I hiked 200Km in China over a ten day period shortly after my last course of Cipro ...... no tendon damage.

 

But as I'm housebound until this gets fixed, I don't currently have much use for my tendons.

Edited May 5, 2019 by BritManToo

[Tracyb]

Hi all, back with a post-op report.

Had thulium laser enucleation (thuLEP) done on Monday morning.

2 hour surgery.  No complications.  Resting now (Wednesday morning) in hospital with catheter in place.  Going home tomorrow after catheter gets removed.

 

No pain at all.    Just mild discomfort from catheter.

 

more updates later....after I get home.

[DrPhibes]

Please keep us informed.  Had a PSA of 13 7 months ago.  Peeing tougher to do so went in to BRiA Lab here in CM for PSA and the score.  Went to the Pharm and got a months worth of Floxin and monitored PSA level weekly (about $15 USD each test).  Almost straight line reduction in PSA until it went back to my normal 4.5 (I have a naturally large prostate, not so large body).  Always looking for treatments and improvements in this area.  Thanks!

[gunderhill]

1 hour ago, Tracyb said:

Hi all, back with a post-op report.

Had thulium laser enucleation (thuLEP) done on Monday morning.

2 hour surgery.  No complications.  Resting now (Wednesday morning) in hospital with catheter in place.  Going home tomorrow after catheter gets removed.

 

No pain at all.    Just mild discomfort from catheter.

 

more updates later....after I get home.

Good  to hear it went well, let us  know how  it  all proceeds, youll need a  felt  pen to mark a "height line" on the wall for peeeing, would expect at least a 2  metre  range!!????

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Tracyb said:

Hi all, back with a post-op report.

Had thulium laser enucleation (thuLEP) done on Monday morning.

2 hour surgery.  No complications.  Resting now (Wednesday morning) in hospital with catheter in place.  Going home tomorrow after catheter gets removed.

 

No pain at all.    Just mild discomfort from catheter.

 

more updates later....after I get home.

How much did it cost and where did you have it done?

[BritManToo]

On 5/5/2019 at 12:19 PM, elektrified said:

Hahaha please don't blame me.... The prostate is so deep in the body that only a handful of antibiotics can penetrate the blood/prostate barrier.  There is bacterial and non-bacterial prostatitis. Doctors don't know exactly why the Levofloxacin is so effective in treating  non-bacterial prostatitis as well. And I also had numerous urine tests that were all negative for bacteria. One doctor was very stubborn and told me that I don't have prostatitis because all urine tests were negative. Then, after telling the other doctor that I have every symptom of prostatitis he conceded that I could have bacterial prostatitis and it was "inactive" each time I took a urine test, or I could have chronic non-bacterial prostatitis and that the Levofloxacin could be helpful but that it may take a couple of rounds to work. I felt better than I had in years after the first round, but then only 6 weeks later was having difficulty urinating, etc. so I took the 2nd round. 3 months later I have absolutely no symptoms of BPH.

 

Here are some helpful links: (may need to register to read them - it's free)

 

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/456165-overview?src=refgatesrc1#showall

 

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/458391-overview#showall

After 2 weeks with a bag I'm off the catheter now (day 2), looks like your Levofloxacin (day 11) is working.

My government hospital doctor was really against Levofloxacin, not sure why, and had insisted I had a catheter for another two weeks (I refused).

 

Thanks for the tip, I'm cautiously optimistic.

PSA was 2 before any of the drugs, so don't quite know what was happening, too much beer or cycling maybe.

Edited May 15, 2019 by BritManToo

[BobBKK]

I know someone who had Di Vinci and it was fine

[wgdanson]

On 5/5/2019 at 10:32 AM, BritManToo said:

When I first started having problems (last month) I self medicated Amoxicillin for two weeks, effective at first then stopped working.

Isn't Amoxicillin an anti-biotic? Is BHP a bacterial infection?

[fhickson]

On 5/3/2019 at 8:26 PM, fhickson said:

I have a female dr who said next year it's time for a prostate exam. I'm mortified.

