[ken56]

I'm 53 and my BPH symptoms are starting to get to the point where I want to have some type of procedure and trying to understand the options. The side affect with retrograde ejaculation has been putting me off. Done some reading on the different microwave treatments and it sounds like a good option without the negative side affects. It may not improve flow as dramatically as laser surgery but it sounds like a good alternative. My urologist doesn't seem to have confidence in this and I'm wondering if it's because he doesn't have the experience of it's just not that affective. Any one have experience with this??

[woodysdad]

read my post of Monday, Jan. 25.....woodysdad

[dteel]

I am 59, I had this procedure done in Nov 2008. It did not work for me. I was told that I would have a good/speedy recovery and could return to work. They gave me some medicine to help me relax before the procedure. You are awake the entire time. They want you to stay awake so that they can monitor the heat to prevent any damages.The Microwave Treatment procedure took about 30 minutes. After two days I went back to the doctor's office and had the cath removed. The nurse did a fluid/void check and I was able to void the amount of fluids that the nurse had placed in my bladder. However, that evening I stop voiding altogether and went to the ER to have a cath reinserted. When I went back to the doctor's office the following Monday my doctor examined me and had the cath removed; he instructed the nurse to teach me how to self-cath and gave me some take-home self-cath to use. The doctor told me that it might take up to 3 to 6 months before I could have a good stream. The entired next week I could not void and had to continuing use "self-Cath". I was frustrated with the self-cath, trips to the doctor for cath/uncath. I decided to have the TURP procedure. I had this procedure done three weeks after the Cool Thermal Treatment. I was in the hospital one night, had the cath removed on the third day, and afterwards could void like I was seventeen again. I wish you luck on your procedure, but read as much as you can concerning all of the procedures.

[ploddingalong98]

I'm in a sort of similar situation in that I had a Tuna procedure that doesn't seem to be working after 10 weeks. And, I'm now at the point that I still have to self cath sometimes. (For a month and a half I had to self cath all the time. Never used a Catheter before the operation.) I'm still not sure that I'm back to where I was before the operation.

But, I'm surprised that they would perform a second operation only three weeks after the first one. Was that enough time to heal from the first operation? But, I know from these boards that a lot of doctors are into the two operations thing. First do the operation that may not work, then do one that might actually work.

I talked to my doctor and he wants to wait for 6 months after the Tuna to try other things. I inquired about using Avodart with Flomax or having a TURP or green light PVP. He and his partner disagree about which is better, the green light PVP or the TURP.

I'm wondering if these minimally invasive operations help people with severe BPH symptoms. It's hard to understand how they can operate on you and there's so much blood in the urine, but it's like they never did anything. If I hadn't seen all the blood, I'd wonder if they actually did the operation. but, my doctor insists that, based on his experience, eventually I'll see at least some minor benefits. (I am, on rare occasions a little incontinent now, but I wouldn't call that a benefit).

Did you let the same doctor operate on you who did the failed operation? My wife and I aren't sure if we should give him a second chance or get another doctor after what we've been through.

[dteel]

I used the same doctor for both procedures (Microwave and TURP). Before I had any procedures done, I used several meds for relief and started reading about several procedures for treatment of enlarged prostate and consider the options. My doctor and I thought the Cool Thermal Treatment (Microwave)would be best for me and my condition and that I should have a speedy recovery and return back to work within the week. The Microwave procedure was an outpatient procedure that uses heat to slowly disolve the prostate tissue over time. (3-6 Months time frame). Before the Microwave Treatment I was able to void with a medium/small stream. After the Microwave Treatment, I could only pee with a small dribble and only if I strained. It caused me to have swelling in the prostate so bad that I could not void without use of a self-cath or have a cath inserted. My doctor stated that results from this procedure generally had a good outcome, but could take up to 6 months for the prostate tissue to disolve so that I could have a normal stream. He also stated that I may have to have a second procedure done later on. I tried to give this procedure a chance, but I was becoming even more frustated and was upset having to use the "self-cath" to get any relief. I could not imagine having to do this for the next 6 months with the possiblity of having a second procedure. I asked my doctor about having the TURP surgery. He stated that the TURP could be done and that having the Microwave procedure would not prevent me from having this Surgery. In fact, after the surgery I experience very little bleeding and recovered in one week.