Hi Neill
Sorry I can't help with the time from referral as my TURP was done privately, virtually the consultant saying "Yes, you need a TURP, can you come in next week?". I guess under the NHS it depends heavily on your local health authority finances and so on. Having had the TURP, I was back at work in about 3-4 weeks I seem to remember, but the period included the Christmas break so may not be representative. Talk to the surgeon for his/her recommendations. It isn't a radical operation, but you have to be aware that afterwards, you can have the occasional passing of a bit of blood, clots, scar tissue and similar stuff so it's probably better to get that stage over before having to cope with it in the work environment. With me, there was some soreness, but nothing serious.
You don't acually lose any urethra from the operation. It hollows out the prostate to relieve the blockage. The hollowing out of mine went right up to the bladder neck. One result is that you lose the non-return valve that makes sure that seminal fluid goes down the urethra so you can suffer from 'retrograde ejaculation' where the seminal fluid goes the other way into the bladder and is flushed out during the next wee. I guess this is really just a problem if you are trying for a baby, otherwise all you notice is a lot less ejaculate. There is a warning that the operation can lead to some incontinence because it messes up the upper sphincter. In my case, I was tight as a drum afterwards, no problems at all.
Now then, you need to be aware of the following, but (and I know it is difficult) do NOT dwell on it. The pieces of prostate taken out during the operation will be sent for histological examination, and it is possible, but ONLY POSSIBLE, that prostate cancer could be found. This is what caught me out, and the diagnosis really brought me up short. If I had been able to prepare myself rather more then the diagnosis would not have been such a shock. However, the TURP was essential, not to have had it done for fear of finding cancer would have led to all sorts of problems.
If you feel strong enough, there are some TURP operations on YouTube.
Any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Send me a private message if you would prefer not to have the discussion in an open forum.
Tony
TURP then LRP in 2009/2010. Lots of leakage but PSA < 0.1 AMS-800 Artificial Sphincter activated 2015. |
User
Thanks so much for the information. Really useful. I agree at the moment the possibility of Pc is something I am trying not to think about. This as you say is not a good thing as I would be floored to be told post op that they found something.
Had to admit myself to casualty back in September 2016 as I couldn't pass any wee one night whilst out on a rare night out drinking. Never felt so much pain before. Been weeing fire since they took the catheter out a week later and it's taken this long to get to a point that the pain has been taken seriously by the medics. My father passed at Christmas as a consequence of prostate cancer and so they have suddenly started to take things a bit more seriously particularly as after a dre my PSA level shot up from 5 to 9.I believe it was because the consultant was quite brutal whilst doing the exam and I was still in a fair bit of discomfort when they did the blood test so I believe the level was misleading.
Had a cystoscope last week and was suppose to be told about the op then but felt like I was told your having a TURP so off you pop until we contact you!!!!! I was asked by the nurse why do I care when the op is and that I was the first person who was looking toward the op. I am in a lot of pain, the op needs to happen and now would be the best time workwise to get the op but I suppose it's a sit back and wait situation.
I have I suppose a lot to think about and come to terms with. At least at the moment it's just an op to worry about. Hoping for a good outcome post op but obviously this could go either way. Two kids so not so worried about being dry but am worried about the incontinence side of things, on a reasonable shot fuse at moment and catheterising twice a day so hoping for a better solution.
Again thank you for answering my question so well.
User
Hi Neill
If possible, keep agitating - you may be lucky and be able to take advantage of a cancellation. Urinary problems like this are not to be trifled with.. In the worst case, it is possible to get kidney damage and that is not good (at least you are cateterising so that is not an issue with you) but urine infections are very easy to pick up. My brother-in-law has a similar problem but refused a TURP for some reason. He is now on regular doses of antibiotics of steadily increasing strength for almost continuous infections.
Variations in PSA over time are the main indicators. Isolated results are not necessarily reliable because there are so many factors that can hinder an accurate measurement.
You are quite justified by being worried about incontinence, however to be blunt, you (like the rest of us on the message board) have been given a push down the helter skelter and there is no return. The crucial thing for you now is to resolve the blockage. WIth a bit of luck, the TURP will be a mere blip on your medical history, and believe me, the result of a TURP is almost instant and blessed relief. However, if you have some incontinence afterwards, then that is something that can be dealt with. If prostate cancer is found, also it can be dealt with. It's just a question of adjusting priorities in life !!
Be strong!
Tony
TURP then LRP in 2009/2010. Lots of leakage but PSA < 0.1 AMS-800 Artificial Sphincter activated 2015. |
User
Hi Neill,
I had a TURP op prior to radiotherapy, the specialists wanted to do the op fairly soon after my diagnosis as I had a catheter fitted and they couldn't do the RT with the catheter in place. Stupidly I delay my decision about the op more out of fear than anything else.
The TURP was fairly straightforward, I came round in the recovery room quickly and was in hospital 3 nights, they wouldn't let me go home unless I'd had a wee 3 times. I did wee out a few blood clots over the new few days but I got back to normal fairly quickly.
As Tony said be careful of kidney damage, I had this caused by retention which was my fault not going to the doctor sooner.
Best wishes,
Arthur