 

Does she stick her finger up my arse?

Same thing here, she mentioned it during my last exsm. She so wanted to do a full genital check behind a curtain where she sits on a stool and i stand in front of her and just hang one after dropping my pants.

 

The reason i politely refused is thst i got a cancer on balls check confused with a finger in the arse prostate check, and i knew once she started there was no stopping her.

 

[xylophone]

14 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

I know someone who had Di Vinci and it was fine

The Da Vinci robotic system is usually used for prostate removal (amongst other delicate surgical procedures) and is certainly an improvement over the old-fashioned method which could leave men with incontinence, erection problems and so on.

 

The operation that Tracyb has had would appear to be the equivalent of the old-fashioned TURP, but using a laser to blast away at the overgrown internal part of the prostate, whilst still leaving the prostate generally intact.

 

Will be interested to follow his progress

[elektrified]

31 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

After 2 weeks with a bag I'm off the catheter now (day 2), looks like your Levofloxacin (day 11) is working.

My government hospital doctor was really against Levofloxacin, not sure why, and had insisted I had a catheter for another two weeks (I refused).

 

Thanks for the tip, I'm cautiously optimistic.

PSA was 2 before any of the drugs, so don't quite know what was happening, too much beer or cycling maybe.

Glad to hear that you are feeling better! Sorry to hear about the catheter! Sounds horrible. PSA of 2.0? Don't worry then. The whole prostatitis - BPH thing is a big mystery and really no single doctor has the perfect answer/treatment. You just need to take it upon yourself to find what works best for you. (When I told one of my doctors that I was feeling much better after adding Saw Palmetto to the other medicines, he gave me one of those looks that doctors give when you mention a herbal treatment) but actually even University and other private studies in America and Europe recommend taking Saw Palmetto along with Levofloxacin for acute prostatitis.

Edited May 15, 2019 by elektrified

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎5‎/‎4‎/‎2019 at 3:49 PM, JimmyJ said:

"I am considering having laser surgery to address BPH."

 

I assume you are considering a prostatectomy.

 

" If you had it to do over again....would you?"

 

I have never had it done. I have seen and heard of people who have regretted it.

 

The possibility of impotence and/or incontinence would make me seek every alternative.

It's not a prostatectomy. It's just opening the urine passage through the prostate. No man should ever have a prostatectomy for benign prostate conditions as it's the end of life as one knew it.

My prostatectomy ruined my life- better to have died, IMO.

[BritManToo]

20 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Isn't Amoxicillin an anti-biotic? Is BHP a bacterial infection?

Medical documents suggest

1) Differentiation between BPH/Prostatitus/Prostate cancer is difficult without biopsy.

2) Bacterial infections of the prostate can be difficult to detect (Cultures from urine may not be reliable)

3) Some Antibiotics may have positive results on non-bacterial prostate problems (BHP) for reasons unknown. 

 

As my doctor diagnosed BHP from just a 5 minute chat with no tests of any kind (I know what it is, I've dealt with 100s of cases)

No urine test, no blood test, no prostate exam, at that time so I'm prepared to try alternatives. 

(didn't cost much 870bht for 30 x Levofloxacin 500mg, and doesn't appear to have significant risk of side effects).

Since had urine test, negative, since had PSA test = 2, normal, never had a prostate exam

Edited May 15, 2019 by BritManToo

[xylophone]

11 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Isn't Amoxicillin an anti-biotic? Is BHP a bacterial infection?

BHP, formerly known as BHP Billiton, is the trading entity of BHP Group Limited and BHP Group plc, an Anglo-Australian multinational mining, metals and petroleum dual-listed public company headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

 

Please forgive the levity, but I just couldn't resist it Mr Danson!!!

 

And anyway you are right, amoxicillin is an antibiotic and would not normally be used to treat Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)............although it is possible that an infection in the prostate could cause some symptoms similar to BPH, but that would have been established early on I would think.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎5‎/‎4‎/‎2019 at 3:26 PM, fhickson said:

I have a female dr who said next year it's time for a prostate exam. I'm mortified.

 

Does she stick her finger up my arse?

Yes, and why such a wimp? It's no big deal, and can't you ask for a male Dr to do it if so shy?

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, elektrified said:

even University and other private studies in America and Europe recommend taking Saw Palmetto along with Levofloxacin for acute prostatitis

I'm taking Saw Palmetto 450mg 3x a day with meals as well, $20 for 250 tablets from iherb including delivery.

(If you join or order from them please use my discount code, it earns us both discounts AOX3347)

[xylophone]

7 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

My prostatectomy ruined my life- better to have died, IMO.

So sorry to hear that tbl although I think you did mention it once before in a post and I cringed at the thought of the post-op problems then, as I do now.

 

I must admit that I was terrified when I went in for my TURP although I had researched it well enough, however it wasn't plain sailing and several emergencies with the bladder not functioning properly and me having to self catheterise then, and a few years later when it seemed to be playing up again.

 

Even back in Thailand, I have had a bladder neck incision operation and even that didn't go too well.

 

Nowhere near your experiences, but this is the sort of thing which can really get you down.

 

I really do hope that you manage to get some good and bright periods in your life, because it is those which make life worth living.

[AlexRich]

15 minutes ago, xylophone said:

BHP, formerly known as BHP Billiton, is the trading entity of BHP Group Limited and BHP Group plc, an Anglo-Australian multinational mining, metals and petroleum dual-listed public company headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

 

Please forgive the levity, but I just couldn't resist it Mr Danson!!!

 

And anyway you are right, amoxicillin is an antibiotic and would not normally be used to treat Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)............although it is possible that an infection in the prostate could cause some symptoms similar to BPH, but that would have been established early on I would think.

 

Broken Hill Propriety Company, if my memory serves me right?

[anchadian]

Only last week, I visited my Dr as I was experiencing just the one urinary symptom namely, the frequent urge to urinate.  

 

The Dr performed a digital rectum exam which she said was an enlarged prostate gland (BPH) and a urine sample which came back with no traces of bacteria.

 

I was prescribed 14 days of Harifin-5 Finasteride 5ml and on the 3rd day my symptom has cleared up and having no further problems.

 

I'm unsure as to whether I should return to the clinic after 14 days dosage, continue taking Harifin-5 (I realize it's a long term drug, or seek a urologist.

[orang37]

57 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

As my doctor diagnosed BHP from just a 5 minute chat with no tests of any kind ... Levofloxacin 500mg, and doesn't appear to have significant risk of side effects).

 

 

Unless you enjoy playing Russian roulette, this is the best argument for going to another doctor I've seen.

 

Levofloxacin: (from Wikipedia)

 

Quote

the subject of a black box warning by the FDA in 2016.[13] The FDA wrote: "An FDA safety review has shown that fluoroquinolones when used systemically (i.e. tablets, capsules, and injectable) are associated with disabling and potentially permanent serious adverse effects that can occur together. These adverse effects can involve the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system."[13] Rarely, tendinitis or tendon rupture may occur due to fluoroquinolone antibiotics, including levofloxacin.[42] Such injuries, including tendon rupture, has been observed up to 6 months after cessation of treatment; higher doses of fluoroquinolones, being elderly, transplant patients, and those with a current or historical corticosteroid use are at elevated risk.[43][44] 

 

The U.S. label for levofloxacin also contains a black box warning for the exacerbation of the symptoms of the neurological disease myasthenia gravis.[12][45] Similarly, the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency recommendations warn of rare but disabling and potentially irreversible adverse effects, and to recommend limiting use of these drugs.[46] Increasing age and corticosteroid use appears to increase the risk of musculoskeletal complications.[41]

 

~o:37;

[BritManToo]

18 minutes ago, orang37 said:

Unless you enjoy playing Russian roulette, this is the best argument for going to another doctor I've seen.

Levofloxacin: (from Wikipedia)

~o:37;

Yeah read that, but it's like 0.5%, I've previously taken Cipro same warning and it didn't happen so I'm probably not in the 'at risk' section of the population. Some people drop dead at a sniff of penicillin, it doesn't mean it isn't a useful drug for everyone else.

 

Not to mention, torn tendons are of a lesser importance to me than not being able to urinate and carrying a bag of wee around with me 24/7. I'd kill myself before I accepted a life like that.

Quite frankly I would have taken the Levofloxacin if it had a 20% chance of instant death written on the packet.

 

Just started trying to work my way back into hiking, 3.5Km yesterday, 2Km this morning, no torn tendons yet.

19 days more levofloxacin to take.

Edited May 15, 2019 by BritManToo

[xylophone]

8 minutes ago, orang37 said:

Unless you enjoy playing Russian roulette, this is the best argument for going to another doctor I've seen.

 

Levofloxacin: (from Wikipedia)

Agree with that, and it and other fluoroquinolones have been responsible for a few tendon tears when I have been taking them, this quite probably exacerbated by the fact that I am over 70 and played a lot of sport, resulting in many muscle and tendon tears and breaks in my youth.

 

The urologist I was seeing at the hospital here was treating me with levofloxacin and it resulted in a tendon tear in my calf, which in turn swelled the calf up to about twice its normal size, and when I went back to this terribly incompetent urologist (found out later) and explained what had happened, he wouldn't listen and basically showed me out of his office, refusing to treat me further.

 

Not only that, this whole range of fluoroquinolones have been overprescribed for just about everything and although they were once seen as the shining light in a new range of antibiotics, many specialists and medical journals warn against them being used as first line treatment.

[BritManToo]

44 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Only last week, I visited my Dr as I was experiencing just the one urinary symptom namely, the frequent urge to urinate.  

 

The Dr performed a digital rectum exam which she said was an enlarged prostate gland (BPH) and a urine sample which came back with no traces of bacteria.

 

I was prescribed 14 days of Harifin-5 Finasteride 5ml and on the 3rd day my symptom has cleared up and having no further problems.

 

I'm unsure as to whether I should return to the clinic after 14 days dosage, continue taking Harifin-5 (I realize it's a long term drug, or seek a urologist.

Finasteride is a forever drug, you keep taking it even after laser surgery.

Hopefully you aren't growing breasts (side-effect in a small number of men)

Up to you.

 

Edited May 15, 2019 by BritManToo

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, xylophone said:

Not only that, this whole range of fluoroquinolones have been overprescribed for just about everything and although they were once seen as the shining light in a new range of antibiotics, many specialists and medical journals warn against them being used as first line treatment.

I've never been prescribed fluoroquinolones by any doctor. I'm guessing because they're too scared of patients like you blaming them for negative reactions. Better for them not to take the risk, I can see their POV.

 

I always read the side effect of any drug I take, and make my own risk based assessment.

How much do I want to be cured Vs how bad are the possible side-effects.

 

Gave it to myself a few years back after a MTB accident that left me with a road burn on my shoulder that wouldn't stop bursting with pus for 3 months, took Amoxcillin and it didn't budge it, took Cipro and it was gone in under a week, then went on a walking holiday in China's mountains, walked 200Km in 10 days, including a daily elevation gain of 1Km, with no damaged tendons, the shoes didn't make it though.

Edited May 15, 2019 by BritManToo

[xylophone]

19 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I've never been prescribed fluoroquinolones by any doctor. I'm guessing because they're too scared of patients like you blaming them for negative reactions. Better for them not to take the risk, I can see their POV.

You posted: As my doctor diagnosed BHP from just a 5 minute chat with no tests of any kind ... Levofloxacin 500mg, and doesn't appear to have significant risk of side effects).

 

You stated that you were prescribed levofloxacin, but that you have never been prescribed a fluoroquinolone – – well sorry to have to tell you this, levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone.

 

Not only did you get it wrong you then went on to lay some blame at my door!!!

 

Now I remember why I put you on "ignore"..........too much nonsense emanating from a vacuous space.